Bible Study: Day 4 Of “Encounter The 3D Bible” By Dr. Susan Michael
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Day 4: The Bible Didn't Change. My Perspective Did.
"Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."
Study Tip:
One of the biggest takeaways from today’s study is realizing that learning to read the Bible this way (in 3D) deepens my faith. Instead of fearing difficult passages, I’m beginning to understand that many of them deserve a closer look before I draw conclusions.
If you read certain passages and feel attacked or come to a harsh conclusion – make sure you dig deeper into those verses to learn the history, the geography, the cultural context, who it was written for, what was going on in the world at that time, etc. I think you’ll come to the same realization that I am starting to see – I’ve been missing out on so much context that there is no way I could have known what the true meaning was supposed to be. Learning to read the Bible in 3D isn’t about another Bible study – it is learning how to strengthen my relationship with God by looking at the Word with a new perspective.
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Bible Study Disclaimer
This study series reflects my personal notes and observations while working through Encounter the 3D Bible by Dr. Susan Michael. These posts are not a substitute for the book or study guide. I encourage you to purchase the materials and study alongside me.
Primary Bible Scriptures (Read These)
- Acts 17:11 – The Bereans examined the Scriptures daily.
- Ephesians 1:15–18 – Paul’s prayer for wisdom, revelation, and spiritual understanding.
- Romans 11:11–24 – The olive tree and the grafting in of the Gentiles.
- Genesis 12:1–3 – God’s covenant with Abraham and His plan to bless all nations.
Cross-Reference Bible Scriptures (Explore Further)
- Genesis 17:8 – God promises to be the God of His covenant people.
- Leviticus 26:12 – “I will walk among you and be your God.”
- Matthew 28:19–20 – The Great Commission to all nations.
- Revelation 7:9–10 – Every tribe, nation, people, and language worshiping before God’s throne.
- 2 Timothy 2:15 – Correctly handling the Word of Truth.
- Psalm 119:18 – “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.”
Opening prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for inviting me to spend time in Your Word today. As I begin this study, I ask that You quiet the distractions of my heart and mind so I can focus completely on You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and give me a spirit of wisdom, discernment, and revelation as I seek to know You more deeply.
Help me not to rush through Scripture or read it only through the lens of my own experiences. Teach me to understand the historical, cultural, and literary context in which You first revealed Your truth, and then show me how those timeless truths apply to my life today. Give me the humility to recognize when I have misunderstood something, the patience to dig a little deeper, and the courage to ask honest questions as I continue to grow in my faith.
Lord, thank You for preserving Your Word throughout history so that we can know You more fully. May my study today be more than an intellectual exercise—may it become a conversation with You. Open my eyes to see what You want me to learn, soften my heart to receive it, and strengthen my faith as I continue this journey one lesson at a time.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.
Today's Journey & Study Overview
Today I’m continuing to learn what it means to move beyond simply reading the Bible and into truly studying it. As I explore the importance of culture, audience, literary genre, and Bible study tools, I’m discovering that understanding Scripture begins with understanding the world in which God first revealed it.
Along the way we’ll explore:
- Why context matters.
- How translations differ.
- The role of study Bibles and Bible tools.
- One lesson that completely changed how I think about Paul’s writings.
Thinking Differently
Today’s study challenged me to think differently about what it means to study the Bible. Reading Scripture devotionally is an important part of growing in our relationship with God, but today’s lesson reminded me that faithful Bible study also requires curiosity, patience, and a willingness to understand the world in which God’s Word was first given. As I continued learning about historical, geographical, cultural, audience, and literary context, I began to realize that understanding Scripture isn’t about making the Bible fit my world. It’s about stepping into its world first. Only then can I begin applying those timeless truths to my own life.
SUPPORT THE AUTHOR: Quick plug for dr. susan michael's wonderful book "encounter The 3D Bible"
Before we continue, we want to take a moment to recognize and thank Dr. Susan Michael for creating “Encounter the 3D Bible”. Although we’ve never met Dr. Michael, her work has already changed the way we approach Scripture. Before beginning this study, we primarily read the Bible from a devotional perspective. Through her teaching, we’re learning to explore God’s Word through its historical, geographical, cultural, literary, and audience context, and it has completely transformed the way we study.
As we share our Bible Study Journal here on Koutz Farm, we are committed to respecting the work of the authors whose studies inspire us. These posts are our personal notes, reflections, and observations as we work through the material—they are not a replacement for the book or study guide. In fact, we’ve intentionally written them in a way that encourages you to dig into the original material for yourself rather than relying on our notes alone.
If you’re enjoying this series, we wholeheartedly encourage you to purchase “Encounter the 3D Bible” and the companion study guide. Not only will you receive the complete teaching experience—including insights, discussion questions, and exercises that we don’t reproduce here—but you’ll also be supporting an author who has invested years of study, research, and ministry into helping believers better understand God’s Word.
If you decide to follow along with us, we hope you’ll study directly from Dr. Michael’s materials while using our journal as a companion resource. We truly believe you’ll gain far more from experiencing the lessons firsthand than you ever could by reading our notes alone.
Thank you for supporting Christian authors, teachers, and ministries who faithfully invest their time and talents into helping others grow in their relationship with Jesus. If you’d like to pick up a copy, simply click on the links below to order your study materials and begin the journey with us.
Day 4 Notes
Who?
Today’s lesson emphasized that every book of the Bible was written by a real person, inspired by the Holy Spirit, for a real audience living in a particular place and time. Understanding who the original audience was helps us avoid applying every verse as though it were written directly to us without first asking:
- Who first heard these words?
- What struggles were they facing?
- What would they have understood that I might overlook today?
People Mentioned In “Encounter The 3D Bible) For Today’s study
- God
- Jesus Christ Our Lord & Savior
- Abraham
- The People Of Israel
- The Jewish Audience
- The Gentile & Pagan Audience
- John
- Hellenized (Greek) Audience
- Roman Empire / god Dionysus (founder of wine)
- Paul
- Timothy
- Cult of Diana
- Adam
- Eve
- David
- Author & Biblical Scholar F. LaGard Smith (The Daily Bible)
Cultural Context
One thing that Dr. Susan Michael said in the book that stood out to me was realizing how often Western readers—including myself—naturally read Scripture through the lens of our own experiences. Yet the Bible was written within a Middle Eastern culture where family, covenant, and community often took precedence over individualism. That perspective alone changes how many passages begin to unfold.
What?
Today’s lesson continued introducing practical ways to study Scripture more thoughtfully. Rather than focusing solely on personal application, I was encouraged to explore the larger story God has been telling us. One truth especially stood out: From the very beginning, God’s desire has been to dwell with His people.
In Genesis, God called Abraham and established a covenant with him, promising to bless all nations through his descendants (Genesis 12:1–3). Throughout the Old Testament, He formed Israel into a covenant people. Then, through Jesus Christ, that invitation was extended to people from every nation, tribe, and tongue who place their faith in Him. Seeing Scripture through that larger story makes individual passages feel connected rather than isolated.
When?
Historical Context
Related To My “Encounter The 3D Bible” Book Notes: One of the greatest reminders from today’s lesson is that history matters. The Bible doesn’t take place in a fictional world.
- Kings ruled.
- Empires rose and fell.
- Cultures influenced one another.
- Trade routes connected distant nations.
- Political powers oppressed God’s people.
Understanding those historical realities often explains why biblical authors emphasized certain truths. The more I learn about biblical history, the more I realize that God’s plan has always unfolded within real human history—including our own.
Where?
Geographical Context
Related To My “Encounter The 3D Bible” Book Notes: Location often explains details that are easy to miss. Today’s study reminded me that Israel stood at the crossroads of major trade routes connecting Africa, Asia, and Europe. Because of its location, God’s people constantly encountered neighboring cultures, religions, and worldviews.
That geographical setting helps explain many biblical events and why certain miracles, conversations, and teachings occurred where they did. Even Jesus’ ministry often took on deeper meaning depending on whether He was ministering among predominantly Jewish communities or Gentile regions.
Why?
God did not give us His Word simply to increase our knowledge. Scripture teaches, corrects, encourages, equips, and transforms us. Today’s study reminded me that reading the Bible is more than completing another task on my to-do list. It is an opportunity to spend intentional time with God and build a true relationship with Him.
Digging In Deeper
The Greek word translated “God-breathed” in 2 Timothy 3:16 is theopneustos, a word combining Theos (God) and pneō (to breathe). Rather than suggesting God merely inspired good ideas, Paul describes Scripture as having its source in God Himself. For me, that realization gives greater weight to the authority of the Bible; how does this knowledge hit you?
Cultural Context
One illustration from “Encounter The 3D Bible” (ref. page 14) that resonated with me compared learning the Bible to children first learning their ABCs before they can read fluently. Just as children build one lesson upon another, understanding Scripture requires learning foundational principles that help us interpret it wisely. Make sure to get your own copy of the “Encounter The 3D Bible” and the accompanying study guide to learn more about Dr. Susan’s take on this.
Scripture Cross References
- Genesis 3:1–6 – The first seed of doubt.
- Matthew 17:20 – Faith as small as a mustard seed.
- Hebrews 4:12 – God’s Word is living and active.
- John 1:1–14 – Jesus as the living Word.
- Isaiah 55:10–11 – God’s Word accomplishes His purposes.
My Reflections
Application To Life On The Homestead
One image stayed with me throughout today’s study—the idea of planting seeds. Dr. Susan Michael shows us how the serpent planted a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind. That small seed eventually grew into distrust and disobedience. But I know that faith grows the same way. Every day we choose which seeds we water.
This lesson reminded me that doubt rarely appears all at once. Much like weeds in a garden, it begins small and grows if left unattended. The same is true of faith. Every time I open God’s Word, pray, or choose to trust Him despite uncertainty, I am planting seeds that I hope will produce a harvest of deeper faith.
Do we continually feed fear, doubt, anger, and discouragement or do we nurture faith by spending time in God’s Word, prayer, and fellowship with Him? A harvest never appears overnight. Neither does spiritual growth. Choose the seeds you plant wisely so your future harvest helps to build the life you really want.
God’s Timing
Another thought that struck me was the timing of me reading this chapter. The author mentioned America approaching its 250th anniversary, and I happened to read those exact pages on July 4th—our nation’s 250th birthday. It felt like a small reminder that God’s timing often has a way of making certain truths more meaningful.
Relationship Building
Finally, today’s lesson reminded me that Bible study isn’t about finishing another chapter or checking something off your list of to-do’s. It’s about drawing closer to God and being filled with His Holy Spirit through the living, breathing Word of God Himself.
Planting Your Seeds This Week:
Read 2 Timothy 3:14–17 and ask yourself:
- “What is God trying to teach me today?”
- “What seeds am I planting and caring for so I can get the harvest I need in the future?”
- “How is God’s living, breathing Word moving in my soul and spirit?”
Study Tip: I always wanted to read the entire Bible from cover to cover and I tried so many times and couldn’t achieve that goal until I purchased the “NIV Beautiful Word Coloring Bible” (shown above). I colored and read from cover to cover in less than 6 months! Since then, I’ve read 2 other versions from cover to cover and I’m working on reading the “Evidence Study Bible” right now. If you are struggling with reading the Bible, I HIGHLY recommend “Beautiful Word Coloring Bible”.
Questions I Still Have (Because I'm Human)
- “How do we confidently answer people who claim the Bible has been changed or corrupted?”
- “What role did the Dead Sea Scrolls play in confirming the reliability of Scripture?”
- “If there are many Bible translations, how do I choose which one to study?”
- “How should we understand difficult passages involving the treatment of women while recognizing the difference between what Scripture records and what God desires?”
These are questions I hope to continue exploring throughout this and future Bible studies we do on this website.
Other Tools For A Great Bible Study Experience
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Closing Prayer
Father,
Thank You for giving us Your living Word. Thank You for preserving it throughout history and allowing us the freedom to read it today. Help me to recognize the seeds I am planting in my own heart. When doubt begins to grow, replace it with trust. When I become distracted, draw me back to Your truth. Give me a hunger for Scripture and the wisdom to understand it more deeply each day. May my faith continue to grow as I spend time in Your presence, and may my life reflect the truth of Your Word.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Affiliate Link Notice
Many of the links on this page are affiliate links. This simply means that we get a referral bonus if you click our link and place an order. The company rewards us for the referral – but it doesn’t cost you anything extra over the cost of the products/services that you decide to purchase (plus any shipping fees and taxes). The payment is sometimes in monetary form, sometimes in discounts, sometimes in store credits, sometimes with other types of rewards. By using our links, you are supporting a small family business and helping our little farm.
To learn more about affiliate links, please read our Legal Terms & Conditions.
Bible Study Disclaimer
This study series reflects my personal notes and observations while working through Encounter the 3D Bible by Dr. Susan Michael. These posts are not a substitute for the book or study guide. I encourage you to purchase the materials and study alongside me.
References:
