Study the Playbook!

Topical Bible Study

Matthew 5,6 &7

When Trish’s son, Tom, returned from Boot Camp, he gave my son Andrew a copy of his Marine Corps Manual. The cover was nearly worn off after 14 weeks of intense physical and mental training. A Marine recruit is responsible to know everything in this manual. They are “drilled” on their knowledge of this material at any and all possible times of the day and night, and an incorrect answer can result in extra duty for the recruit or his entire squad. 

In the preface to the 1997 edition of the Marine Corps Warfighting Manual, the Commandant of the Marine Corps writes,

This publication describes the philosophy which distinguishes the U.S. Marine Corps. The thoughts contained here are not merely guidance for action in combat but a way of thinking. This publication provides the authoritative basis for how we fight and how we prepare to fight.

He further writes,

Experience has shown that the warfighting philosophy
described on these pages applies far beyond the officer corps.
As General A. M. Gray stated in his foreword to the original in 1989, this publication describes a philosophy for action that, in war, in crisis, and in peace, dictates our approach to duty. I expect all Marines—enlisted and commissioned—to read this book, understand it, and act upon it.

I’m reading an excellent book right now by David McCullough entitled, 1776. It is a history of the rag-tag army that the fledgling United States of America sent to war in the first year of the Revolution. I’ve got to tell you, it’s an absolute miracle that they survived a single battle. There was no discipline, no training of soldiers or officers, few weapons, little ammunition, and frequently little or no food for the troops. During that first year of the Revolution, the army was met with defeat after defeat – and the only maneuver they mastered was that of retreat.

Filled with idealistic dreams, the people of the new nation believed that they could battle the strongest army on the planet, filled with professional, well trained, well paid and well supplied soldiers and officers, with militia – volunteers who would sign on for a few months, go off to war, then return home. The Continental Army didn’t need all that enlisting and training stuff – they were right – so they obviously would win!

But reality has a way of reminding us that idealistic thinking and a just cause is no substitute for discipline, training and hard work. It wasn’t until 1777, after a series of losses and set-backs, that the leaders and population of the New Nation realized that they needed all of the above.

In the Christian church, many live in an idealistic denial of reality. We walk around smugly in our belief in our own spiritual security while day after day we loose battle after battle. Individually we are in slavery to addictions and habitual sin. Culturally the church is irrelevant. Physically it is shrinking – in fact, there was not ONE COUNTY in the United States that showed an increase in church attendance last year. But more importantly, Spiritually we lose thousands upon thousands of souls to eternity without God every day. People all around us are being dragged away into hell by our enemy, and we barely notice!

It is imperative that we take our responsibility seriously as Christians. God has, in His sovereignty, commissioned us with the task of “making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything He has commanded us…” If the Commandant of the Marine Corps can “expect all Marines—enlisted and commissioned—to read this book, understand it, and act upon it.” Why is it that we resist the expectations of the Lord who said, “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it”? 

We are closing out a short series today entitled “Study the Playbook.” We’ve looked at several different methods of Bible Study – Book Studies where we focus on specific books or passages of the Bible, Biographical Studies of people in the Bible, and today we move to Topical Studies – where we choose a specific subject that we want to learn about, and dig into the Word to find out all we can about it.

Whatever method we use the goal is the same – “to read this book, understand it, and act upon it.” Our goal is not to punch a clock – to check off another accomplishment on our “to do” list – our goal is to incorporate the Word of God into our LIVES – to live in a way that reflects the character of God Himself – that sees the world with His eyes, and loves with His heart.

There are times in our lives when we have a particular need or question. Perhaps we are reaching a particular milestone in our Christian walk. Just this week, I met with Grace Miske, who has felt in her heart that she wants to be baptized. Some of you may be at that point as well, and you’d like to know more. Or perhaps you are considering getting married. Or you’re intrigued by this idea of fasting, and don’t understand why, how or even if it works. If that’s you, then the answer is NOT to you’re your pastor! (At least not right away!)

What you are looking for is a topical method of Bible study. Thankfully, the Bible addresses an amazing variety of life circumstances and topics, and you have a great resource for learning about the issues you face sitting on your lap this morning, on the chairs next to you, or on the shelf in your home. 

In fact, if you turn in your Bibles this morning to the biography of Jesus written by Matthew, the fifth through seventh chapters, you will find what we call “The Sermon on the Mount.” If you take the time to read this sermon this week, you will find that it is a very topical sermon. In fact in these three chapters, there are 18 topics discussed. Take a look:

Eighteen topics in one sermon covering just three chapters! And there is much, much more

– the only thing you need is the tools and a plan to access that information.

So let’s dig in!

How to do a Topical Bible Study

1. Pray. If you’ve been with us each week this first step is familiar. It is the first step every time you open your Bible. As you open the WORD of God, invite the SPIRIT of God to direct you. We have said it in previous weeks, but the truth does not weaken with repetition – “The same Spirit of God who inspired the Word of God will lead the People of God into the Truth of God.” The first place to begin a study of the Bible is in a position of prayer. Ask the Lord to guide you into truth – to speak to you from His Word.
2. Get in the Bible. Go to the Word of God first! You can read stuff about your topic by other authors later – but go to the Bible first, then see what the commentators, pastors and other authors have to say. 
3. You will need a few tools to help you know where to go in the Bible:
1. A concordance. We’ve talked about a Concordance before, but it bears repeating. This book will direct you to the location in your Bible of every occurrence of every word. You can take this book, and look up every verse in the Bible that mentions the word “baptism,” for example, or “fast.” Then you can look them up.
2. A topical Bible. There are some topical bibles that will give you the location in your Bible of a topic – it will give you some nuances of the topic you are studying – for example, when you look up fasting, it may also give you some passages about prayer that the editors believe are appropriate. The most widely used topical Bible is Naves, which contains over 20,000 entries. Orville Nave, who was a chaplain in the US Army, wrote it. He wrote his notes by hand from his own personal study – it’s really pretty cool and a great tool.
3. The Internet. Use the Internet for a great purpose! Many great resources are available online – I suggest that you stick to the ones that will give you just the Scripture – not commentary! There are a couple of resources listed on your study sheets.
4. I suggest you take a legal pad, or perhaps 3x5 cards (do they even make those anymore?), or open a new document in your word processor, and write out the verses you find. I would not recommend “cut and paste” from your computer to your word processor – either hand write it, or type the verses word for word yourself – it will help you pay attention more, and you will find that the words mean more to you after you have written them out yourself.
4. Summarize. What do these verses/passages indicate?
1. Define the topic from your reading of Scripture.
2. Are there specific guidelines or procedures indicated?
3. Are there warnings or commandments to heed?
5. Compare other opinions
1. Now is the time to look at what others have said – check out books on the topic, statement of faith from your church, talk to your pastor, or a godly friend. See how their conclusions compare to yours. Remember – the Word of God is has the final say – not the opinion of a person. If their thoughts are counter to what you find in Scripture – follow the Bible! 
2. Understand that in some areas there will be differences in interpretation. We need to be able to hold to a principle that is absolutely necessary to maintain unity in the Body of Christ – we need to have “Agreement on the essentials and Grace on the peripherals.” Some items, like how often we have communion, or what kind of music is appropriate, is a “peripheral” issue – but the deity of Jesus, and the fact that He is the ONLY way to the Father is an “essential” – you can’t be a Christian and deny it.
6. Application
1. We’ve read and studied the book, now it’s time to act upon it. How does the truth we’ve learned impact us in our day-to-day life? 

 i. Are there habits I need to abandon – or develop?

 ii. Is there sin I need to confess and repent from?

 iii. Is there a step of obedience I need to take?

 iv. How can I conform to the principles and patterns of the Word of God?

We’ve spent the last few weeks looking at this topic – and with good cause. Without a basic knowledge of the Word of God, we are a week and retreating force in this world. We will be constantly reeling from the attack of a culture that is bent on rejecting the truth of God. If we are going to be a church where “seeking individuals can become devoted followers of Christ,” then we must be those devoted followers ourselves. As your pastor, as a fellow disciple of Jesus, I urge you and plead with you to become a student of this Word – if you will get into it, I guarantee you will find it to be a life-changing, life-giving pursuit.