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The Practical Disciple » Entries tagged with "bible reading"

New downloads on the resource page

New downloads on the resource page

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting! Yesterday, PD reader Jacob F., left a comment that lectio divina, a prayerful practice of reading scriptures is another meaningful method of encountering God’s Word.  I wrote a post on lectio divina last August and if you are not familiar with this time-honored practice, I highly recommend you explore it.  You can read my prior post by clicking here.  For … Read entire article »

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Inductive Bible Study Method

In yesterday’s post, I shared a one man’s experience of reading the New Testament and I recommended that you do you own study work first before leaping to commentaries or other references.  I realized afterward that is all well and good to encourage you to do this, but it doesn’t do much good if you don’t have any idea how to do that or a method to use.  Well, God is good and last night a young man I am mentoring shared with me a very clear well-developed inductive Bible study method.  If you are unfamiliar with inductive Bible study, in short,  it is a process of systematically making observations to draw general conclusions about a passage. I have used a variety of inductive Bible study methods over the years and find … Read entire article »

Filed under: Bible Study, Uncategorized, scripture

New Lenten disciplines I have encountered

I have two noteworthy Lenten disciplines that I have encountered in the last week.  First, a young man in our church has chosen to do a speed read of the New Testament during Lent.  He is busting his way through the entire New Testament in 40 days, a rather admirable pursuit.  One person asked him what he was getting out of this.  He said, he was realizing that some people are just wrong.  People quote are defend things as being from the New Testament that are often times quite erroneous.  As I heard him says this, it reminded me of what I once told a group of lay people in a preaching class I was leading.  Always do your own work first.  Read the scriptures for yourself and make as … Read entire article »

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40 Day Bible Reading Guide for the Gospel of John

I have just added a 40 day Bible reading guide for the Gospel of John to the Lent Resource page.  It is a check list along with some tips on how to be consistent in your Bible reading.  While this list is set up as a Lenten discipline it really could be used over any 40 day period.  This list begins on a Wednesday and ends on a Saturday six weeks later.  Sunday’s are free days for catching-up or reflecting on a reading that grabbed you from earlier in the week.  I did this because traditionally Sundays are not included in the count of 40 days of Lent. Last year a member of my church took on reading the Gospel of Luke in 40 days. That discipline got him start reading … Read entire article »

Filed under: Bible Study, scripture

Manifesto progress: Gift giving, seeds sewn and old men playing duck, duck, goose.

Manifesto progress: Gift giving, seeds sewn and old men playing duck, duck, goose.

A couple of nights ago we offered free babysitting for parents who wanted a night out. The parents could go on a date, wrap presents, or finish up shopping. Whatever they wanted to do. We made ginger bread houses with the kids, crafts, and read story books. My favorite was reading, A Tale of Three Trees. The older kids (mid-elementary) took turns reading the pages to the younger kids. … Read entire article »

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Some lessons I have learned about reading the Bible after 25 years of daily reading

A recent reader, Kristy, shared the following comment, I have never found the right Bible reading plan, so have tried to read at my own pace and feel that even though I am not following a plan, that I am behind simply because I still have a lot to read by the end of this year and I have this thing in my head that I have to finish the Bible by December 31, 2009. It never seems like what I read is enough; sometimes I read a lot, but it doesn’t seem like it is enough. I feel like I am not doing it right. So, how much should you read? I don’t believe there is a great pat answer to this question, but I do have some distinct … Read entire article »

Filed under: Bible Study, Featured