December 27, 2006

Normally we have Bible study every single week when Lee and Beth are in town, but as you have probably already heard, tonight is the exception. Beth is just plain worn down and sick with a cold from two weeks of non-stop, action-packed, entertaining and home beautification, plus Lee's family is in town this week for Christmas.

As a result, there will be no Bible study tonight. We will however, meet as usual next Wednesday for our first Bible study of 2007.

Be sure to read up and prepare to talk about John 3:22-36. Be sure to study and think through the passage in its context. Ask yourself a lot of questions...what do we know about John the Baptizer that might illuminate what he is saying? What major themes in John show up in this passage? How does this passage fit with John's overall purpose in writing the book (John 20:30-31)? What does this passage teach me about Jesus? Do I love and honor Jesus like John the Baptizer does?

Be a people who examine the Scriptures. When a doctor examines a patient he does so by asking a lot of questions and synthesizing the answers in order to develop a right understanding of the problem. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions, it is true, does reveal an ignorance that we sometimes try not to acknowledge. It humbles us. In your humility ask God, the author of the Scriptures, to give you wisdom and understanding to understand and stir your heart to relish and take delight in the truth of God's word to us.

Study the Bible in this way and the Lord will change you and you, most importantly, will see him with greater clarity and joy.