4 Solid Tips for Getting Started with Bible Study.....From the Inside BST Blog

 4 Solid Tips for Getting Started with Bible Study

From the Inside BST Blog

Today's Bible Verse: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” - Joshua 1:8

Getting started with Bible study can seem overwhelming. There are 66 books to choose from and thousands of verses—not to mention the large selection of Bible study resources. But Bible study isn’t as difficult as it may seem. In fact, millions of people around the world enjoy reading Scripture each day and discovering something new.

To help you start your journey, we’ve provided a few tips on getting into the Bible. We pray that as you study, God’s Word will come alive for you.

Four Tips to Get You Going

Pray first. Before you read the first verse, take a moment to ask for God’s guidance. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth and teaches us how to understand ( John 14). We need Him to open our eyes to the meaning of Scripture so that it can transform our lives.

Don’t get discouraged. Studying the Bible is a lifelong process. When you first embark on the journey, the landscape may seem unfamiliar—confusing even. But the more you read, pray, and study, the more you’ll grow accustomed to the contours of Scripture. You’ll see how books and ideas connect; you’ll see the history of God’s redeeming love. Be patient and keep at it.

Take notes. You’re more likely to engage with God’s Word if you make notes. When you have questions, write them down so that you can look for answers. When you realize something about God’s nature, write it down and study it later. Write out your prayers and thoughts. You can take advantage of My Bible on our site to access your notes from any computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Take action. The point of studying the Bible isn’t just to accumulate knowledge. As the writer of Hebrews says, Scripture is alive and cuts deep to transform us ( Hebrews 4:12). Read, take notes, pray, and let God use His living book to cause real change in your attitudes. You’ll be blown away by what He can do.

God is Already at Work.....Craig Denison Ministries

 God is Already at Work

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

In response to knowing the heart of God we are called to share the wonders of his invisible nature with a world in desperate need of him. God has chosen to use us to reveal himself. He’s filled us with the Spirit and empowered us to proclaim the good news of salvation and restored relationship with our Creator. May you discover this week that you were made to share God’s heart. And may you find joy and passion in God’s longing to use you in powerful and unique ways.

Scripture:

“It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

Devotional:    

God is calling you and me to a lifestyle of joining him where he is already at work. Foundational to co-laboring with God is acknowledging that he is in constant pursuit of humanity. There is nowhere you can go that God won’t be. There is no one you could talk to whom God doesn’t already see, love relentlessly, and have amazing plans for.

Sharing God’s heart begins and ends with his grace. His grace empowers us to step outside of ourselves and love others. In grace he pursues us, even in our sin. Grace sent Jesus to die for us that we might have salvation through him. And it’s by grace we receive that free gift of salvation.

It’s important to understand God’s grace because without it we work in vain. If we operate under the perspective that salvation, healing, deliverance, and freedom for others hinges on our ability or our mercy, we will achieve nothing. But when we understand that we are merely carriers of God’s heart and fellow recipients of God’s lavish grace, we work from a place of power and truth.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 says, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” And Philippians 2:13 says, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” You are not called to go off on your own into the darkness. God doesn’t just meet you when you read Scripture or spend time with him and then send you off to do his will. He is always with you. He is always available to you. And he always longs to empower you.

Cultivate a lifestyle of seeing where God is at work that you might co-labor with him. Ask the Holy Spirit for eyes to see the way he is pursuing people. Ask him for his heart for your friends, family, co-workers, and those you might only encounter once. God’s most likely not asking you to drop everything and move to an unreached people group right this moment. Instead, he’s asking you to be used by him to minister to others you encounter in your daily rhythms of life.

Meet God where he’s already at work today and seek to share his heart with a world that desperately needs to know a God who passionately pursues them.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the truth that God is already at work. Allow Scripture to change the way you see co-laboring with God.

“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4

“It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

2. Ask God where he is already at work around you. Ask him to bring to mind a person or a group of people whom you can minister to today.

3. Ask him how he is already at work. Ask him for a revelation of what you can do to see his kingdom advanced through your life today. Ask him for specific ways you can love others well. Journal his response and pray to receive courage and empowerment by the Holy Spirit.

Healing didn’t happen in Scripture because a disciple had a greater level of mercy or compassion, but because a disciple chose to co-labor with God where he was already at work. God is constantly loving, beckoning, and drawing everyone you know to himself. And he will work through you if you seek to join with him in his purposes. If you want to live a life of purpose that has eternal value, you need not look any farther than the faces of those you see every day. May you love others as God does. May you show mercy and compassion in response to God’s mercy and compassion. And may God’s kingdom come to earth around you today as you minister with God. 

Extended Reading: Philippians 2

Enough Already.....by John UpChurch

 Enough Already

by John UpChurch

“The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:38-39

I knew I’d feel inadequate, but once they slapped the Journeyman mic on me and the congregation sauntered in, the word inadequate became inadequate. Over my head, crazy, off my rocker—those shot through my mind a time or two.

Yes, I had notes. Yes, I’d practiced. Yes, I’d taken public speaking courses. But none of those really prepares you to face a congregation on Sunday morning. Nothing gets you ready to reach into Scripture and yank out the good stuff. You’re dealing with potent material here, the kind of thing you don’t want to get wrong. And out there are the faces of those who may never come back through the door of a church again.

No pressure.

And that’s how my first sermon started. Actually, I don’t remember much of it. It just kind of started and then ended. If there weren’t a recording, I don’t think I’d even know what I said. But, alas, said recording does exist (no chance of being linked here), and the final verdict is… let’s just say mixed. At least no one left, and given the size of the church, I would have noticed.

In many ways, I felt like that formerly demon-possessed man whom Jesus told to go tell it on the mountain. Jesus didn’t give him much in the way of lessons or practice. He just sent the man home to talk about God healing him. And as far as we know, the man went and did just that. Since it made it into the gospel accounts, I’m chalking that up as a success. All the man needed to know was that Jesus healed him, and—boom—he started sharing the good news.

Too many times, I’ve been shut down by the notion that I need to know more before I can say more. I can’t tell this person about Christ because I haven’t finished my study on Galatians. I can’t share how God changed me because I only spent 15 minutes in prayer this morning. I can’t start a small group in my house because I’m not the perfect husband or dad.

It’s hard for me to say, “Enough already.” I know enough already to preach a sermon, even if I’ll keep learning and growing for years. I know enough already to share that God wrenched me out of depression, even if I don’t know how to answer every question about the Bible. I know enough already to share my home, even if I’m still working on keeping my smartphone off during family time.

After all, I know enough to know that Christ is the one who does the saving, not my faulty words.

Intersecting Faith and Life: Here’s the secret. None of us will ever be adequate for sharing our faith, for discipling others, or for preaching God’s Word. We just aren’t. You could study your entire life and not be. So, shake that monkey off your spine and say, “Enough already!” You have enough to start.

You’ll make mistakes; you’ll blow it; you’ll say dumb things. But it doesn’t depend on you. You know enough because you know Christ. Keep growing and share from where you are.

For Further Reading

Luke 8:26

Colossians 2:1

A Prayer to Be Considerate of Others.....By Victoria Riollano

 A Prayer to Be Considerate of Others

By Victoria Riollano 

Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. - Philippians 4:5

When it comes to people, I have a hard time dealing with those who are inconsiderate. 

I have to be honest. When it comes to my relationships, professional and personal, I expect people to be where they say they are going to be and do what they said they would do. In response, I try to do the same, almost to the detriment of my own mental health. My desire to not disappoint or leave someone else in need often gets the best of me. Perhaps, sometimes, my high expectations of others and myself is my greatest flaw. 

Yet, I often wonder why Philippians 4:5 reads in the manner that it does, “Be considerate or gentle (depending on the translation) to all”. This phrase by itself requires much intention. Yet, the writer of the passage, the Apostle Paul, follows it with “Remember, the Lord is coming soon.” Out of all the things he could have written here, he chooses to remind us that the Lord is coming soon. How could our choice to be considerate be related to the Lord coming soon?

I believe this passage is a perfect example that our actions matter. How we treat people and interact with others is a cornerstone of our faith. If we are inconsiderate, uncaring, prideful, angry, it affects other people. So much so, that we may play a part in how they view the Lord. If we, as Christians, aren’t intentional about doing right by others what does this say about the God we claim to follow? Much like 2 Corinthians 5:20 states, 

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ. In the world around us, being an ambassador is a very serious job. The one who serves as an ambassador for a country has a responsibility to represent their nation well by being professional, dependable and an example of all their country stands for. I believe the Apostle Paul wanted us to consider our role as an ambassador for Christ and the fact that our actions or inactions could affect our ability to represent Christ well. If we are constantly causing other people more stress through our choice to be inconsiderate, we can expect they will be unlikely to seek us or want to know more about our God when hard times come. Yet, when we operate in kindness and consideration for other people, we will cause others to be drawn to the God we serve. Each time we choose to follow through, be on time, put another person’s need before our own, and show up for a person in need, we provide an opportunity to spread God’s love. This is an amazing opportunity that I pray each of us would never neglect. May we pause this week and ask how we can be more considerate and loving to those around us.

Let’s pray.

Lord, I thank you for your grace toward me. There are times when I am selfish and self-seeking, putting my own desires before others. God, I ask that you help me to be considerate and aware of the times that my choices affect other people. Lord, help my life to be a testimony to your goodness. Teach me how to interact with others in a way that would draw them back to you. 

Bring your conviction when I am off course and need to change how I treat others. Help me to be a worthy ambassador. Use me to share the Gospel to others through my words and actions. I am believing for many to come to know you. Show me how my life can be a part of sharing your Word. 

In Jesus' name, Amen