In our Getting Real sermon series, we’re looking at how spiritual practices serve as tools for heart change and authenticity before God.
To help make this more practical, each week a Woodland staff member will share about a spiritual practice that has been meaningful to them as well as tips for how you might try it out.
Bible Study
“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another– showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way.” – 2 Timothy 3:16 (The Message)
The spiritual discipline of Bible study is a way to love God with our whole mind. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Set aside a good amount of time and find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Maybe grab a favorite chair and a cup of tea or coffee!
- Ask the Spirit to give you understanding and insight.
- Pick a book to read from start to finish. One of Paul’s epistles, like the letter to the Colossians, is a good one.
- Pay attention to the context of the book as a whole.
- Over the course of several days, take one chapter at a time and break it down. Use a pen to mark up the page, circling words that stand out or are repeated, highlighting themes and connections, and jotting down notes.
- Don’t be intimidated by Bible study tools! Commentaries, lexicons, study notes and concordances can open up whole new layers of meaning.
- After studying, ask God to move the head knowledge into your heart.
Let us know in the comments if you have any other tips to share, or if you have questions!
