Archive for Spiritual Disciplines

Reading Your Bible in 2022

2022 is upon us, and just like previous years, there’s likely a flurry of activity for church leaders to look for resources to encourage their church to read the Bible in the new year. And while there’s plenty of resources out there, there are some useful guiding principles to keep in mind in order to provide the readers with a rich devotional experience as they dig into the Word.

What are the principles? Here are five to look for:

  1. The resource should be simple to understand. Take your pick: will you read the whole Bible in 2022, a book or a few books, or either the New or Old Testaments? Whatever you choose, make sure that the concept is easy to grasp. For example, a church leader may recommend reading through the New Testament in a year by focusing on one chapter a day on weekdays only. Another idea is to having members read through the Bible using a chronological Bible plan to see the Bible in its historical setting. Whatever the experience is, make sure that the scope of the reading is explained and easy to grasp from the start.
  2. The resource should be simple to navigate. While there are many, many reading plans out there, not all plans are alike. Some require a lot of page turns and navigations through books of the Bible that can get confusing, especially for those who are not familiar with the Bible. Instead, find a resource that is simple to use so that following the plan is as intuitive as possible.
  3. The resource should be simple to reengage. Sometimes, despite the greatest of intentions, life gets in the way. Readers miss a day or two and fall behind. People get tired and stop. It happens. A good resource should allow a reader to reengage at whatever point they are at. If, for example, a reader stops reading in March, but in June wants to join again, they can just start anywhere. They can then finish the plan with a sense of freedom to finish well.
  4. The resource should allow for reflection. Some reading plans are wonderful, but don’t always allow enough freedom for the reader to reflect on the passages being read. For example, the HEAR method gives the reader a chance to reflect what they have read through a simple to use journaling format. The point here is not that the reader is to fulfill a legalistic checkbox to read the Bible as fast as possible, but instead to find a way to connect with the Lord in a meaningful, faith growing journey.  
  5. The resource should be simply convenient. Since leaders are looking to help readers connect with the Lord devotionally, it is a good idea to make sure that the resource is convenient to access. For example, the YouVersion app (or at the Bible.com website) has a healthy supply of devotional resources. Personally, I used it in 2021 to read through the Bible chronologically with a group of readers, and I used the HEAR method to journal a passage that the Lord spoke to me about. Having access to that app on my phone or tablet made it very convenient for me, and was especially helpful if I happened to be traveling that day.

I hope that these are helpful, useful principles to help guide your recommendations to believers and nonbelievers alike as they engage with the Word of God. Again, there are many resources out there, both for free and for purchase, but following these principles will help you to provide a rich experience for readers who want to connect with God’s Word.

Dr. Fran Trascritti is a husband, father, and grandfather to 13 beautiful children. He is the Growth Team Leader for the Illinois Baptist State Association. He and his wife, Teresa, live in Springfield, IL.

Connect through Others: Intercede for Your One

If a new Christian’s only way to learn about prayer was by sitting in your Sunday School class or small group, would they learn how important it is to pray for a lost family member or friend (their “One”)?

If your group experience is like some I’ve had, a baby Christian might learn that prayer is only for physical needs. To be specific, “Aunt Jane’s third cousin’s former classmate’s mother’s cat who may need to have an appendectomy the fifth of next month. Pending the outcome of tests. If they can get an appointment.” Okay, maybe that’s an extreme fictitious example (maybe…), but it seems some groups pray for everything except the spiritual needs of people.

How do we encourage group members to pray regularly for their “Ones”? Here are some ideas to consider for your next gathering:

  • Explain that today you will have two group prayer times, the first for friends and family who have physical needs and the second to pray for the spiritual needs of “Your One.”
  • God often uses physical healing to initiate spiritual healing. When group members request prayer for family and friends’ physical needs, ask them to include any spiritual needs that person may also have.
  • Invite a new Christian to share their story of coming to Christ, including how the prayers of others were important in the process.
  • When you are teaching from a passage on how the gospel spreads, invite a group member to tell about their “One.” Pause to pray for opportunities and receptivity in their relationship. (This one would be great to use regularly.)

Often what we do in our groups teaches more vividly than what we say. What is your group teaching about praying for those who need Jesus?

Top 25…Selecting Verses to Memorize

There are many ways to select verses to memorize. The Navigators published a scripture memory course that included 60 verses to memorize. Lifeway in the survival kit included 13 passages of scripture to memorize. I have found it is best to memorize scriptures which mean something to you. Most everyone has heard of John 3:16 or Matthew 28:19-20. If you would memorize one verse a month for 10 years, you would have 120 verses in your quiver. Memorizing helps us to meditate on a verse which will, with the Holy Spirit’s help, reveal things, we never saw before. David said:
Psalm 119:9-11 (NASB)
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.
With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

So while memorizing does not guarantee you will treasure the verse in your heart, it is the first step toward it. Not only is memorizing helpful to the person memorizing, it is also helpful to others. One thing that I have found is that every verse that I memorize is like an arrow in my quiver. When the right time comes, I can share it with someone to help in his/her situation. Here are 12 principles in selecting and memorizing verses:

1. Select a translation you read from and memorize in that translation.
2. Select a verse that means something to you personally.
3. Select a verse you have read in context so you do not use it in a wrong way.
4. Read the verse in other translations so you get a better understanding of the verse.
5. Memorize the verse out loud, Hearing you say it will aid the memory process.
6. Emphasize different words in the verse to aid you.
7. Say the verse reference before you say the verse and after. The repetition will aid you in remembering where the verse is located.
8. Write the verse down on paper. Strive to get it word perfect.
9. Some long verses you may want to memorize in sections.
10. Put the scripture on a card in a familiar place so you can review it (bathroom mirror, car dashboard, etc.).
11. Pray through the verse with God, thanking him for its meaning.
12. The most important principle of scripture memory is REVIEW, REVIEW, and REVIEW.

Dr. Mark Yoakum is the Director of Church Ministries for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and believes the Great Commission is serious about going and making disciples.

3 Ideas to Get More from the Bible

3ideasWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10, NKJV).

Ezra provided us with a great model, not only as a teacher of God’s Word, but also for the hearer. This short verse, tucked away in the Old Testament, provides us with three ideas to get more from reading and studying the Bible.

WHAT DO I DO? If you’re a Bible study teacher, Ezra’s example reminds you to…

  1. Prepare your heart as you seek God’s will;
  2. Obey God; and
  3. THEN you teach God’s Word.

The Bible is meant to be obeyed. Teacher, as you prepare to teach each week, be sure your preparation includes a desire to know God’s will, not only for your hearers, but also for you own life. Like Ezra, you must be willing to obey what God says in His Word, before you stand before your class/group and teach. As you prepare your heart and seek God’s will, you will get more from the Bible as you obey and make necessary changes in your own life.

If you’re a student in a Sunday School class or in a small group, then you too must be willing to approach Bible study with a seeking heart, sincerely wanting to know God’s will. Then, be willing to obey what God is teaching you.

3 Steps to Leading Your Members to Read Their Bible Daily

bibletools

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? We all know the importance of reading the Bible. It is our only offensive weapon in the spiritual war we engage in daily. When Jesus was tempted, He used the Word as his response each and every time. But you have to know it to use it. Here are three steps to use in building a habit of daily Bible reading.

WHAT DO I DO? Consider these ideas:

  1. Have a planned time. Set aside a specific time daily for reading. It doesn’t have to be a time on the clock either. It can be tied to something else you do every day. Choose to read right after breakfast or right before bed. I am an advocate of reading in the morning (even though I am not a morning person by any means). Pick a time and stick to it.
  2. Have a planned text. There are reading plans of all sorts out there to help people chose what to read each day. I always encourage people to start with a chapter of Proverbs each day. There are 31 chapters and you can read whatever chapter corresponds to the day of the month. When you get through them all, it is OK to read them again. There is a lot of wisdom in Proverbs and you will find that different ones stand out each month as you read.
  3. Have a planned talk. Ask someone to keep you accountable each day by asking you what you read. We all need a little motivation from time to time.