14 – Simple Lessons From Highlights Magazine
Think The Bible is too complicated? Then think like a child.
Become As Little Children
- Humility
- Questions
- Everything I needed to know I learned in kindergarten
- Learning can be fun! (Galatians 5:22)
Connecting The Dots – Where To Start?
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV
See also 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:1, Galatians 6:14
Which Of These Is Not Like The Others?
Discernment is critical: 1 Corinthians 2:14, Luke 1:29, Proverbs 14:8, Deuteronomy 32:29, Romans 12:2, Proverbs 17:24, 1 Kings 3:9-12, Isaiah 44:18, Hosea 14:9, Philippians 1:9, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 5:14
Discernment is more than rightly dividing good and evil, but the proper place and role of the good (e.g. flesh & blood). See 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Corinthians 11:29, Colossians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 14:40, Hebrews 5:6, Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:11, Leviticus 19:26, Deuteronomy 12:23, John 6:53, John 6:53-56
Double Check, aka Spot the Differences
In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13 ESV
See also 2 Corinthians 3:14 & Hebrews 8:6.
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Some “inconsistencies” in Christ’ first miracle:
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:2-5 ESV
“Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” John 2:10 ESV
Where’s Waldo?
Where Is Jesus Christ?
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27 ESV
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. John 5:39-40 ESV
See also Acts 17:2-3, 11, Luke 24:44, Luke 9:26, Acts 8:35, John 5:46
It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
Word Search
Icons: Symbols, types, patterns, shadows, the schoolmaster, etc
Examples:
- The tabernacle, its furnishings (e.g. curtain, ark of the covenant, mercy seat, lamp stand, alter of incense, incense, etc)
- The ceremonial feast system symbols (e.g. bread/body, wine/blood, unleavened bread, lamb, goat, alter of sacrifice, fire/burnt, peace offerings, burnt offerings, thanks offerings, etc)
- Numbers (numerology): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, etc
Review
We need:
- The humility of a child
- A questioning mind
- To connect the dots
- Discernment
- To recognize inconsistencies and contradictions – especially in our thinking (i.e. Cognitive Dissonance)
- See Jesus Christ throughout the ENTIRE Bible
- Move from a word-based mind to a visionary mind
