WEBVTT - A Prayer to Embrace the Gift of Community Bible Study

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<v Speaker 1>Life Audio. Thank you for listening to your Daily Prayer,

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<v Speaker 1>a podcast dedicated to helping you find the words you

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<v Speaker 1>need to connect with your Father in Heaven. No matter

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<v Speaker 1>what is going on in your life today, you can

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<v Speaker 1>trust that God wants to hear from you. Right after

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<v Speaker 1>this short word from our sponsor, you will pray for

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<v Speaker 1>today's prayer to embrace the gift of community Bible study Together.

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<v Speaker 1>A Prayer to Embrace the Gift of community Bible Study

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<v Speaker 1>written by Laura Bailey, read by Carrie. IIK, how can I,

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<v Speaker 1>he said, unless someone explains to me. So he invited

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<v Speaker 1>Philip to come up and sit with him, Acts eight,

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<v Speaker 1>verse thirty one. Have you ever read a passage of

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<v Speaker 1>scripture and felt completely lost? I once read that the

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<v Speaker 1>Bible is written at a level that an elementary age

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<v Speaker 1>child could read and comprehend. If that's the case, then

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<v Speaker 1>perhaps I need to head back to grade school. I

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<v Speaker 1>believe the statement was intended to convey that God's word

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<v Speaker 1>is available and applicable to children and adults alike. The

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<v Speaker 1>message is for everyone at all times. And while there

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<v Speaker 1>are passages of Scripture that are clear, easily digested, and

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<v Speaker 1>share a clear takeaway, but what about the other parts

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<v Speaker 1>books of the Bible, which passages are more difficult to comprehend, interpret,

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<v Speaker 1>and relate to our lives. One of the best resources

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<v Speaker 1>is Other Christians. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch,

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<v Speaker 1>though not often cited as a key text on discipleship,

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<v Speaker 1>beautifully illustrates the practice of coming alongside someone to deepen

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<v Speaker 1>their understanding of scripture. Philip, a deacon and evangelist, was

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<v Speaker 1>returning to Jerusalem when an angel redirected him toward Gaza.

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<v Speaker 1>There he met an Ethiopian official returning from worship in Jerusalem.

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<v Speaker 1>Prompted by the spirit, Philip approached him. The Ethiopian was

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<v Speaker 1>reading Isaiah fifty three aloud, a common practice at the time,

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<v Speaker 1>allowing Philip to recognize it and offer to explain it.

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<v Speaker 1>Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch if he understood what he

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<v Speaker 1>was reading. Though it may sound rude to modern ears,

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<v Speaker 1>Philip's question came from genuine concern. The Unich worshiped God

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<v Speaker 1>and New Judaism, but likely lacked a full grasp of

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<v Speaker 1>the Hebrew scriptures, especially Messianic cossages, because he was reading

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<v Speaker 1>a Greek translation and lacked the Jewish cultural background. In

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<v Speaker 1>today's terms, it would be like reading an older Bible translation.

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<v Speaker 1>The text could be understood, but was harder to interpret

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<v Speaker 1>without support. The Eunuch is eager to accept Philip's help

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<v Speaker 1>and says in Acts eight thirty one, how can I,

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<v Speaker 1>he said, unless someone explains to me. So he invited

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<v Speaker 1>Philip to come up and sit with him. We can

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<v Speaker 1>take away a few things from this interaction. First, the

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<v Speaker 1>importance of listening then acting when the Holy Spirit speaks

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<v Speaker 1>to our hearts. Second, spiritual knowledge is transferable. It is

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<v Speaker 1>a privilege to share God's Word with others. Believers with

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<v Speaker 1>the mature faith are commanded to support and teach others

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<v Speaker 1>in the faith. Third, God's Word is meant to be

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<v Speaker 1>studied in community. Part of making disciples is engaging in

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<v Speaker 1>active Bible study together. Only God's word is infallible without error,

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<v Speaker 1>and there is a chance of error in human teaching. Still,

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<v Speaker 1>the Holy Spirit has gifted numerous men and women with

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<v Speaker 1>the ability to rightly interpret and unpacked scripture, helping others

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<v Speaker 1>grow in biblical knowledge. If you are new to the faith,

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<v Speaker 1>or if you have a background in Christianity but are

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<v Speaker 1>new to studying the Bible. There's no shame in asking

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<v Speaker 1>for help to understand difficult passages of Scripture. Utilizing tools,

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<v Speaker 1>and supplementing your Bible reading with commentaries, sermons, and conversations

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<v Speaker 1>with other Christians are all part of growing in your

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<v Speaker 1>understanding of God's word, and if you are a more

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<v Speaker 1>seasoned to Christ follower, look for opportunities to share what

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<v Speaker 1>God has taught you, the tools you've used to understand scripture,

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<v Speaker 1>and invest in teaching someone how to study and apply

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<v Speaker 1>God's timeless truths to their lives. As a result of

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<v Speaker 1>Philip taking the time to go through Isaiah fifty three,

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<v Speaker 1>the eunuch accepts Christ and then gets baptized. While Philip

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<v Speaker 1>saw the immediate eternal impact that God's word had on

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<v Speaker 1>this man's life. Not all of your interactions will produce

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<v Speaker 1>instant results. But let us hold to the truth the

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<v Speaker 1>prophet encourages in isaiaht Fifty five to eleven. So is

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<v Speaker 1>my word that goes out from my mouth, It will

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<v Speaker 1>not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I

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<v Speaker 1>desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's pray Heavenly Father, I am so grateful for the

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<v Speaker 1>gift of the body of believers. How wonderful to know

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<v Speaker 1>that I am not only saved for all eternity, but

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<v Speaker 1>was adopted into a family of believers when I accepted Christ.

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<v Speaker 1>Help me embrace the gifts of community Bible study, corporate worship,

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<v Speaker 1>and personal Bible study. Lord, When I have questions where

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<v Speaker 1>I'm wrestling with the text, I ask that the Holy

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<v Speaker 1>Spirit guide and direct me to proper understanding and application.

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<v Speaker 1>When I see others who need support, may I come

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<v Speaker 1>alongside them and impart biblical wisdom. Please help us to

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<v Speaker 1>humbly serve others through teaching, discipleship, service, and love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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