Training on Studying the Bible; doing personal devotions

Given at 08-09 COCUSA Discipleship Group & 08-09 Small Group

Training - Studying the Bible (Personal Devotions)
What are you doing right now to study the Bible? (Everyone Share)
What I want to avoid:
-A group study that we later discuss each week. These are good but it is very possible you might not learn how to study on your own after we're done.
-Telling you how you should do it. I'll give you some ideas, but you need to make a personal choice.

Verses on it: (Look up with partner… report thoughts back to group)
Hebrews 4:12 Powerful & life-changing
II Timothy 3:16-17 totally useful, shows God’ will, All of it, Equip people for Good works
Psalm 119:60 use it!
Matthew 5:18 eternal, unchanging, fulfilled, every specific part is important
Psalm 1:1-2 follow the Bible, truth is in the Bible
Psalm 12:6 flawless, pure beyond pure (NIV: purified seven times)
Psalm 119:89 eternal, applies to all times
Proverbs 30:5 flawless, protection
Joshua 1:8 Following God's laws


Ways to do it
Use a Guide: A great way to start, Way better than nothing, But I encourage you to make sure it is not something you solely rely on to study the Bible. How will you learn to study it on your own? If you haven’t been reading your Bible consistently lately… use this way for a set time- 30 days? Write thoughts you have. Underline things that really hit you. Examples: Daily Bread,
Plow Through: The best example of this is ‘Read Through the Bible in a Year’. Basically you choose a chunk of scripture – all, OT/NT, book (Isaiah), or books (all letters that Paul wrote) – and read through it. Your main goal is to READ it all. This may seem a little superficial, but getting God’s word inside your head is important no matter how it happens. If you’ve never done it before I would caution against going with ‘in a year’ thing. Do a chapter a day or something like that. The attitude is: “I’ve never read that book and I want to get through it.” Set a goal and go for it. Write something down to help you pay attention to what you are reading. Examples: My Bible, NT guide,
Topical: Pick something you want to study in the Bible. Prayer, Sin, Satan, Building Projects, Money, Parents, Sex, Holy Spirit. Get a list of verses and read one a day, including the surrounding context. Write down what you find. How do you get those verses? Old School concordance (check Oak Grove) , Back of the Bible, Online: net.bible.org (11 versions), Ask Pastor or someone (me)
Book In Depth: This idea is to lengthen out the ‘plow through’ process. Read one chapter a day until you’re through. Write down any thoughts, especially what you have questions about. Next read one paragraph a day, expand on any previous thoughts, write down new ones. Write down as many questions as you can think of! After awhile spend a day researching answers to your questions. Share: commentaries, online tools, ask pastors,
Combinations: I’m reading one chapter of Acts a day, but focusing on how Evangelism happens. It’s kindof a Book in Depth/Topical combined study. Many Guides are Topical or Book in Depth.
A common theme here is: write down what you find. Loose paper, notebook, anything!

Goal Setting and Sharing
How are you going to do your personal devotions these next two weeks?