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WAS JOAN OF ARC REALLY NOAH’S WIFE?
Introduction
1. Illiteracy is common, even among a well-educated world.
2. The teachings in the Bible are often misunderstood.
3. Examples:
a. 12% believe Joan of Arc is Noah’s wife
b. 38% believe the entire Bible was written in a few decades AFTER the death of Christ
c. 11% think Isaiah is in the New Testament
d. 16% think the Book of Thomas is in the New Testament
e. 49% believe the Bible says, “Money is the root of all evil.”
f. 56% think the most important thing in life is take care of family.
g. 75% believe the Bible says that God helps those who help themselves.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE.
1. John 8:32
2. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13
3. 1 Corinthians 2:16
4. 1 Corinthians 1:10
WHY DO PEOPLE FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE?
1. They do not read / study the Bible
a. 57% do not read the Bible in a typical week.
b. Only 12% read daily, (average is 7 minutes)
c. 59 % read the Bible occasionally (down from 73% in 1980)
d. Why these low numbers?
i. 31% - too difficult to understand
ii. Bible is no different than other books – math, history, science
e. Acts 17:11 – Christians at Berea
f. 2 Timothy 2:15
g. Matthew 22:29
2. They do not TRY to understand the Bible.
a. I don’t understand nuclear physics. Why?
b. John 3:19
c. 2 Peter 3:5
3. Their minds are cluttered with other things.
a. Thorny soil choked out by the world Matt. 13:22
b. Martha was busy in the kitchen
c. Contrast Job – Job 23:12
4. They do not “rightly divide” the Bible.
a. 2 Timothy 2:15
b. OT / NT
c. Patriarchal, Law of Moses, Law of Christ
d. Col. 2:14
5. They are prejudiced against the Bible.
a. Wear sunglasses in house = world is dark
b. Matthew 13:15
From tract by Allen Webster
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