1. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n Several books have been recently published among those associated with churches of Christ saying that we have failed in taking a proper approach to Bible Study (Hermeneutics).

2. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n We should have a solid foundation for our faith that must be based upon the word of God. Challenges to our stand upon Jesus Christ are welcomed and should be considered. (1 Peter 3:15)

3. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n 1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV) - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

4. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n Before we begin looking at the wisdom of men, we should look to what God has said about how anyone can come to the truth. Where does God put emphasis on how we can know His will?

5. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n When Jesus responded to the debates over the meaning of God’s word with the Pharisees, the most common problem with their approach to the Bible was their heart and not their hermeneutics! (John 12:35-43)

6. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n John 12:35-43 (NKJV) - Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

7. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n 37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

8. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

9. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n 42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

10. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n In my experience as a teacher, it has rarely been as issue of proper Bible study skills that has resulted in a difference of understanding of the Bible.

11. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n When relationships, emotions or worldly desires become the driving force of one’s life then God will allow you to believe a lie. (2 Thess 2:9-12)

12. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NKJV) - The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

13. Why do so many people not see the Bible alike? n 11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

14. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n A pure heart is a characteristic of the heart of a Christian. (Mt 5:8)

15. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n Matthew 5:8 (NKJV) - Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

16. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n A pure heart and a pure vision go together!

17. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n A pure heart and a pure vision go together! n Jesus knew that purity of heart, a single- minded pursuit of God’s will result in one finding the truth! (John 7:17)

18. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n John 7:17 (NKJV) - If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

19. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n The word "Pure" is from the Greek word katharos, used twenty ‑ eight times In the New Testament. It is translated by such terms as "pure," "clean'' and "clear.”

20. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n "Blessed are those whose motives are absolutely unmixed, whose minds are utterly sincere, who are completely and totally single-minded." - J.B. Phillips

21. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n We must have a single focus in this life. When we have this everything will come from pure motives! (Mt 6:22-24; 2 Cor 11:2)

22. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n Matthew 6:22-24 (NKJV) - “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

23. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

24. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NKJV) - For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

25. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n The fruits of an impure heart.

26. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n The fruits of an impure heart. n You will depend upon your own guile and "wisdom" rather than trust God. (2 Cor 4:2)

27. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n 2 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV) - But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

28. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n You will lack the resolve and courage that comes by faith. (Jas 1:7-8, 4:8)

29. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n James 1:7-8 (NKJV) - For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

30. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n James 4:8 (NKJV) - Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

31. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n "The true vision of God will not be granted to the shrewd and calculating who play dishonest games; or to the doubleminded who can never quite put both feet in the kingdom (James 1:7 ‑ 8), but to those who are absolutely honest and single of heart toward God." - Paul Earnhart

32. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n Having the honesty that results in having an ear willing to hear is both a blessing and a “danger!” (Isa 50:4-6)

33. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n Isaiah 50:4-6 (NKJV) - “The Lord GOD has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. 5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away.

34. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n 6 I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.

35. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n Class Discussion:

36. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n Class Discussion: n 1. Why is a pure heart essential to knowing God’s word?

37. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n Class Discussion: n 1. Why is a pure heart essential to knowing God’s word? n 2. Why are men easily given to self- deception?

38. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n Class Discussion: n 1. Why is a pure heart essential to knowing God’s word? n 2. Why are men easily given to self- deception? n 3. How can you be sure that you are not deceiving yourself?

39. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n 4. List some characteristics of how a pure hearted person would respond to one who has a different understanding of the Bible. (Acts 17:11)

40. Why a Pure Heart is Essential to Knowing God’s Will? n Acts 17:11 (NKJV) - These were more fair- minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

41. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n Human Relationships (John 5:38-46)

42. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n John 5:38-46 (NKJV) - But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

43. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n 41“I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

44. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you— Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.

45. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n How could a people who gave a significant time in searching the scriptures fail to understand what the scriptures teach?

46. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n How could a people who gave a significant time in searching the scriptures fail to understand what the scriptures teach? n Jesus knew their hearts and thus knew that they sought the favor of men above God!

47. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n With this kind of heart a person can “know” but will not admit they “know.” (John 12:42-43; Lk 10:27-29)

48. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n John 12:42-43 (NKJV) - Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

49. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n Luke 10:27-29 (NKJV) - So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

50. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n Here is where people will say “it’s not a fellowship issue” or “it’s not really clear.”

51. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n Here is where people will say “it’s not a fellowship issue” or “it’s not really clear.” n Past Religious Ties and Beliefs

52. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n Here is where people will say “it’s not a fellowship issue” or “it’s not really clear.” n Past Religious Ties and Beliefs n Why are religious traditions popular? (Mt 15:8-9; John 7:48-49)

53. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n Matthew 15:8-9 (NKJV) - ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

54. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n John 7:48-49 (NKJV) - Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”

55. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n How affect can being “raised in a church” have upon a person’s willingness to be honest in their Bible study? (John 9:1, 20-23)

56. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n John 9:1 (NKJV) - Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.

57. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n John 9:20-23 (NKJV) - His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.”

58. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

59. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n Family Tradition and Relationships (1 Peter 1:18, Mt 10:21-22, 34-39)

60. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n 1 Peter 1:18 (NKJV) - knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

61. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n Matthew 10:21-22 (NKJV) - “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

62. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n Matthew 10:34-39 (NKJV) - “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in- law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’

63. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

64. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n Why might a parent be deeply hurt if a child left the church in which he was raised?

65. Some common human loyalties that can be put ahead of God n How might a worldly family react to a fundamental disagreement about the Bible? How about a spiritually minded family?