Tuesday, July 5, 2005

Good Morning!

The new unit for this week is Unit 10 , The Centrality of Scripture

Focus Scripture for the Week: John 5:39

You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that testify on my behalf.

Today's topic: Luke 4:16-22

-- this week's unit outlines the case for making reading your Bible a regular priority.

-- there are those who feel that the Bible does have something to say to them, but they use it like a reference book -- in that they read it only when they have a problem, and they hope that they can find the right teaching through their hit and miss approach. And I am one that that feels that God will usually direct you to the right passage in the Bible if you are in this mode.

-- but there is much more to be gained through a consistent reading program, such as what our study is about. Everyday Bible reading keeps the dialog up between you and God, and it constantly places new learning and understanding in front of you, often in ways that you don't realize until after the time that you have put that new learning and understanding to use.

-- a regular reading program also helps you in that you will keep coming across the same verses over and over. For instance, today's scripture from Luke I've read and studied in the past few months because our last class study was a daily bible study on Luke. Other times, passages that Bobby will preach on are passages that I've encountered earlier through this study or others. And to me, listening to a sermon on a verse or passage that I've already read and studied makes the sermon more interesting and more useful.

-- Wesley's first blurb covers many of the ideas about reading scripture that we've covered or discussed. I will remind you of one that is mentioned, because we have not really discussed it much in class lately. That is the approach of taking time with a passage -- reading it slowly, pausing after every word or every few words, and thinking and meditating on each word or passage for a few moments. Our suggested daily study routine asks us to do the same. If the Bible is to speak to us, we need to make sure we build in time for us to listen.

Today's prayer request: Alex Lloyd, Monica's nephew

He is still in his almost full body cast as he continues to recover from surgery, but the latest check of the hip by his doctors shows that it is healing is proceeding very well. We just need to keep him and his family in our prayers as we get him and them through this.

Today's class member prayer:

Andrew Peebles

Have a great day.

Jay