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                    ||                       How beautiful on the mountains
                    ||                       are the feet of those ... who
                    ||                       proclaim salvation, who say to
                                             Zion, "Your God reigns!"
          Pastor RALPH & GENE ANN WOOD                  --Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)
          E-mail:  randg.wood@encode.com
          FRESH MANNA, 21/04/1998 ........................ 2 TIMOTHY 2:15e2
          Be diligent to present yourself to God, "approved":-- a worker
          who has no need to be ashamed, CUTTING STRAIGHT the word of truth.
                                                     --2 TIMOTHY 2:15 (RLW)
             When you set out to prepare a Bible study, the first thing to
          consider is the context.  And the first aspect of context to look
          at, is the current situation of the people you will be teaching.
             God speaks His word, not to autonomous spirits isolated in
          "ivory towers", but to people living their lives in constantly
          changing, evolving, real situations.  And they hear your message,
          from the point of view of the situations they're in!  These might
          involve liturgical events in the Christian calendar-- Christmas,
          Easter and Pentecost.  Or things going on in the world, in the
          life of their local church, or in their own personal lives.
             Therefore we pray every day, on behalf of all of us who preach
          or teach the word of God on any occasion:--
            "Father, grant that all of us who proclaim your word in any way,
            may understand the situations of those we are ministering to.
            Grant that we may know which Scriptures you want us to speak
            from; and what word you want to speak through those Scriptures.
            Grant that we may prepare diligently, cutting straight the word
            of truth; that we may prepare just the right warm-up [intro],
            discussion, and PARAKLESIS [concluding exhortation], for every
            occasion. ..."
             This would apply to a sermon, a "Fresh Manna", a Sunday School
          lesson, a Bible study.  It also applies to a quick chance which
          arises to explain something briefly to a child, or an unexpected
          question you are asked by a co-worker at break time.  Whatever
          the occasion actually is, choose Scripture which relates to the
          specific situation of those you are speaking with.
             Is Christmas, or Easter, or Pentecost in mind?  You may want
          Scriptures which help you relate the incarnation, the death and
          resurrection of Christ, or the baptism of the Holy Spirit, to
          "where they are at".  Has some good or bad thing happened in the
          world around you, or in the lives of your audience?  The right
          Scripture will show people how to respond, and give them God's
          encouragement, help, and power to do so.  Every teaching you give
          from the Bible, contains what George Pidgeon called "spiritual
          treasures":-- for people to apply in concrete situations!   --RLW
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