Each Sunday morning I arrive early to BCC (usually by 7:30 am), in anticipation of our Precept Bible Study. I have always been a morning person, so getting there early to set up the room and make coffee before my sweet brothers and sisters arrive is really no chore for me. I like to get there early enough so I have a few minutes of quiet; it's a good time to regroup my thoughts about what we studied the previous week and what we'll be discussing. It's also a great time to invite God's presence into our class.
A thought occurred to me this week as I was setting up tables, and immediately I knew that it was to be the topic of this post. My role as a Bible study "leader", "teacher" or "facilitator" (whatever label you want to put on me) is really just that ... to "set the table". I have done the preparation; I've answered the questions, looked up the scripture, done some word studies, and invariably gone down a few rabbit trails of cross references, as my curiosity usually takes me. And when the class assembles, I am ready to share what God might have spoken into my heart through the week. But all in all, I just create the opportunity - if those attending did not also dig into God's Word on their own they wouldn't really benefit from all my study - they would just get a taste from the overflow. And I would also miss the overflow of their study!
Have you ever found a new recipe, shopped for the ingredients, and prepared the dish, only to have your children (or husband J) sweetly decline what you prepared for them? Come to find out, they've filled themselves up with Doritos and aren't interested! We can cajole, and tempt, and even threaten, but if they are truly not hungry, (or maybe they just aren't willing to try something new) it won't do any good. They simply won't partake. And the worst insult - when they turn down that dish you've spent so much effort to produce, and request instead the Kraft mac-n-cheese or "Dinosaur Chicken Tenders"!
I have to wonder, do I ever do that to God? His Word is absolutely filled with delectable, interesting, tantalizing storehouses of wisdom and knowledge. Yet am I satisfied with the out-of-the box? A devotional...a fill-in-the-blank ...a great message from the pastor (all good things, but "pre-processed" for us). I have found such incredible satisfaction in exploring God's Word for myself, making it the one thing I cannot live without. As I eat and drink more and more from His Word, I find myself less and less enamored with this world. The newspaper holds less interest for me. Well-written fictional books might be an entertaining diversion now and then, and great Christian authors do have things to say that encourage me ... but my God has set before me a feast - why would I try to live this Christ-life on a snack?
I've learned, too, that ALL of God's Word is worth studying. We just finished Zechariah - pure prophecy; and about a year ago, we tackled the book of Jeremiah (52 chapters of well...kind of depressing text!) You might say, "What in the world can I learn from flying scrolls and baskets and horses and dreams and visions?" But oh! How much we learned about the character of God.
Here's a tip that is helpful no matter what book of the Bible you are in. Keep a running list of all the things you observe in the text about God - who He is, how He acts, why He responds the way He does, what He loves or hates or expects of us, when He is moved to action. Here are just a few of the things we learned about God from Zechariah. Trudy would faint if I sent her the whole list to post! :) (Note from Trudy....No I wouldn't....I love the list and would gladly read it all...I'm learning lots just from reading it :)
- God's Word always comes true.
- God is aware of what goes on in this world; He sends His angels to patrol the earth (cool thought!!)
- God answers our questions with grace and compassion
- God doesn't like humans interfering in His dealings with those who belong to Him.
- God has compassion for those who have suffered His discipline and correction.
- God is very protective and defensive over those who belong to Him.
- God defends those He has chosen; He rebukes satan our accuser
- God rewards our obedience with the privilege of serving Him
- God sends His Spirit to accomplish what He calls us to do
- God's eyes run to and fro through the whole earth - God sees! El Roi!
- God cannot be deceived by outward appearances of piety and spiritual disciplines - He knows what is in our heart.
- God has expectations of how we treat others - to be kind, compassionate and fair; He specifically instructs not to devise evil or oppress others; He hates lying.
- God gets jealous - wrathfully so - for those He loves and chooses.
- God turns curses into blessings, harm into good.
- God accomplishes what He purposes to do
- God restores out of His compassion
- God's Spirit of grace and supplication leads us to repentance
- God's supply of forgiveness is a fountain
- God will refine His people
- God will one day rule over all the earth as the recognized king-the ONLY king!
Does God ever speak something to your heart, and you're not quite sure you heard Him? So He repeats it. As I pondered the idea that God "sets the table" before us, and if that was what He really wanted me to put down on paper to share with you, I "happened" to ask Sue Gray to close our class in prayer. And one of the first things that came out of her mouth was, "God, thank you that you invite us to come to the table." She prayed in reference to the communion service we were getting ready to participate in, but God so confirmed in my heart that this is what Bible study is ... communion with Him. And every day, He invites us to come and feast. And sadly, so many days, we settle for a "snack".
The fact that you are following this blog is a good indication that Bible study is important to you, that you value His Word. I encourage you, whatever method of Bible study you use, make it the one thing you simply cannot live without. Let everything else go that our culture tells you is so important. It's not worth the sacrifice. Many people say to me, "I just don't have time for in-depth study." Sisters, we don't have time NOT to study scripture!
If we desire to be free in Christ, if we really want to experience His presence, His joy, His peace ... we must obsess ourselves ...saturate ourselves...with the Word of God. It is truly the only thing that will nourish our spiritual life. We simply cannot live without it.
Stop snacking. A feast awaits you. Come to the table!
I love you ladies.
Sheila
(Maybe some of you have not heard of the Precepts class that Sheila leads. It meets Sunday mornings before 1st Worship and is an excellent place to learn how to delve more deepy into the Word. The next session begins April 1st and the study will be on the Gospel of John. If you are interested talk to Sheila for more details)
Okay Waw Team....lets hear how the Word has been at work in you recently. Click "comment(s)" and share away!
To see previous WAW Team postings click
WAW Team Post 1
WAW Team Post 2
WAW Team Post 3
I am studying James in the current Ladies Bible Study. I am loving this study as much as I did Jonah, Ruth and Gripped by the Greatness of God.
ReplyDeleteToday I studied James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
We were asked to divide our lives into segments and remember the “perfect gifts” that came from God in each segment. It is easy to remember good gifts...but to think about the perfect gifts from God. The word that translated perfect in James describes that “which has achieved or reached its goal, objective, purpose.” This last sentence is from Beth Moore but it gave me a whole new idea of God’s gifts being perfect in that they are given to each of us to be used for our futures. They are given with a goal in mind for each of us. I have thought about this all day today as it was a real epiphany for me.
Carol Mitchell
You know Carol I think I have always lumped those two together "good and perfect" so that was very insightful of you to think of the differences and I too am really awed when I think of that defintion of "perfect" and how many of those gifts God has given me. I may not have always thought them perfect at the time but bc they so succintly achieved His goal or purpose in me they are/were exactly that! He is so Good and all His gifts are GOOD & Perfect. I am sorry and sad for the times when I was ever duped by the enemy into thinking otherwise! Thanks for sharing those encouraging thoughts with us.
DeleteTrudy
Here's how the Word has been at work in me this week. I hope you don't mind that mine is more general observations this week as opposed to focusing on just one verse.
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to memorize the book of James as part of the James study and so this constant overview and repeating the whole book has reminded me of several things.
1. The Word really is living and active and was meant to WORK in and through us -so immersing ourselves in it = change and fruit. (yep James is definetly changing me)
2. Context is king. When you don’t understand a particular passage, try backing up and looking at it within the context of a whole chapter or maybe even the whole book. It is amazing the difference in understanding you gain when you look at a verse within it's intended context.
3. Look for repeated words to pick up on main themes
In this week’s study, Beth had us count the number of times “deceived” was used in Chapter 1. I found it 3 times (vs. 16, vs.22 and vs.26) but I have noticed that it is continuously used in other chapters of James too.
A second theme that I’ve noticed is repeated throughout the book is also in James 1:22- I thought it was interesting to find both themes tied up in this one verse: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Something that the Lord has really showed me through this study is that if I am willing to take a very honest look at my life and reject the lure to deceive myself I can see & clearly know what I really believe by what I do. Sometimes that is encouraging, other times it is down right discouraging and convicting but I have grown to see more than ever before that just as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead also and how faith is perfected through works. Somehow I have never quite been able to wrap my mind around the delicate marriage between faith and works and have even at times dismissed works as an enemy of faith but with the help of the Holy Spirit and the pen of James I am beginning to understand the perfect union between the two. (Especially in the example he uses with Abraham in Chapter 2)
This is the verse that I have been reflecting on and have been clinging to this truth! Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
ReplyDeleteProsper: succeed, advance, augment, enrich, bear fruit, become rich/wealthy, blossom, bloom, do well,do wonders, flourish, hit the jackpot, increase, make good, multiply, produce, progress, strike it rich, thrive, turn out well.
I further looked into augment, just because: The first thing that comes to mind is breast augmentation. Bear with me here... then it hit me and I had to laugh, literally out loud....God has plans to take my old, small, withered, droopy self and replace that person with a new, improved, uplifted, and firm person. I like this thought!!
Amanda,
DeleteI think that is going to have to get the award for speaking the language of we women the best. I get that! I am so glad God has plans to augment me and not to harm me! Thanks for the laugh on this grey Friday afternoon:)