Sword Drill: Trials

1 Peter 4:12  Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

James 1:2-3  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Acts 14:21-22  They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

1 Peter 1:7  These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Thessalonians 3:2-3  We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker[a]in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.

2 Corinthians 8:2  Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

Hebrews 11:36  Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.

FINAL ROUND:  2 Peter 2:9  ….if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

Sword Drill: Missions

Psalm 2:8. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

Isaiah 61:1-2. The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.

Matthew 28:19-20. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Luke 14:23. Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.

Acts 1:8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Romans 1:14. I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

3 John 7-8. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.

FINAL ROUND: Acts 13:47. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’

Sword Drill: Christian Identity

Deuteronomy 14:2 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.

Isaiah 63:16 But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.

2 Corinthians 6:18 I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,

FINAL ROUND: Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

Sword Drill: Trials

1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Acts 14:21-22 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

1 Peter 1:7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

I Thessalonians 3:2-3 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.

2 Corinthians 8:2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

Hebrews 11:36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.

FINAL ROUND: 2 Peter 2:9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

Sword Drill: Strength

Joshua 1:9. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Deuteronomy 31:6. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you..

1 Corinthians 12:10. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1 Kings 2:2. I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man,

Psalm 89:13. Your arm is endued with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

Luke 1:80. And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Romans 15:1. We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

FINAL ROUND: Song of Solomon 8:6. Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

Sword Drill: Holiness

Exodus 20:8. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

1 Thessalonians 5:26. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

Psalm 24:3.   Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?

Luke 1:70. ..as he said through his holy prophets of long ago…

1 Peter 1:16. ….for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’.

Isaiah 62:12. They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.

Acts 7:33. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground.

FINAL ROUND: Ephesians 4:24. ..and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Sword Drill: Action

1 Peter 1:13. Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Proverbs 20:11. Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.

James 1:25. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Matthew 7:21. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Luke 6:47. I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.

Romans 2:13. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

1 John 2;17. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

FINAL ROUND: Esther 4:14. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Sword Drill Instructions

Sword Drill Instructions:

Explain why the Bible is the Christian’s “sword” (verses like Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17 may be used as examples).

Have everyone close their Bibles and hold them by the binder. If not all those participating have a Bible with them, you may want to provide extras. Be prepared that there will be various versions used, so the readings may vary slightly.

Shout “Sheathe swords” (everyone should put their Bibles under their arms).

Shout “Draw swords” (everyone should now hold their Bibles in the air with arms straight).

Announce the passage (book, chapter, and verse) and have everyone repeat it after you in unison.

Shout “Charge” everyone should now try to look up the verse as quickly as possible. Participants may also recite the verse from memory, but it must be very close to word-perfect to qualify as a winner.

The first one to find the reference should stand and begin reading the verse (or reciting it from memory). Actual ties can be dealt with by allowing both to win that round.

Each person who wins a round is automatically a finalist. A person may win only once before the final. The final round includes all the winners of the individual verse drills. Each sword drill session has a theme.

There is a winner for guessing the theme as well as an overall drill winner. Candy or a small prize may be awarded to the winners.

The verses listed in each sword drill are from the New International Version.  If you prefer another version of the Bible, please feel free to take the templates I provide and use the version of your choice.

Michael Bogart

Preparation for Bible Study

Bible study can be an exciting adventure into the heart and mind of God.  Reading and carefully considering its records, accounts and stories can literally be a life-transforming experience.  Without the proper preparation, it can also be confusing, frustrating or even  misleading.  In order to make a good beginning, it is helpful to keep the following pointers in mind:

Set aside adequate time. You need a block of time during which disturbances and distractions will be at a minimum. The time should be sufficient to deal with the passage you plan to study and the issues in it without being rushed.

Choose in a place that is conducive to study, thought and prayer. The place should have access to study tools and other materials and equipment necessary for the task.  It should be comfortable and as free as possible from distractions.

Look to yourself. Don’t assume that the passage to be studied is for someone else. Study it for your own issues and growth before anything else. Include prayer specifically asking God to give you understanding of the facts of the passage and its application for your life and the lives of others. Decide beforehand to obey what you learn.

If you plan to teach the passage, consider the needs and context of your audience. Are they believers in Christ? How much Bible background do they already have? What are their possible biases toward the passage or subject to be taught? Will they be able to understand you if you speak as you normally do? How long will they be willing to listen? What can you do to make them comfortable enough to learn and respond?

Make use of basic Bible study tools. A Bible atlas helps locate places and describes the geography of the Bible. A concordance lists verse references according to the words each reference contains. A Bible dictionary defines various terms as they are used in Scripture. In a commentary a Bible teacher or scholar discusses and explains scripture. A Bible handbook gives basic information and an outline of Bible books. Language studies give in-depth discussion of the Greek and Hebrew words used in various passages.

Use a basic and reliable translation. Make sure that the version you are using is accepted by a wide range of believers, and not just by a narrow sect. The more precise and in-depth you want to go in your study, the more exactly word-for-word the translation you use needs to be. Use a translation that takes into account the reading level and proficiency of your audience as well as one that is appropriate to the occasion and/or tastes of your audience.

Michael Bogart

A Brief Beginners Guide to the Bible

Much could be said about the Bible as the Word of God and how it is to be read, studied and applied to daily life.  These issues will be dealt with in other articles.  For now, let me simply confine myself to some basic facts.

The Bible contains a total of 66 books in two major sections:

The Old Testament is made up of 39 books, which outline God’s redemptive work in the world before the time of Christ, and focus specifically on the nation of Israel.

The New Testament has 27 books, which describe God’s more complete redemptive work since the time of Jesus’ birth, and focus on the new, multi-ethnic people of God, the Church.

These books were written by around 40 different authors over a span of approximately 1500 years (1400 B.C. to 100 A.D.).

The 66 books of the Bible were written in three original languages.  The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic; the New Testament in Koine Greek.

There are several very good English Bible translations, which enable us to read and understand the sense of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts.

The various books were written using various writing styles, including poetry, history, logical argument, stories, prophecy, wisdom literature, etc.

Though each of the books of the Bible has its unique purpose and setting, a common theme joins each of the books into a whole, showing us God’s holy character, his plans for human redemption and his great love for us, demonstrated in Christ.

Here are some suggestions for getting a grasp on the overall message of the Bible:

Read Genesis for an understanding of early human history and the background of the nation of Israel.

Read Exodus to see how God’s covenant with Israel set the stage for his dealings with the Jewish people and his later work with the entire world by outlining standards of right and wrong, good and evil.

Read Psalms and Proverbs to find comfort, wisdom and help in the issues of life and in worshipping God.

Read Mark and John for a basic grasp of the life and identity of Jesus Christ.

Read Romans to get a panorama of God’s entire plan of redemption.

Read Acts and Ephesians to see how God has implemented a new covenant through the Church to include people from all nations.

Read Revelation to be assured that God’s plan will be fulfilled and his people ultimately given eternal joy.

If you are a beginner to the Bible, you may encounter parts of it which may seem puzzling, boring or hard to understand. The main thing in such cases is not to give up. You may want to temporarily skip over those parts in your reading, making a note to come back to them later when you have gained more knowledge or experience in this amazing book.

Remember: the Bible is not written in code. Both the human authors and God who inspired them, intended for us to understand the basic message. Part of the task is to learn some basic things about Bible times and culture as well as how to separate presuppositions from what is actually in the text. The other part of understanding the Bible is simply asking God to give you insight as you read and study.

Michael Bogart

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