Focus on the MessageFocus on the Message

© John Stevenson, 2012

2 Timothy 2:152 Timothy 2:15Be diligent to present yourself

approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

What is the primary What is the primary action commanded action commanded in this verse?in this verse?

2 Timothy 2:152 Timothy 2:15Be diligent to present yourself

approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

My ownMy ownideasideas

What does it say?What does it say?

What does it mean?What does it mean?

What is the big idea?What is the big idea?

What difference does it make?What difference does it make?

What must I change?What must I change? Richards & Bredfeldt

What does it say?What does it say?

What does it mean?What does it mean?

What is the big idea?What is the big idea?

What difference does it make?What difference does it make?

What must I change?What must I change? Richards & Bredfeldt

ThenThen& &

therethere

BridgeBridge

HereHere&&

nownowSpecific Specific applicationapplication

Deductive Deductive applicationapplication

General General principleprinciple

Inductive Inductive studystudy

Specific Specific detailsdetails

“…“…but you will receive power when but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest Samaria, and even to the remotest

part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).

Use the questions in pages 65-66 of Use the questions in pages 65-66 of Richards & Bredfeldt’s bookRichards & Bredfeldt’s book

AuthorAuthor

And he said unto him, Take me an heifer And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three of three years old, and a she goat of three

years old, and a ram of three years old, years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon and a turtledove, and a young pigeon

(Genesis 15:9).(Genesis 15:9).

RecipientsRecipients

AuthorAuthor

And he took unto him all these, and And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds piece one against another: but the birds

divided he not (Genesis 15:10).divided he not (Genesis 15:10).

RecipientsRecipients

AuthorAuthor RecipientsRecipients

And it came to pass, that, when the sun And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a went down, and it was dark, behold a

smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those piecespassed between those pieces

(Genesis 15:17).(Genesis 15:17).

SynopsisSynopsis

WholeWholePartsPartsWholeWhole

AnalysisAnalysis SummarySummary

Vision of Jesus and

Seven letters to

seven churches

1-3 4-7

Throne of God & Scroll

with seven seals

8-11

Seven trumpets

12-16

Christ, the

Dragon & the Seven Bowls

17-19

The Harlot

on Seven Hills &

the Bride

20

The King

reigns

21-22

New Heaven & New Earth

Each ends with a promise of Christ Coming

Christ wipes away every tear

(7:17)

Christ will reign forever &

ever (11:15)

Fall of the

nations

“It is done”

(16:17)

Rider on the White Horse (19:16)

Judge &

Lake of Fire

I am coming quickly (22:20)

What does it What does it mean?mean?

• Rule #1: Continuity of the messageRule #1: Continuity of the message

The LORD God commanded the man, saying, The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat “From any tree of the garden you may eat

freely; freely; 1717 but from the tree of the knowledge of but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day

that you eat from it you will surely die.” that you eat from it you will surely die.”

What does it What does it mean?mean?

• Rule #1: Continuity of the messageRule #1: Continuity of the message

• Rule #2: Context of the materialRule #2: Context of the material

• Rule #3: Customary meaningRule #3: Customary meaning

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5).

For if we go on sinning willfully after For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice there no longer remains a sacrifice

for sins, for sins, 2727 but a terrifying expectation but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire of judgment and the fury of a fire

which will consume the adversaries. which will consume the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27).(Hebrews 10:26-27).

What is the big What is the big idea?idea?

What does it What does it mean… to me?mean… to me?

What do I do What do I do now?now?

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. in heaven and on earth. 1919 Going therefore, Going therefore, make disciples of all the nations, baptizing make disciples of all the nations, baptizing

them in the name of the Father and the them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Son and the Holy Spirit, 2020 teaching them teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end lo, I am with you always, even to the end

of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

And Jesus came up and spoke And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority to them, saying, “All authority

has been given to Me in has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. heaven and on earth. 1919 Going Going therefore, make disciples of all therefore, make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the nations, baptizing them in

the name of the Father and the the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Son and the Holy Spirit, 2020

teaching them to observe all teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew the end of the age.” (Matthew

28:18-20).28:18-20).

• What is the meaning?

• Do other passages support or clarify the meaning?

• What do Scriptures say about the nations?

And Jesus came up and spoke And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority to them, saying, “All authority

has been given to Me in has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. heaven and on earth. 1919 Going Going therefore, make disciples of all therefore, make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the nations, baptizing them in

the name of the Father and the the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Son and the Holy Spirit, 2020

teaching them to observe all teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew the end of the age.” (Matthew

28:18-20).28:18-20).

• What is the big idea of the text?

• How do we make disciples?

• What does this entail?

And Jesus came up and spoke And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority to them, saying, “All authority

has been given to Me in has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. heaven and on earth. 1919 Going Going therefore, make disciples of all therefore, make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the nations, baptizing them in

the name of the Father and the the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Son and the Holy Spirit, 2020

teaching them to observe all teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew the end of the age.” (Matthew

28:18-20).28:18-20).

• How does this text relate to me?

• What does it call me to do?

• How do I do this?

And Jesus came up and spoke And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority to them, saying, “All authority

has been given to Me in has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. heaven and on earth. 1919 Going Going therefore, make disciples of all therefore, make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the nations, baptizing them in

the name of the Father and the the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Son and the Holy Spirit, 2020

teaching them to observe all teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew the end of the age.” (Matthew

28:18-20).28:18-20).

• What are some ways in which I can be a part of the disciple-making process?

Do an inductive Do an inductive study from one study from one of the assigned of the assigned passages and passages and

prepare a 5 prepare a 5 minute report.minute report.

Daniel 6Daniel 6

Matthew 10:34-39Matthew 10:34-39

2 Timothy 4:1-52 Timothy 4:1-5

Revelation 2:1-7Revelation 2:1-7

45 minutes45 minutes