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gregorydc:
Just a quick question here. Whee should a person start a scripture study?  There is so much information to learn, I mean it is kind of overwhelming to try to pick one spot in a bible and begin to study that one thing.  There are many scriptures I have looked at looking for answers to my problems and for friends also. But to just start a study where to begin?
still a babe in Christ,
Greg

gmik:
I love Paul...maybe start in his letters...he was the missionary to the gentiles(us) so I figure he's got important info...imho

gregorydc:
I don't think I asked my question right maybe its how do you start, not where do you start. Is it just over a question that keeps nagging at you?, or maybe it is like a prayer God prompts you to study a certain thing because you need to learn something new or will need to know something to help someone else? There are many things I still don't understand!  I feel I was to read genesis many times because I love the story of Joseph, but was I to have started a study of that?  You see I don't understand the principles of how or where I guess. 
Greg

Dave in Tenn:
Greg, maybe this is of help.  Look where Ray 'starts'.  Pretty much every article starts with exposing a false doctrine.  We have come from every corner of Babylon, and if we were still there, we'd be arguing constantly between ourselves, just as they do in seminaries.  I don't know precisely what your religious background is...doesn't really matter.  But you haven't been dragged through that for no reason nor at random. 

What's helpful to me is to go back into scripture with 'truths' in mind.  I'll give you one example.  I had a hard time with the fallacy of free-will and the truth of the sovereignty of God.  It wasn't until I began to read/meditate/think on all the scripture and 'sermons' I had grown up on WITH the new 'assumption' that God is Sovereign that I began to understand it.  The largest part, I believe, for a new believer is to UNLEARN. 

I had never heard a sermon on the Gospel of the Kingdom that wasn't just fluffy.  I can't remember any sermon on the "Many called/few chosen" that came close to the truth.  I can't remember a sermon on the parables of Christ that included the information that He taught in parables so that most of his listeners not only would not understand, but would NOT believe.  On the contrary, it was assumed that He taught in parables to make His message MORE understandable to the masses.  I actually read the New Testament when I was a teenager, and I could see that the scripture did not say what I was 'learning'.  In fact, it often said JUST THE OPPOSITE.  You see where I'm going?

I haven't uncovered any truth so far that isn't in opposition to doctrines I either believed or knew about.  "Come out of her, my people" isn't just a helpful suggestion. 

That said, not everything is about 'doctrine' in the traditional sense of the word.  We really 'learn' by living and in obedience.  If we're not living, then I don't think we can even ask most of the right questions.

I'm definitely not done yet, but that 'approach' still is working.
 





 

Stacey:

--- Quote from: gregorydc on August 09, 2012, 08:04:07 PM ---I don't think I asked my question right maybe its how do you start, not where do you start. Is it just over a question that keeps nagging at you?, or maybe it is like a prayer God prompts you to study a certain thing because you need to learn something new or will need to know something to help someone else? There are many things I still don't understand!  I feel I was to read genesis many times because I love the story of Joseph, but was I to have started a study of that?  You see I don't understand the principles of how or where I guess. 
Greg

--- End quote ---

Hi Greg,

That's exactly how I ended up here. I needed answers.

I asked our Pastor at the time if the Church could help a organization I am familiar with by giving them some financial assistance. He was short and to the point that "we" are out of money and can't help anymore people than were already being helped. Granted, that Church did help many folks around our town but it was his attitude towards my question that pricked me in the heart and instantly I became really interested in studying every scripture dealing with tithing.

That study began by a word search on "tithe" but that wasn't on the web. When I did finally make to the internet, and typed in "tithing" it led me to Ray's site and straight to his " Tithing is unscriptural" paper and wow was my understanding never stretched as far as it has been by Ray's teaching.

If you feel led to study something, chances are pretty good that Ray has something to say about it in his papers and they are the best place to start I know of for any scripture topic, imo
 

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