Study Bible Update: Promises

I just wanted to post a tiny update on my study Bible adventures! I have a pretty sweet setup at the apartment right now and it's really been helping me get into a routine. Every morning I make my breakfast and coffee and bring it to my desk in the living room which has my Bible and a notebook sitting open just waiting for me.

I started at the beginning. And I'm still there. I'm making progress but this study Bible sure has a lot of extra study notes! I haven't even gotten to Genesis yet! I've read all the notes that give an overview of the Old Testament. For example, who wrote it, when and why. And I'm almost finished reading the introduction notes to Genesis which explains the major (and minor) themes. Even though I haven't even gotten to the actual Bible part I already feel like I've learned so much. These overviews have been so helpful in outlining the important messages and in explaining how the whole Bible points to Jesus. It's not just a list of genealogies and laws and stories that are all loosely tied together by being God's word but it's one complete book that's all about God's promises. It's about His creation and His love for us despite our rebellion and His promise to restore us to the way He created us. In the Old Testament He makes promises to Abraham and Israel through Moses and in the New Testament we see these promises fulfilled by Jesus! God sacrificed His only Son to die for our sins, paying our price, so that through Him we can be restored. I am already in awe of how the Bible unveils God's promises and purpose for His creation throughout the Old and New Testaments. I never saw it as a complete narrative before! I already feel like my view of God and the Bible is being transformed and I haven't even started reading it! I can't wait to see how else God will open my eyes and my heart with more time.

Speaking of God's promises, I just read Whitney Newby's blog post where she writes about God's promise to Abraham and Sarah that they will have a child in their old age. Sarah laughs and God says "Is anything too hard for the Lord?". A great reminder that God's work doesn't require our faith, though He is glorified by it. The fulfillment of His promises are not dependent on us but on Him. Anyways, she unpacks this passage a lot better than I can so you should read the whole thing for yourselves! It's a good one.

Thanks for reading!

Learner

Our missional communities (small groups) at church have a few different themes that we rotate through including: servant, mission, family and learner.

Recently, I've been thinking about how I can be a better learner. I mean, I know how to learn. As a university student I've learned a lot. But I consistently prioritize my school studies over my Bible studies. I might even admit to making an idol of that straight A transcript and that needs to change. God needs to be God in my life. I have come to the conclusion that I need to study God the way I would study for school. I need to learn about His character, His promises and His love. I've already attended many semesters of lectures in the form of Sunday School and sermons mostly, but I've hardly cracked open my textbook (the Bible). I've never gone into an exam without reading, underlining, highlighting, taking notes and re-reading my textbook. So what makes me think I can know all that God wants me to know without doing the same with His textbook?

This train of thought led me to research some devotionals and study Bibles and I ended up ordering the ESV Study Bible online. It had been recommended to me and when I checked out this website I got really excited about it. This Bible has tables and charts and graphs and maps...just like a textbook! (except it is NOT crazy expensive). I couldn't wait to crack it open and get studying! Only thing was... this happened:

I made several phone calls trying to figure out where my Bible was and how I could get it. I think God may have been teaching me a lesson in patience and also saying, "Ahem, why don't you read the Bible you already have while you're waiting!?" (to which I replied, "but I want to read my textbook Bible!") 

I have never had a study Bible before but I  am really excited to dive in and explore all of the extras this one provides. I've found it difficult in the past to sit down and read from my Bible without the historical context and without knowing what to focus on and what questions to ask but now I feel like I have a guide. My missional community leader (and current roommie, Sam) put together a document entitled "How to Study the Bible" aka Course Syllabus and Suggested Guidelines for how to get the most of the Textbook. So now, with my instructions and new Bible I feel extremely equipped to study the Word! 

As I study I will be praying (and am asking you to pray for me, if you feel so inclined) that God will replace my earthly desires like a perfect transcript with an overwhelming desire for Him. I often say during the school year that studying is hard work, it's not always fun but in the end when you see your grade it's all worth it. I know that what Jesus calls us to do is not always easy either but I hope that I can truly grasp the GRACE that Jesus offers us and know how much more satisfying and worth it that is than anything else.