July 7, 2010

Thank you for returning to our newsletter-blog! Earlier today, we gave some thoughts to the notion of how we “hear” God’s Voice.

We asked: “how do we place ourselves in an environment that is condusive to knowing Him more?”

Studying God’s Word is a great place to begin, because we believe that it is how God communicates truth to us. We learn and process ideas differently. Your way of absorbing the Bible may not be my way. Some translations are easier to follow for you and another works best for someone else. We are dealing here with Bible Study for devotional purposes: Bible Study with the goal of drawing closer to God and begin to know Him as a Person. Here are a few of the suggestions on Bible Study methods from tonight’s meeting.

Let’s take a look at Mark 9:20-26

The Artist Way
This kind of Bible study would obviously appeal more to someone who is artistic and visual. We had a couple of sketch artists, painters and poets in our midst this Wednesday night. One of them, Raiza who showed her opened Bible: it had a bright colorful picture next to a favorite text! She and other creative people could relate to this method:
Begin by asking yourself these three main questions:

1. What speaks to your heart? Draw a picture of a heart beside the word that speaks to your heart.

2. What new thought or idea comes to you? Draw a light bulb beside the new idea noted.

3.What does the passage move you to do? Draw a hand next to the action you want to take.
(idea from AA Calhoon)

The Triple A’s
Here is another style that I learned in a collegiate Small Group . I don’t know who taugth these members, but this way has often worked for me. It’s easy to remember and it is perfect for someone who has an inquisitive mind!

A is for ASK:
Look at the passage and ask as many questions as you can. For example, why did the father come to Jesus?
How did Jesus react to the man? How did Jesus heal the boy?

The second A is for ANSWER:
Look deeper inside the text or look at its context. Inside most of your Bibles, there is a concordance or references to other texts in the middle or at at the bottom of the page. Use these to refer to other texts in the Bible. Don’t use extra-biblical materials. Simply allow the Bible to speak for itself.

The third A is for APPLY:
Here again we end with a decision to do something about what we have read and studied. If you have trouble coming up with the application, try asking yourself: “I will…” or “l choose to…” Make the Application part personal and ask God to help you.

S.O.A.P
I found this one at a website called ” http://www.lifejournal.cc/”. My friend Pastor Aleman introduced me to their online journals. I have not tried it online, but I have distributed these journals and own a couple of my own! It’s a neat acronym that I was accustomed to seeing in medical settings. Who knew! It works in a spiritual setting, too. This is how I apply the acronymn, “soap”:

Scripture:
Reread the passage of Scripture. Summarize in your own words what you have just read.

Observation:
Look at the text. Watch for clues, anything unusual and wonder about the people, the place, and what’s being said or not said. Where else is this person or similar situation mentionned in the Bible…

Application:
Begin to answer how these findings apply to your life today. How does the boy relate to my need for healing? Do my doubts prevent me from going to Jesus? What do I learn from this father’s faith?

Prayer:
Based on your reading, where do you need God the most right now? How may He help you? Maybe it is time for you to also cry out, “Lord, I believe. Help my Unbelief.”

God bless you as you seek to know Him more!

Praying for our joy…and hope for the journey,
Pastor Sabine