As I was leading a discussion with 3 other guys about getting more meat out of devotional time I was challenged by the words I was saying to encourage them. I used to study the Bible with intention rather than routine daily duty. Now I read for about 10 min and then pray for 5-10. It makes a nice devotional time. A nice glass of milk in the morning and then run all day on that feeding. I need that glass of milk (15 min of easy devo time), but I need to follow that up some meat later in that day. So in the next 30 days I will be doing a deeper study into the book of Hebrews. I might not do it every day of in depth, but I will put 3 hrs towards study beyond my milk time per week. Here is my plan...
1) Read Hebrews all the way through 1 time, no notes, no assumptions, not trying to get any hidden meaning out of it.
2) Read back ground notes from Bible dictionaries and write down important notes like, where, when, why, how, culture relevance, to whom.
3) Read Hebrews a couple of times only jotting down breaks in ideas and where the topic changes. This will help create an outline.
4) Go per section of the brief outline and create a more detailed outline as sub points.
5) Dig into Hebrews with the notes that have already been taken and extra commentaries. At this time Hebrews will be divided into manageable portions of meat.
I will post my progress to keep myself accountable. Goodluck to myself.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
I am excited about tonight's Men's Bible study. I was tired and exhausted before I started writing my outline, afterwards I feel 75% better, still not total par, but better. Tonight's topic is on how to study the Bible for yourself (get more meat) . I look around and see all these different styles of Bible study and some of them are loaded with post modern, everything is relative, to each their own-studies. Some of them are good and well worth the time and energy to put into them. I fear, however, if we (parents, church, leaders with education) don't teach people on the hows and whys to study the Bible we will become even more ignorant of the Bible, both in knowledge and wisdom (myself included).
When preparing for this study, I read something that struck me. (I had the head knowledge, but it was an Ah-ha moment.) I study the Bible hoping that the Holy Spirit will come and help me study, and I say a prayer to start the process. What I just realized is that the H.S. wants to teach me from what I read 10,000,000 times more than how much I want to learn. I don't coax the H.S. to teach me, I need to listen and get used to listening. My inability to listen and learn does not constitute inability of the H.S. to teach.
When preparing for this study, I read something that struck me. (I had the head knowledge, but it was an Ah-ha moment.) I study the Bible hoping that the Holy Spirit will come and help me study, and I say a prayer to start the process. What I just realized is that the H.S. wants to teach me from what I read 10,000,000 times more than how much I want to learn. I don't coax the H.S. to teach me, I need to listen and get used to listening. My inability to listen and learn does not constitute inability of the H.S. to teach.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Reflective thoughts
When talking with my father-in-law a while ago, I managed to write some words that I reflect on. Not only does this apply to the family situation that we are going through, but for why it was hard for me back before I meet Jen (If you really want to know what that was, talk to me). It occurred to me that this was something that most people go through after Dave asked if he could share it. (Once again something profound was already written before I thought of it, but only stated differently.)
There is little hope in this world... I do know that when you start not doing things that you should do, the right thing becomes harder to do, unless you hit a breaking point that changes your direction. This can either be from within or outside circumstances. We are outside circumstances and that has a much less effect than from with in one's self. I don't expect much, if anything from meeting with him once or twice a month, maybe I am hoping/wishing that my influence would happen faster, but with knowledge knowing it will take years (and I do mean years) to undo the past... I do think that is where my problem lies, is that I think they will change now, but in human sinfulness it takes a long time to change with out a breaking point, strong enough to change the paradigm you are in.
The only change factor that can speed this process up is the power of Christ, and that comes from the inside flowing outward. I am sorry to say that I have not kept up with meeting this person on a monthly basis. I find it hard to be around people who try so hard to put on a show in front of me only to know that when I am not around them they are totally different and would look opposite. What I can ask for is prayer to overcome my inclination of meeting with this person and to do it.
There is little hope in this world... I do know that when you start not doing things that you should do, the right thing becomes harder to do, unless you hit a breaking point that changes your direction. This can either be from within or outside circumstances. We are outside circumstances and that has a much less effect than from with in one's self. I don't expect much, if anything from meeting with him once or twice a month, maybe I am hoping/wishing that my influence would happen faster, but with knowledge knowing it will take years (and I do mean years) to undo the past... I do think that is where my problem lies, is that I think they will change now, but in human sinfulness it takes a long time to change with out a breaking point, strong enough to change the paradigm you are in.
The only change factor that can speed this process up is the power of Christ, and that comes from the inside flowing outward. I am sorry to say that I have not kept up with meeting this person on a monthly basis. I find it hard to be around people who try so hard to put on a show in front of me only to know that when I am not around them they are totally different and would look opposite. What I can ask for is prayer to overcome my inclination of meeting with this person and to do it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
