Looking ahead: Dover Days
Dover Days is a fun local event celebrating Dover’s history. While Deep Water has a pretty short history (although, we do have a bit of connection to some Delaware history), we do love being a part of this community.
We plan on setting up a booth on Saturday and telling people about who we are and why we do what we do. If you call Deep Water home, we’d love for you to get the opportunity to help us with passing out literature & cool swag, talking to people–and playing lots of cool games with kids. If you want to help us, mark the date on your calendar: May 4. We’ll have more information coming soon–and you’ll even be able to order a T-Shirt if you want one. So, wait for information, or contact me!
How to Study the Bible-Part 2
Last week, we discussed one simple way to get started reading the Bible (SOAP). This week, I’d like to discuss my favorite method of studying the Scriptures–the inductive Bible study method. Inductive Bible study is the process of looking into passages of the Bible and finding what the passage means from the evidence in the passage. Although authors may vary the process some, the basic method usually involved four steps.
The Inductive Method
- Observation: What do I see?
- Interpretation: What does it mean?
- Application: How should we respond?
- Personalization: How will I respond?
We’ll begin this week with observation (step 1). As we do, let’s learn to read and study the Bible. Here are a few tips for studying:
Studying the Bible
- Read–many people are never transformed by the Bible, because they never read the Bible with an open heart and mind
- Slowly–we often rush through reading, but the process of reading is more important than getting done
- Patiently–some passages might not be understood immediately, we need to take time with them
- Thoroughly–often we miss significant things because we gloss over the details
- Reflect–take time to think & pray for insight
- Record–keeping a journal or record will help you process passage
- Repeat–sometimes the depth of meaning in a passage is discovered only after spending significant time with a passage
To help you give this a try, let’s look at the passage we’ll be going over this week on Sunday. Comment below or contact me if you want to discuss your observations.
Exercise: Make observations in Luke 10:38-42, asking the following questions:
- Who?
- What?
- Where?
- When?
How many observations can you make?
Parent Cue for 1st week of March
As a church, we want to supply resources to help you as a parent move your kids forward in their journey of faith. To help you, we supply a weekly “Parent Cue” and “Kids Devotional”. (What is a devotional, I defined it in an earlier post that might interest you.) The Parent Cue will help you discuss the week’s lesson and Bible story with your child. You can schedule a time to sit down with them–or just have a discussion over dinner. For this week’s parent Cue, click here to download it.
For older kids, we also have Kids Devotional material that goes along with what we’re learning in Kids Church. Encourage kids to choose four different days during the week to do these devotions. Most 4th and 5th graders are capable of having a “quiet time” on their own, once they’ve been taught how to do it, but they still need an adult to prompt them and/or follow up on it. Even though kids in early elementary (kindergarten through 3rd grade) are beginning to read things on their own, most are not mature enough to have a God time by themselves. This is something extra you may choose to do with your younger kids. Click to download it here.
New Group on Thursdays
Interested in Multiply but can’t make Thursday nights? Starting next Thursday (March 14, 2013), we’ll have a Multiply Group meeting at the church’s worship space at 1pm. Feel free to bring lunch if it’s your lunchtime. We’ll make a pot of coffee and jump right into the material.
There is street parking downtown, but I also have passes for the city lot directly behind the building. (Until the construction is finished, we have to use temporary permits. When the lot is finished, we’ll have spots available with clearly marked signs.)
For planning purposes, try to let me know if you’ll be attending.
How to Study the Bible-Part 1
Recently I was asked how to study the Bible. Although a simple question, the answer is long.
Some Background
When I blogged a bit more on my personal blog, I wrote this:
Several years ago, I worked with Young Life while living in New England. I’ll never forget a Bible study one morning at the home of one of our high school students. We met regularly to share what we learning in the Scriptures, cast the vision for the ministry we were doing at the high school and pray for the people at the school. One morning, we decided to go back to the basics of how to study Scripture. As we handed out the worksheets with the Bible Study method, the eyes of the students lit up. They excitedly asked for more copies. I ran out and promised to email more to them.
I marveled at this because these were our solid, spiritually growing kids. Many of them regularly read their Bibles and shared what they were learning. It was at that moment I realized that even though I regularly emphasized reading the Bible, I had rarely given people the tools to study the Scriptures.
Regular Bible reading and study has changed my life more than any other spiritual discipline. Study methods come naturally for some people. But, for many, these methods must be learned and practiced. In Ephesians 4, Paul describes the role of church leadership as using their roles and gifts “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (v. 12)”. Since the morning of that Bible study, I have tried to equip people with the tools they need to study. Once practiced, these methods can become such a habit that we no longer need to think about each step of the method.
Getting Started
- I recommend getting a Bible version to read. Without getting into a very long debate over this, my favorite recommendation for people starting to study the Scriptures is the New International Version or New Living Translation. As you study the Bible, you will probably want to compare translations. You can do this online in many places such as YouVersion (which we use for our sermon outlines, etc.)
- Find a place to start studying. While I started in Genesis, this may not be the best place for most people. I recommend beginning in a Gospel or an epistle (letter) like Galatians or Philippians.
- Try using a method:
One method I learned from others is SOAP: an acronym for Scripture, Observation, Application & Pray. So, when reading the Bible, follow these steps…
Scripture
Start with the Bible. Have a reading plan, pick something out of the scripture that you likeObservation
Make some observations about what is happening in the passage. What do you know? What is God saying?Application
Reading and studying Scripture is of no use unless you actually apply it to your life. (Matthew 7:24) How can I apply this today??Pray
Spend time talking to God like you would your friend. Ask for the wisdom and strength to apply what you just learned.
Well, this should help you get started. I’ll post a few more things in the near future–some more about my favorite method (Inductive Bible Study) and tips about some other tools. Until then, let me know how this has helped! And, remember, check out the devotional material we talked about last week.