meet with God Charting Your Course with God s Word

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1 meet with God M A Y Charting Your Course with God s Word

Paul also faced stiff opposition, physical abuse, attempts on his life, prison and more. But he believed it was worth any inconvenience or obstacle to take God s Word to people.

2 The apostle Paul... is known for his powerful preaching and extensive travels through Asia Minor (now modern Turkey), Greece and Italy. Traveling then was a challenging proposition: days of walking, or at sea, sleeping out in the open, fending off wild animals and guarding against bandits. Paul also faced stiff opposition, physical abuse, attempts on his life, prison and more. But he believed it was worth any inconvenience or obstacle to take God s Word to people. Life today can be a challenging proposition too. But when you can effectively use the Bible, it provides the guidance and resources you need to chart your course in life. In this Meet with God, you ll tap into Paul s experience and writings to see how he used God s Word in his life and ministry. And you ll find answers to a question you may have asked, How can I make the Bible part of my daily life? Well, grab your passport (I mean, your Bible). It s time to discover how to use the Bible in charting your life s journey. week one P.S. The icon marks activities useful for group discussion or assignments. Feel free to use them as you choose. Holy and Sure Blessings This week, watch God s Word bring you sure blessings as you journey through the Scriptures. meet with God May

3 An experienced traveler and powerful preacher, the apostle Paul was also a fully trained Bible scholar. His youth and early adulthood were spent learning from the great teachers and students of the Law, the guardians of Jewish Scripture. In fact, before encountering the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul was set to become a powerful leader among the religious rulers. This meant that Paul came into his relationship with Christ with a detailed and intense knowledge of Scripture. He could present the complete picture of God s promises and their fulfillment in Jesus to those he spoke to. Just look at Acts 13. He not only reviewed the history recorded in the Old Testament, he pointed out how God s words to David and the prophets fit with the Gospel he preached. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, You are my Son, today I have begotten you. And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David (Acts 13:32 34). All through his ministry, Paul relied on God s Word. He infused his teaching with Scripture; he knew it backwards and forwards; he trusted it; and he used it at every turn. Guess what? You can too. That Bible in your hand is just as useful and important for your life today as it was for Paul. You can use the Bible... renew yourself in God s Word! DAY 1: To Praise God Read Acts 16:16 34 In Acts 16, Paul is in jail, praying and singing hymns. Now, he s about 1700 years away from Amazing Grace, so what was he singing? Well, the early hymns were based in Scripture, always a good source of praise to our God. In fact, the song of Moses (Exodus 15) is likely the oldest song in writing. And there s an entire book of 150 songs known as Psalms. Here are a few more: The Song of Deborah: Judges 5:1 31 The Magnificat: Luke 1:46 55 The Song of the Redeemed: Revelation 15:3 4 How can you use these Scriptures to help you praise, honor or worship God today? What songs do you most look forward to singing at church? Why? 4 meet with God May 2010 fun zone for kids or the kid in you... Create your own song of praise and sing it to the Lord. Then, perform it for your whole family. Or using Psalm 8, create a pantomime (a short play using only actions no words to show emotions or actions; you can use background music), get a few friends involved and perform your pantomime for their families as well as yours.

4 DAY 2:... To Hear God Through the Bible, we can hear from God in a way that would be impossible otherwise. Listen to God through these verses and jot down what you hear. John 3:16 Isaiah 26:3 4 Ezekiel 18:21 23 Romans 8:26 28 DAY 4:... To Find New Life Read Ephesians 4:20 32 What s new about our new life in Christ? What sets Paul s advice apart from the advice you can get from many self-help gurus today? What habits of the old life have you found the hardest to give up? What have you replaced the old habits with? DAY 3:... To Find Hope Read Psalm 25:1 22 What does David base his hope on in these verses? Do you know someone in a hopeless situation today? What are some ways you can bring comfort to him or her? Why does David s hope look more like confidence?

.. Without the Bible, our efforts to evangelize or to explain the Gospel to others and help them believe are incomplete.

5 DAY 5: To Introduce Someone to Jesus week two When you find a great new restaurant, you can t wait to tell your friends about it. When you get excited about a movie or TV show, you mention it on your Facebook page. When you ve met the Savior of your soul... well... Without the Bible, our efforts to evangelize or to explain the Gospel to others and help them believe are incomplete. These verses are useful in outlining why and how Jesus made salvation possible: John 3:16; John 1:12; Romans 3:23 26; Romans 5:6 9. How would you use them in talking to someone today? WEEKEND: Tip #1 Observe & Ask Look for tips each weekend on how to get the most out of your time in God s Word. They ll make your journey through the Bible easier and more beneficial. When you read a passage of Scripture, observe such details as: Context read the verses immediately before and after your passage. Often the context is right there. But study all passages in light of the whole Bible. Background when you read, ask who? where? when? Actions Ask, What actions are people taking? What is going on? His Heart Revealed This week, allow the One and only true God to reveal His heart to you through His Word. meet with God May

6 In Athens, Paul was confronted with a unique challenge. He didn t meet people with no interest in spiritual matters; the idea of worshipping a god was not foreign to them. It was just the opposite Athens was a city full of gods and spiritual emphasis. On practically every corner, Paul found a temple or shrine devoted to a different god. The people of Athens had even set up an altar to an unknown god to avoid offending a deity they might have missed. Paul s challenge wasn t to convince the people of Athens that a god might exist. It was to point them to the One and only true God, who offered hope, life and everything else we need, something all those other gods were powerless to do (see Acts 17:16 34). While Paul doesn t quote chapter and verse, we know he got this from the Bible (the Old Testament). Paul wasn t the only one who used Old Testament scriptures to help people get to know God better. The New Testament writers quoted or alluded to the Old Testament at least 855 times. And then they took these Old Testament scriptures and added to them the even clearer revelation given through Jesus Christ. Together, the Old and New Testaments reveal God to us and help us understand who He is and what He wants us to know. Sure, you can look at the grandeur of creation and see the majesty and power of God. But it s when you open the Bible and explore it, that He reveals His heart to you. So, how do you do that how do you approach the Bible to learn more about God and to see His heart? We ll consider some practical steps you can take this week. 10 meet with God May 2010 renew yourself DAY 1: Read Opening your Bible and actually reading it is the first step. If you only read it to find answers to a quiz or Sunday school lesson, you re missing out on getting to know God. Today, focus on Mark 4:1 20 and think about the following: What distractions keep the Word of God from taking root in someone s life? What can you do to adequately prepare the soil of your heart? consider in God s Word! this: Many of the seeds planted in your life were put there by someone else. As you pray today, thank God for those friends who were willing to share the Gospel with you. If possible, find a way to express your gratitude to those individuals.

7 DAY 2: Observe Verbs tell you where the action is, giving you clues to the meaning of a Bible passage. When you read the Bible, observe the verbs. Underline them, or circle them if you want. Try this with Luke 15: Write the verbs in the space provided. DAY 3: Write No two people take notes the same way. One person s sermon notes look like a transcript while another s are chicken scratches. Taking notes on your Bible reading isn t about style; it s about recording what matters to you. You can: write in the margins of your Bible, use a separate notebook, use your computer, write a blog, use a note program on your cell phone, use dry erase markers on a mirror or windows (kids love this!). Get creative about ways to keep track of what you learn. Start with Psalm 1:1 6. What do you learn about God? What do you learn about yourself? How can you remind yourself of this during your day? DAY 4: Pray If a person from 1810 saw you on your cell phone, would they think you were talking with someone else? Or talking to yourself? If you re unfamiliar with the technology, it looks a little strange. Our communication with God isn t all that different. We use prayer to talk to God. It might look or sound strange to someone else, but it s actually one of the greatest privileges you have as a child of God. A good model for the conversation of prayer is the ACTS formula: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Borrow from these verses today as you pray. Adoration: Psalm 8:1 9 Confession: Psalm 32:1 5 Thanksgiving: Psalm 100:1 5 Supplication: Psalm 17:1 15 DAY 5: Think So, you ve read and prayed; you ve even taken a few notes and now you re done, right? Not quite. Take time to think on what you ve read or learned. Let your mind and spirit be saturated with the truth you ve discovered. Take a look at these verses and see what they have in common: Joshua 1:8 Psalm 48:9 Psalm 119:23 Proverbs 15:28 Why is taking time to think so important in hearing from God?

8 WEEKEND: Tip #2: Using Resources Many Bible-based resources are available to help you explore Scripture. You don t need to have all of them, but it s good to be familiar with the help they offer. A study Bible with explanatory notes linked to the text. A concordance: Lists the words of the Bible and the verses where they are used. Get one based on the Bible version or translation you use the most. A Bible dictionary: Explains and defines unfamiliar and obscure words or terms used in the Bible. A Bible commentary: Offers interpretive or devotional comments on the text, sometimes verse by verse or chapter by chapter. You can find many of these resources online. Try sites like these: Biblegateway.com Crosswalk.com Studylight.org Think you don t have the time to read the Bible? Well, check this out 37 books take less time to read than watching the average TV sitcom. Take a look: 5 min min min min. & average YouTube video between commercials on Law & Order or CSI Your favorite sitcom Survivor, House or NCIS 47 books take less time to read than watching a 90-minute kids movie. Jude, 2 & 3 John, Philemon, Obadiah, Titus, Haggai Ruth, 1 or 2 Timothy, 1 John, Joel, James, 2 Peter, Colossians, Philippians Galatians, Ephesians, 1 Peter, Hosea, Ecclesiastes, Amos, Micah Hebrews, Nehemiah, 1 or 2 Corinthians, Ezra, Esther 1-2 hrs. The Biggest Loser, American Idol, Up or The Blind Side Joshua, Mark, Proverbs, Daniel, Revelation, Romans Did you know you can read most of the Bible s 66 books in less time than it takes to watch your favorite movie? Now don t feel badly about your TV or movie time but remember that you can read your Bible in less time than you think! Your challenge: Read a book of the Bible in one sitting. You may be surprised by what you learn, how things fit together and how it comes alive in a whole new way. read a book 2+ hrs. <4 hrs. less time than Gone with the Wind or the Academy Awards Exodus, John, 1 or 2 Samuel, Matthew, Luke Psalms, Isaiah, Genesis, Acts, Jeremiah Reading estimates taken from Read Your Bible One Book at a Time by Woodrow Kroll, available from Back to the Bible.

week three The Final Authority This week, pay particular attention to how often the decisions you make are based on what you read in God s Word. The apostle Paul had many adversaries.

In Acts 21, Paul returns to Jerusalem and is soon arrested in the Temple.

9 week three The Final Authority This week, pay particular attention to how often the decisions you make are based on what you read in God s Word. The apostle Paul had many adversaries. Wherever he went, someone was bound to oppose him and the Gospel he preached. But the council of Jewish leaders in Jerusalem was the most aggravated by Paul. In Acts 21, Paul returns to Jerusalem and is soon arrested in the Temple. What follows in Acts is an intense legal drama complete with passionate courtroom speeches, political intrigue and under-the- table deals (see Acts 22 26). And the heart of the debate was the issue of the authority of the Bible. Though they would have said otherwise, the Jewish leaders ultimately rejected the authority of the Bible especially as it related to Jesus, the Messiah Paul preached about. They favored their own traditions built up over centuries of practice. Paul, on the other hand, consistently took his accusers back to Scripture proving to them that everything he preached was consistent with the teaching of God s Word. Two thousand years later, the question of the Bible s authority is now more important than ever. Unfortunately, many churches don t recognize or have undermined the authority of the Bible. Many Bible teachers place a higher value on their own words than they do on the Word of God. We want to investigate the authority of the Bible so we learn to trust the Word of God above the word of man. 16 meet with God May 2010 meet with God May

10 renew yourself in God s Word! DAY 3: Man s Reason You don t have to check your brain at the door to read and follow God s Word. But human reason or wisdom alone is flawed, faulty and unreliable. It needs to be tested and shaped by God s Word. What do Proverbs 3:5 6 and 1 Corinthians 1:19 21 say about that? DAY 1: The Bible s Authority Read Hebrews 2:1 4; John 8:25 30; 2 Timothy 3: Isaiah 1:18 tells us, Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. God invites us to come to Him, through His Word and discover the reliable, trustworthy, infallible wisdom and reason He offers. Where have you found God s wisdom superior to your own reason or intention? DAY 2: The Bible s Inerrancy Every book has its critics and the Bible is no exception. Often it s attacked on the issue of inerrancy. In your own words, what does inerrancy mean? What else do you learn from these passages: Proverbs 30:5; 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16? Read Titus 1:2. What does this verse tell us about the Bible s inerrancy? It s remarkable that while the Bible has been so frequently attacked over the centuries, it still holds up to scrutiny and no error has been proven.

11 DAY 4: Traditions & Practice There are many things we do personally and within our churches because of our history, culture, and practice. Read Colossians 1:15 20; 2:8. What does Colossians say about who or what these traditions are to be subject to? Is there anything necessarily wrong about having traditions in your church? What do you think happens when practice or tradition takes precedent over biblical truth? We can t always come to reasonable conclusions about the things of God just by using our minds. In fact, often people come to very unreasonable conclusions. That s why the Bible is so important. The Bible is superior to human reason. woodrow kroll DAY 5: Human Experience The Bible also holds authority over our personal experiences. Our experiences are not to be treated as the final answer on issues; that privilege belongs to God and His Word. Read 2 Peter 1:20 21; 1 Timothy 6:3 5; 1 Corinthians 14:36 38 What is our experience or inclination to be tested by? Based on these verses, how would you respond to a friend who said they felt called to do something that clearly is against what the Bible says?

12 Weekend: Interpret & Apply How do you approach a passage to get something out of it? These basic steps will get you started. Read the passage you re studying more than once; you may even want to use more than one translation if you have it available. Write a short summary in your own words. Interpret the verses by asking, What does the passage mean? Apply the scriptures by answering these questions: What do they mean to me personally? Is there a warning? A command to follow? What does the passage tell me about God? His character, His actions? What do I see about God s response or relationship to me? What does this say about human nature? Do I need to make any changes? Do any of the scriptures motivate me to action? Encourage me to deepen my relationship to Jesus? Write down the things you ve learned, the things you can use in your life. In 1946, a young man and his friends discovered a cave near the Dead Sea in Israel, and inside were some old scrolls. They didn t realize they had made one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Over time, ancient scrolls were found in 11 caves, scrolls containing many portions of the Old Testament Scriptures. Bible scholars were able to see how little the Bible had changed over the centuries. With your kids, make photocopies (or write out) of Proverbs 15:6; Matthew 6:19 24; Matthew 13:44 and 2 Corinthians 4:7. Roll the pages up like a scroll; then hide them in the house or yard, leaving clues for your kids to find the scrolls. When they do, ask the following questions. (Use this activity to teach the value of seeking diligently for the treasure found only in the Scriptures.) Proverbs 15:6 What does Proverbs 15:6 say about the house of the righteous? What happens to the wicked? What does this proverb mean? Matthew 6:19 24 Where does Matthew 6:19 24 tell you to lay up treasures? What does the word treasure mean in these verses? Fill in this blank: Your will be where your treasure is. You cannot serve God and. Matthew 13:44 What does this verse say the kingdom of heaven is like? What did the man who found the treasure in Matthew 13:44 do? 2 Corinthians 4:7 What is the treasure referred to in 2 Corinthians 4:7? What does this verse mean by we have this treasure in jars of clay? fun zone for kids or the kid in you...

week four The Wonder of Prayer As you pray this week, keep in mind that your Creator says, Call to me and I will answer you.

He was bitten by a snake, misjudged first as a murderer, then considered a god because he survived.

Paul s entire life, beginning with his dramatic encounter with God on the road to Damascus, was a life characterized by prayer.

13 week four The Wonder of Prayer As you pray this week, keep in mind that your Creator says, Call to me and I will answer you. On his journey to Rome, the last of Paul s journeys recorded in Scripture, Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Malta. He was bitten by a snake, misjudged first as a murderer, then considered a god because he survived. Within these strange circumstances, Paul once again demonstrated God s power at work this time through the wonder of prayer. Paul s entire life, beginning with his dramatic encounter with God on the road to Damascus, was a life characterized by prayer. He understood the principle of prayer that talking to God kept him in touch with the Father and empowered him for his ministry and personal life. Paul embraced the contrast found in Jeremiah 33:2 3, Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Do you see the contrast in those verses? Verse 2 talks about the majesty of God, the creator and shaper of the earth, and the very next verse invites us to talk to Him and tells us that He will answer us. And that s the marvel of prayer: Not just that we can talk to God, and not just that He talks to us, but that we can have a conversation with this great and mighty Creator. What does prayer have to do with the Bible? Well, think of it as a two-way conversation. The Bible is God speaking to us; prayer is our way of speaking to God. The Bible lets us know we can trust God to hear, answer and respond to us. As we focus on prayer this week, we ll see we can talk to God beyond the usual requests we settle for. What do you need to talk to God about? 24 meet with God May 2010 meet with God May

14 renew yourself in God s Word! DAY 1: Pray for Opportunities Paul included a prayer or a comment on what he prayed about in letters to the early churches. What opportunities did Paul pray for in these passages? Romans 1:10 1 Thessalonians 3:9 10 Philippians 1:19 22 Colossians 4:3 4 What did Paul ask others to pray for him? What opportunities will you pray for? prayer works! I attended a state college, and one of the greatest fears my parents, grandparents and I had was that I would fall away from my faith like so many do at a secular university. But before my first weekend at school ended, I discovered no less than ten Christian guys living on my floor in the dorms. Those guys, and others I met at church, would be my closest friends through college and beyond. God does indeed answer prayer! ed. DAY 2: Pray for Insight I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe (Ephesians 1:18 19, niv). What insight or enlightenment do you need to ask God for today? Is there someone in your life that you can pray this for? DAY 3: Pray for Holiness How often do you pray and ask God to make you more holy? It s a challenging request; the way God answers might radically change your life. Read 2 Corinthians 13:5 7; 2 Thessalonians 1:5 12. Who has been your mentor as you walk toward holiness? Are you a parent? Pray through these verses for your children. When appropriate, share with them your prayers for them.

15 DAY 4: Pray for Perseverance Perseverance is essential for prayer and for your Christian walk. It s what keeps you going even when it s a struggle. Paul praised a man named Epaphras who prayed with perseverance. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12). Who has been an Epaphras in your life? How has knowing someone is praying for you helped you meet personal challenges? Do you know someone who needs you to be an Epaphras in his or her life? Weekend: Pray for Each Other Read Philippians 1:3 6. What is Paul s concern in praying for other believers? How do you pray for other Christians? DAY 5: Pray for the Gospel Read Ephesians 6:19; 2 Thessalonians 3:1 2. When it came to his work, what was Paul most concerned about? Pray the same for your pastors and teachers. challenge: Adopt a missionary family as your prayer partners. Ask at your church for information on missionaries. Sign up for their prayer letter or ; see if they post a blog or are on Facebook. Get to know them as much as you can and, as a family, make a point of praying for them on a regular basis. Suggest ways your kids can earn money to help support your missionary family. Be sure to let them know you are praying for them.

16 Weekend: TIP # 4: Join Others for More Engaging God s Word is how we connect with Him personally. But you don t have to do it all alone. You can join a Bible study group or meet regularly with a friend or accountability partner and journey further into God s Word together. You can also check out the resources at backtothebible.org. Sign up to get Powered by 4 a daily with a Bible passage and a blog entry from cohost, Tami Weissert; or 411God, a one-minute scripture call to your cell phone; Bible reading schedules and more. Meet with God, an official publication of Back to the Bible Woodrow Kroll, President Copyright 2010 The Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. sticking points renew your memory You can use the Bible to help you in several ways (see week 1); which do you most need today? What will change now about how you approach God s Word? How have you started to see or understand God better through His Word? Where do you need to adjust your views or practices in order to line up with God s Word? What two aspects of prayer can you use to energize your prayer life? Printed in the U.S.A. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version, unless where otherwise noted. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Editor: Ben Zuehlke Project Staff: Allen Bean, Ben Zuehlke, Barbara Gerhart, Brandy Griffin, Emily Wurl, Kathy Thorne, Leisa Larson Design: Brandy Griffin Cover and Interior Photos: Back to the Bible P.O. Box Lincoln, NE 68501

How to Find God in the Bible & companion study Now in one affordable package: How to Find God in the Bible and the companion study by Woodrow Kroll. This book and study by Dr.

$11.50 Canada #49035 Shipping and Handling not included Product cost and availability subject to change.

17 How to Find God in the Bible & companion study Now in one affordable package: How to Find God in the Bible and the companion study by Woodrow Kroll. This book and study by Dr. Kroll will help you find simple keys to understanding the Bible and solid insights on making an intimate connection with God. The study includes encouraging thoughts and motivating questions. $10 U.S. $11.50 Canada #49035 Shipping and Handling not included Product cost and availability subject to change. Call us, visit our online store or use the enclosed bind-in to place an order or to help offset the cost of Meet with God. With a broadcast and Internet reach to millions, Back to the Bible teaches the Word and touches the world. For questions, contact: Back to the Bible P.O. Box 82808, Lincoln, NE back to the bible - Canada P.O. Box 700 Chatham, ON N7M 5K

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE PLAN

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE PLAN JANUARY 1. Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1 2. Genesis 4-6; Matthew 2 3. Genesis 7-9; Matthew 3 4. Genesis 10-12; Matthew 4 5. Genesis 13-15 6. Genesis 16-17; Matthew 5 7. Genesis 18-19;