Live in the Word (Pt 2)
Living a life in the Word is a key part of the Burning Ones way of life. In part 1 of this blog, we looked at how we read the Word devotionally, prayerfully and meditate on Scripture (you can read that blog here). This week I want to look at 3 other ways to read the Bible.
Study
Studying the Bible is really important. It helps us to grasp the bigger narrative of the Bible and understand who God is. It can also help us to grapple with some of the bigger questions the Bible poses. Setting regular time aside not just to read the Bible but study the Bible is important so that we can grow in our knowledge of who He is.
In Community
Reading with others is a powerful way to read the Bible. I often find that when I read with others, the Holy Spirit illuminates different parts of the passage to others that I haven’t seen before. This helps shape and sharpen my understanding of that particular passage and gives me a rounder understanding, and my view shapes other people. One of the great ways to read the Bible in community is a Discovery Bible Study.
The study is really simple.
Read the passage of Scripture.
Ask everyone to re tell the story in their own words.
Ask the following 4 questions about the passage
·What does this story teach us about God, His character, and what He does?
·What do we learn about people, including ourselves, from this story?
·How will you apply God's truth from this story in your life this week? What is a specific action or thing you will do?
·Who will you share a truth from this story with before we meet again?
Do you know others who would also like to discover God's Word in this app like we are?
This is a powerful way to read the Bible in community. You can even do this with non-Christians as you invite the Holy Spirit to speak to each person individually.
Soaking
There is something powerful about setting time aside and intentionally reading the Bible like you would read a book or a novel. What happens inside of you is powerful and significant. The best way to describe it is the Word washing over you. One of the ways you can soak in the Word is by reading the New Testament each month. If you read 10 chapters of the New Testament each day, you read the New Testament each month. I did this for a couple of years, and the impact was profound. It is as if your spirit soaks up the Bible and the Word becomes a part of you. Even today, a couple of years later, when I quote Scripture and wonder where it came from, I realise it was from the times when I soaked in the Word of God.