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Bible Study
I don’t know about you but whenever I hear the word study lots of negative emotions immediately rise to the surface. I am transported back to double French on a Friday afternoon aged thirteen!
And yet studying as a spiritual exercise is one of the most exciting and liberating activities we can do. We do it, not to pass an exam or feel superior to others, but to change, to be transformed, to become more Christ-like. Through studying we learn more about God, His world and our place in it.
I wish there was another word for it, but for now it will have to do.
- Studying involves the whole person, the heart and mind, all our senses can be used, and we don’t have to sit in a library, we can do it anywhere – well perhaps not the shower, but then again it does not need to be about reading heavy books full of long words.
- Studying relies on the work of the Spirit to guide and aid our thoughts as we seek to gain knowledge in order to change.
- Studying is a creative activity which seeks to apply new knowledge to fresh situations so that God is worshipped more and more through our thoughts and actions.
- Studying involves different approaches for different people; one size does not fit all. Some thinkers believe people can be divided into four different learning groups called: Activists, Reflectors, Pragmatists and Theorists. If you want to learn more then click here
Hopefully by now, I have helped you realise that studying is not an optional extra for a follower of God but an important activity to do regularly.
Where do we start?
- It starts with a question,
"What does it mean to be a follower of God in the 21st Century where I live?"
- It involves: reading, watching, listening, and then reflecting on what you have found out.
- It can be done on its own or with others; actually it generally works best by starting on your own and then chatting your thoughts through with others.
- It can take as much time as you have available, start with short periods and build up.
- It can happen wherever you are and at any time of the day or night.
- It helps if you write down your thoughts and ideas.
- It needs to be accompanied with prayer to keep us focused on why we are doing it.
Digging Deeper
Resources
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