Daily Hope E-mails

Bible Study Is Dangerous Work

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24 NIV)

Did you know studying the Bible can be dangerous? In fact, the results of Bible study could
be disastrous.

Sounds strange, I know. But God intended for us to apply the Bible to our lives, not just read
it. The Bible is about transformation, not just information. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24, NIV). Applying God's Word is vitally important.

So why is it important that we apply God's Word to our lives?

Knowledge produces pride if we don't apply truth to our lives. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says, "Knowledge puffs up but love builds up" (NIV). We've all seen people who know the Bible backward and forward, but they've never let it seep into their lives. They use the Bible has a hammer to pound on other people. We can be the most cantankerous, evil, mean-spirited, cranky, critical, judgmental people we'll ever meet - if we never take the extra step and apply the Bible to our lives.

Knowledge without application produces pride. It'll "puff" you up without a love-based application. It'll cause harm, not help.
Knowledge requires action. James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (NIV). What a person knows should find expression in what he or she does. We're deceiving ourselves if we think we're growing simply by taking notes on a Bible study. God's commands are not optional.
Knowledge increases responsibility. �James 4:17 says," Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it" (NLT). With a deeper knowledge of Scripture comes a stronger judgment if we fail to apply what God shows us. When we start studying the Bible, God begins to show us areas of our lives that need to be changed, and he calls us to greater and greater responsibility as he does that.

Talk About It

What do you do with your sermon notes once you leave church or with your Bible study notes once your quiet time is finished?

Think about your words and actions of the last hour. Do they reflect what God has been teaching you lately from his Word?

�

Rick Warren�is the founding pastor of�Saddleback Church�in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller�The Purpose Driven Life.�His book,�The Purpose Driven Church, was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also founder of�Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.

The Picture-It Method of Bible Meditation

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us ..." (John� 1:14a NIV)

A few days ago I shared a method of Bible meditation that requires very few tools, the pronounce-it method of Bible meditation. You can do it with just a pencil or pen and a Bible.�

Today's method is equally simple. You only need a Bible, pencil, and some creativity.

The picture-it method of Bible meditation is useful because the Bible is full of stories. In this method, you put yourself into the scene of a biblical story as if you're an active participant. Then you ask yourself, "How would I feel if I were involved in this situation? What would I say? What would I do?"

When you do this, God's Word becomes "flesh" in your life, and it'll change your life.

Let's try one example: the story in Mark 2 about the four guys who help their paralyzed friend get to Jesus. The man can't get to Jesus on his own. The four friends put the man on a mat, each of them take a corner, and they carry the man to Jesus. When the men get to the house where Jesus is, it's too crowded. They can't get in, but they're pretty resourceful.

They climb up on the roof of the house, tear the tiles off, and lower their paralyzed friend down through the roof. Then, Jesus heals their friend.

This is a passage you could easily picture in your time of Scripture meditation. Picture yourself as the man on the mat. Imagine yourself looking up at the crowded room after your friends have led you down through the roof. Dust is still coming down. Imagine yourself looking at the four faces of the friends who've been helping you. What expressions do you see on their faces? Ponder that a bit.

Then imagine looking into Jesus' eyes as you've just interrupted him. But instead of him being angry, he's looking lovingly at you. He already knew you were going to show up because he's God. What are you thinking as he looks at you? What's the crowd thinking? What are you thinking as Jesus says, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home" (Mark 2:11).

Now apply the Scripture to your life. That's the whole point of picturing the passage. Are you paralyzed by something - like fear, doubt, or stress - and you can't get to Jesus on your own? You've put yourself in the shoes of the paralyzed man in the story. Maybe you need to realize that Jesus wants to heal you, too. He wants you to get up and walk again. Maybe you, too, need to ask some friends to carry you to Jesus.

That's a truth you can apply today - all because you stepped into the words of Scripture and let it become "flesh" in your life. You can do this with any character in the story or any story in the Bible.

It'll change how you read your Bible.

Talk About It

Do you see Scripture as "stories" or just "text"?

Consider your favorite childhood Bible stories. Were they more real to you because your imagination created memorable images of the story? How do you apply the truth of those stories to your life today?

�

You Need a Plan

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5 ESV)

Having a quiet time is like many other activities you might do in life - in at least one respect. To be successful, it helps to have a plan. The Bible says, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty" (Proverbs 21:5, ESV).

If you've never had a quiet time before, you may not have a good, simple plan for doing one. Simplicity is important with any plan you develop. If you make it complicated, you're more likely to get off track. All you really need for an effective quiet time is a Bible, notebook, and maybe a hymn or songbook.

So what does a daily quiet time look like?

First, be quiet before the Lord. The Bible calls it waiting on God. You start by simply sitting down and shutting up. As you do this, you'll find yourself revving your engine down and calming yourself.�

Second, pray briefly. Start off with a short opening prayer. Ask God to open your mind and guide you. Ask him to cleanse your mind.

Read a portion of Scripture slowly. This is where your conversation with God begins. He starts speaking to you through his Word, and then you speak back to him through prayer. Read the Bible slowly. Don't try to read too quickly or too much. The more slowly you read Scripture, the more you're forced to think about what you're reading.

Meditate on the Word. Spend some time chewing on what God is saying. Chew on the Word like cows chew on cud. Ponder and wrestle with it in your mind. There are lots of great methods for meditating on the Word. You can find specific ideas on how to meditate on the Bible in my book Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods.

Write down what you discover. When God speaks to you through his Word, care enough about what he is saying to write it down. Writing enables us to remember what God has said to us and record our discoveries.

Pray again. Be quiet. Ask God to show you his Word. Talk to God about what he has said to you. Tell him what you're thinking about what he is saying. Talk to him about anything else that's on your mind.

There's not just one way to have a quiet time, but following a plan similar to this can get you started on a rewarding devotional journey.

Talk About It

Have you ever thought about your quiet time as an intimate conversation with God?

What distractions do you need to eliminate in order to "be quiet"?

�

The Right Attitude for Your Quiet Time

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b NIV)

You can have a quiet time anywhere, but it all starts with a great attitude. God wants to know that your heart is in the right place. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7, "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV).

What is the right attitude to have during your quiet time?

1. Come with expectancy. Be eager to come before God's presence. You're meeting with God - the creator of the universe! You should expect to have a good time of fellowship with him and receive a blessing.

2.� Come with reverence. You're going to meet God, so don't rush into his presence. Prepare your heart by being still before him. If you were going to meet with the president of the United States or the queen of England, you'd get there early. You'd look your best. How much more reverence should we have when we come into the presence of the creator of the universe?

3. Come with alertness. Get yourself wide-awake before you meet with God. Again, you're meeting the creator of the universe. Don't have your quiet time in bed. You'll probably fall asleep. In fact, the best time to prepare for your quiet time is the night before. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier if you need to. Be in good shape when you meet with God. He deserves your full attention.

4. Come with the willingness to obey. Don't start your quiet time with the idea that you'll hear from God and then decide whether or not to obey. Instead, tell the Lord you've already decided you're going to say "yes."

Have a good attitude before you start your quiet time, and you can expect a good result from your quiet time. Come before the Lord with the wrong attitude, and it'll be just the opposite.

Talk About It

What specific ways will you change the way you do your quiet time once you consider your attitude toward your time with God?

How do you think your attitude would change if you had a sense of expectation about what God is going to do in your heart during your quiet time and not if he will work in you?

�

Finding the Right Time and Place for a Quiet Time

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV)

Over the past few days we’ve been talking about your quiet times. The time you spend with God is the most important part of your day. That’s why when and where you meet him is so crucial. Consistency matters in both cases.

Meet God at the same time every day. Mark 1:35 says that “very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (NIV). Just because Jesus got up early to pray doesn’t mean you have to. The key is this: Give God the best part of your day. Give God whatever time of day you’re the freshest. For some of you, that’s the morning. You jump out of bed and hit the ground running. Others of you don’t believe in God until 11 a.m.! But you’re still rolling at midnight.

Most importantly, give God the best part of your day and schedule your quiet time into your day like you would any appointment.

Start slowly. If you’ve never had a quiet time before, start with five minutes. Start small and let it grow gradually. If you start out trying to have an hour-long quiet time each day, you won’t do it consistently. Eventually, shoot for no less than 15 minutes each day. Who doesn’t have 15 minutes?

Find a special place to meet with God. Jesus had a special place to meet with the Father. Luke 22:39 says, “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him” (NIV). It was Jesus’ usual habit to go to the Mount of Olives. He had a regular place where he went and prayed. What kind of place should you look for as your “regular place”? It should be:

Secluded: Look for a kind of place where you can be alone, where it’s quiet, and where you won’t be interrupted. It should be a place where you can pray aloud.
Consistent: Make it the same place every day.

Talk About It

Take time now to identify your “when” and “where” for your quiet time. You can even share it with a close friend who will hold you accountable.

What are the parts of your day to which you give great attention, are never late, and look forward the most? Put your quiet time at the top of that list.

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller The Purpose Driven Life. His book, The Purpose Driven Church, was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.

The Privilege of Your Quiet Time

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11 NLT)

I mentioned yesterday that it's quite a privilege to have a quiet time. We get to have an audience with the king of the universe, the creator of everything.

What makes our quiet times such a privilege that we wouldn't want to consider missing it? Here are four miraculous things that happen when we spend time with God.

1. You get to give God your devotion. "Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you" (Revelation 3:20, MSG). He's your creator, redeemer, provider, sustainer, counselor, and comforter. God deserves our worship. We'd have nothing without God. Better yet, God wants your devotion, too! He wants to spend time with you.

2. God gives you direction. "Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long" (Psalm 25:4-5 NIV). You and I need direction on a daily basis. God wants to give that direction to you, but to get the direction you must spend time with him. Your quiet time gives you an opportunity to get a daily mid-course correction in your life.

3. You gain delight in God. "You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" (Psalm 16:11 NLT). Spending time with God will actually make you happier. Your quiet time is when you enjoy God. Knowing God is the secret to joy.

4. You grow to be more like God. The more time you spend with God, the godlier you become. Spend time watching television, and your character will be shaped by the people you're watching. Spend time studying God's Word and with him in prayer, and your character will be shaped by the character of Christ.

Are you spending time with God every day? Do it, and it will be the best decision you've ever made.

Talk About It

In what area will you ask God for direction today?

Have you noticed that your day goes differently if you start it in the Word and in a quiet time with God?

�

The Most Important Time of Your Day

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33 NLT)

Many people say they don't have time for a quiet time. That's an excuse. Every person on the planet has the same 168 hours in his or her week. The question is: How do you spend the time you have?

You don't have time for everything. No one does. You have to make time for what really counts. It's not a matter of time; it's a matter of priorities and values. The key to making time for a daily devotion is to make Jesus and his Kingdom the priority in your life.

Jesus said, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33, NLT). Put God first in your life, and you'll have more time. Whatever you need more of in your life, give God first place in that area.

Your quiet time and getting to know God should be the number one priority of your life. Why? You weren't put on the planet to mark things off your to-do list. You were made to spend time with God.

A quiet time is a tremendous privilege you've been given. The creator of the universe has invited you to spend time with him every day. Imagine if your favorite actor, musician, singer, or athlete asked you to spend time with him or her every day. Would you say, "Sorry, I don't have time for you"? Of course not!

So why do you say "no" to God's invitation to spend time with him? You are missing out on so much when you do.

Talk About It

How do you currently prioritize your day? How would those priorities have to change if you made a quiet time with God your number one priority?

Does considering your quiet time with God a privilege change your attitude toward how you prioritize your day?

�

Great Principles of Bible Study (Part 2)

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"Jesus answered, 'It is written: "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."'" (Matthew 4:4 NIV)

God wants us to apply his Word and let it change our lives. But it starts with studying God's Word. How do you do it? Yesterday I gave you two general principles for Bible study that apply to any Bible study method.

1. Ask the right questions.

2. Write down your observations.

Today, I'll share three more.

3. Apply God's Word. You move from the "what" to the "so what" and do what the Bible says. The ultimate goal of all Bible study is application. In other words, how will this Scripture change my life? We never settle for understanding alone. We want to apply the biblical principles to our daily living.

Interpretation without application is abortion! You stop the process before it comes to full fruition. All of our Bible study efforts really don't have any value if, in the final analysis, I don't become more like Christ.

In fact, you only believe the part of the Bible you apply. Do you believe in sharing Christ with others? Do you believe in tithing? Do you do those activities? If you don't do them, then you don't really believe what the Bible teaches about them. The problem that most of us have with the Bible isn't what we don't understand; it's applying what we do understand!

4. Study the Bible systematically. Don't just study the Bible haphazardly. You can study it systematically by studying it verse-by-verse, book-by-book, topic-by-topic, or theme-by-theme. The opposite of that is the old dip-and-skip method, where you just open up the Bible and put a finger down where you want to study. That won't produce the kind of results God wants in your life.

5. Read the Bible over and over again. This simple tool will change your life. It's amazing how much you can get out of a passage if you study the same passage over and over again and then come back to the same passage a few months later. The more you read a passage, the more you'll get out of it.

There's no better time than today to start studying the Bible for yourself. No matter how you choose to study, apply these five principles and you'll get more out of whatever you study.

Talk About It

In what specific areas of your life do you believe God wants you to apply his Word today?

Do you have an accountability partner? If not, do you think having one would help you study the Bible more diligently?

�

How to Study God's Word (Part 1)

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." (Psalm 119:18 ESV)

Studying God's Word will change your life, if you put what you learn in practice. But all of that starts with your willingness to study his Word.

The Bible says, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law"(Psalm 119:18 ESV).

God has so much he wants to show us, but we must be willing to look into his Word with open eyes.

So how should we study God's Word? Effective Bible study, no matter what Bible study method you use, has five parts. I'll look at two today and three tomorrow.

1. Ask the right questions. Learning to study the Bible is learning to ask good questions from the text. There's no limit to how many questions you can ask of the Bible, because there's no limit to its wisdom and insight. The deeper you dig, the more gold you'll find. �

Asking questions of the text you're reading will help you look at the text through a whole new set of eyes. Suddenly, every time you pick up God's Word to study it, new truths will jump out at you.

2. Write down your observations. Never study the Bible without pen and paper in hand (or a keyboard if you prefer). When you ask your questions and you find your answers, write down what you learn. You can read the Bible without writing something down, but you can't study it.

Dawson Trotman, who was the founder of the Navigators ministry used to say, "Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through the lips and the fingertips." In other words, if you can't say it and you can't write it, then you haven't really thought about it. Even if you don't see anything in the verse, write down that you don't see anything. Just the act of writing that down will open up new thoughts.

Talk About It

Consider the place where you study God's Word each day. How does it help or hinder your focus?

�

A Simple Way To Unlock The Bible

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you." (Colossians 3:16a NLT)

Studying the Bible in a way that changes your life doesn't take a bunch of expensive tools. You don't need commentaries or Bible study software. In fact, if you were stuck on a desert island with just a Bible, you could simply use the method you'll learn about in this devotional.

Yesterday, I told you how important it was for you to meditate on God's Word. God says that if we meditate on his Word, we'll be successful. Here's a method you can use to meditate on God's Word in a way that'll please God.

The "pronounce it" method of biblical meditation is an easy method for meditating on Scripture - and getting every ounce of spiritual nutrition you can out of it.

You start with a verse and read it over and over again. Each time you read the verse, you emphasize a different word. It's the simplest way to start unlocking Scripture. You can do it even if it's the first time you've ever opened up a Bible. It's simple but amazingly powerful. Each time you emphasize a different word, you get a different perspective.

Take the first part of Colossians 3:16 for example. The verse says, �"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you" (NLT).

The first time you read the verse, emphasize the word "let." "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you." What does it mean to let? It means "give permission." I open the door; it's my choice. We have to choose to let the Word of God dwell in us richly.

Then, read the verse again and emphasize "word." "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." That means I need to get God's Word in my mind.

Then, emphasize the third word of the verse, "Christ." You're not dwelling on what some philosopher, guru, or talk show host has to say. You're dwelling on the words of Christ! I don't want to let the word of the world dwell in me, but I do when I spend my time watching TV instead of reading God's Word.

Then you focus on the word "dwell." "Let the Word of Christ dwell within you." The word "dwell" means "to hang there for a long time." It's not rushing through God's Word so you can get on with the rest of your day. To let the Word of Christ dwell in you is to let it live within you.

Then you stop and emphasize the word "in." It's good to have the word of Christ around you. You can put the Word of God on a plaque or a bumper, but it won't change your life until you let it in your life.

Then focus on the word "you." The Bible isn't just God's Word for your pastor, a seminary professor, or your Sunday School teacher; it's God word for you! The Bible is instruction for every single believer.

Finally, emphasize the word "richly." What does that mean? It means the opposite of poorly. In other words, richly means lusciously, extravagantly, and profoundly. God doesn't want his Word to be a poor substitute in your life. He wants it to create beauty in your life.

See all the great jewels you discovered in this passage just by focusing on one word at a time? You didn't need a seminary degree or a great library of reference tools. You can do this!

Talk About It

How will you dwell on God's Word throughout your day?

Does your life reflect the richness of God's Word and his grace? How would it look different to other people if you allowed God's Word to make a difference in your life?

God Wants Us To Chew On His Word

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." (Joshua 1:8 NIV)

I can remember hearing great sermons or in-depth Bible teaching and wondering how the teacher found all those great nuggets of truth in God's Word. That's why I wrote my first book 35 years ago: to help people like me. Rick Warren's Bible Study Methodsshares 12 methods of Bible study, such as the chapter summary method, the topical method, and the verse-by-verse method.

One of my favorites is the devotional Bible study method. If you were to summarize the devotional method in one word, it would probably be "meditate." For many, the word "meditate" is a bad word. They associate it with Eastern or New Age religions. Some Christians, when they think of meditation, picture people folding their bodies into pretzels and contemplating the lint on their navel.

That may be Eastern or Buddhist meditation, but it's not Christian meditation. The Bible uses the word "meditate"29 times in the New International Version to describe a believer's devotional life. God wants us to meditate.

He promises us that if we meditate on Scripture, he'll bless us. Joshua 1:8 says, "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" (NIV).

So, according to God, you have to meditate on his Word if you want to be successful.

So how do you do it? Grab a dictionary and look up a synonym for "meditation," and you'll probably find the word "rumination." You probably don't know that word unless you happen to be a farmer. Rumination is what a cow does when she chews her cud. She rolls her cud over and over in her mouth.

That's similar to how you meditate on Scripture. Cows eat the grass, chew it up, and send it to their stomachs pretty quickly. There it lies in the stomach, soaking up all of those acids and chemicals. Then, after a while, the cow burps it back up with a new and renewed flavor, chews on that grass and some other grass, and does the whole process over again. Cows repeat this several times. They get every ounce of nutrition out of the grass.

Biblical meditation is kind of like that; it's thought digestion. God wants us to get every ounce of spiritual nutrition out of his Word. He wants us to chew on it, digest it, and then chew on it some more.

Talk About It

Do you have a place, time, or process for how you spend time with God? How can meditation enhance your quiet time with God?

What does it mean to you to be "prosperous" or "successful"? What do you think God equates with success?

God Gave Us the Bible to Transform Us

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

I was once asked what the best translation of the Bible was. My answer: When you translate it into your life. That's what Bible study is all about. If you're not translating God's Word into your life, you're not studying the Bible the way God intended.

God gave us the Bible to transform us, not simply inform us. It should give us a bigger heart, not a bigger head. In the Book of James, we're told, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22, NIV)

In other words, God wants our beliefs turned into behavior.�

God makes his purpose for the Bible even more explicit in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." (NLT)

The purpose of Bible is more than just showing us what is wrong in our lives or how we should live; God gave us His Word to radically transform our lives.

The Bible describes itself in different ways. For example, it calls itself a hammer, a sword, and a scalpel. All of those are tools designed to make radical changes. God intends for the Bible to dramatically change our lives.

The Bible also describes God's truth as milk, water, bread, and meat. What do all those things have in common? If you don't eat or drink them regularly, you'll die. We were never meant to live without the Bible.

The Bible is essential to our lives because it gives us life. In fact, the Bible also talks about Jesus as the Word of God. John 1:14 says, "So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.�And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father." (NLT) God gave you the Living Word -- Jesus -- to be the author and finisher of your faith, and He gave you the Written Word to prepare you to live out your faith.

Talk about it -

The Bible is more than a mere wisdom dispenser or repository of information. How do you see God using the Bible to transform your life?
Jesus is the Word of God. Talk about how intimacy with the Bible is connected to intimacy with Jesus.

�

Use Your Memory Muscle

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (Colossians 3:16 NLT)

The fourth way to abide in God's Word is by remembering it. Your capacity to remember is a God-given gift. You may think you have a poor memory, but the truth is, you have millions of ideas, truths, facts, and figures memorized. You remember what is important to you. If God's Word is important, you will take the time to remember it.

There are enormous benefits to memorizing Bible verses. It will help you resist temptation, make wise decisions, reduce stress, build confidence, offer good advice, and share your faith with others.

Your memory is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it will become, and memorizing Scripture will become easier. You might begin by selecting a few Bible verses that have touched you and writing them down on a small card you can carry with you. Then review them aloud throughout your day.

You can memorize Scripture anywhere: while working, exercising, driving, waiting, or at bedtime. The three keys to memorizing Scripture are review, review, and review!

"Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (Colossians 3:16 NLT)

Talk About It

How would your life change if you spent some of your "extra" time on a Bible application as well as a Facebook or "Words with Friends" app?

Ask a friend to be an accountability partner in memorizing Scripture. Then, share with each other what you're learning from God's Word.

�

Keep God's Word Close at Hand

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"He should keep it with him all the time and read from it every day of his life." (Deuteronomy 17:19a NCV)

For most of the 2,000-year history of the Church, only priests got to personally read the Bible, but now billions of us have access to it. In spite of this, many believers are more faithful to reading their daily newspaper than their Bibles.

It's no wonder why we don't grow. We can't watch television for three hours, then read the Bible for three minutes and expect to growth.

Many who claim to believe the Bible "from cover to cover" have never read it from cover to cover. But if you will read the Bible just fifteen minutes a day, you will read completely through it once a year.

If you cut out one 30-minute television program a day and read your Bible instead, you will read through the entire Bible twice a year.

Daily Bible reading will keep you in range of God's voice. This is why God instructed the kings of Israel to always keep a copy of his Word nearby: "He should keep it with him all the time and read from it every day of his life" (Deuteronomy 17:19a NCV).

But don't just keep it near you; read it regularly! A simple tool that is helpful for this is a daily Bible reading plan. It will prevent you from just skipping around the Bible arbitrarily and overlooking sections.

Talk About It

With what projects or hobbies do you show great discipline in your attention to them? How can you apply that same discipline to your daily Bible reading?

How do you think 15 minutes a day in God's Word would change the way you approach your everyday life?

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Don't Just Read - Receive God's Word

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you." (James 1:21 TEV)

We receive God's Word when we listen with an open, receptive attitude and then accept it. The parable of the sower illustrates how our receptiveness determines whether or not God's Word takes root in our lives and bears fruit. Jesus identified three unreceptive attitudes - a closed mind (hard soil), a superficial mind (shallow soil), and a distracted mind (soil with weeds) - and then he said, "Consider carefully how you listen" (Luke 8:18a NIV).

Any time you feel you are not learning anything from a sermon or a Bible teacher, you should check your attitude, especially for pride, because God can speak through even the most boring teacher when you are humble and receptive. James advises, "In a humble (gentle, modest) spirit, receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls" (James 1:21b AMP).

Talk About It

Think about how your pride might have recently affected your attitude toward a message or a messenger. Ask God to help you have a more humble attitude toward his messengers.

What are some of the distractions that keep you from being receptive to God's Word?

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When Making Decisions, Ask... What Does the Bible Say?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine." (John 8:31 NASB, 1978 edition)

In order to build your life on the Bible, it must become the authoritative standard for your life. It must become the compass you rely on for direction, the counsel you listen to for making wise decisions, and the benchmark you use for evaluating everything.

The Bible must always have the first and last word in your life.

Many of our troubles occur because we base our choices on unreliable authorities: culture ("Everyone is doing it"), tradition ("We've always done it"), reason ("It seemed logical"), or emotion ("It just felt right"). Yet, what we need is a perfect standard that will never lead us in the wrong direction. Only God's Word meets that need: "Every word of God is flawless" (Proverbs 30:5a NIV).

The most important decision you can make today is to settle this issue of what will be the ultimate authority for your life. Decide that regardless of culture, tradition, reason, or emotion, you choose the Bible as your final authority. When making decisions, determine to first ask, "What does the Bible say?" Resolve that when God says to do something, you will trust God's Word and do it whether or not it makes sense or you feel like doing it.

Talk About It

Based on the current way you make decisions, who or what is the ultimate authority in your life?
How would your life change if you always gave God's Word the final say? (Or, how has your life changed since giving God's Word the final say?)

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God's Word: You Can't Live Without It

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17 NIV)

The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us like the Son of God. To become like Jesus, we must fill our lives with his Word. The Bible says, "Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us" (2 Timothy 3:17 MSG).

God's Word is unlike any other word. It is alive. Jesus said, "The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life" (John 6:63 NASB).

When God speaks, things change. Everything around you - all of creation - exists because "God said it." He spoke it all into existence.

God's Word generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever! We cannot live without the Word of God! Never take it for granted. You should consider it as essential to your life as food.

Job said, "I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread" (Job 23:12 NIV). God's Word is the spiritual nourishment you must have to fulfill your purpose.

Talk About It

How has knowing God's Word transformed your life?
Ask people what they do to stay in God's Word. Likewise, share with others what you do to stay in God's Word. Learn from each other!

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Focus on Scripture, not Worries

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." (Job 23:12b NIV)

The Bible repeatedly urges us to meditate on who God is, what he has done, and what he has said.

It is impossible to be God's friend apart from knowing what he says. You can't love God unless you know him, and you can't know him without knowing his Word. The Bible says God "revealed himself to Samuel through his word" (1 Samuel 3:21).

God still uses that method today. While you cannot spend all day studying the Bible, you can think about it throughout the day, recalling verses you have read or memorized and mulling them over in your mind.

Meditation is often misunderstood as some difficult, mysterious ritual practiced by isolated monks and mystics. But meditation is simply focused thinking - a skill anyone can learn and use anywhere.

When you think about a problem over and over in your mind, that's called worry. When you think about God's Word over and over, that's meditation. If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate! You just need to switch your attention from your problems to Bible verses. The more you meditate on God's Word, the less you will have to worry about.

The reason God considered Job and David his close friends was that they valued his Word above everything else, and they thought about it continually throughout the day. Job admitted, "I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread" (Job 23:12).

When you read your Bible or hear a sermon or listen to a CD, don't just forget it and walk away. Develop the practice of reviewing the truth in your mind, thinking about it over and over. The more time you spend reviewing what God has said, the more you will understand the "secrets" of this life that most people miss.

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Satan Doesn't Mind Bible Study Never Applied

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24 (NIV)

Receiving, reading, researching, remembering, and reflecting on the Word of God are all useless if we fail to put them into practice. We must become doers of the word (James 1:22 KJV).

I understand this is a hard step, because Satan fights it so intensely. He doesn't mind you going to Bible studies as long as you don't do anything with what you learn.
We fool ourselves when we assume that just because we have heard or read or studied a truth, we have internalized it.

Actually, you can be so busy going to the next class or seminar or Bible conference that you have no time to implement what you've learned. You forget it on the way to your next study. Without implementation, all our Bible studies are worthless. Jesus said, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24 NIV)

Jesus also pointed out that God's blessing comes from obeying the truth, not just knowing it. He said, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:17 (NIV)

I cannot overstate the value of being a part of a small Bible study discussion group. We always learn from others truths we would never learn on our own. Other people will help you see insights you would miss and help you apply God's truth in a practical way.

The best way to become a doer of the Word is to always write out an action step as a result of your reading or studying or reflecting on God's Word. Develop the habit of writing down exactly what you intend to do.

This action step should be personal (involving you), practical (something you can do), and provable (with a deadline to do it). Every application will involve either your relationship to God, your relationship to others, or your personal character.

Talk about it -

What has God already told you to do in his Word that you haven't started doing yet?

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Being Shrewd Is Not a Negative Trait

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:00:00 GMT

"The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light." (Luke 16:8 NLT)�

There's a difference between being holy and being na�ve with your money. If you don't believe me, listen to Jesus.

Remember Jesus' parable of the dishonest manager? The often-misunderstood story centers on a man who has just been fired from his job for being a bad manager of his boss' money. Knowing he'll soon be out of a job, the manager hatches a plan to build friendships with those who owe his boss money by cutting their debts. That way he'll have friends to help him when he's out of a job.

This parable is packed with truth. Over the next four days, we'll focus on four specific money principles that Jesus teaches us about in this parable.

First, he teaches us the principle of shrewdness.It seems dishonest, but Jesus actually commends the man for being shrewd. Jesus says, "The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light" (Luke 16:8 NLT).

We tend to think of shrewdness as a negative trait. But it isn't. It also meansbeing wise. God wants us to be wise with what he has given us.

What exactly is shrewd about this manager's actions?

The manager acted realistically. He knew his limitations. He couldn't dig ditches, and he was too proud to beg. Realism often gets a bad rap in Christian circles. We tend to think that if we're realistic about our situation, we're not demonstrating faith.

Yet faith and realism work in tandem. We need to deal with life as it is while continuing to pray for God to perform a miracle. If you're out of work and need money, don't just sit back and wait for God to place a check in your mailbox. Deal with the situation realistically (in other words, look for a job), but continue to pray that God will provide a miracle.
The manager acted quickly. The manager also acted on his idea right away.
The greatest enemy of shrewdness is procrastination. The moment God gives you an idea, check it out with the Bible and other Christians. Then do it.

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To sum it up, the manager used what he had to his best advantage. God wants us to do that, too. He gave us what we have for a reason: to make a difference for him in the world. To do that most effectively, we have to be wise.

Talk About It

Looking back to January 2011: Are you now better organized with your finances? What can you do to become better organized?
God gave you your money for a reason. What do you think he wants you to use it for that you aren't using it for now (be specific)?

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Tom Holladay is a teaching pastor at Saddleback Church and author of The Relationship Principles of Jesus.