From Jim's sermon on Bible studies from the evolution series
Suggestions:
1) Set a time to meet with Him…appointment with someONE, not some BOOK.
2) Recognize that God is the author of the Bible.
3) PRAY for Him to show you something and EXPECT it to happen.
Questions to ask when you read a passage:
- Is there one verse that really spoke to you? Write it out. What is God saying to you in that verse?
- Is there a command to obey.
- Is there a promise to claim?
- Is there an example to follow or avoid?
Other suggestions:
- Re-write the verse in your own words
- Look up trusted commentary on the Scripture – www.bible.cc is a great resource
- Check the footnotes or notes in your Bible to enhance your bible study
4) Write down what He shows you.
- Keep a journal and refer back to it later to see what He told you.
5) Read the Bible systematically. “All scripture is inspired of God.”
- The WHOLE Bible. Don't just read one part, read it through.
- There are loads of Bible reading plans: oneyearbibleonline.org, youversion.com (some are listed further down thsi page)
Our hope is that we can offer different helps and connect each other with resources to help us live our daily Christian life. We'll be updating this page from time to time with different resources on the web to help live your life.
Daily Bible Reading Plans
1) Grow in Christlikedness Reading Plan - This takes you to the current reading plan that FBC as a whole is working through from the SBC.
2) One year Bible online - Daily plan online for reading the Word. Choose which translation and in different languages such as Spanish or Chinese. Read it right there online. This site is what our campus pastor, Jim Campbell, uses daily.
3) eWord Today Bible Reading plan - There are several choices of plans on this site, read Chronological (as the events happen) or Historical (in the order the books were written) or several other ways in several translation. This site even has a special Mobile Phone Edition to help your bible study.
4) Back to the Bible reading plans - This page has a plan that's based on reading 4 times a week and has several variations, such as Chronological, Historical, etc...
5) Biblica Reading Plans - Formerly known as the International Bible Socitey, Biblica has an online tool to create a customized 365 day reading plan for the reader. You pick the version, you pick the day to start and it generates the rest for you.
Bible research:
1) Biblegateway.com - This is a great place to do some research: Locate up specific words in specific Bible translation, look up topics, look up passages, etc...
2) Blueletterbible.com - This site has a lot of commentaries, study tools, devotionals (in multiple languages), charts, maps, studies on different cults, etc...
3) SBC.net - There are several things that are available on various subjects from becoming a Christian, to submitting a prayer request, email devotionals each day through Biblepathway
Daily Devotion readings:
***CAUTION: Devotional writings by others are wonderful auxillary tools, but do not let them become a substitute for you reading the Bible...just you and God. These writers became great people of God by doing that very thing. Them, the Bible and God...there is no substitute for that.
1) Back to the Bible - This site has a list of several devotional plans, including links to daily devotional writings by great Christian authors Warren Wiersbe, Woodrow Knoll and Elisabeth Elliot,while also linking to traditional classic devotional writings, like those of Charles Spurgeon and Mary Wilder Tileson.
2) Our Daily Bread - Our Daily Bread has been writing short daily devotionals for over 60 years and they continue today. You can download the devotionals to your PDA or just check it out online everyday.
3) Crosswalk.com - Crosswalk has a BOATLOAD of devotional resources, from famous pastors to devotions in Spanish to topic driven devotionals to devotionals designed to speak to specific stages of life.
When studying the Word, here are four questions (cited here our Under the Hood: How to Study the Word podcast) to ask yourself about a passage to help you learn its meaning.
Is there a principle in this verse that I need to apply?
Is there a warning/consequence in this verse that I need to heed/avoid?
Is there a promise in this verse that I need to remember?
Can I think of a modern day experience where the truth in this Scripture could be applied?
