How To Use InHisVerse
Unleashing the full power of InHisVerse in your Original Word Studies and Sermons.
New to Bible Teaching? You'll want to understand how the Bible fits together; how scripture is layered book by book. In my opinion, the best way to become a Bible scholar is examining how and where an original word was used. I recommend it to all, as there are enormous truths about God's love, grace and mercy that can only be understood when you study the Bible's original words and context. As the Bible is a book to be shared, I recommend you find ways of sharing the insight you've received.
Original Word Studies
The Bible is an amazing book in that it is unbreakable, consistent in message and thought throughout. Here are some steps to get you started on an original word study.
Step 1 - Pick a favorite passage of scripture. I started my journey going through Ephesians. You may want to start an online Facebook or other way of podcasting, so you are sharing what you are learning. For this demo, we'll use Ephesians 1:3-8.
Step 2 - Identify the 'key' verse that summarizes or concludes the thought. Biblical ideas flow from a subject line which is often at the end or the middle of the passage. I will often start a teaching with a verse from the end of a chapter or paragraph and work backward through the verses, so the key verse can be emphasized over and over. In this case, verse 6 summarizes the entire passage - 'to the praise of his glorious grace freely given' should be the starting point. So, add verse 6 as a bookmark so you can easily get back to it. Let's bring up that verse in the outline.
Step 3 - Choose a key word in that key verse. This is the basis of all the teaching you'll be doing through this whole exercise. Grace (charis) is a fascinating word, I spent weeks studying it. I'll go into a few details following.
Step 4 - Ready your word processor. Start with an introduction like this:
(EXAMPLE Word Document)
11/1/2024 - Ephesians 1:3-8
Hi folks, tonight we'll be starting our in-depth discussion of Eph 1:3-8. We'll be starting with the key scripture and word in the passage, the Greek word charis which is most often translated grace but means so much more.
Step 5 - I sometimes add Greek definitions from the definition panel and BibleHub, I'll leave that up to you.
Step 6 - Go through the cross-references, find verses that coincide and amplify the meaning of Charis. In IOS, click twice to highlight the verse to copy it to the Clipboard. In Windows, use highlight the verses and use right-click menu 'copy formatted'. I suggest copy and pasting more verses than you need, then edit the listing. Here's an example:
(EXAMPLE Word Document)
Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
2 Cor 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor 9:7 Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
Step 7 - Almost done, now it's time to construct your teaching on verses, use the word processor to rearrange the verses as you see fit and add your comments.
(EXAMPLE Word Document)
*Comment* - Although you've probably been taught grace means 'unmerited favor,' it also means 'everyone is welcome, everyone come in!' 'there are no preconditions!'
Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
*Comment* - Grace is related to weakness. Jesus came for the least of us.
2 Cor 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
*Comment* - Joy is also part of grace, in fact, char (Greek word for joy) was used as a root word, so that ancient Greeks would understand Charis as a piece of joy for all mankind.
2 Cor 9:7 Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
Additional Step - To supplement your study, use the Greek Inspector and Synonym search to understand and teach on related words. Note that 'chara,' rejoice, and 'eucharisteo', gratitude, are root words of grace.
Use InHisVerse Study Tools to write in-depth, thoughtful sermons.
Sermon Writing Assistant
In addition to original language tools, InHisVerse contains nine computer-indexed topical Bibles and dictionaries. Although, I am not a pastor/teacher, I did envision sermon creation as part of InHisVerse. Future releases may have more automation built into them.
Step 1 - Identify the Subject Pick your sermon topic. For this example, I'm choosing 'glory' and using Rom 3:23 as a base verse - 'All have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.' The Greek word for glory is 'Doxa' - it refers to us giving glory to God and God's eternal, radiant glory in heaven.
Step 2 - Perform a Word Study In order to understand how the word 'doxa' was used in context, study the word, pick out scriptures as noted before.
Step 3 - Topic Search for Glory Press 'Study' button when on Romans 3:23 to get a hint of what cross-references are linked to the verse. Unfortunately, I'm seeking to teach on mankind's fall from God's glory, that Adam had full access to all God's glory and resources, None of the study books treats this aspect of Romans 3:23, so we'll have to dig deeper.
Step 4 - Search Dictionaries for Glory This is where we find some meaty scriptures. Expanding the search to 'contains', Cloud of Glory and ISBE Glory attract my attention. I'll copy some scriptures for use in my sermon notes.
Here's some scriptures I found in my search. Typically, I copy and paste many more scriptures than I need, then whittle down the list as I am led. The story of the Golden Calf was found using the bible search text button. Of course, such a short search does not a sermon make.
(EXAMPLE Word Document)
Exo 34:5 And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD. 6 Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, 7 maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” 8 Moses immediately bowed down to the ground and worshiped. 9 “O Lord,” he said, “if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance.”
Exo 33:9 As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses. 10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent. 11 Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.
Exo 32:1 Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!” 2 So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.”
1 Chr 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we give You thanks, and we praise Your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
Additional - Searching Synonyms for glory helps locate the main word used for glory in Hebrew.
Bible Hub's wealth of information is also at your fingertips for research.
One more thing: You are welcome to tune into my own Facebook live stream on Saturday nights at 8:30pm. https://www.facebook.com/jeojimmy
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