Please join us as we discover how God Uses Everyday Things, Even a Pool Table, To Teach Us About Him.
Supporting Scriptures for "Things That Teach:" Exodus 4:17 Judges 6:37-40 Jeremiah 32:14-15 Romans 9:20-21 Matthew 13:34
Welcome to our Billiards Bible Study and allowing us the opportunity to demonstrate how a pool table can teach us about God's Word.
Since we are going to be using pool table accessories thoughout our study, let's start with some trivia facts about the game. The sport of billiards evolved from a lawn game similar to our outdoor game of croquet. Sometime during the 15th century, the Europeans changed the game to be played indoors on a wooden table with green cloth to simulate grass.
The sport has since advanced to the modern day game of billiards played on a pool table with billiard balls and a cue stick. But did we just say "pool" table instead of billiard table? Where did the slang name of "pool" come from? The word "pool" is defined as being a collective bet, or ante. Many games, such as poker and horse racing, require a "pool," or bet in order to play and a "poolroom" in the 19th century was actually a betting room for horse racing. In order to pass the time between races, billiard tables were placed in these betting rooms known as poolrooms and, you guessed it, bets started to be placed on billiard games. The public soon began associating these poolrooms with the game of billiards which then led to the slang "Let's go to the pool room" and "Let's go play pool."
Even though the game of pool has a recent history of association with betting and with what some might consider unwholesome environments, please remember that billiards itself is a fun, challenging, and educational sport deserving our respect and involvement. In fact, are you a pool player?
Now that we have learned a little bit about the history of billiards, we are about to embark in a study of a historical Bible story about good and evil except that we are going to use pool table accessories as the props to tell the story.
Throughout the Bible, God uses everyday things to teach us His stories, His morals, and His principles.
God used a staff with Moses, a fleece with Gideon, and most of probably remember the example of God being the potter and us being the clay (Refer to photograph above). Jesus used many everyday things to teach us scriptural truths while He lived here on Earth.
Do you recall what we call these stories that Jesus told? Answer (printed backwards): selbarap
So in keeping with God's storytelling style,
let's begin ....
"THINGS THAT TEACH"
STUDY QUESTIONS:
Question 1
The world is filled with things that can teach us. From Job 12:7-8, name some things that can teach us.
Before reading the verse, name some everyday things that can teach us Biblical truths and principals.
Job 12:7-8 - "Ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish of the sea speak to you."
Question 2
Jesus taught us spiritual truths through the use of parables. Name some of the benefits that we will receive if we explore the meaning parables.
Proverbs 1:2-7 - "The purpose of these proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline, and to help them understand wise sayings. Through these proverbs, people will receive instuction in discipline, good conduct, and doing what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will make the simpleminded clever. They will give knowledge and purpose to young people. Let those who are wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. And let those who understand receive guidance by exploring the depth of meaning in these proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles. Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Matthew 13:34-35 - "Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled the prophecy that said, "I will speak to you in parables. I will explain mysteries hidden since the creation of the world.""
Question 3
Many Bible passages combine the concepts of good and evil together.
What are the results of doing good?
Proverbs 14:22 - "If you plot evil, you will be lost; but if you plan good, you will be granted unfailing love and faithfulness."
John 5:29 - "Those who have done good will rise to eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to judgment."
What are the results of doing evil?
Jeremiah 18:10 - "but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless that nation as I had said I would."
Ezekiel 18:26 - "When righteous people turn from being good and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds."
Also refer to John 5:29 above.
Question 4
Sometimes people ask us questions or we ask ourselves questions about things that the Bible does not answer.
Consider how Deuteronomy 29:29 and 1 Corinthians 13:12 might provide a good answer to those questions.
Deuteronomy 29:29 - "There are secret things that belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we may obey these words of the law."
1 Corinthians 13:12 - "Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now."
Question 5
Jesus taught, therefore He was a teacher.
What are characteristics of a good teacher?
Matthew 22:16 - "They decided to send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask Jesus this question: "Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences. You are impartial and don't play favorites."
What are characteristics of a good student?
Luke 6:40 - "A student is not greater than the teacher. But the student who works hard will become like the teacher."
