A Student of the Bible

Do you study the Bible?

If you do or if you don't or if you do but need some help there is a wonderful free publication called Becoming Magazine that you should check out. The current issue is about becoming a student of the bible and there are lots of really good articles to help get you started! I have been priviledged to be able to write for the magazine and also have an article in this issue so check it out here!

On the website, you can also put your email in to receive updates on new issues and community events that are held at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando.

Here is a teaser....

What do you think of when you think of your body? Does your mind jump to your thighs or those few extra pounds? Maybe you are training for a marathon... or bathing suit season.  We spend a lot of time toning, trimming and tucking our bodies- taking care of our health and physical bodies can become all consuming!

 Lots of words may pop to the surface of your mind with regards to your body but does the word “temple” ever make the top 10? If you are a Christian, your body, first and foremost, is a temple of the Holy Spirit! 

 

But, why is that important and what was the temple exactly? ... keep reading over at Becoming Magazine!

 

 

Pure Bible Class

 

Several weeks ago I was asked if I could help cover a Sunday school class at our church called Pure Bible. (You can read about the class in the link provided- please note, I am not a member of the Pastoral Staff though.)

I broke out in a sweat, to be honest,  but not because I was nervous. As you know I have taught Bible Study Fellowship Classes in the past so speaking in front of a group thankfully does not make me nervous. I learned long ago from my then mentor that nervousness puts the emphasis on yourself and not on God. My goal is to always honor the Lord and I fully recognize the responsibility and honor of teaching God's word. 

I broke out in a sweat because the thought (at that particular moment in household chaos) of adding one more thing to my plate made me break out in a sweat. For those of you who don't know or haven't gleaned from this site we have a quiver full of arrows in our home. I mean children and four of them! We homeschool them and they range in age from 6 months to 8 years old.

So, instead of panicking and saying no, I did a wise thing and was prompted (by the Holy Spirit I  believe) to call my husband and talk it over with him before saying no or agreeing to help out. He gave me the go ahead but said I should require several weeks notice to give me time to prepare. That made sense and I calmed down. I also agreed to help out!

It has been a privilege to prepare for the class (albeit very, very slowly with my current quiver full) over the past several weeks. And so, this post is really for the members of that Pure Bible Class. As promised- my outline for Sunday's class and also a list of resources to help you on your journey of being a disciple of Jesus Christ are given below.

If you are looking for a church to attend and a place where you too can grow in your own relationship with Jesus Christ, be a part of a body of believers who are doing the same and make a difference for the Kingdom of God- come to church with me! Here is your official invitation- Please come! Check out my church First Presbyterian of Orlando, a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, at www.fpco.org and for the Pure Bible members- your info is below. It was an honor to teach your class and I hope you learned something to help you grow closer to God through pure bible study!

My outline can  be found here!

List of Resources:
A timeline of the passion week
NIV Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible
Bible Dictionary (Strongs, Holman, etc.)
www.gotquestions.org (sign up for emails and use as resource)
950 WTLN (can also listen on AM radio 950)
www.oneplace.com
Dr. J. Vernon McGee- Thru the Bible Commentaries and online
R.C. Sproul and Ligonier Ministries
James Montgomery Boice
The Expositors Bible Commentary (Frank E. Gaebelein version)
Chronological Bible
Christian Research Institute
Atlas of Bible Lands
Bright Light Books- Casselberry/Fern Park
One Year Book of Christian History

There is more and I will update my list over time. The key is to remember your goal- not to fill bible file folders in your brain but to grow closer to God by applying his Word to your life and as James says in his Epistle (Js 1:22) to not just listen to the word but to do what it says! Jesus himself in John 14:23 said that those who love him will obey his teachings. That is the key, we learn, we apply, we obey because of our love for Christ and his grace given to us.

Please feel free to contact me or friend me on Facebook if you have any questions!

With you on the journey, Jaime

Layering + Application = Transformation!

I really believe in and have taught (in my BSF teaching days) the concept of "layering" defined by me as those tools and skills that help you over time increase your understanding and thus personal application of what you learn in the Bible. It's really part of sanctification (the process of being made more and more to be Christ-like).

Learning the Bible is critical for your growth as a Christian. How can you obey God when you don't know what his commands are?  How can you grow closer to and learn to love God if you don't know who He is and what His plans are for you?!  And let me be clear that my definition of learning does not include just filling file folders in your brain but making what you learn a part of who you are- application!) As James says in the Bible- Don't just read the Word but do what it says!

In your growth as a Christian, and when studying the Bible, it helps to use many different tools to help you learn and add layers to your understanding.  Your first and foremost "tool" should be of course your Bible!  Another layer of understanding and applying what you read in your Bible can come as you join Bible studies, read commentaries, attend church or Sunday school, utilize Bible dictionaries etc.

With Children this concept is really critical because they do not (nor do adults) typically learn something to the point of application the first time around. Different approaches to the same material are helpful! Some of the things I use in my learning and layering are:

1. Bible Study Fellowship Classes- for me and my kids!
2. 950 AM- WTLN- lots of  good teaching throughout the day! You can see the line up at www.wtln.com. There is a program line up link on the left side- such pastors as Allistair Begg, RC Sproul, David Jeremiah, Dr. J. Vernon McGee and others have daily broadcasts!
3. Various books and devotionals. I will do a post on those another time.
4. Of course my church on Sunday Mornings.
5. Websites such as Bible Gateway and Got Questions?

But this post has a funny picture up top for a reason! Something I have found to be INCREDIBLE for my own learning and for my kids is a new series of DVDs out by Phil Viscer (the creator of Veggie Tales) called, "Whats in the Bible with Buck Denver". Phil Viscer has been truly, in my opinion, gifted by God to put together this series of meaty material that is fun to watch! Phil Viscer himself hosts much of the video and then there are puppets and some cartoons to explain topics. He does not shy away from tough areas and addresses them in segments called "Tricky Bits with Phil"- such areas as creation, the law (why we obey some OT rules today (Love your Neighbor) and disregard others (No Beard Trimming!), why did God allow the Israelites to take land away from the pagans around them, etc.) 

These videos enthrall me and my kids and I'm thrilled because beginning in DVD 1 hard theological concepts are being explained in a way that ANYONE could understand. I was nearly sputtering as I asked my boys if they realized how awesome it was to have access to such material at their age! Of course they look at me strange and have no idea how blessed they are- but that's okay.

There are 9 DVDs out so far plus a Christmas DVD. We are on DVD 4 and have gone thru Genesis to Joshua. DVD 9 just released this month and finishes out the Old Testament and other DVDs for the New Testament are in production.

If you have shied away from cartoonish videos relating to Christianity before (like Veggie Tales) I would implore you to rethink your position. These videos, in my opinion, are powerful tools that will help your child get a good grasp of the Bible and as Phil puts it, "Gods Rescue Plan"!

I can't recommend this series enough. I am encouraging everyone I know to get them all- make the investment! Again, this is not the only means to use to teach your children (and maybe yourself) about the bible- but it's a great "layer" in the process! We will be using them over and over again to help us learn and apply all that the Bible has to teach us!

My kids this year are going to be studying Genesis thru BSF, we will use the What's in the Bible series, and memorizing a new Bible verse each week. We also read various books we have on our shelves like the ABCs of Church History, Trial and Triumph, Arch Series, and many others.

Fill your family's Biblical arsenal and add a crucial layer to help grow and nourish your and your children's walk with God!