2024 ISSUE ELEVEN
In this issue
3 Seven Building Blocks for Leaders
charles r. swindoll
6 What Changes and What Doesn’t charles r. swindoll
Character Sketch
8 Paul: Persevering and Passionate Missionary insight for living canada
About the Bible
10 Bible Basics: Interpretation and Understanding the Scriptures steve johnson
Searching the Scriptures Study
14 The Integrity of Pressing On
Insights is published by Insight for Living Canada, the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles (Chuck) R. Swindoll. Pastor Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. He is the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry. We hope this publication will instruct, inspire, and encourage you in your walk with Christ.
Copyright © 2024 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NLT. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by Byeongtaek So. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Centre for Christian Charities. Printed in Canada.
Christian leaders with character continue to be in demand.
Seven Building Blocks for Leaders
by Charles R. Swindoll
Ican’t think of a better model of leadership than Nehemiah. I once sat down and looked over Nehemiah’s shoulder for a couple of hours, reviewing the things this ancient Jewish leader recorded while rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. As I read, it dawned on me that his journal is a storehouse of leadership insights. The first six chapters of Nehemiah ought to be required reading each year for all leaders as well as those who wish to be.
In his book, I found seven essential skills that today’s Christian leaders can use as stones on which to build their own strategy for leadership.
The first foundation stone is a passion for the project . Passion includes vision, enthusiasm, drive, determination, creative dreams, and innovative ideas. Leaders with passion can grasp the big picture without becoming enmeshed in or preoccupied with all the details. Nehemiah could hardly sleep as he imagined himself accomplishing God’s objective. His passion was off the chart.
The second building block is the ability to motivate others . Getting along well with others is a crucial part of leadership. This would include such skills as verbalizing ideas, dreams, and concerns; articulating goals succinctly and simply; and demonstrating organizational strength and boundless energy. Leaders who motivate inspire others to do their best. They quickly affirm and remember to give credit where credit is due. Nehemiah was strong at all those points.
The third stone is an unswerving confidence in God . Nehemiah’s journal is filled with
prayers—silent ones, short ones, specific ones. He never failed to remind the people of the Lord’s presence and protection. Leaders who are genuinely Christian consistently turn others’ attention to the Source of strength— the One who can accomplish the impossible, the awesome Provider. Confidence in Him does not waver. Their faith is contagious. While they may occasionally doubt their own ability, they do not doubt God’s invincible commitment to His work.
Resilience and patience through opposition mark the fourth piece. Nehemiah endured it all: sarcasm, suspicion, gossip, mockery, threats, anonymous notes, open letters, false accusations—you name it. None of it moved him. No leader can survive if he or she cannot stay patient and resilient through criticism. It is important to be firm in purpose without becoming cranky, vengeful, or mean-spirited. Anger expressed for the right reason and at the right time is appropriate and healthy, but holding a grudge is neither.
The fifth stone to lock in place is a practical, balanced grip on reality. While the good leader may have dreams and ideas, he or she doesn’t live in a dreamworld with a fixation on the ideal. The actual facts—the hard pieces of evidence— are in clear focus. As Nehemiah began his opening speech, it was obvious to all that he was no air-headed cheerleader: “You see the bad situation we are in” (Nehemiah 2:17 NASB1995). He told the workers to stay at their jobs, but he wisely stationed others to protect the wall from attack. Smart. Discerning. Tough. He acted
without overreacting. He remained gracious yet unbendingly firm. Good leaders maintain that needed balance between being positive and being aware of the negative.
Number six is a willingness to work hard and remain unselfish. All Christian leaders have at least one thing in common: diligence. They also know the value of calling it a day (diligence and workaholism are not synonyms). Because of his hard work, Nehemiah was “appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah” (Nehemiah 5:14) even before the wall was done. He accepted his appointment humbly, refusing special treatment and willingly sacrificing for the good of the people. Nehemiah led a clinic on servant leadership.
Finally, leaders must have the discipline to finish the job. Good leaders are finishers. They know how to concentrate on essentials without allowing perfectionistic details to block the path. I am certain that some of Nehemiah’s stones were a tad crooked and a few of the joints may have been loose. Perhaps a gate or two wasn’t perfectly level and maybe no doubt a hinge or two squeaked...but that baby got done. Mission accomplished. The end. Done!
And when the task is finished, good leaders celebrate...they have fun! In Nehemiah’s case, they had a blast walking on the wall, marching and dancing, shouting and singing—they even invited two choirs whose “songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God” (Nehemiah 12:46) could be heard from afar. What a grand party!
Christian leaders with character continue to be in demand. Ezekiel recorded God’s plea for leaders who would “stand in the gap before Me for the land,” but, tragically, He “found no one” (Ezekiel 22:30). His search continues today. Let’s determine to be the men and women for whom God is searching to close the gap. Let’s be the Nehemiahs of this generation—leaders who get things done for God’s glory, standing strong on the building blocks of leadership.
Article adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, “Closing the Gap,” Newsbreak, First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, vol. 12, no. 45, (November 22–28, 1992).
What Is My Response to God’s Blessings? single CD message
What Changes and What Doesn’t
by Charles R. Swindoll
Virtually every week I come across folks who long for the simple life of yesteryear. But everything depends on one’s perspective. Some people look back and remember only the best of times—an easier pace, closer
ties, cleaner movies, and deeper, more honest relationships. Others remember the worst of times—inconveniences, prejudices, and inefficiency. When you stop long enough to think objectively, though, you realize that
no time is ideal. The times are what they are, and either we learn to flex and survive or we become rigid and irrelevant.
I mention the word flex, and some people cringe. Others resist, planting their feet firmly in the status quo. But as long as God is still in control of our times, change is not to be feared or fought. Consider David’s confident declaration:
But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in Your hand. (Psalm 31:14–15
NASB1995)
What assurance! If we truly believe that our times are in God’s hand, changes would not be so difficult to accept. Nor would they cause us such anxiety. Everything from modern inventions to global alterations could be taken in stride because He—our faithful God—is in control. Nothing surprises or threatens Him. Nothing!
No president or prime minister takes the oath of office without God nodding and saying, “That is My will.” No advancement in technology or science catches Him off guard. God is sovereign; He is never out-of-date. He is still in touch, always in control, and fully aware.
The reality of God’s sovereignty sparks a couple of thoughts. First, times may change but our message never will. God’s truth is our foundation, and if that collapses, well, everything is lost. David lamented:
If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3)
But God’s foundation will never crumble. Earthquakes may rock our cities, but there will never be a “truthquake.” There will never be a day when God will say, “You know, I’ve been rethinking My Book. Some of those truths I preserved about Jesus, well, I need to have someone today rewrite them. Also, a few of the character traits about Me and some of those doctrines in My Book need to be updated.” He
will never do that. His truth is more solid than a 10,000-ton mound of granite.
Second, the possibilities that change brings are thrilling. Think of the excitement and efficiency of a missionary in a remote jungle using a palmsized computer to record spoken syllables and then translating them into a tribe’s first written language. Think of the possibilities for the instant transmission of the Gospel through the Internet. Years ago, people had to travel for days (sometimes, weeks) to preach Christ in person to a handful of people. But today, we can post the teaching of God’s Word on our website (insightforliving.ca), and folks all over the world can access it at their convenience.
But remember, no amount of futuristic technology gives us the right to change God’s message. The truths of God are our sure foundation. Keeping that in mind, it is our goal to stay open to the need to flex our communication methods.
Imagine the millions of souls whom God can reach through the clatter of a keyboard and a few clicks of a mouse!
Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, “What Changes and What Doesn’t,” in The Bride (Grand Rapids; Zondervan, 1994), 109-124. Copyright © 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Paul: Persevering and Passionate Missionary
by Insight for Living Canada
The Apostle Paul, a key figure in the New Testament, experienced a radical transformation through the power of God. After encountering Jesus, he developed an unshakable passion for spreading the Gospel. Despite enduring constant persecution, Paul demonstrated remarkable perseverance and refused to give up on his God-ordained mission. His life and letters offer profound lessons, especially into what it truly means to live for Christ.
Name
Paul was originally named Saul, which is a Jewish name meaning “asked of God.”
Descending from the tribe of Benjamin, it’s possible he was named after King Saul. While on his first missionary journey, he was called by his Greek name, Paul (Acts 13:9). This may
have occurred since Paul means “small,” suggesting he was shorter than average, or, as one appointed to be an apostle to the Gentiles, it was better to have a non-Jewish name.
Outstanding Characteristics
Perseverance and passion.
Summary
Although Paul was a Hebrew-speaking Jew, he was born and raised outside Israel in Tarsus, present day Turkey, making him familiar with the Greek language and culture. He was a descendant of Pharisees (Acts 23:6). As a young boy, he went to Israel to study under Gamaliel and distinguished himself as “a Pharisee of the Pharisees.” He first appears in Acts 7:58 as a first-century terrorist, persecuting Christians. After meeting the resurrected Lord Jesus, he
was transformed into one of the greatest missionaries the world has known. In the face of personal hardship and danger, he persevered in his divine mission of boldly proclaiming the grace of God in Christ, planting churches, and teaching believers. Although he saw himself as the chief of sinners, God used him to turn the world of his day upside down and leave a legacy through penning much of the New Testament.
Key Scripture
Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ…God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:8, 10)
Lessons Learned
on speaking boldly for him, as I should (Ephesians 6:19, 20).
God answered Paul’s prayer again and again.
3. Trust God through suffering
Paul trusted God implicitly when it came to suffering trials. “In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9). This was Paul’s perspective through the multitude of difficulties he faced.
4. Be passionately constrained
PAUL’S RADICAL TRANSFORMATION FOLLOWING HIS ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS FUELED A PASSIONATE COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL.
1. Choose to fully surrender and persevere
Once Paul decided to follow Jesus, there was no turning back. His fully surrendered life and perseverance were governed by the truth that knowing Christ is the best thing in this world and the next. “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).
2. Pray for courageous action
Paul’s prayer regarding his preaching the Gospel was,
And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep
It was the Jews of whom Paul wrote, “for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children” (Romans 9:3, 4a). With passion, Paul modelled Christ’s constraining love towards the individuals he introduced to the Saviour and churches he planted in his travels (see Romans 16:1–16).
5. Have faith and endure
Paul endured a physical handicap while relying on the grace of God. “So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Having a disability does not necessarily mean a liability. Paul teaches us that we can find an advantage in adversity. When God didn’t heal him of his handicap, Paul recognized God’s purpose in it and changed his attitude. God gave Paul the grace to deal with his adversity. Thereby, God’s power was displayed in Paul’s life.
Paul’s radical transformation following his encounter with Jesus fueled a passionate commitment to the Gospel. Paul gives believers a profound example of living for Christ with perseverance.
Bible Basics: Interpretation and Understanding the Scriptures
by Steve Johnson
Accurately understanding Scripture is essential for Christian living. God gave us the Bible so we can know Him, understand His plan of salvation, and learn to live in obedience to His will.
For these things to happen, three key elements are necessary: illumination, interpretation, and application. The approach we take when interpreting Scripture is key to understanding its true meaning.
For illumination, as discussed in a previous Insights article, the work of the Holy Spirit is needed. Because the Bible is a completely divine work, it takes God’s Spirit to open our eyes so we see the light of God’s truth.
The second key element is interpretation. The Bible was written over a period of 1,500 years by 40 or more authors using three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). The authors wrote in different literary forms and had different vocabularies, personalities, cultural backgrounds, and social standings. The Holy Spirit moved each of these men to produce God’s inspired Word but He allowed their various writing styles and personalities to be expressed in its pages. Their world was very different from ours and so it takes effort on our part to understand what they meant when they wrote to the recipients of their day. That’s why this process is called interpretation.
The third and final element that needs to happen for us to know God, His plan of salvation for us, and to live lives in obedience to Him, is
application. Application, which we will look at in next month’s Insights article, is the process of determining the relevance of Scripture’s meaning to our lives today and then actively responding.
Some people approach understanding the Bible with a false mysticism thinking, “The Holy Spirit will show me what this means.” Then they proceed to butcher the text and completely miss what the Spirit is actually saying. Others abuse and twist Scripture forcing it to say what they want it to. Others skip interpretation altogether and say, “This is what this means to me.”
It was because of approaches like these that the Apostle Paul warned against false teaching and told Timothy, “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, emphasis added).
Determining authorial intent is key to correct interpretation of the meaning of a passage. While there may be many applications of a passage there is only one meaning. That means we have to get into the author’s mind and setting. That involves following some fundamental rules and principles.
The fundamental overarching rule is that we must understand Scripture according to its normal meaning in the historical and cultural settings in which it was written while allowing for normal use of figurative language.
Just as we understand words in our normal, everyday communication we need to do that
with the Bible. When we read a news story about a car accident we understand it in its normal sense. It is a story about a car, not a banana. When interpreters disregard the normal meaning of words and look for hidden meanings, the true meaning of God’s Word is lost and abused. Imagination and speculation go wild as the interpreter arbitrarily assigns this or that meaning to the text without any solid historical, grammatical, or lexical foundation for their interpretation.
Even though the Bible uses symbolic or figurative language, most of it’s clear to the reader. The use of figurative language in Scripture only enhances the plain meaning of the text. For example, Jesus said, “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?” (Matthew 7:3).
ticular way. This means we don’t treat poetry as if it were historical narrative and vice versa.
Context
WITHOUT CLEAR AND ACCURATE INTERPRETATION, OUR UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE CAN EASILY BECOME DISTORTED, RESULTING IN CONFUSION OR MISAPPLICATION.
We know we are dealing with a figure of speech if the literal would involve an impossibility (cf. Revelation 1:16), is an absurdity (Isaiah 55:12), would demand immoral action (John 6:53–58), if there is an explanatory literal statement (Revelation 11:8 cf.17:18), or if the words “like” or “as” are used indicating a simile or metaphor.
To correctly interpret we must begin with careful observation and take into consideration:
History
Every book of Scripture was written in a historical context that should be understood in order to help understand the book accurately. That history also includes the social, political, religious, and literary aspects of that day.
Literary Forms
The Bible contains numerous forms of literature, and each one needs to be interpreted according to principles befitting its particular style. There is historical narrative, poetry, prophecy, apocalyptic, and epistles to name a few. Each classification uses language in a par-
If I said, “It was a ball,” you have no idea what I am talking about. A context of baseball, dancing, or a fun time will determine my meaning. Words and sentences do not stand in isolation. All the words and sentences in Scripture have a context too. Take them out of their context, and you will miss the meaning and possibly abuse the passage. The context must be studied in order to see the relation that each word, verse, and passage sustains to that which precedes and that which follows. Besides the immediate context, look at the theme and scope of the whole book and even further, understand how the theme of the whole book fits into the context of the entire Bible.
Grammar
To understand biblical words according to their normal meaning we have to look at the grammar and meaning of words—their form, their tense, and their relation to other words around them. Every word of the Bible is important and though some words will hold more importance than others, all the words and sentences are a part of God’s inspired communication to us.
Clarity and Analogy of Scripture
This simply means that while always keeping history, literary forms, context, and grammar in mind, we also need to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. Interpret difficult passages with clear ones. Scripture must remain theologically consistent. If an interpretation of a passage contradicts other plain passages of the Bible, then something is wrong with the interpretation.
The dual authorship of Scripture (divine and human) makes it necessary not only to know the human author’s meaning but also God’s.
God’s meaning may not be fully revealed in the original human author’s writing but is revealed when Scripture is compared with Scripture. We must allow for a sensus plenior , a fuller sense, which allows for an expanded, though directly related, meaning in the mind of the divine Author of Scripture.
We cannot say that the human authors of Scripture always understood the full implications of their own words but when we compare Scripture with Scripture, we can discover the fuller divine authorial intent.
We must also be mindful of progressive revelation. Over the span of when the Bible was written, God progressively revealed more truths about many subjects. What is often unclear in earlier passages is made clearer through more revelation in later passages.
Theological Bridge
The final aspect of interpretation is to ask, “What are the theological truths we can glean from the author’s meaning?” The theological
truths are the bridge from the author’s day to ours. They are the basis for living obediently for the Lord in our day—an aspect to be developed further in the next article on application. Without clear and accurate interpretation, our understanding of Scripture can easily become distorted, resulting in confusion or misapplication. Proper biblical interpretation is crucial, as it allows us to discern the authorial intent behind each passage, ensuring we grasp the message God intended to communicate. This approach to interpretation is essential for understanding the true meaning of God’s Word and serves as the foundation for applying it to our lives in a way that aligns with His will and purpose.
Steve Johnson is the executive director and pastor at Insight for Living Canada.
THE INTEGRITY OF PRESSING ON
insight for living ministries
The following mini-study is presented to familiarize you with Pastor Chuck’s method of Bible study and provide an opportunity to study the passage yourself.
FEW believers in the history of Christianity endured more hardships than the Apostle Paul. As he persevered through adversity, his beliefs grew stronger and deeper. By persevering through adversity, we do more than give assent to our beliefs. We live them.
Prepare Your Heart
Have you entered a season of adversity, which is putting your faith to the test? As you open His Word, ask the Lord to firm up your faith and help you press on.
Turn to the Scriptures
Two passages from Paul’s letter to the Philippians sum up his attitude toward adversity. Read Philippians 1:12–14 and 3:12–14. As you read them, look for evidence of Paul’s indomitable attitude and his determination to persevere.
Observation: Paul’s Strategy for Handling Adversity
: O In Philippians 1:12-14 take note of the words, phrases, and literary devices Paul used. Where was Paul when he penned these words? What did the authorities hope to do by locking Paul away? And yet, what was Paul doing all the more?
: O Philippians 3:12–14, features Paul’s strategy when hardship strikes. What do you notice about Paul’s attitude?
Interpretation: What “Pressing On” Means
: I Paul stated, “I press on to reach the end of the race” (Philippians 3:14). What characteristics of a marathon runner do you see in Philippians 3:12–14?
:I Paul modelled an enduring determination to pursue the right objectives. What did Paul state were his objectives?
:I The context helps us define the “things” Paul hoped to achieve and what Paul meant by “perfection.” Read Philippians 3:4–10 and write down Paul’s primary life goal.
:I From the spiritual starting line of becoming “righteous through faith in Christ” (3:9), Paul set out on his pursuit of knowing Christ and following Him with the goal of becoming more and more Christlike. What does Paul’s phrase, “press on,” imply about the nature of this lifelong race?
Correlation: Paul’s
Life of Pressing On through Suffering
: C We can trace Paul’s pursuit of Christ back to the beginning of his spiritual journey when he was known as Saul. After Christ appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus, Saul met a believer named Ananias. According to Acts 9:15–16, what did the Lord tell Saul through Ananias?
:C Immediately, Saul started proclaiming the message of Christ in Damascus (Acts 9:19–22). Some Bible scholars believe Saul then retreated into the desert for three years. What did Paul say about his time in Arabia in Galatians 1:15–17?
:C How might Saul’s experience, mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, have contributed to Saul’s lifelong passion to know Christ and press on through adversity?
:C In Acts 13:9, Saul was called by his Greek name, Paul (Acts 13:9), which means “small.” “Small” also described how Paul viewed himself in comparison to Christ. What lesson in weakness did God teach Paul through suffering that we all must learn, according to 2 Corinthians 12:5–10?
Certainly, the power to press on through suffering does not come from ourselves, but from Christ in us, for when we are weak then we are strong.
Application: How to Press On through Times of Adversity
As we wrap up what it means to persevere through adversity, we draw three conclusions based on Paul’s example. After each point, reflect on how you can apply this principle to your life.
First, the plan is progress, not perfection. It can be painful and disappointing at times because we are imperfect people. However, we must remember that persevering is about making progress, not being perfect.
:A Does your lack of perfection discourage you? How can focusing on progress in the Christian life help you move forward?
Second, the past is over; forget it! Runners don’t look back. With an enduring determination, they fix their eyes on the goal and push forward with each stride. If we are to press on toward the goal of knowing Christ through hardships, we can’t get stuck on the past. Focus on the goal: Jesus!
:A Does dwelling on the past hold you back? How can looking to Christ help you press on?
Third, the future holds hope; reach for it! Pressing on means leaning forward even through headwinds of hardship. Don’t quit your passionate pursuit of becoming like Christ.
:A What hope do you see in your future with Christ? How can dwelling on this vision help you persevere through present adversity?
Paul’s extensive catalog of suffering included imprisonment, beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, sleepless nights, non-stop attacks from his enemies, and more pain than we can imagine (2 Corinthians 11:23–27). Yet, he pressed on through these hardships to know Christ, and as he did, his beliefs were proven reliable. In the crucible of suffering, convictions are forged. That’s true for Paul...and for us.
A Final Prayer
Father, thank You for a model like Paul. He wasn’t perfect, but he had an enduring determination and he persevered through adversity. He pressed on, in season and out of season. Give me the tenacity to do the same. May I not simply speak my faith but live it out in my lifelong pursuit of knowing Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Go to insightforliving.ca/pressing-on to download the full-length Searching the Scripture Bible Study and listen to Pastor Chuck’s message.
We have a variety of Bible-teaching resources for all ages on sale during our fall sale. Prices in effect until December 1, 2024, while supplies last. Visit insightforliving.ca/sale for full sales flyer and product descriptions.