Deeper Bible Study

I've involved 100 adults in my church in something I call Deeper Bible Study. On Monday mornings I send them the verses I preach on the following Sunday, sometimes with some notes. My goal is to lead them into a study of the Bible; to give them tools to more effectively study Scripture.

Here is what I just emailed them.

This coming Sunday I'm preaching out of 1 John 5:1-5.

I print the verses out and carry them with me.

I pull them out during the day and read them. If God speaks to me through them I write it down.

After familiarizing myself with the verses I then begin to turn to commentaries to deepen my understanding of the verses. I choose commentaries I trust. For 1 John I especially use Robert Yarbrough's commentary. When there is something in a commentary I find helpful I write it down in a file.

All throughout this week I will be praying these verses, studying these verses, and meditating on these verses. Then Sunday morning I will preach and teach what God has given me.

January 4, 2015

1 John 5:1-5

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.