MELODIC LINE
Principle: We will handle a specific text better if we understand what the whole book is about.
Explanation: Books of the Bible have a coherent, sustained message—or big idea—similar to the unique melody of a song. It is waiting to be heard. It unites the whole book, big theme and big aim, concisely stating what the whole book is about. Every passage will, in some way, be related (directly or indirectly, as support or even contrast) to the melodic line. Our task is to listen well enough and long enough to hear the melody.
Strategies: read and reread, identify a top and tail (e.g. Romans 1:5 and 16:26), find a purpose statement (e.g. Luke 1:1-4, John 20:30-31) or thesis statement, find repeated words and phrases and ideas (e.g. “joy” and “fellowship” in Philippians), follow the Old Testament quotations
Practice Texts: John 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 1 Samuel 8
Listen: Kent Hughes teaches at the 2012 Bay Area Workshop [mp3, 35mb]
http://www.simeontrust.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125&Itemid=327
Principle: We will handle a specific text better if we understand what the whole book is about.
Explanation: Books of the Bible have a coherent, sustained message—or big idea—similar to the unique melody of a song. It is waiting to be heard. It unites the whole book, big theme and big aim, concisely stating what the whole book is about. Every passage will, in some way, be related (directly or indirectly, as support or even contrast) to the melodic line. Our task is to listen well enough and long enough to hear the melody.
Strategies: read and reread, identify a top and tail (e.g. Romans 1:5 and 16:26), find a purpose statement (e.g. Luke 1:1-4, John 20:30-31) or thesis statement, find repeated words and phrases and ideas (e.g. “joy” and “fellowship” in Philippians), follow the Old Testament quotations
Practice Texts: John 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 1 Samuel 8
Listen: Kent Hughes teaches at the 2012 Bay Area Workshop [mp3, 35mb]
http://www.simeontrust.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125&Itemid=327
