Introduction to Helpful Notes
“Focus on your life and your teaching. Continue to do what I have told you. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you.” (1 Tim.4:16 God’s Word trans.)
Jesus told His hearers, “Take head what you hear…” (Mark 4:24). Be careful what you allow to enter your mind. It will affect your heart and how you live your daily life. Today is a time that Jesus warned about in Matthew 24 when He said that all kinds of teaching (doctrine) would be taught to the people. These teachings would lead people into humanism, which leads to rebellion, pride, selfishness, and self-destruction.
The purpose for providing these notes is to help the reader focus on the truths found in God’s Word that will change their lives. The Word of God and the Spirit of God are the only means to change the human heart.
Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. (St. John 8:32)
Jesus is the truth, and studying the Word of God will lead to a deeper knowledge of Him (the truth). The more we learn the more we realize we all have a different perspective on matters of interests in the Word of God. An example would be eschatology (the study of the last days). Our purpose for studying the Word of God is to learn Christ. When we learn Christ, we will have the wisdom and understanding to be affective in teaching others the things of God. We must all agree on the essential basics that are expressed in the early church fathers’ Apostle’s Creed. Our purpose is to get the reader to focus on God and His Word. Our witness, our testimony, our character, our instruction to others and our effectiveness comes from the wisdom of God’s Word.
Our prayer is that you will use the notes as an aid in your study of God’s Word.
I pray that the glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Christ better.
(Ephesians 1:17 God’s Word trans.)
May you grow in faith, character, and knowledge, and be very useful to God in His Kingdom at this time. Amen! |
