In the past two weeks, I've started my biblical counseling classes and the material I'm reading is transforming my approach on the word of God. In just the past two weeks, I've already read more than probably the last year combined. In CrossTalk, a book written by one my professor's, he concludes every chapter with discussion questions (either for the reader or for small groups to answer). Despite not having direct communication with the author, taking the time to answer his questions helps me open up to myself, revealing things about myself that I don't often think about.
I want to ask you some of these questions, but more importantly, I want you to answer them. These questions have much to do with your intake of God's word and are helpful to highlight tendencies and motivations.
-Which verses, passages, or books of the Bible do you tend to return to again and again? Why?
-Are there parts of the Bible you have never read? Why?
-What does your "intake" of Scripture look like? Do you have a reading plan? Do you tend toward reading larger chunks of Scripture or toward more focused study? Why might both approaches be important?
-Have you read the Bible for cover to cover? If not, what keeps you from doing so? If yes, do you continue that discipline on a regular basis?
I'll be honest, sometimes the Bible is not something I want to pick up and read. Much of the book is confusing, even with a special study Bible. I don't know where to open up and read, what reading plan to do, how much to read. These questions are not to intimidate you, but to encourage you to be honest with yourself and with God about your relationship in accordance to Him and His word. I've written two papers already for my classes and they have been a pleasure to work on. My most recent paper's objective was simply What passage of Scripture has proved most significant for you, either lifelong or recently? What makes these words relevant? What do these words address in you and in your circumstances? What does it say about God that you needed to hear? How exactly does this passage make a difference? How have you been changed? It felt like doing maintenance on my weary soul. Taking the time to revel in the memory of a powerful interaction from my relationship with the Lord was like catching up with a good friend, remembering the good times, but so much better than that.
If you take the time to answer any of these questions, no obligation, but I'd love to hear about your time with the Lord. It's good to share with brothers and sisters about what God is doing in our lives. Let's encourage one another!
God has been speaking to me through these counseling classes and he isn't finished yet.
In reducing the amount of responsibility I have at the after school program in order to focus on these classes, I do miss seeing the kids on Fridays (Fun Fridays). Last week the kids constructed houses, buildings, and other architectural creations out of boxes and cardboard. Below is my favorite, for obvious reasons.
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| Check out this basketball arena that Jovan made during a building project at the after school program! Awesome! |
