Why Go To A Bible Study?

Hmm, I can give a Sunday School answer or just share a few things from my heart.

I’ve been in Women’s Ministry for several years so I’m fairly aware of how we think. Some find it difficult to join a Bible study because they think it’s a clique, don’t have enough time, or maybe won’t fit because they know too little.  Put your foot in the door of the lies and obstacles and just check it out . . .

It’s September – all things re-begin.  Precept Inductive Bible study is something I look forward to along with a collection of nearly fifty Jesus-lovin’ ladies (and a few good men) the first Thursday after labor Day. Tomorrow! It’s technically a Ladies Bible study but we have a few faithful husbands who’ve asked if they can sit in – and we love that.  Their zeal and wisdom is a welcome addition.

I love the Word of God.  Not because it comforts me, although it does.  Not because it instructs me, even though it does.  Not because it gives me hope, and yes it does. I love God’s word because that’s what it is.  His. So of course I want to study it more than just a glance and a gaze. It’s the holy voice that speaks to me between the covers.  From front to back, Jesus is on every page of the sixty-six books of scribed beauty — not simply written by men (but God-inspired-by-His-breath men).

There’s the difference. 

The first time I read a Bible, I was tripped up by the thee, thou and shalt nots, especially the shalt nots.  But my Father was patient and taught me how to hang on to His every word and realize the freedom.

I’m not part of a Bible study for one more thing to do. It’s not easy to fit one more thing into an over-stressed life. So, I don’t want to be just a good Bible study girl, I want to live what I’ve found to be true in spite of a deceitful world that gets more deceitful by the nano-moment. The world would have us believe the Bible is dated ~ written by a bunch of ancient men in another time warp filled with stories for entertainment in a Sunday School class.  The world would have us believe that the cross was unnecessary except as a piece of jewelry.

Studying the word of God diffuses all that . . . not to brainwash but to soulwash.

At one time and for a long time, I was a blasphemous, rude and resistant rebel to anything of God. But a merciful Lord overlooked all that and drew me to Himself by creatively using my children.  This is my testimony.  Long sacred story, but basically I put my two older kids in a Christian school only because I didn’t want them to go to a Philadelphia public school.  Only reason.

This is when I began believing in miracles.  And in His kindness He has kept me in the miracle of abiding.  Because that’s what a good God does . . .

I first found Jesus in John – the way He loved and served, healed and rescued.  That was in 1975 after I lived life hard.  This is 2023 when life IS hard – and Jesus is still the only one (and I know that I know) who can love us enough, heal us enough, and rescue us enough to walk with hope and victory in this battleground. Today.

It’s time to get serious about what we believe (or don’t).

And so, it’s my great joy to be able to revisit the beauty of the Savior in the gospel of John as we meet together on Thursday mornings to gather around the unchanging Word of God that continues to change people.  May you find this place, dear friend.

Truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.    ~Jesus