Dad taught me that words often change meanings from their origin to their contemporary meaning and it was important to recognize the changes.

When studying the Bible it is critical to determine key word meanings and especially how they have changed over the course of their usage.

I was listening to a lecture by Dr. Winfred Neely of Moody Bible Institute[1] and he focused on knowing word meanings in the scripture and talked about understanding similes, metaphors,

personifications and other figures of speech. Right now some of you are say that is just too much to expect from the average Bible studier.  Yes, I understand that many have long since forgotten what they learned in their High School or College English classes, however, to better know and understand our Most Holy God a little brushing up is well worth it.

Dr. Neely pointed out that words change meaning over time and he used as example the word “Behavior” is translated in the 1611 King James Version of the Bible as “conversation” and in newer translations the translation is “conduct.” No one made a mistake, in 1611 “conversation” meant “behavior” in the language of the day. It no longer means behavior but means something very different. That is why so many pastors encourage their congregations to use a more current translation of the Bible.

Another reason to dig deeper into the key words of scripture could be pointed out as we look at the word “church.” The Greek word translated “church” is “ekklesia” but in order for us to get a fuller understanding of the word “church” we should also check out “body of Christ,” “temple of the Holy Spirit,” “household of faith,” and so on.

It is important to put the effort in to our Bible study. If you would like some insight to the value of serious Bible study let me suggest that you contact several of our members who are serious about how they study the Bible and I am sure that they will give you their insights.

Contact:           Julie Rasmussen

LeAnn Abbott

Kim Shepherd

Betty Redman

Carolyn Winters

Steve Abner

Bob Ford

Russ Stucky

(This is not an exhaustive list by any means, however, I have personal knowledge about the study that these folks are doing or have done. If you cannot find their phone numbers or email addresses please contact the church office (317-784-1101) and Barb will help you get in touch with them). Of course Pastor Dan and I will be glad to help you in your individual and group study anyway we can.

More than a 1500 years of Christians have benefited from this moment. God spoke to him in that moment, by a child’s voice, and through the written Word. I just want to warn the reader of this posting to not think that is always the best way to “hear” from God. Turning to the first scripture you come to as your Bible opens can be dangerous, allow me to explain: What if you turned to Matthew 27:5 and read where it says Judas hung himself, and then you turned to Luke 10:37 where Jesus says, “Go and do likewise.”

A measured daily reading of the word of God is much more recommended, and if you are starting from scratch, read the Gospel of John.

²⁴ The Lord _a bless you and _b keep you;
²⁵ the Lord _c make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord _d lift up his countenance ₁ upon you and give you peace.

I found it interesting that God left nothing to chance when He instructed Aaron; He even told him how to bless His people. May this blessing from almighty God be yours today and every day.

I think of the movie Batman Begins (in my opinion an exceedingly well-written movie) where Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) who later takes on the persona of Batman, is trying to find his life’s purpose. He is a billionaire’s heir, but when he was just a boy both of his parents were gunned down in front of him.

He goes on a quest to find himself and his purpose that causes him to end up in a Chinese prison. There Bruce Wayne meets Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson). Henri has been observing Bruce from the shadows and tells him if he climbs a certain mountain and retrieves a certain plant, and then goes to a certain location (training headquarters of the League of Shadows – led by the legend Ra’s al Guhl) with it, his quest will find closure.

I am confident if that is what I could tell people who come looking for God’s will: to climb a certain mountain, retrieve some artifact and then return with it, God would then reveal Himself, and the line to travel there would be a long one. But instead I tell people, read His word. Read the Bible. Listen to its words – the answer you seek is in there. It seems too easy, too accessible.

I wonder if the Bible was only in one copy, and it was in some clandestine location in the desert wilderness of Israel (or on a Tibetan mountain), and was written and untranslated from an ancient language, there would be a constant stream of “will-seekers” on the way. But it does not take all that, instead the directive is simple: read His word.

Listen to an early Church father, Gregory of Nyssa, who some 1600 years ago said: “Just as at sea those who are carried away from the direction of the harbor bring themselves back on course by a clear sign, upon seeing either a beacon of light raised up high or some mountain peak coming into view, in the same way Scripture. . . may guide again to the harbor of the divine those adrift on the sea of life. . .” (Devotional Classics – Selected readings for Individuals and Groups – HarperSanFranciso, 1993.)

I will close with Psalm 18:30: “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. . .”

Dr. J. D. Abbott, Jr.

CHURCH: The Greek word that is translated “Church” is Ekklesia and it is a combination of two words. Ek =out –Klesia =called. The church is people called out of the world into the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:2 (HCSB)(Holman Christian Standard Bible)

“To God’s church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—theirs and ours.”

Ekklesia is also translated with words other than “church” such as “congregation” (Acts 7:38) and “assembly,” (Hebrews 12:23), and is the root of the English word ecclesiastical=of the church.

Notice that the New Testament does not place adjectives before Church as we usually do today: that is, we might refer to the Lutheran Church, St. James Church, or Center United Methodist Church. Instead, Church stands without introduction in the Bible. If anything, Church in the Bible is defined after it is mentioned, such as the Church at Antioch (Romans 16:1), or the Church in your house (1 Corinthians 16:19), and as a personification “greet (ed) the church” (Acts 18:22).

The church is an assembly of believers. It is relationship, not just a place. It is of God’s doing, not limited to any particular congregation or denomination. In addition, it would be clearer if Christians emphasized not only the place but also the work of the church. In other words replace “let’s go to church” with “let’s go to the church for worship.”

When used with Holy, the Church is an assembly of believers (called out set apart for God’s use). This broad vision of believers called apart by and for God is the essence behind the four adjectives of the Nicene Creed—that the Church is “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.”

“Thanksgiving”

By Dr. J. D. Abbott, Jr.

Psalm 95:2-3 “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods,” (NASB Updated Edition).

So what makes “thanksgiving” a holy word?

1. Not the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, broccoli, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and apple pie, family all gathered together.
2. Not the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions football game on television.
3. Not the long weekend that many will enjoy.
4. Not the home made cranberry sauce.
5. Not the words of thanksgiving shared around the table:
   1. I’m thankful for grandma
   2. I’m thankful for uncle Chad
   3. I’m thankful for my children
   4. I’m thankful for my home
   5. I’m thankful for Alabama football
   6. I’m thankful for turkey dinner with all the trimmings.
   7. I’m thankful for my pastor
   8. I’m thankful for my church

Yes, all these are fine, I’m personally thankful for all of them and more, however, Thanksgiving is a holy word because it is how we are to approach God. It is how we are to come into his presence. Thanksgiving is to be a loud celebration of us being in the very presence of the Holy God, giver of every good thing! Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving!

Presented by Dr. J. D. Abbott, Jr.

Source Material: Holy Words by Rev. David P. Rebeck

Used by permission: CSS Publishing Company

“Bible” means “book” and is a unique English title. For example, the German title is Der Heilige Schrift, meaning The Holy Writing.

The word “Bible” is never used in the Bible! Instead, the Greek word graphe is used, which means “writing” (in English we say GRAPHIC). Likewise, the Romans used scriptura, which means a writing in Latin and is translated Scripture in English (2 Timothy 3:16 “all scripture is inspired by God”).

The word “Bible” actually comes from the Greek biblia, which means “the book.” (The English “bibliography” starts with this word.)

When used with Holy, the Bible = the (set apart for God’s use) Book. It is Holy writing. Holy Writ. The Bible is a collection of writings treasured by the Church under the influence of God’s Holy Spirit, to be holy = [set apart for God’s use] for testimony, admonition, and salvation.

If you have a biblical word or “church” word that you would like to have defined please email it to me at jdabbottjr@gmail.com.

Three months later, Luther was called to defend his beliefs before Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. He did not apologize for his statements or for his beliefs.  For his refusal to recant his writings, the emperor declared him an outlaw and a heretic. Luther was protected by powerful German princes who kept him safe until his death, in 1546.

(some quotes from History.com)

Martin Luther was a man who prayed often and powerfully. If it were not for prayer, he would have in no way been able to withstand living over 20 years with threats on his life – actually living as a marked man. Here are some lessons from his writings as quoted in Richard Foster’s book, Devotional Classics: “Prayer is made vigorous by petitioning; urgent by supplication; by thanksgiving, pleasing and acceptable. Strength and acceptability combine to prevail and secure the petition. This, we see, is the manner of prayer practiced by the Church. . . The Lord’s Prayer opens with praise and thanksgiving and the acknowledgement of God as a Father. . . for supplication, this prayer is unequaled” (page 132).

Supplication and petition are nearly the same thing. Both have to do with listing before God our needs, and asking for Him to respond to them. About this kind of prayer Luther says, “Faith makes the prayer acceptable because it believes that either the prayer will be answered, or that something better will be given instead.” But I wonder if we might, instead of trying to make God some kind of cosmic Santa Claus with our wish list, offer that prayer up today: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

Amen.

If you don’t pray that says something significant to God. – Henry Blackaby Prayer is the boldness to enter into the holiest place in the Universe. – Henry Blackaby

A Blog by Dr. J. D. Abbott, Jr.

Source of research for this Holy Word has been: Holy Words: What Do They Mean? By Rev. David P. Rebeck. Used by permission granted by CSS Publishing Company.

Our “Holy Word” for this week is SIN. Of course the word sin does not fall in to the category of a holy word but its explanation or definition is critical to us understanding how to live a holy life.

Sin = separating from God; missing the mark

Sin is an opposite of holy where holy = set apart for God’s use; sin = whatever separates from God.

Romans 3:23 is helpful “…all have sinned (hamartano) and fall short of the glory of God.” Sins (harmartia) are anything which separates us from God. While God calls us to be holy = set apart for HIS use, there are internal and external temptations that lead us astray and cause to fall wayward.

This is precisely a basic Greek definition of harmartia. The word in Biblical times was used in traveling and referred to choosing the wrong road! This became a good visual aid for this word as “sin” – that choosing  the wrong way or path when dedicated to walking with God (and didn’t Jesus warn of the broad and narrow directions?—Matthew 7:13, 14). In short, sin (from harmartia) is going astray and therefore separating from God.

There is another useful image behind this word for “sin.” Harmartia was also used in ancient times in athletics. It meant to “miss the target” or “miss the mark” and thus forfeit the prize. This visual aid is useful in expressing the Christian faith because it suggests both goal and consequence. That is, the goal of a follower of Jesus is to be “on target” in the imitation and life our Lord, not to “fall short of the glory of God.” The consequence of “missing the mark” is to bring dishonor and discomfort in failing, to say nothing of the potential of losing one’s eternal prize and heavenly crown. Paul expressed this goal in athletic terms in 2 Timothy 4:7, 8.

Borrowing from sharpshooting, a modern illustration for sin in this sense is failing to hit the bull’s-eye. Whether it is archery or another kind of shooting, the goal is to hit the center of the target, not one of the outer concentric rings. Sin is anything less than the “bull’s-eye of God’s perfect will.”

The definition of “missing the mark” fits the theology of sin very well. We cannot avoid sin. No matter how hard we try or practice, we still can be wildly off target. And even when it appears we have struck center, careful measurement shows that we have only come very, very close. Both the impossibility of perfection and the clear fact of what is expected are common to this visual aid and Biblical witness of the meaning of sin as missing the mark.

In these respects, forgiveness is an opposite of sin, in that as sin = missing the mark of God’s will, separating from God; forgiveness = this wrong (or shortfall/shortcoming) shall not stand between us.

If you have a Holy Word that you would like to have defined please email your request to Dr. J. D. Abbott, Jr. @ jdabbottjr@gmail.com.

“Whether contemplation, meditation, prayer, inward silence, intuition, quietude, or activity are what we wish for ourselves, the best is God’s purpose for us at the present moment. Souls must look upon everything as though it were a matter of complete indifference, and, seeing only Him in all things, must take or leave them as He wishes so as to live, be nourished by, and hope in Him alone and not by any power or virtue which does not come from Him.” as quoted in Devotional Classics, edited by Richard Foster, 1993, page 232.

de Caussade challenges us here to abandon the self completely and trust God in all things even in each moment. This does not come easily, and does not come without intentionality and practice. We cannot in one day just “decide” to forsake what are our natural feelings and headlong pursue the things of God. I suppose it can happen with the Holy Spirit doing a miracle in us, but otherwise this is a process of God growing us up over the seasons of our lives. In what ways do you trust  God to be  at work in all things?