Attitude

Food for thought:
   A former park ranger at Yellowstone National Park tells the story of a ranger leading a group of hikers to a fire lookout.  The ranger was so intent on telling the hikers about the flowers and animals that he considered the messages on his two-way radio distracting, so he switched it off.  Nearing the tower, the ranger was met by a nearly breathless lookout, who asked why he hadn't responded to the messages on his radio.  A grizzly bear had been seen stalking the group, and the authorities were trying to warn them of the danger.

   Any time we tune out the messages God has sent us, we put at peril not only ourselves, but also those around us.  How important it is that we never turn off God's saving communication!
-- Harold M. Wiest Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada

Sin will keep you from this Book or this Book will keep you from sin.
-- Dwight L. Moody

Self evaluation - How do you feel about Bible study?

1.     Vital exercise to discover and apply the truth of our Lord and Savior, the principles that He gives to guide our lives, and the mission He has for us in life.

2.     Enjoy being able to learn important truths and appreciate the benefit it has for living.

3.     Appreciative when truth is revealed.

4.     Hard to find the time.

5.     Wish it was easier to understand.

6.     Think it’s drudgery.

Read the following verses and consider what mindset about Bible study you would like to develop as a disciple of Christ.

2 Timothy 2:15  Work hard so God can say to you, "Well done." Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means.

What is your goal concerning the mindset you have towards Bible study? 

On what truth(s) do you need to focus?

How will you keep track of how you are doing? 

What obstacles will you need to overcome and how will you face them?

Motivation

Food for thought:
   A parable told by William Cunningham, education adviser to Gov. George Deukmejian of California:
   A man was out walking in the desert when a voice said to him, "Pick up some pebbles and put them in your pocket, and tomorrow you will be both sorry and glad."
   The man obeyed.  He stooped down and picked up a handful of pebbles and put them in his pocket.  The next morning he reached into his pocket and found diamonds and rubies and emeralds.  And he was both glad and sorry.  Glad that he had taken some -- sorry that he hadn't taken more.
   And so it is with today’s opportunity to pick up God's word.

A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to a person who isn't.

Self evaluation - Why do I study God’s Word?

1.     Need to receive, renew and refresh my mind, heart, soul and strength with the truth from God.

2.     Desire to know God more and become more like Christ.

3.     Attempt to please God.

4.     Feel moved by the stories.

5.     Sense of duty.

6.     Want others to think of me as “spiritual”.

Read the following verses and consider what motivations for studying the Bible you would like to form as a disciple of Christ.

John 5:39-40  You carefully study the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. They do in fact tell about me,  but you refuse to come to me to have that life.

What is your goal concerning the motives you have for studying the Bible? 

On what truth(s) do you need to focus?

How will you keep track of how you are doing? 

What obstacles will you need to overcome and how will you face them?

Practice

Food for thought:
   A Sunday school teacher said that he once saw a reproduction the Constitution of the United States which had been skillfully engraved on a copper plate.  At first glance it seemed to be nothing more than a piece of noble writing.  When he looked at if from the proper perspective, however, he could discern the portrait of America's renowned President George Washington artistically etched in minute detail.  Simpson adds, "His face was revealed in the shadowing of the letters and I saw his person, not just a flow of words or lofty principles.  Then I thought: that's the way we should look at the Bible if we are to understand its deeper meaning.  We must see in it a 'Face of love shining through,' not merely ideas, not just doctrines, but Jesus himself -- sufficient for all our needs."
   The scriptures become exciting and thrilling to read when you have the right spiritual perspective and therefore can observe the One whose spirit constantly energizes its pages with life and beauty!  Can you recognize Jesus when you study the Bible?

Self evaluation - How do I study the Bible?

1.     Daily Scripture reading, with a journal of applications to my life, and a coordinated plan to cover the entire Bible.  Memorization of selected Scriptures.

2.     Regularly attend a Bible study group and work through curriculum based learning.

3.     Occasionally read the Bible in addition to Sunday morning sermons and messages.

4.     Learn from Sunday morning sermons or messages.

5.     Listen to what others say about the Bible.

6.     Don’t study the Bible.

Read the following verses and consider what focus during Bible Study you would like to have as a disciple of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:16-17  The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right.  It is God's way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.

What is your goal concerning your discipline in studying the Bible? 

What resources will be necessary to effectively study the Bible?

How will you keep track of how you are doing? 

What obstacles will you need to overcome and how will you face them?

Consistency

Food for thought:
    The importance of spending much time with something of great value and beauty is illustrated by a quote from the National Geographic magazine about Carl Sharsmith, an 81 year old guide in Yosemite National Park.  "Carl was back at his tent quarters after a long afternoon with tourists.  His nose was flaked white and red with sunburn; his eyes were watery, partly from age but also from hearing again an old question after a half century of summers in California's Yosemite National Park.  A lady tourist had hit him with a question where it hurt: "I've only got an hour to spend at Yosemite," she declared.  "What should I do?  Where should I go?"  The old naturalist-interpreter-ranger finally found voice to reply.  "Ah, lady, only an hour."  He repeated it slowly.  "I suppose that if I had only an hour to spend at Yosemite, I'd just walk over there by the river and sit down and cry."  A whole lifetime is not long enough to appreciate fully the beauty and learning and value of the Bible. That's why we must take time to study its truths and make them real in our lives.

What makes the difference is not how many times you have been through the Bible, but how many times and how thoroughly the Bible has been through you.
   -- Gipsy Smith

Self evaluation - How often do you study the Bible?

1.     Daily and consistently with a set time of Bible reading.

2.     At regular times such as bed time or another quiet time.

3.     At least once per week when remembered.

4.     From time to time, but hard to be sure how often.

5.     When someone else leads the study like in church.

6.     Not at all.

Read the following verses and consider what Consistency for your Bible study you would like to develop as a disciple of Christ.

Matthew 4:4  Jesus …, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Matthew 22:29 Jesus …, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God."

John 17:17  (Jesus praying)  Set them apart by the truth; your word is truth.

What is your goal concerning the Consistency of your Bible study? 

When and where will these studies take place?

How will you keep track of how you are doing? 

What obstacles will you need to overcome and how will you face them?