Bible Study

Two stories I'd like to begin with this evening. The first is simply an observation made by one of my religion professors, Dr. Skrade, when I was in college. A lot of kids didn't like Dr. Skrade. He had a bad habit of blowing your faith right out of the water. I asked him once about why he was so challenging to the faith of those who took his classes. He said that the problem was that most people come to college with a fifth-grade Christian Education. Somewhere along the line, they stop growing in their faith. Faith needs to be challenged in order to grow. We would never go to a doctor who stopped learning in fifth grade, but somehow we think that a fifth-grade faith will be all we'll need to take us through the rest of our life.

The other is about an old woman that used to live in the county home in Columbus, Ohio. She mostly spoke German - at least, she had learned her bible that way. My wife was a German major in college, so she was asked to go and read to her from her Bible every week. The only problem was that her Bible was written in the old German schrifft. So it was difficult reading. But every time my wife would stumble on a word or phrase, the old woman would just pick up where my wife left off. Did I mention that the old woman was blind? She knew the whole Bible by heart!

The scriptures say, "Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." What the writer is saying is that the scriptures show us where we stand, and where we are headed. They shed light upon our life, helping us to understand who we are and where we are. But they do not simply navel gaze - they also show us the direction in which God desires that we go.

We all know that we should study the Bible. Tonight I'd just like to suggest a way of studying it that I have found meaningful, and hope you will too. And I'd like to suggest that you just try it during lent, and see if you find it helpful for you. For six weeks, just try it. And see how you feel, how your faith is doing - and see if it isn't something that truly helps your faith.

What I'd like to suggest is that, if you haven't done much with Bible study before, that you start with the Gospels, then maybe go back to Genesis and Exodus, and then move on from there to some of Paul's letters - especially Romans and Galatians. Once you get that far, you can find your way around your Bible pretty well yourself.

Second, as you do that, get a commentary. I always liked Barclays, for lay people. You don't need one that goes into great detail, but I always found his little commentaries refreshing, and have a lot of color that make them interesting. Just realize that he is English - you'll realize that after you read a bit of his commentaries. Other commentaries are good as well - but you want more than just the study notes that happen to make it into your typical study Bible.

Third, you need to be regular in your study. Have a regular time and place. Let the family know that the first thing in the morning, or after supper, or whenever you decide to do it, is your time. The telephone does not have to be answered. No one is to interrupt you. Keep away from the television, radio and other distractions. Make sure also that it is not in an area people will be walking through - it needs to be a quiet place. Go to the library, if necessary - or to church.

Read through one story, and live with it for a week. Put yourself in the place of the characters, and try to get a feel for what is happening. Read your commentary to get a little more background, and note any special figures of speech, special words that are used, etc. Try to find a promise in the passage to you, and memorize an important verse - like the blind lady my wife read to, you will find that a verse of scripture kept in your heart will pay wonderful dividends when you need help. God often uses verses like that to bring to mind his promises when we are in need.

Also, when you study, be sure to use meditation and prayer. These connect the scriptures to your own life, which is what the scriptures are for. They are stories about how God has been faithful in the lives of others. Appropriated in faith, they help us understand that he will be faithful to us as well.

Finally, put what you have learned to work. If the passage is about loving others, think of someone who needs forgiveness or care, and do something to help. If it is about stewardship, think about the gifts God has given to you, and make a response to his generosity. When I learned how to play Bridge, I watched others playing for a month or so, but never really understood it. Finally, a very wise and patient person sat me down as their partner, and got me playing. I learned more in one evening playing Bridge than in a month of watching! That is also true of faith. It's one thing to have a "head knowledge." It is another thing entirely to live out the Gospel. We don't know what it is really about until we take up faith's way ourselves, and actually place our trust in God.

Finally, a suggestion. Keep a spiritual journal, a kind of "faith diary." It will help you see what God is saying to you - since he keeps saying a lot of the same things over and over! It will also encourage you, since you can look back over time and see the places where you have grown in faith.

An adult cannot expect to deal with the complex problems of this world with a fifth-grade Christian education. You need more. Be constant in your study, and hide the Gospel in your heart. Let it reveal to you the Eternal Word that lives within you!