Building our Bible study approach

....From Chapters 16 thru 20, we learned ....the "Spirit-led" choices we must make in our lives as DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST....

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LIVE DAILY in the peace Jesus gives, ....remembering what He told us

KEEP OUR FOCUS on Heaven's reality, ....our eternal home

PREPARE FOR SPIRITUAL BATTLES by putting on ALL of God's armor

....because....

You are living a brand new kind of life that is CONTINUALLY LEARNING more and more of what is right, and TRYING CONSTANTLY TO BE MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST who created this new life within you.
    — Colossians 3:10 TLB

....and WE LEARNED the "Why?", "What?", and "How?" to study God's Word.  Let's look at how these 3 chapters are summarized in our study guide download....

Know "Why?" study your Bible

....being ACTIVELY ENGAGED with God ....is a life changer

In the Bible, God makes Himself known, telling us things which otherwise could never be known. What previous generations "knew" about God is the same "knowing" we have today.  ....And just as previous generations searched the Scriptures to learn about God, ....so we too must search those same Scriptures ....to grow in our knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

Being actively engaged with God is life changing....

....and searching God's Word, we learn....

Life changing Bible study....

….is more than simply reading the Bible.  It is
‍1. SEEING TRUTH as you READ God’s Word.  It is
‍2. BELIEVING what God tells you about His TRUTH, and
    knowing how it RELATES to your life’s circumstances.
3. APPLYING God’s TRUTH in your life as you RESPOND,
4. PRAYING for God’s help to change your life ….to be ‍
    more like Jesus, ….and live His TRUTH in your life.

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Know "What?" to study in your Bible

....SEEK to know God's TRUTH, ....APPLY it in your life

There is much to learn from God's Word.  If we seek to "know Him", ....He will not leave us guessing.  ....God's Word is straightforward.  Just ASK AND YOU WILL RECEIVE.  SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND ....life changing answers to ALL your questions.  Jesus said so in Matthew 7:7-8 and Luke 11:9-10.

And it begins with the....

FOUNDATION VERSE for our study of God's TRUTH....

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly MY DISCIPLES if you REMAIN FAITHFUL TO MY TEACHINGS.  And YOU WILL KNOW the TRUTH, and the TRUTH will SET YOU FREE (see Strongs G1659: ....to set at liberty, ....to make free from the dominion of sin).”
    — John 8:31-32 NLT

Do we know God's TRUTH is our spiritual protection?

We must comprehend this world is a spiritual war zone.  And there are a lot of voices in life wanting our attention — some good, some not so good.  You have to decide what is God's TRUTH and what is not.  Because "what" you believe influences the choices you make in life, ....the big stuff and the small stuff.

....followed by....

What does God's TRUTH look like?

‍God’s Word overflows with an abundance of TRUTHS.  We find them in VARIOUS EXPRESSIONS, depending on scriptural context for different situations.  Such as a.…

TRUTH — the true or actual state of a matter; a verified or indisputable fact or principle

PRINCIPLE — general or basic truths on which other truths can be based and understood

COMMANDMENT — statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned

PROMISE — a solemn declaration of intent of what one will do or not do

LORD, ....Give us minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so we will truly know You.  Open the eyes of our hearts, and let the light of Your TRUTH flood in.  Shine Your light on the hope You are calling us to embrace.  ....Let us see the FULL EXTENT of YOUR POWER that is AT WORK IN THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE, and may it be done according to Your might and power. Amen.
    — Ephesians 1:17-19 The Voice

Know "How?" to study your Bible

....come HUNGRY and THIRSTY for MORE OF GOD in your life

Ask the Holy Spirit to help see, believe, and apply TRUTH as you READ, RELATE, and RESPOND

....God will not leave us guessing as we ask for His help....

Let's put this in the context of a small group Bible study.  In small groups, each person shares in reading aloud selected scripture
(for example, chapter of a book).  Then, as led by the Holy Spirit, each person shares with their group what God is saying to them personally from following questions....‍

1. READ, 2. RELATE & 3. RESPOND questions

....to help us SEE, BELIEVE and APPLY God's TRUTH

WHAT is the Holy Spirit showing me in God's Word?

From the group's selected Scripture, READ aloud the verses God is showing you, identifying the Biblical TRUTH you SEE expressed.  Is it a Truth, Principle, Commandment, or Promise?  Then describe this TRUTH in scriptural context, and state why it is relevant. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

WHY is the Holy Spirit showing me this in God's Word?

Describe for your group how TRUTH in these verses RELATE to your life's circumstances, or perhaps something else you BELIEVE God wants you to SEE in verses the Holy Spirit is showing you.  (Romans 12:2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

HOW should I respond to God's Word?

RESPONDING to this TRUTH, explain to your group if you should express praise and thanksgiving from your heart to God, ....or ask Him for help APPLYING in your life what TRUTH you are learning from His Word.  (Philippians 4:6-7)

PRAY as the Holy Spirit guides me.

Knowing you want to APPLY in your life those TRUTHS you are learning in God's Word, pray aloud in the first person ("I, me, my") ....asking God for what you need. Declare aloud how you want God to change your life. (John 14:6, 15:5-8)

Praying aloud has a "together" purpose....

Whatever your personal need is, ....your friends hear your ("I, me, my") prayer, ....and join you in asking God for what you need, ....seeking Him together.  ....And it's interesting to observe, ....as you hear and join your friends in their prayers, there may be God-Moments ....when you say, "Lord, I need that in my life too."  ....It's just what happens when you "pray God's Word together".  SMILE....

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Okay, ....so here's an example of how this study approach works....

What can Zacchaeus tell us about Jesus?

....the TRUTH we see here is a "principle"....

PRINCIPLES are TRUTHS we "SEE" and understand from BIBLE STORIES that are narratives of historical events.  We "SEE" how God's TRUTH worked out in someone else's life, ....and believe those principles can be at work in our lives too ....as we trust and follow Jesus. 

Read Luke 19:1-10 for the full story of Zacchaeus finding peace and new life in Jesus.  The Bible tells us ....Jesus was passing through Jericho surrounded by a large crowd.  Zacchaeus "was too short to see over the crowd.  So he ran ahead and climbed" a tree ....to see Jesus.  

....Doesn't it seem undignified for this very wealthy man — this chief tax collector in the region — to climb a tree ....in front of people he had cheated, ....just for a glimpse of Jesus?  

What had he heard about Jesus that Zacchaeus would do such a thing?  As we follow the story, seems Zacchaeus needed something more in his life?  Maybe Jesus could help him find peace.  When we "SEE" what Zacchaeus said in Luke 19:8, ....and then .......how Jesus responded in Luke 19:9-10, ....we know Zacchaeus was carrying a heavy burden of guilt in his heart ....that ONLY JESUS could fix.

And JESUS KNEW what Zacchaeus needed....

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said.  “Quick, come down!  I must be a guest in your home today.”  Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
    — Luke 19:5-6 NLT

Holy Spirit, ....help us understand ....Zacchaeus was desperate to see Jesus (Luke 19:3-4).  And Jesus saw him, ....already knew Zacchaeus' name, ....and wanted to be a Friend with this "notorious sinner".

‍READ: What is the Holy Spirit showing me in God's Word?
The TRUTH here is a "Principle".  ....AS WE SEEK JESUS, we find He already knows WHO WE ARE, WHERE WE ARE, ....WHAT WE NEED IN OUR LIVES.  ....And Jesus reaches out to start a personal relationship with us, ....Matthew 11:28-30.

RELATE: Why is the Holy Spirit showing me this in God's Word?
....We consider how this TRUTH relates to our life's circumstances, ....and UNDERSTAND ....we need Jesus' help with those circumstances.  We may not fully understand "our need", but believe He does ....and will help us (Hebrews 4:16).

RESPOND: How should I respond to God's Word?
Here's where our committed, decided heart makes THE difference!  ....If we already know how to APPLY God's TRUTH to our life's circumstances, then we follow through doing it (1 John 3:24; John 8:31-32).  But if not sure, we get ACTIVELY ENGAGED in God's Word to find/know answers His help gives us.  .......Because our only hope is in Jesus, ....again Matthew 11:28-30.

PRAYER: Pray as the Holy Spirit guides me.
...."Lord, ....I SEE TRUTH as I READ Your Word.  I BELIEVE it RELATES to my life's circumstances (....you can discuss any life-issue with Jesus).  ....Lord, help me APPLY Your TRUTH in my life's "need", helping me know what to think (Col 3:15 NCV), ....how to feel (Hebrews 4:12 NCV), ....what to do (Proverbs 3:5-6).  .......Lord, help me be Your disciple and live in the peace only You can give.  Amen."

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Follow this study approach....

....being teachable reading God's Word‍

....and....

As your heart and mind become more Christ-like ....influencing your choices, ....so your life becomes more Christ-focused.

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‍Because....

Those who obey God’s commandments (TRUTHS) remain (LIVE) IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, and he with them. And WE KNOW HE LIVES IN US because THE SPIRIT HE GAVE US LIVES IN US.
    — 1 John 3:24 NLT

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^{* Credit: "3Rs + Prayer" Bible study approach is not unique, but a blending of what I've learned over the years, ....including from The Navigators, ....some Bible teacher friends, ....and a good book titled "The Promise Principle" by Phillip Hunter / Old Testament writer image anonymous / Zacchaeus image istockphoto / spiral from Clker clip art}