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Christian Life Church
October 4, 2026 at 9am & 11am
Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
THE BOOK OF ACTS OCTOBER 4, 2026
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE READING?!
SCRIPTURE
As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:26-32
THE POSITIVES OF READING THE BIBLE
Reading the Bible brings spiritual positives.
Reading the Bible brings natural positives.
“Malnourished people will eat anything.” Mark Rutland
A PLAN FOR READING THE BIBLE
Pick a Bible.
Pick a time and place.
Pick a reading plan.
A PATTERN WHEN READING THE BIBLE
Understand vs Edit
Remember, there’s a context to the whole of the Bible.
The Bible is about Jesus.
The Bible is interpreted by Jesus.
Remember, there’s a context to every book of the Bible.
Who is the author?
Who is the author writing to?
From what time period is the author writing?
“I built a pillar at the city gate and I fileted all the chief men who had revolted. I covered the pillar with their skins. Some I walled up inside the pillar. Some I impaled upon the pillar with stakes.” Temple Inscription, King Ashurbanipal
Where is the author?
Remember, there’s a context to every section of the Bible.
What has happened just before this section?
What does this section mean?
What does this section mean to me?
Scripture: Read a section.
Observation: “What is God saying in this section?”
Application: “What is God saying to me?”
Prayer: Ask God to help you.
THE PRACTICE OF THE BIBLE
Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22
THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE
The Bible communicates the character and nature of God.
The Bible communicates the beauty and brokenness of humankind.
The Bible communicates the plan and purposes of God.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE READING?!
SCRIPTURE
As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:26-32
THE POSITIVES OF READING THE BIBLE
Reading the Bible brings spiritual positives.
Reading the Bible brings natural positives.
“Malnourished people will eat anything.” Mark Rutland
A PLAN FOR READING THE BIBLE
Pick a Bible.
Pick a time and place.
Pick a reading plan.
A PATTERN WHEN READING THE BIBLE
Understand vs Edit
Remember, there’s a context to the whole of the Bible.
The Bible is about Jesus.
The Bible is interpreted by Jesus.
Remember, there’s a context to every book of the Bible.
Who is the author?
Who is the author writing to?
From what time period is the author writing?
“I built a pillar at the city gate and I fileted all the chief men who had revolted. I covered the pillar with their skins. Some I walled up inside the pillar. Some I impaled upon the pillar with stakes.” Temple Inscription, King Ashurbanipal
Where is the author?
Remember, there’s a context to every section of the Bible.
What has happened just before this section?
What does this section mean?
What does this section mean to me?
Scripture: Read a section.
Observation: “What is God saying in this section?”
Application: “What is God saying to me?”
Prayer: Ask God to help you.
THE PRACTICE OF THE BIBLE
Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22
THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE
The Bible communicates the character and nature of God.
The Bible communicates the beauty and brokenness of humankind.
The Bible communicates the plan and purposes of God.