Monday, January 4, 2016

Three Essentials for Successful Bible Study

There are really only three things you need to possess in order to study the Bible in a new, deep, and exhilarating way. You need:

1) A Bible
2) A willing heart
3) A journal to record questions, thoughts, prayers and brainstorms.

While diving into a study of a certain book or chapter remember Luke 10:27,
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"
 Unquestionably, loving the Lord involves loving His Word as well. It is not just something we process with our head, but something we love with our heart. Remember this as you begin to study a book of the Bible!

Sunday, January 3, 2016

"Inconceivable!"

     Have you ever seen the movie Princess Bride? It is an incredibly cheesy movie, the "bad guy"-- who is very silly-- always says, "INCONCEIVABLE!" when he is astounded by something, which is very often in the movie. Hopefully a picture was formed in your mind, or you imagined the voice in your head. It's a great family movie by the way, but that's a different bunny trail to hop down sometime. 
      In all seriousness, do you know what truly IS inconceivable? Paul reminds us of an undeniable truth, one we need to be often reminded of. Titus 3:5 reads, "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercyHe saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (NIV). 
     I certainly cannot say more than that verse says there. I just want to add, that nothing fulfills EVERYTHING like the Word. God bless your New Year.