Bible Topics

Welcome to the section covering Bible Topics

Includes:

• Hearts in the Bible
• Worship and the Breaking of Bread

 

Hearts in the Bible

• Here are some thoughts and references surrounding the heart
• There are many others either with similar or different lessons

• Do read around the verses to understand their setting

• Psalm 45.1 is described as the Sovereign’s heart because the psalmist heart is taken up with the King, as is the psalm, He has captivated it

• It has been helpfully said that we have a Body that others may know us, a Soul that we might know ourselves, and a Spirit that we might know God

• The Spirit can also be thought of as a mind to know God, but also a will to serve God and a heart to love God

• But what does ‘the heart’ mean? Clearly, in the verses below, it is not our physical heart

• It has also helpfully been described as the hidden springs of the personal life, our mental and moral activity and our rational and emotional elements

• The list below is not exhaustive and hopefully not exhausting!

• It can be used for a daily reading/meditation/study

• May it encourage us and help us examine our hearts as the Lord sees them (Psalm 26.2)

 

1.   Sinful                  Genesis 6.5
2.   Sorrowing         Genesis 6.6
3.   Stranger’s         Exodus 23.9
4.   Scornful            1 Chronicles 15.29
5.   Supreme            1 Chronicles 17.19
6.   Searched           1 Chronicles 29.17a
7.   Sacrificial         1 Chronicles 29.17b
8.   Settled                1 Chronicles 29.18
9.   Sincere               Ezra 7.10
10.   Sovereign’s       Psalm 45.1
11.   Shattered          Psalm 69.20
12.   Seeking              Psalm 69.32
13.   Surrendered    Proverbs 3.5
14.   Son’s                   Proverbs 23.26
15.   Stirring              Proverbs 28.25
16.   Searchless         Jeremiah 17.9
17.   Spiritual            Ezekiel 36.26a
18.   Stony                   Ezekiel 36.26b
19.   Scattered           Zechariah 7.12-14
20.   Saviour’s           Matthew 11.29
21.   Slow                    Luke 24.25
22.   Single                  Luke 24.32
23.   Suspicious         Luke 24.38
24.   Scheming            John 13.2
25.   Struggling          John 14.1
26.   Similar                Acts 13.22
27.   Sensitive             Romans 10.1
28.   Saved                   Romans 10.9
29.   Shared                Galatians 4.6
30.   Singing                Ephesians 5.19
31.   Scriptural          Hebrews 8.10

 

Worship and the Breaking of Bread

It’s Meaning:

• It would be helpful to see what the word Worship means in our Bible
• In the Old Testament the Hebrew word shachah is translated as worship ninety-nine times and means ‘to bow self down’ reflecting an attitude of reverence
• In the New Testament the Greek word proskuneo is translated worship fifty-nine times and adds affection to reverence

 

It’s Misunderstanding:

• Like several other words Worship is perhaps often misunderstood
• Expressions such as a Place of Worship, a Worship Meeting, and a Worship Leader have little, if any, support in the New Testament
• We should be careful in what expressions we use as they can not only be Biblically inaccurate but misleading and limiting 

It’s Measure:

• An absolute reverence and love for God
• An absolute reverence and love for the Word of God
• An absolute reverence and love for the People of God
• An absolute reverence and love for the House of God
• An absolute reverence and love in Speaking to and for God
• An absolute reverence and love only for God
• An absolute reverence and love for God anywhere, anytime

It’s Meeting?

• Sadly, the Breaking of Bread is often taken to be The Worship Meeting, this is not the language of Scripture
• As previously referred to above Worship should mark us at all times, wherever we are and whatever we are doing individually and whenever we come together as a local church
• It is important to realise that Scripture when giving instruction for the Breaking of Bread is silent as to the use of Scriptures, Speaking, Singing, Silence, Structure
• To insist on one and to exclude another is unscriptural and possibly legalistic
• We should be free before the Lord to have our hearts exercised each week when we come to Break Bread
• Scripture is very clear how we should behave when we come together, the Breaking of Bread embraces all that is Scriptural in practice and a wonderful privilege for the people of God
• Another opportunity to express/experience/enjoy our absolute reverence and love for the Lord
• And whether it’s the Scriptures, Speaking, Singing, Silence, or Structure ensure that all focuses on the Lord Himself because that is the reason we come together at the Breaking of Bread, to Remember Him
• 1 Corinthians 11.23-25