One Way to Keep Learning

If you’re retired, as I am, you may be looking for ways to keep learning. Of course, most churches offer Bible studies, but another way to stay engaged with study is to check out community resources. One example is the Lifelong Learning program at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W. Va.. My husband is teaching a class there this semester, The Church During the Reformation. Here is a description:

Western civilization cannot be well understood without reference to the impact of Christianity on our social structures and our ways of thought. The 16th century particularly has shaped our religious views, our political views, our economic systems and our cultural practices. The 16th century saw the rise of five related by still distinct reformations: Lutheran, Reformed, Radical, English and Roman Catholic. The class will explore all five movements seeking to understand how they continue to affect not only religious thought in the modern worlds, but all aspects of culture.

If you are interested in signing up for this course, or want to see what else is available, you can visit http://www.shepherd.edu/lifelonglearning. It is available in person, and also on Zoom. Classes start on 3/11 from 1PM-2:30PM and run for six weeks.

For more about studying and learning, see these posts:

Book Learning

A New Way to Study

Study Resources for Ladies

Learning Humility by Richard Foster–Book Review

This short book is an eclectic mixture, typical of the writings of Richard Foster. He examines the virtue of humility for one year, using the calendar of the Lakota Indians as his framework. He also includes excerpts from the writings of many classic Christian authors including Andrew Murray, William Law, Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas a Kempis, Julian of Norwich and more. There are many suggestions for further reading in the back of the book.

Here are some of his take-aways after a year of studying and praying about humility.

1. Humility has been a prized virtue all through Christian history.
2. We can make progress in humility by cooperating with the grace of God
3. Humility makes us more human, more genuinely accessible to others
4. Humility allows us to care more fully for the needs of others

Although Foster’s theology is too syncretistic for me, there is much to be learned from his research as well as personal musings. Do not expect a logical treatment — instead, he goes wherever his prayers and reading take him.

VERDICT: 4 STARS. Easy to read and challenging.

For another book by Richard Foster see:

Streams of Living Water by Richard J. Foster–Book Review

After the Weekend part 3

In addition to prayer, study can help us the direction our Christian action should take. Have you ever noticed that we’re not all good at the same things? From Romans, chapter 12:

“We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is in serving, let him serve. If it is teaching, let him teach. If it is encouraging, let him encourage. If it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously. If it is leadership, let him govern diligently. If it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

There are many books available about discovering your spiritual gifts. There are also personality tests such as the Meyers Briggs test, or seminars about personality types which are often available through your workplace. Take note of the things people praise you for, or tell you you do well. Ask your Pastor or your church friends to give you their opinion and advice. All of these things are study– studying yourself so that you can be a good steward of your unique God-given abilities.

Of course, unless you have physical limitations, there are many things that need to be done around the church that almost any of us can do–things like cleaning, making coffee, being an usher or folding bulletins. We should all be willing to do our share of those chores. Being gifted to teach, for example, should not be used as an excuse to avoid every doing anything else. So make an effort to fit some of them into your schedule. Your fellow members will be VERY grateful.

One more section to come ….

For more about spiritual gifts see:

What are the Spiritual Gifts?

Let Your Spiritual Gifts S–T–R–E–T–C–H You

The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts

Pay Attention to What You Hear

As I read prayerfully through the book of Mark, it often seems as if Jesus is speaking directly to me.  In Chapter 4, two statements caught my attention.  This first is:

“And he (Jesus) said, ‘Pay attention to what you hear:  with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.  For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.'”
Mark 4:24-25

Jesus had been telling parables to a large crowd, and then further explaining the meaning to the twelve disciples. He wants them to not only hear what He is saying, but understand it and apply it.  It makes me wonder, how often do I fail to pay “hear” the plain words of Scripture?  How often does my mind wander during the sermon?  How often do I fail to read a passage before our Sunday School or Tuesday morning Bible study?  How often do I not bother to study something on my own because I as so “busy”?  Not always, but often enough.

I take Gods’ Word for granted.  It will always be there for me.  Nobody will ever try to prevent me for reading it.  My Bible will never be confiscated.  I can always get to it tomorrow.  If I fail to listen, or to read, there will be time later.  Of course, I don’t know this to be true.  Persecution could come, or I could die.  I should be paying attention TODAY because it’s the only time I can be sure I have.

Not only that, these verses tell me a little more.  If I don’t bother to really listen the Word, my understanding will not only fail to grow and mature, it will wither.  I’ll be left with a childish understanding that is difficult to apply to adult life.  I’ll have become a practical pagan.

The time is now.  The words are clear.  The results will be good.  Pay attention!

For more lectio divina on the book of Mark see:

Come Here!

Immediately!

We Never Saw Anything Like This!

 

 

 

 

Is God Still Speaking?

God speaks to us in many ways.  Some people see God in nature;  others in art;  still others in the lives of great saints.  As for me, I’m a word person and God most often speaks to me through words, and the things I am reading.  I don’t think that’s odd.  After all, didn’t God “speak” the world into existence with words?

“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”  Hebrews  11:3

Isn’t Jesus called “the Word”?

  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1

Isn’t the Bible, our primary resource for knowing God, His Word?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17

This is not to say that there is plenty of unedifying reading material out there.  We have to use discernment in what we select;  but there are a plethora of good choices.  There are Christian writers of every ilk;  there are classics that educate us;  devotionals that feed our souls.  History and historical fiction can inform us; biographies inspire us;  poetry lifts our spirits.

So compose your own reading list.  Ask for suggestions from your Pastor and other Christians.  Take a look at books we’ve reviewed on our blog.  When you find a writer who speaks to you, see what else they’ve written.  Dive into some of those literary classics that bored you in high school or college.  And, of course, don’t forget your Bible.  Try different versions;  buy a commentary or a study Bible, attend Bible study.  God made us creatures who learn, and above all, He wants us to learn about Him.  Don’t miss the opportunities that are out there for you!

Mighty Reader Workbook Grade 1 – Book Review

Author Heidi Cooley takes 13 stories from the Bible, Both in the Old and New Testament and simplifies them in such a way as to make them easily understandable to young students.
Each story is broken down into lessons over a 6 day time period, with one per day. These lessons not only target reading strategies but also reading skills. She also manages to include activities that highlight writing with reading comprehension.
Overall, I think that this is a well-written and designed series. Parents are encouraged to participate in the lessons, which also help in building the child’s character.
Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and fell that it is worth the investment, including in a Sunday School setting.

You may purchase the book at the link below.

https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/mighty-reader-workbook-grade-1-P005803242

 

I was given a free copy of this book for an unbiased review

Interactive Study Blog – Hebrews Chapter 10

For thousands of years, the priests of the temples sacrificed animals to atone for our sins. I cannot imagine how many animals were killed, but because they were not the perfect sacrifice, it never provided the perfect atonement necessary for us. We received the perfect sacrifice from Jesus Christ on the cross. The prior sacrifices were a constant reminder of our sinful nature and that we would never receive the complete atonement we craved. It took our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, to provide the necessary perfect sacrifice. The moment He did the first covenant was abolished, and the new covenant, the atonement of our sins through the blood of Christ, was installed.

What a wonderful gist He gave us.

God Loves You And So Do I

Michele Edgel

Interactive Study Blog – Hebrews Chapters 8 & 9

Okay so this time I am doing 2 chapters because they seem to need it.

In chapter 8 we are told Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and how because of his crucifixion we no longer have to sacrifice for our sins as per the old covenant. In Exodus (25:40) God tells us that there will be a new covenant coming. When Jesus came and was crucified, that is the new covenant. A perfect sacrifice for an imperfect world.

Chapter 9 goes into the rules of the old covenant in more detail. Now if you have ever read Leviticus (it took me 2 months) the rules and penalties for sin were pretty hard to keep track of.

I can tell you one thing for certain, if I had to sacrifice an animal every time I sinned – there would be no animals left on the planet.

Now God was gracious enough to give us a new covenant, but we didn’t follow the old one. I guess it is a good thing that with the new one we do nothing to receive His salvation.

Well these are my thoughts on these 2 chapters, what do you think? Leave a comment, let me know.

Remember

God Loves You And So Do I

Michele Edgel

Interactive Study Blog – Hebrews Chapter 7

This chapter explains that Melchizedek was such a great priest, that even Abraham gave him a tenth of his plunder. The Bible does not give his genealogy, which is a little unusual, but we can come to the conclusion that he is someone who it regarded in very high esteem. But no matter how great he was he did die, whereas Jesus is the Great High Priest eternally. It goes further to explain that only Jesus can intercede for us with God because He has a pure soul. This just restates the knowledge that only through the Son, Jesus Christ, can we have a relationship with the Father, God.

See you soon for Chapter 8

God Loves You And So Do I

Michele Edgel

Interactive Study Blog – Hebrews Chapter 5

Okay everyone – I am sorry this is taking so long to post between chapters, bear with me, we will get through this together.

In this chapter we are given more information about Jesus as the Great High Priest. At the end of the last chapter, we are introduced to this role of His and how He can sympathize with our weaknesses because, He himself, has suffered and triumphed over the same. We are told that a High Priest is selected among men (Jesus was fully human) and is also selected by God (Psalms 110:4). We are also being told that Jesus learned obedience through His suffering. The chapter ends with a warning that we are to constantly immerse ourselves in the spiritual food of the Word to mature in our faith or we are nothing more than infants in our comprehension of God’s many gifts. We should never let down our guard against evil, for if we do, it will slowly creep in until it permeates the very fiber of our life and faith.

Wow, this is something that I am not really good at. I have been studying the Book of Hebrews, but can I honestly say that I immerse myself on a daily basis? No I don’t, but I can always try to do better. How about you? What do you do to immerse yourself daily in God’s word? I want to know, leave a comment and tell me.

As always, thank yous o much for reading and following this and all the blogs.

God Loves You And So Do I

Michele Edgel