assurance

Borders Day 9
Seeing The Healer: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

Looking for yesterday’s
Journey Study?
Check out Seeing The Healer!

Hebrews 11:1 English Standard Version (ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

The Questions

1) What does the word assurance mean?

2) What is the greater context of this verse?

3) Where else in Scripture could I study about faith?

The Findings for Intention

1) What does the word assurance mean?
The word assurance in the original Greek language means “the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution, that which has foundation, is firm, substance.”

2) What is the greater context of this verse?
The entirety of chapter 11 gives us countless examples throughout the Old and New Testament of those who have gone before and walked a faithful road. Some call this chapter in Hebrews the “hall of faith”. Just before this in chapter 10, we see the writer of Hebrews talking about the confidence we have as believers to enter into the holy places because of the sacrifice of Jesus. The writer is pointing to all the benefits of our faith and then he goes on in chapter 11 to define it.

3) Where else in Scripture could I study faith?
The Bible is saturated with humanity’s trials and triumphs regarding their faith. Psalms is filled with verses talking about God’s faithfulness. The entire chapter 11 gives specific examples of people who triumphed in their faith. It would be easy to start with the first person mentioned and read their story.

The Everyday Application

1) What does the word assurance mean?
Often we read Scripture and forget that it wasn’t written in English. I read a word like assurance and I think I know what it means, but using a useful tool like www.studylight.org helps me to grasp a deeper, more specific definition. In this case we see that the writer’s intention is for us as the reader to understand that our faith is the foundation of our hope, the substance of why we believe. It is the steadfastness of mind to trust that God is who He says He is, and despite answers we don’t like, we can believe that God knows best. He is enough and He is able even when it seems He is absent, He is not!

2) What is the greater context of this verse?
Reading this verse alone gives us a Biblical definition of faith. Reading in the greater context of chapter 11 and even the chapter 10 before it helps us to grasp that we are not alone in this fight for faith. We can look back at heroes of Scripture and see that there are those who questioned God, but remained faithful. There are those who walked the road that God intended, even when it was hard. It is a challenge when we read a passage like this to look at our own faith and question, is my faith that big? Do I really believe God? Not just in Him, but truly trust Him with the assurance of hope that comes from a personal relationship with Him.

3) Where else in scripture can I study faith?
Let Scripture interpret Scripture. By this I mean, when you question and study Scripture look to other Scripture to help you gain a greater understanding about it. Allow yourself to desire the Word so deeply that when you read something, it nourishes your soul, but it also pushes you to want to know more. Paul prayed this very thing for the Ephesians. “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,” Ephesians 1:16-18.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
3) Write down your questions as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God in your everyday!

The Community!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Borders Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

The Why!

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Borders!

Adoring Day 7
Finding Satisfaction in the Sanctuary: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

Looking for yesterday’s Journey Post? Check out When Jesus Didn’t Feel Brave!

Psalm 42:5-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

The Questions

1) What are the questions the Psalmist asks? What do these questions indicate?

2) What are the responses to those questions?

3) Verse 7 uses the metaphors of a waterfall, breakers, and waves. What do these mean?

4) What is the overall message of this psalm?

The Findings for Intention

1) What are the questions the Psalmist asks? What do these questions indicate?
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil?” “Why have you [God] forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” Other people ask, “Where is your God?” These questions indicate that the Psalmist is experiencing some circumstances (oppression from enemies, people mocking him) that are causing him inner turmoil. He is in a tough place emotionally.

2) What are the responses to those questions?
Immediately after each of these questions is asked in the text, the Psalmist points back to hoping in God. He says he will again praise God, and calls Him his salvation. He says he will remember God, and speaks of His steadfast love and nearness.

3) Verse 7 uses the metaphors of a waterfall, breakers, and waves. What do these mean?
Anyone who has ever been in the ocean knows the power of the strong breakers and waves, how they come one after another, pushing down. Likewise, a waterfall’s unrelenting power can actually carve the rocks upon which it falls, all with a roaring sound that overwhelms the ears. This verse speaks of the depth of the troubles and afflictions of the writer—he is overwhelmed by the oppression of his circumstances.

4) What is the overall message of this psalm?
Even with the imagery that shows the depths of the trouble the Psalmist endures, he is able to point to the solution to his trouble—hope in God. He trusts God as his salvation from these trials, and his soul is comforted by praising Him.

The Everyday Application

1) What are the questions the Psalmist asks? What do these questions indicate?
Troubles abound in this life. There are difficult things that we go through as Christians, sometimes because of our own sin, sometimes because of the sin of others, and sometimes because of spiritual attack by the enemies of Christ. This psalm (and others) teach us that it is okay to cry out to God! He can handle our questions, and He is not threatened when we express what our souls are feeling.

2) What are the responses to those questions?
The Psalmist was honest with his feelings, but he was also quick to state his hope in God. He knew that God was his salvation, and he remembered Him. May we be quick to remember our Savior in our times of despair. He is the only One with the power to change our circumstances and comfort our hearts.

3) Verse 7 uses the metaphors of a waterfall, breakers, and waves. What do these mean?
Somehow, in the midst of our troubles, it is comforting to know that people throughout history have felt overwhelmed by the circumstances in their lives that cause pain. But God is good, and He is faithful, and He cares for us. He will pluck us from the waves and hold our souls steady, even in the midst of trials.

4) What is the overall message of this psalm?
Trials and sorrows abound, but God is our Savior, worthy to be praised! Let us teach our souls to remember Him and sing His praises, even in the depths of our despair. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead your heart to Jesus, who endured much more than us so that it can be well with our souls, even in the pits of this life.

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!

I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
3) Write down your questions as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God in your everyday!

The Community!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Adoring Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

The Why!

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Adoring!