What Tools Do You Use for Bible Study?

I came across an article today that got me to thinking about some different tools which we use for Bible study. Many of us who are preachers use concordances, lexicons, commentaries and other resources to help us in preparation of our lessons. Many people use highlighters to make certain passages stand out in Scripture. Others might use sticky notes to mark certain pages. How many of us use something like razors and glue sticks in our Bible study?

One of the most recognizable names in the history of the United States of America is Thomas Jefferson. He was our third President (1801-1809), he was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, he is one of the faces on Mount Rushmore and he is on the two dollar bill. While he is recognized as one of the greatest figures in the history of the United States, there is something many people don't recognize him for that can be quite troubling.

Thomas Jefferson was an individual who didn't believe a lot of what is in Scripture. He didn't believe in the virgin birth, the divine healings, the exorcisms and resurrections from the dead. It is stated that he felt these parts of the Bible were "superstitions, fantacisms and fabrications" (http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/11/my-take-how-thomas-jeffersons-secret-bible-might-have-changed-history)

With a razor and glue brush in hand Thomas Jefferson would set out to create his own version of the Bible for his private study by cutting out the passages he didn't believe and glue the ones he wanted to keep in his perceived order. He aligned all of these using English, French, Greek and Latin translations. I've heard of picking and choosing, but this puts a whole different perspective on that.

We are told by an inspired Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." It is not our liberty to believe some parts of Scripture and cut out what we want to dismiss. Even with some of our older generation who have viewed the Old Testament as unnecessary for us today, I have heard statements like "I don't want that Old Bible because we don't go by that," yet Paul told us "for whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4)

The next time you sit down to study your Bible, what will you use? A highlighter or a razor? Will you accentuate or will you eliminate? The choice is yours!

Article from Randy Fox

Hey everyone,

I just finished reading an article from a brother in Christ named Randy Fox. He is a friend of mine with the Columbia Fire Department. He sent me this article after me speaking at the Main Street congregation in Mount Pleasant Wednesday night. I liked it so much I wanted to share it with you.

Lightship Chesapeake

In the fall of 1962, the Lightship Chesapeake and her crew of 16 was struck by the full force of an Atlantic hurricane. Other vessels could run for cover, as the storm rose, but Chesapeake had to stay at her station, marking the approaches to the Chesapeake Bay as she had done since 1933. The 1000-watt lamp at her masthead was a sign for life for other ships, and the safety of others came first.

The storm hit. In a heavy sea, a huge wave broke over Chesapeake’s 20 foot high bow, carried away her foredeck fittings, damaged her steel pilot house and swept both of her life boats away. The ship’s anchor rode 1000 feet of 1 ½ inch thick cast iron chain - snapped and her main 7500-pound mushroom anchor was lost. Badly damaged and drifting from her station, Chesapeake made for the Norfolk Virginia base. The emergency repairs were made and within 24 hours she was back at her station guiding wayward ships to the safety of the Chesapeake Bay.

How can we learn from the Chesapeake and apply this to our Christian life? Well first lets look at the Chesapeake as a source of light. Isaiah 59:9 states “we wait for light”. This is what the wayfaring ships at sea were relying on, the light from the Chesapeake to guide them safely to the harbor. This light is also the light we as Christians must also provide to those of the world, we must shine during the storms of this life Isaiah 60:1 tells us “Arise, shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” When we put on Christ in our lives we must shine for him,
John 8:12 which states “ I am the light of the world: He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” Matt 5:16 “ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” This is not only a scripture for us to read but a commandment of Jesus. We are to provide this light to those around about us to lead them safely home and at the same time we are giving praise to our Father. Second is the Chesapeake’s commitment, she knew that staying at sea during the hurricane was her duty and she accepted it. But when the damage was done she left her post. A lot of times Christians are damaged and they never return to their post they get into a rut much like the Chesapeake. The Chesapeake did not let herself stay in the rut she made for the base, had the repairs and went back to work. But we allow ourselves sometime to think only of our own problems; we need to get back to the business Jesus commands us to carry out. If we put him first in our lives He will provide for us. When we get knock down we need to get back up. Next lets look at how long the light was shining from the Chesapeake, for 24 hours she was away from her post. During this time how many wayward ships were searching for the bay? The Chesapeake did return but not like Jesus will. Jesus is coming to gather his own. Jesus tells us in John 13:35 “Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you.” Jesus extends his call and shines forth his light, but we must use it while it is here, we are not promise the next breath. Does your light shine like the Light Ship Chesapeake? Randy Fox

Long time

Hey everyone,

It's been too long since I've been on here, but I wanted to catch you up to speed on some things. I've been busy with church work, songwriting and family life. I have not taken the time to post things on here in a long while. However, let me try to post a couple of things.

I've been asked by the elders to help them keep track of some among our number here at West 7th who have been absent for quite a while. This will be a tough task, but they know I'm glad to help where I can. I think between the senior adults, teaching and preaching at assisted living homes, teaching Sunday mornings, coordinating the Barnabas Factor mailouts and calling some of our absentees I am going to stay plenty busy.

I've written several country songs since I wrote "We've Not Forgotten." I don't know if anything will happen with it or not, but I've made several connections. I'm in the process of getting some of my original material to a producer in Nashville, and he's going to help me with a few things. I'm excited to see where this will go for me in the near future. I'm scheduled to play at a couple of benefit dinners this fall. I'll be playing at the benefit for State Representative Sheila Butt (yes, she's my aunt) on Oct. 13 along with Cowboy Troy. That night ought to be exciting. Also, I'm scheduled to play at a benefit for the Maury County Sherriff's Dept. sometime in November along with a couple of other country artists. This will be some good exposure for me. I recently showcased my music at Nett's Country Store and Deli in Bethel and several from West 7th came out on the church bus to support me! What a surprise. I'll be playing some songs with Jerry Elder at the upcoming teachers' appreciation dinner here at West 7th on Saturday, August 27 as part of the entertainment that night. It ought to be a lot of fun.

I was busy today visiting St. Thomas Hospital and Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Sometimes we'll go for a while without having anybody in the hospitals, but then it seems like it happens all at once when they need to be there. Maybe once we get them squared away we won't have anyone up there for a while.

Everybody have a great day, and I'll catch up with you later!

Update of "We've Not Forgotten"

http://west7thcofc.com/Jeremy/11-05-31-17-05-30.wav

Hey everyone, here's the latest audio recording of the song which adds a bridge and third verse.

New Song

Hey Everybody,

I'm excited as I just got my first song copyrighted. It's called "We've Not Forgotten," and it's a follow-up to Darryl Worley's song "Have You Forgotten?" You can listen to it by clicking on the title of the blog entry. Tell me what you think. I'm in the process right now of trying to contact a music publisher about picking up the song.

Jeremy T. Butt

Is It Real?

Being around older people a lot, I hear some of the funniest things. One of them came on Sunday night while preaching at the Bridge. After services were over I had finished serving communion to one of the ladies when she wanted to ask a personal question if I would give an honest answer. My mind began wondering what she wanted to know that was so personal, but I figured it was concerning my preaching. After telling her that she could ask me, she proceeded to ask me if my hair was real. I thought that was one of the funniest things I'd ever had asked about me in my life. I told her of course it was real. Then she said "can I touch it?" That was even funnier than the original question. I bent down and she tugged on my hair (I guess she thought it was a toupee or some other kind of hair piece). She said "you have beautiful hair!" After laughing I said "thank you!" I don't know that anyone has ever asked that about me before. However, does it make you wonder if anyone wants to question us if our lives as Christians are real?

Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their hypocrisy in Matthew 25, and John tells us in 1 John 2:4 that if we say we know the Lord but don't keep His commandments we are a liar. We need to live our lives in such a way that people know we are Christians and that we are living for the Lord each day (Matthew 5:16). People should not have to ask us if our lives are real, for it should be evident by the way we live.

A hairpiece or any other kind of "fake" hair serves a purpose, but fake spirituality serves no purpose. What are you doing with your life to make sure people know your Christianity is real. I know what I have as a Christian is real, but how would I react if someone questions that? Can I show them? I sure could show the lady at the Bridge that my hair was real, so I better be able to back up the truthfulness of my Christianity. Is it real?

Remove the Filth

Remember the character from the Peanuts comic strip named PigPen? He walked around everywhere surrounded by a cloud of dust because he stayed filthy. If we were to try to come in the house when we were younger our mothers might be heard saying "take those filthy clothes off before you come in this house!" They did not want filthy garments in their clean house; they didn't belong. We would have to remove those filthy clothes before it was acceptable to them.

Isn't sin like that? Ever since the first sin in the garden of Eden we became dirty in the eyes of God. Before we could be acceptable in His sight we had to do something about our sin. There is an example of someone standing before God who is filthy and in need of changing their garments. Read Zechariah 3:1-5. Satan as the accuser tries to point out our sins that separate us from God, thus symbolized in this story as the filthy garments. Thanks be to God that the power of the accuser is not as great as Heaven's Oxy Clean. The Lord knew just how to make us clean in His sight.

For those of us since the death of Christ the way to be considered clean in the sight of God is through the blood of His Son. Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb by being immersed into Christ? (Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:21) If you haven't obeyed the gospel and you're at the age where you know your sins have hurt God (2 Cor. 7:9) you're still standing before God in filthy garments with Satan accusing you night and day. Are you like those in the church at Sardis who had soiled their garments or are you like the others in Sardis who are walking with the Lord in white? (Rev. 3) The choice is yours as to whether or not you wash your robes and make them white in the blood of the lamb (Rev. 7:14). If your garments are filthy, change your clothes to remove the filth!