Post by Brad Lewis on Jun 22, 2007 22:53:41 GMT -5
I've found this helpful
Much of the time when people read their Bibles, they just skim over and rethink what they've been taught. It's especially difficult having been part of a cult for me to read what the Bible actually says.
If you've been misled on the Bible too, you may not be getting everything you can out of your studies.
Try this.
Study with someone else:
Study just one chapter at a time.
Set a timer for one hour. Only go beyond this time if both agree.
Each bring a small fruit or vegetable snack to share with each other and show care for each other.
One person begin the study with a prayer to God that He would show you what you need to know and that God would bless them for learning and obeying His will.
Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Take turns reading like 3 to 4 verses each.
When done, the other person starts reading from the beginning of the chapter again.
This way, both have read the entire chapter and have heard it read by the other person.
Next, one person asks a simple question whose answer is found in that chapter.
For example, a study on Matthew 3
"What does Jesus baptize with?"
The other person repeats the question out loud and then reads the verse
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
and then says the answer
"Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost and with fire"
Then the other person gets to ask a simple question.
Each can help the other by asking questions that you think the other person doesn't know or understand. This encourages you to both think about what you're reading and opens it up for discussions. Also, the answers cause you to quote chapter and verse, read the verse so that your answers are by habit from the scripture. Deviations from the Bible will be obvious.
This solves several problems:
1) Ignorance is reduced
2) One person dominating the conversation
3) the other person feeling sleepy
4) topics are brought up that are interesting
5) both are caused to think
6) it encourages diologue
7) it helps stop the effects of brainwashing
Good results:
God's word is upheld
Answers are based on scripture
Both are encouraged to read the Bible
Thoughts are brought into subjection to God's word
etc
In closing, the other person can praise God for what they've learned.
Psa 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Hope you have found this helpful,
Brad
Much of the time when people read their Bibles, they just skim over and rethink what they've been taught. It's especially difficult having been part of a cult for me to read what the Bible actually says.
If you've been misled on the Bible too, you may not be getting everything you can out of your studies.
Try this.
Study with someone else:
Study just one chapter at a time.
Set a timer for one hour. Only go beyond this time if both agree.
Each bring a small fruit or vegetable snack to share with each other and show care for each other.
One person begin the study with a prayer to God that He would show you what you need to know and that God would bless them for learning and obeying His will.
Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Take turns reading like 3 to 4 verses each.
When done, the other person starts reading from the beginning of the chapter again.
This way, both have read the entire chapter and have heard it read by the other person.
Next, one person asks a simple question whose answer is found in that chapter.
For example, a study on Matthew 3
"What does Jesus baptize with?"
The other person repeats the question out loud and then reads the verse
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
and then says the answer
"Jesus baptizes with the Holy Ghost and with fire"
Then the other person gets to ask a simple question.
Each can help the other by asking questions that you think the other person doesn't know or understand. This encourages you to both think about what you're reading and opens it up for discussions. Also, the answers cause you to quote chapter and verse, read the verse so that your answers are by habit from the scripture. Deviations from the Bible will be obvious.
This solves several problems:
1) Ignorance is reduced
2) One person dominating the conversation
3) the other person feeling sleepy
4) topics are brought up that are interesting
5) both are caused to think
6) it encourages diologue
7) it helps stop the effects of brainwashing
Good results:
God's word is upheld
Answers are based on scripture
Both are encouraged to read the Bible
Thoughts are brought into subjection to God's word
etc
In closing, the other person can praise God for what they've learned.
Psa 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Hope you have found this helpful,
Brad