How many of you participate in Bible study? Have you ever signed up for a Bible study with a group at your church, in your community or online? I have done many Bible studies and I find that depending on what’s going on in my life I either successfully make it to each session or seriously fall flat and make it to some.
This has always bothered me in that I always start out excited once I have picked a session that I think is just what I need at that season of my life and then it all falls apart because I let the very things that lead me to that Bible study get in the way of me attending.
My relationship with God can be complicated. I have been a believer in God my entire life. My parents did not attend church but always made sure that I was able to explore my relationship with God. I attended a vacation Bible school held by a teacher in her back yard when I was 8. Attended a church camp at 9. Attended Catechism at 10. Went to church with a neighbor at 10. Attended different types of churches and VBS with various friends. I chose to be baptized, make my first Holy Communion and Confirmation at 14.
Yet, I was not a regular participant. I guess I was trying things on, seeing where I fit in. I chose Catholicism because my mother and siblings were Catholic and even though only one of my siblings attended church regularly this is where I felt the most comfortable.
Genesis 15:6 And he believed! Believed God! God declared him “Set-Right-with-God”
Fast forward many years, my husband and I had moved to a new town and we wanted to start attending church. We were both raised Catholic so we found a church in our area and started attending. The children were not fans. There was really nothing in it for them and it became a chore to get them to go. So we stopped.
Fast forward a few more years and a conversation with a friend about church lead to an invitation to a new church. The entire family loved it and we are still attending. Our church has something for everyone including many Bible studies.
Romans 10:11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
1 Corinthians 1:21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe
My husband facilitates several Bible studies and I still dabble. I do find that when I am attending a study that I feel so much closer to God. I am spending more time in his word when I am attending a Bible study. The homework assignments give the opportunity to spend time in the word, then the meetings give the chance for community. Community that you might not have otherwise. The opportunity to spend time with like minded women sharing a topic that you are passionate about, a topic that you need to grow “in your faith”.
One thing that I love about my church is how the pastors bring the Bible to life during service. They tell a story by weaving different books of the Bible together to bring God to the congregation. This is what Bible study does as well. It’s not a book that you can just read front to back. It is a living, growing, evolving relationship with God.
Find yourself a Bible study at church, in your community or online and give yourself the gift of a growing relationship with God. There are even Bible studies that you can buy and do on your own, although I recommend doing them with someone. It’s good to have someone to talk to about what you are learning. Grow and blossom in your faith. The greatest relationship you will ever have is with God and every other relationship that you have will be better because of it.
Galatians 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith
Ephesians 2:13 Although you were once distant and far away from God, now you have brought delightfully close to him through the sacred blood of Jesus-you have actually been united to Christ!
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In Your Faith 