Head Coverings- Are Women Commanded To Wear Them?

I Corinthians 11 is a very misunderstood chapter in the New Testament. ​Some people think it means women have to wear a bonnet of some sort in church or have long hair to be holy. But that’s not what Paul is talking about.

Paul is speaking about authority. The order in a normal Christian family is God first, the husband submits to God’s leading, the wife submits to her husband’s leadership, and the children submit to their parents. Let's look at it!

​I Corinthians 11:3- But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

We understand from Colossians 3:20 and Ephesians 6:1 that children are to obey their parents.

The real issue at hand is a woman’s requirement to be in subjection to authority. In God’s government, there is a clear chain of authority: a woman is subject to her husband, a husband is subject to Christ, and Christ is subject to God the Father.

Then Paul speaks about spiritual things- praying and prophesying. There's a little more to it, but I'll get to that a bit later.

I Corinthians 11:4- Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

Every man who is in submission (the act of submitting to the power of another) spiritually to someone other than God is dishonoring God. This means that all those people who are out there following instructions from a priest, a pastor, a counsellor, or anyone else, instead of God is disgracing God. We can ask for guidance from a pastor or a parent, but ultimately, we should pray and ask God if this is what He wants us to do and follow His direction.

When you pray in church, you are praying to God. When you prophesy (preach) you are doing it in the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. You shouldn't write your sermons based on the political winds of the congregation. God tells you what to preach and you preach it!

But women aren't to hold positions of authority over men in church.

I Corinthians 14:34- Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

This, again, is speaking about positions of authority. Women aren't to remain mute in a church service. They are supposed to sing and pray and even teach, just not in positions of authority over men.

I Corinthians 11:5-6- But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

​And this is where they go haywire! They jump from spiritual authority to head coverings? Look at what Paul is trying to say!

It is humiliating for a woman to have short hair. Just ask any cancer patient and they will tell you the most devastating thing is having your hair fall out in clumps. Paul is stating that going out from under the God ordained structure of spiritual authority for your life is degrading!

I Corinthians 11:13-15- Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?​ But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Nature, as in the animal kingdom, teaches us that the male is the most colorful and flamboyant. The male birds have the most decoration. The male lions have the mane, not the female. Paul is referencing your natural instincts here. Throughout history, and many different cultures, women have had long hair and men have had short hair.

So, if it's a shame for a woman to have short hair, then Paul is equating that same thing to a woman praying in rebellion by taking a spiritual position that she shouldn't have.

But, why? Why is it this way?

I Corinthians 11:10- For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

Notice he doesn't say a hat, a scarf, a headdress. He says power. He's emphasizing that it's spiritual authority that he's talking about.

What do the angels have to do with this? Well, way back in Genesis 6, there were some angels who got to looking at human women and began to want what human men got- a physical relationship with them.

Genesis 6:1,2,4- And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Women who are rebellious are easy prey for lustful angels. And, these angels aren't how the movies make them appear- tall, handsome, and powerful. When angels rebel and leave their first estate as messengers and soldiers of God, they become completely depraved. Satan is absolute evil, as are all the angels that fell.

They are seeking for someone who isn't under God's protection. A rebel, who is willing to commit an abominable sin with them. A sin so bad that God destroyed almost all creation for it!

I Timothy 3:1- This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Paul's letter, the book of I Timothy, was written to a young pastor with the intention of instructing him on how the church should be ordered. He wants Timothy to know what kind of church he should build, and there is nothing more important, in terms of the church's organizational structure, than who is qualified to lead.

God has called men to the office of "pastor" or "elder" or "deacon" or whatever other position of authority you have in your church. 

This doesn't make a woman an inferior creation.

I Corinthians 11:7-9- For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

God created a man first and then the woman (Genesis 2:18; 3:16). The actual order of creation is very significant because it shows who is to be in authority. The Bible also says that Eve was created as a helper and companion for Adam, rather than vice versa,

Man was made in the image of God, and he answers directly to God for his family. Woman, however, was made for the man. She is a completely unique creature. She is the "glory" of the man. His most absolute treasure.

This doesn't make her less. It makes her precious.

I Corinthians 11:11-12- Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Woman was made for the man, but man cannot exist without the woman. With no females the species would cease to exist. Paul is stating that they are a special creation which is to be treasured, not abused.

Now, let's clear up what "spiritual authority" means. Because some people think that all women should be married or stay at home with their parents until they are.

I Corinthians 7:8-9, 28- I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

Paul said it would be best for the unmarried to remain unmarried. It's best for the widow to remain without another spouse. If all women should marry, then Paul wouldn't be stating that he would have those who could focus solely on the Christian life of being a witness and missionary remain single!

There are many wonderful examples of single female missionaries- Gladys Aylward, Amy Carmichael, Charlotte "Lottie" Moon, to name a few.

The problem, however, is that when women are single they are more apt to go rogue than when they are married. Why? Because women were created to be helpmeets. Their design was to enrich the lives of their husbands and to bear children so that the human race didn't die out!

Women are always seeking that connection to someone. Most have a strong desire to have a child. Paul knew this, and that is why he tells Timothy such.

I Timothy 5:14- I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Why would Paul state that he advises the younger women to marry? Because of the propensity for sin.

I timothy 5:13- And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

Paul knows how influential women can be. They can be the cause of war. They can encourage revolution. And they can be the most faithful partner in the Christian life that a man has ever had.

Paul never once rebuked Priscilla for helping out Aquilla. In fact, he pleaded with Christians he knew to treat the women who helped him in the work respectably!

Phillipians 4:3- And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

They were his fellow laborers, not his servants. They helped him to accomplish his calling and were honored for it.

​I Timothy 5:1-3- Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows that are widows indeed.

So, there is something specific about this spiritual authority that goes beyond just a woman being under a male authority figure. Let's see what else the Scripture has to say about it.

I Timothy 2:12- But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

In this verse, Paul is speaking about women pastoring over a congregation with men in it. A woman is not to be in spiritual authority over men, nor are they to hold the office of Bishop, Pastor, Elder, or Deacon.

Some churches may not knowingly defy the Word of God, but that is what they are doing when they install women as pastors. That’s because they either don’t know what the Bible teaches on the subject, or have been deceived by one of the many false, alternative positions on this subject.

He admonishes women to teach other women. There's a time and a place for "women preachers" and it's in an all female group or a group of children.

God called men to be the spiritual leaders. All of his disciples were men. There were women in the company, yes, but they weren't sent out to spread the word like the men were.

Therefore, Paul is specifically referencing spiritual authority in a church setting.

I Corinthians 11:1-2- Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

All Christians are called to be followers of Christ. They are to obey the Scriptures and seek God's guidance for each decision in their life. They are to tell others the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and win souls from the clutches of Satan.

In the book of Corinthians, Paul has to rebuke these Christians for all the heresies that they've been performing, accommodating, and accepting. They're boasting of having false gifts. Claiming preferential status because of who helped convert them. Ignoring grievous ongoing sin in the congregation. and even debasing the memorial of the Lord's Supper.

These people had so much wrong! And Paul had to call them out on all of it.

So, when Paul is speaking about the order of spiritual authority in the church, why would people make it apply to a head covering and then turn that into a doctrine? Especially when it's not stated as a precept in any other epistle.

Let’s look at what the Scriptures are saying, comparing scripture with scripture. Otherwise, we not only fall into the temptations of the Devil, but we join him in his work. 

Search the Scriptures. Study the Word. Lest Jesus' admonition apply to us- “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matt. 22:29)

With All My Heart I Thank You Lord (song)

Healthy Minute - Perimenopause

 There is a mysterious time in a woman's life that spans between 7 and 10 years that not many people know about. This time period is something that almost every woman will go through, and yet it isn't very studied or understood. Perimenopause can begin as early as age 35 and continue until menopause.

An indicator of perimenopause will be a very small change in your monthly cycle. It can be just a day or two shorter than usual for a few months, and then the fluctuations and changes begin. Many women go to their doctor and can only describe themselves as "not feeling right" or "something is wrong with me", and when they get checked out, they're told there's nothing physically wrong with them. This is a sign that you have entered the beginning stages of perimenopause. 

In perimenopause, first progesterone falters. This can give symptoms like not sleeping through the night, anxiety, and periods getting closer together. Then estrogen falters, and we experience more wrinkles, night sweats, low libido. A feeling of disinterest in life is actually a good indicator that you are going through perimenopause.

The symptoms of perimenopause are vast and differ for every woman. They include hot flashes, cold flashes, night sweats, excessive sweating, clammy feeling, weight gain, cholesterol level changes, heart palpitations, mood swings, sleep disruptions, headaches, hair loss, tinnitus, vertigo, frozen shoulder, joint pain, inflammation, headaches, irregular or skipped periods, itchy skin, rosacea, skin plaques, hormonal acne, decreased strength and muscle mass, bone loss, weakened fingernails, changes in the teeth health and gut health, brain fog, exhaustion, depression and anxiety, lack of focus, poor concentration, dizziness, constipation, incontinence, lack of or diminished sex drive, sore breasts, worsening allergies, change in body odor, and these are just a few of the stated symptoms that have recently been acknowledged. All of this from your hormone levels dropping.

The female system that has worked liked a well created timepiece is now stuttering. During your teenage years, your hormones ramp up. Your adrenals, pituitary glands, hypothalamus (HPA axis) along with your gonads (ovaries in women; testes in men), your thyroid, and your gut microbiome all do this amazing dance that cause us to develop the procreation system of the body. For a girl, this begins with the growth of breasts, and then the menses begin about a year after her breast buds show.

During perimenopause this dance winds down, estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate, testosterone levels drop, in fact, all the hormones are thrown into chaos. Estrobolome has a hard time getting rid of excess estrogen, especially the xenoestrogens that our bodies are accumulating, and estrogen dominance ushers in other heath conditions. Cortisol and thyroid are so out of whack that weight gain occurs. Adrenals mess up, insulin levels go haywire, and your ability to regulate stress falters. And this disorder continues until your ovulation has completely stopped.

Menopause is marked as "one year" of not having a cycle. This means you haven't had a period for an entire 12-months, and therefore you are considered to have gone through menopause. The rest of your life you are in PostMenopause.

Menopause and perimenopause study only get about .03% of the funding for research. The majority of funding is spent on fertility issues. This leaves a lot of women completely ignored in a sensitive time of their lives. 

There was a study done by the WHI (Women's Health Initiative) which was really was only searching for one answer- was hormone replacement therapy beneficial for cardiovascular disease. This study shouted only one result- hormone replacement therapy can cause cancer. This outcome was very constricted as far as the facts that were presented. First, the average age of the participants was 63 years old- these women were well into their menopause years. Next, they didn't look at the overall health of the participants. Many of them were already in poor health because of their age.

There were two different groups of women who were included in this study- women who still had a uterus and women who had a hysterectomy. Half of the women who had a uterus were given both estrogen and a synthetic progesterone. Half of the women who had a hysterectomy were given only estrogen. Half of both groups were given a placebo.

Women who have a uterus need progesterone along with estrogen because of endometrial cancer risks. The progesterone keeps the effects of the estrogen in check. Women without a uterus don't have this risk, and so they only need to be given estrogen.

The group of women on both estrogen and synthetic progesterone showed a slight increased risk in their chance for breast cancer. The numbers went from 4 women to 5 women out of 1,000 had a higher risk of getting breast cancer. Therefore, estrogen was blamed as the proponent that caused this increase since estrogen can feed breast cancer cells. Nothing was said about the synthetic progesterone.

The group of women who only took estrogen, however, saw a decrease in the risk of getting breast cancer. Estrogen doesn't cause cancer. But the mindset regarding estrogen replacement therapy was never questioned or changed. According to a leading researcher for the WHI project, “good science became corrupted and eventually caused substantial and ongoing harm to women for whom proper and useful therapy was either terminated or never began.”

Some people say that HRT can cause blot clots, but this risk can be bypassed by taking a form of estrogen that isn't oral and therefore doesn't go through the liver.

Women who can find a doctor who listens can find help. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is not something to be feared or shied away from. Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone replacement therapy have been shown to enhance the quality of life for many women. Women who start hormone therapy in perimenopause actually see benefits in almost every area of their health- bone, mind, skin, mood, and more.

Note, that a woman has more testosterone in their body than any other hormone. It's just that men have such a higher rate than women that it's looked at as a male hormone.

What to look out for with HRT are more intense headaches, vaginal bleeding (apart from period), or rashes. This is where you start asking if HRT is right for you.

Seeing as how nearly every woman will go through this, what can we do to help besides hormone replacement therapy?

The first thing that I would recommend is for you to get a hormone panel done in your twenties. If you have to pick one day, do it around day 21 or 22 of your cycle, and when you aren't pregnant or breastfeeding or on birth control. This will give your doctor a benchmark for what is normal for your body.

Dr. Sara Gottfried prefers urinary hormone levels and salivary cortisol levels to get the best information. "Sex hormones that I commonly test include estrogen (estradiol), progesterone (tested on day 21 of your menstrual cycle), cortisol (the stress hormone), and testosterone. Additionally, I like to measure the ratio of testosterone to estradiol. For peak estradiol, check on day 12 of your cycle. If your cycles are very irregular, test day 21-22 after a period."

Micronutrients play a huge roll in your hormone production, along with a lot of other functions in the body. Adding in Magnesium and Baja salt can help with your nutrition. If you have trouble with digestion, add in a digestive enzyme.

Exercise is so important. Strength training is great to help with bone density. Also adding in pilates and yoga help with flexibility and balance issues. It can also be great for your stress levels.

Grounding is a wonderful way to help your stress levels. Plus, it gives you a chance to get sunshine and fresh air. 

Add in creatine to your supplement routine. This helps with your bones and muscles.

Get plenty of protein. Most women need at least 70 grams daily.

Eat good fats- avocado, coconut oil, bone broth, eggs, butter, nut and seeds.

Avoid foods that cause inflammation, like added sugars and artificial flavors, and enriched flours. Eat food and not food-like-products.

Intermittent fasting will also help. The recommended fasting is 16 hours of fasting, followed by an 8-hour eating window. Work up to this timeframe slowly by increasing the time 15 minutes until you can achieve 16-hours without feeling like you're starving! Remember, fasting is not for people with diabetes or hypoglycemia or other health disorders that can be affected by long periods without food.

There are a few supplements that can help during this time.

Over time, consistently high cortisol is linked high blood pressure, prediabetes and diabetes, increased belly fat, brain changes such as atrophy of the hippocampus (where memory is synthesized), depression, suicide, insomnia, and poor wound healing.

To help with cortisol:

Eat dark chocolate! Just a couple square with little sugar. You could even eat a couple cacao beans daily.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is another supplement that is a chemical that is important for many functions in the human body, especially in the brain where it protects brain cells and supports memory and cognitive functions. 

Rhodiola Rosea can help with anxiety, fatigue, and depression. Some studies have shown that it may inhibit the growth of lung, bladder, gastric, and colon cancer cells.

Fish oil helps both your heart and your brain. Along with Omega 3's it also contains Vitamins A and D. It also helps your skin health and reduces inflammation.

Taking a little time for yourself daily to destress is also important. Take a bath. Breathe. Whatever you need to do for about 15 to 20 minutes to let yourself relax.

To help your thyroid:

Take Vitamin D plus Vitamin K daily. Most people are chronically deficient in Vitamin D, and this is needed for so many actions in the body.

Add a daily multivitamin with methylated B vitamins. This is very important, especially if you have the MTHFR genetic mutation.

Add 1/4 tsp of Baja Gold Salt to one of your meals. This will provide the trace minerals your thyroid needs for regulation.

You can try the yoga pose Shoulder Stand to help with the blood flow to the thyroid.

To help with estrogen regulation:

Get at least 25 grams of fiber daily. This will keep your gut microbiome healthy which helps get excess estrogen and other toxins out of the body.

DIM helps with getting rid of excess estrogen.

Adding Beets to your diet to help detoxify the liver is another great way to support your estrogen.

To help with low progesterone:

Taking 150 IU of natural Vitamin E can increase progesterone levels.

Using ProGest cream, about a pea sized amount at nighttime for the last 7 to 10 days of your cycle, can also help with upping your progesterone, which helps with PMS, menopause symptoms, and osteoporosis. Progesterone and thyroid hormone help regulate metabolism and normalize the pituitary gland.

For the adrenals:

An adrenal complex can help to support the endocrine system.

Adding in Greens can also help provide the nutrients the adrenals need. They provide magnesium and also help with cortisol levels, which can ease the job of the adrenals.

Some people find that they must cut out caffeine because it further stresses the endocrine system and doesn't allow it time to recover.

Other supplements shown to help with hormones are:

Vitex, or chasteberry, helps with progesterone levels, as well as helping to balance the HPA axis. And it supports progesterone.

Maca helps with libido and energy and can help to balance hormones and decrease hot flashes.

Dr. Anna's Wild Yam Cream is a topical way to help your body balance hormones. Many women claim that it helps with mood, sleep, and bone health. It can be used by both men and women to help your body balance its own hormones, whether something is too high or too low.

Evening Primrose Oil and essential fatty acids to help with skin and joint health.

SAM-e is an amino acid that’s found in foods like egg whites, wild-caught fish, oats and sesame seeds. Your body needs it to make certain chemicals and is an energy-producing compound that acts as a source of fuel within our cells.  It acts on a number of important molecules including hormones, neurotransmitters, fatty acids, DNA, proteins, and cell membranes. In the United States, SAM-e is marketed as a supplement to enhance mood, brain and neural function, joint mobility, and liver detoxification. WARNING, people who have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder should avoid SAM-e supplementation as it could make the manic symptoms worse!

As with all supplements, begin with low dose. If it doesn't make you feel right (if you become agitated or have any physical reactions), it may not be for you. If you have any health issues or are taking prescription medication, talk with your doctor first.

 Some good resources for women going through Perimenopause are:

The Pause Blog

Dr Sara Gottfried's Blog

Recommended Physicians

North American Menopause Society

God Give Us Christian Homes (poem)

God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master's will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God, give us Christian homes!

God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God, give us Christian homes!

God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God, give us Christian homes!

God, give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God, give us Christian homes!

-B. B. McKinney

When Trouble Comes (video sermon)

Seven Reasons To Preach (and study) Verse by Verse

 

SEVEN REASONS TO TEACH VERSE BY VERSE 

"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."  (Mat. 4:4)

"And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground."  (I Sam. 3:19)

"For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."  (Acts 20:27)

There are certainly more verses that we could consider, but the point is clear that ALL of God's words are inspired and all of them are essential.  God never intended for us to treat the Bible like an orange or a banana where you eat just the parts that you like and throw the rest away.  Proverbs 30:5 says, "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."  Because of that, I want to address the subject of SEVEN REASONS TO TEACH VERSE BY VERSE.

There are numerous ways to teach the Bible, and there's nothing wrong utilizing various methods, but verse by verse teaching should not be abandoned for long periods of time.  I try to have at least one verse by verse study underway at all times, and sometimes two or three.  As we shall see, there are some very good reasons for this . . . 

 I. THE FOCAL POINT REMAINS THE SCRIPTURE ITSELF

Verse by verse teaching requires that the teacher and the students keep looking back to word of God itself, not to some outline or some projection on a screen or drawing on a board.  Using such things occasionally is fine, but they should not be allowed to take the place of the text of God's word.  Verse by verse teaching keeps people focused on the word of God itself.

 II. THE CHURCH GROWS FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE BIBLE  

When teaching verse by verse, the church is confronted with scripture from nearly 1,200 chapters and over 31,000 verses, thus having a grand opportunity to mark and highlight special texts and special truths that might not otherwise even be noticed, as well as becoming familiar with where books are in the Bible.  The cross reference checking that goes with any good verse by verse study will greatly help people to learn their way around in the Bible.

III. THE CHURCH IS TAUGHT A WIDE RANGE OF BIBLE DOCTRINES 

Rather than being placed in particular sections as with a dictionary or an encyclopedia, Bible doctrine is sprinkled throughout the scriptures.  This means that a student will grow in his understanding of the various Bible doctrines as he consistently studies verse by verse.  One might be shallow, for instance, in his knowledge of the theme of blood atonement, but he won't be shallow for long, if he studies verse by verse.  Maybe a Christian isn't very established in his understanding of dispensations, but he will encounter numerous dispensations as he studies verse by verse.  A student might know very little about the King James Bible debate, but no good Bible teacher would fail to address the issue when teaching on verses like Genesis 3:1, Deuteronomy 4:2, I Samuel 3:19, Psalms 12:6-7, Matthew 24:35 or II Corinthians 2:17.  So the student learns more about the issue as he pays attention to the verse by verse teaching. 

The Bible is an ocean of truth, but few really ever explore it, because few ever engage in serious verse by verse teaching.

IV. GOD HAS MORE LIBERTY TO DIRECT THE TEACHING 

This is similar to the last point, but it goes a step further. When reading and teaching through every word and every verse, we are automatically allowing subject matter into the study that God strategically placed into his word.  Instead of cherry picking what we WANT to teach, we are teaching what appears in the text as we come to it.  Over time, this means that a very good mix of divinely appointed Bible doctrine gets taught to the church.

For instance, you might not normally ever get around to teaching on God being the creator of evil, but that issue arises in Isaiah 45:7, so you're challenged to deal with it. Maybe the destruction of the United Nations isn't on your preaching list, but it is in Zephaniah 3, so you're challenged to deal with it. Maybe it has been a while since you spoke against the sodomite sins, but today you're teaching on Romans chapter 1, so you must deal with it.  Perhaps a Catholic has been visiting your church and you've been trying real hard not to offend him, but the next verse in the text is Matthew 23:9.  God has something to say, so let him say it.  

". . . where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."  (II Cor. 3:17)  Verse by verse teaching clearly gives God more liberty in the teaching by sticking with the text that he ordained and allowing it to speak as we come to its numerous words, phrases, statements and themes. 

V. VERSE BY VERSE TEACHING PROVIDES DOCTRINAL BUILDING BLOCKS 

Think of your Bible understanding as doctrinal building blocks.  The more blocks you have, the stronger your understanding and spiritual growth becomes as you build yourself up like a strong wall and castle in the Lord.  Since God's doctrinal building blocks are scattered throughout the scriptures, one must study ALL of the scriptures to be able to add these building blocks to his structure of understanding.  For instance, we mentioned Matthew 23:9 above, the verse where Jesus forbids calling a religious leader "father."  One's understanding of this important principle is greatly helped when his teacher expounds on the building block of Judges 17:10.  Then another building block comes in Job 32:21-22, and yet a couple more in Psalms 118:8 and I Peter 5:3.  Little by little, over time, one can truly grow in his knowledge of sound doctrine as, one by one, verse by verse, he puts the building blocks of hundreds of doctrines into place.  

VI. BIBLICAL AUTHORITY IS ESABLISHED 

As the believer sees the above realities occurring, he sees first-hand the power of God's word, and its authority is further established in his own heart and life.  Far too often, the methods and habits of men dominate in Bible teaching and the power of God's word is overshadowed.  Proper verse by verse teaching keeps God's word front and center and allows its power to affect everyone as they see for themselves just how much the Bible really covers when we consider "every word" like Jesus said (Mat. 4:4).

As mentioned earlier, even the KJV debate can be frequently brought to the forefront and addressed when certain verses come up in the teaching.  This helps to further establish biblical authority, yet without having to teach a special "class" on the KJV debate.  The issue can also be addressed frequently as challenged words come up in the studies, such as "virgin" in Isaiah 7:14 and "Easter" in Acts 12:4.  In the end, everyone's faith in the Book is strengthened as the able verse by verse teacher continually magnifies ALL of God's preserved words.

VII. THE TEACHER IS CHALLENGED TO GROW 

No teacher knows everything, but those who refuse to teach verse by verse usually know a lot less because they aren't challenged to know and teach every word.  Skimming over a passage and teaching on select words, phrases and statements is much easier than having to read and explain entire verses.  The verse by verse teacher is challenged to study and know the many people, places and things that are mentioned in the Bible's 31,000 verses, and this often requires a great deal of study.

For instance, anyone can skim their way through John chapter 3 and present a lovely little outline, but the experienced verse by verse teacher will be challenged to gear down in John 3:5 and explain with two or three scripture witnesses what it means to be "born of water" AND what it DOESN'T mean.  This challenge has a way of separating the men from the boys, and believe me, there are far more boys out there TRYING to teach than there are men actually teaching.  Verse by verse, that can be changed drastically.

I once had a pastor tell me that the Bible doesn't "open up" to him.  Well, it doesn't "open up" to me either!  I have to OPEN IT and STUDY it!  I guess he thought that something magical is supposed to happen where you don't have to actually study and work.  Well, that's just not true.  Study IS work (II Tim. 2:15), which is why the lazy boy preachers usually end up at the preacher fellowships, the camp meetings, and at the gospel singings instead of in their library with the Holy Spirit and the Book.  You can't feed the sheep, if you don't feed yourself first, and Laodicean junk food doesn't qualify.

In closing, let me say that I have done most everything that a man can do in a pulpit.  For my Sunday morning messages, I have preached hundreds of topical sermons, and I have taught through more serial studies than I can count.  These have been very needful and helpful through the years, but nothing has been more important than the ongoing verse by verse Bible studies that we have consistently done on most Sunday afternoons and on most Wednesday nights.  I have grown, the church has grown, and the standard has been raised for everyone.  Verse by verse is how I learned the Bible, and verse by verse is how I teach most of the time.  Preaching is different, but when it comes to the actual teaching of God's word, verse by verse is most definitely the best way. There's just nothing like it, and if you aren't spending at least some time studying God's word verse by verse, then you are really falling short in your Bible studies.   

 -James L Melton