You gotta have faith, faith, faith, baby. Name that artist and the year the song was written. Wonder what the musician meant? You might google the lyrics.
How do you define your faith? Do your works display the fruit of the Spirit? Can your works standalone without God and truly display your faith? Why would someone believe their works will save them?
Why do you do good deeds? What keeps you from doing bad ones?
Cross-References
Ephesians 2:8-10
Luke 3:11
Proverbs 3:27
Luke 6:44-46
VIDEOS:
REFLECTIONS & THOUGHTS TO PONDER:
Read Matthew 7:17 and reflect.
What is the warning here?
Read Matthew 7:21. What is your initial reaction? What does this do to your head and heart?
What is an example of dead faith in your life?
Why cannot a living faith be separated from works?
Name your personal takeaway from Chapter 2. What is the primary verse tugging at your heart strings? What is one way over the next week you can demonstrate living faith differently in your life?
Do you favor chocolate or vanilla ice cream? What about a resplendent color you are partial to than all others? Ever favor a person in a group more than the others?
The Bible speaks about favoritism and makes it clear that loving your neighbor means ALL people. Let’s be real-that is not always easy-think about a few of those sandpaper people in your life. YIKES! However, partiality towards others is a breeding ground for sin and trouble.
Read Galatians 3:28 and ponder your thoughts about favoritism of people. Do you have any biases? Does your environment influence your attitude and thinking about others who are different than you?
VIDEOS:
REFLECTIONS & THOUGHTS TO PONDER:
Who do you have a hard time loving well?
How can we see people with God’s eyes rather than our own?
Have you ever been judged because of something in your outward appearance?
How did these verses challenge your thinking? HEAD
Did the passages make you examine how you feel about certain people? HEART
Are you compelled to act differently towards someone or a group of people? HANDS
How can you safeguard your thinking when surrounded by others with strong favoritism? EARS/EYES
Welcome to the first week of study on the book of James. Over the years we have focused on empowering believers in their personal interaction with God’s Word. For the next five weeks, we are supporting our online Monday night class through a variety of resources bi-weekly. Below you will find information, questions, videos, etc. to guide your steps in reading, understanding, and applying the Scriptures.
Refining Ministry is committed to help strengthen individualized study skills in practical ways that can become lifetime habits. With each study, we want to empower you to feel confident in spending personal time in God’s Word. As we dive into the book of James, we will share a variety of techniques and tips based on the recent released Beyond Scripture Typography when coming together during the Monday night meetings. If you would like to join our James study, leave us a comment or email us at refiningjourney@gmail.com. We will be happy to send you the Zoom link.
JAMES Study: April 22-May 27, Monday nights from 6:00-7:00 pm (CST)
BACKGROUND:
Audience: Mainly the scattered Jewish believers.
Topic: Practical day-to-day Christian living and how to live a Godly life.
Author:
Compelled to Write: The author might have felt compelled to write this message to . . .
Timeframe:
Why Jewish believers might listen to James: The Jewish believers might listen to James because he is one of them and has authority and understanding of their culture and faith.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Proverbs 8:33 (NIV)
Is perception everything? Psychologists would probably say it plays a large part in how we process information, yet it does not mean personal interpretation is always accurate. Remember, it is based on how we perceive. As we process information whether sensory and/or mentally, there are lots of factors that can sway our thinking.
For me, this word tends to be the root of many of my rubs in life. When the vision of any situation is one-sided and then forced upon another individual (who of course has a different point of view) it can ignite a problem. It is not always easy to see a different viewpoint because you do not have the same experiences, surroundings, background, processing mechanisms, etc. as the other person. However, we do have the option of humbling our self-centered thinking and opening our hearts to try and understand a different perception.
Now, let us turn our thoughts to Bible intake. El Shaddai, one attaining greater wisdom, wrote Scripture. He has an all-knowing angle with sincere-unflawed character and love. When we are reading, studying, and digging for meaning, it is normal to interpret based on personal perception. We naturally surrender to our insight or the thoughts of those we surround ourselves with daily. It takes intentionality and time to posture ourselves under the foreign mindset of the Lord.
Thoughts on gaining God’s Perspective:
Humble yourself under His authority every time you encounter His Word.
Rely on the Holy Spirit’s wisdom over your own understanding.
Place your thinking at the feet of the Father and seek His perception.
Take time to truly listen to His voice above all others.
Be open to see, hear, feel, and comprehend on a level beyond earthly life.
Pray, submit, ask, and expect wisdom.
Present yourself to the Lord with reverence, obedience, and gratitude.
Allow the Holy Spirit to revitalize your philosophies, customs, opinions, and beliefs.
Change is not easy and comprehending the Lord’s perception is a challenge because His character is far removed from our own innate being. Present your questions and thoughts to Him. Consider His ways and purposefully seek the perception of our great Father.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 (ESV)
If you need wisdom, ask your generous God, and he will give it to you. He will note rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 (NLT)
Where would you claim is “your hang out” spot? In front of the TV, behind the wheel, on the beach, with a fishing pole, next to those you love, painting a canvas, cooking and baking, crafting a new creation, cutting and sewing, shopping till you drop, exploring the world, hiking the mountains, alone with God, learning new things, dancing, helping others, gardening, etc. We all have them and they are often what keeps us sane in life. It is a comfortable area affirming the joy within us and a place where inner peace may be found. Many allow it to deliver meaning to life and even permit it to define a portion of who they are.
The Lord longs for us to truly love to hang out in the Bible. He would love nothing more than us cherishing His voice by praying, studying, examining, rereading, asking, researching, wrestling, and taking Scripture bite by bite. “God is Jehovah, a relational Father, who longs for us to know Him intensely” much like we know our favorite hang out in life.
Discovering the full meaning of a portion of the Bible is time consuming to say the least. It is not always appealing to hang out in a chapter for an extended period when there are thousands of verses still out there to explore. For most of my life, I skimmed through God’s Word and was just hoping for some miraculous life-changing wisdom to transform my life. It was much like driving by the gym or track but never engaging fully yet thinking I was going to achieve that ripped bikini body. (Go ahead-laugh-I sure am!)
We must search for techniques and methods to dive into the Bible on a deeper level. It requires us to throw out the checklist approach and spend our time in a chapter longer than usual. I call this residing-where deep meaning and understanding blossom. You might see this as a way to study intensely.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
Much like a scientific method, gaining wisdom takes certain steps and approaches. Where does one begin? Well, that is a great question. Maybe the best way to answer is to provide you a list of choices and encourage you to try a few each time you intentionally hang out in God’s Word.
Here are a few from this chapter:
Background check-dig into the original meaning of the text. Determine the author, timeline, and location. Discover the original audience and the culture of the day. Read several reliable summaries and outlines to affirm the main message. Apply the 5Ws and an H: who, what, when, where, why, and how.
Identify-Highlight any assurances and promises God has made in the passage. Reflect on the instructions and commands that are present. Cling to the attributes and characteristics of the Lord as they are revealed in Scripture.
Investigate-Find the Hebrew meaning of the main focused terminology. Consult the Greek meaning for New Testament reading since it was the primarily language of the time but rely on Hebrew as well. Read different translations to bring clarity and exact meaning.
See the big picture-When a verse tugs at your heart strings, read the entire context. Find the original meaning and audience rather than “making it fit” for your life. Consult commentaries and investigate the full counsel of God through cross-references.
The primarily take away is to find God in the story and discover His wisdom by hanging out in a chapter. “It is a chance to uncover the biblical sustenance you might need to infuse in your life on a grander scale. Remember, God’s Word can nourish every aspect of your life. What a nutritional diet!” Who knows it might even bring greater peace to your favorite hangout spot in the future.
Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scripture. Luke 24:45
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. I Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)
Do you ever prep for something? I seem to spend a lot of time doing this…prepping everything before cooking a meal, gathering supplies before a retreat, organizing personal items prior to packing, planning the approach for a task, warming up before a long hike, arranging everything prior to hosting a party, priming my mind before a hard meeting, etc. The list of things I do to prepare whether it is simply going to work or spending the afternoon in the yard working with my husband.
So why do we deem this an important task? Lots of words come rushing like mighty waves: provision, organization, projection, preparing, setting up, developing, provision, road to success, forecasting, etc. All these words attached at the hip to planning and even the mindset if you fail to plan you plan to fail. We all do it in some form or fashion and for some rhyme or reason no matter how slight or significant.
For me, the work on the front end seems to set the stage for success. Much like any sport, theatrical production, concert, etc…practice and rehearsal allows for skills to be enhanced, training to be precise, and run throughs to address effectiveness. Preparing is part of it. It is a procedural system that eventually becomes a routine habit.
But what about reading God’s Word? Chapter six addresses how to prepare for Bible engagement through practical approaches. It affirms the importance of prepping by defining this as a method to “slow down and let the Lord lead” and to “allow the Holy Spirit to pilot your attention and guide your hearing.”
“Allotting moments to read and engage with God’s Word involves planning— The way you move toward your time can make a large impact on everything that follows.”
We often jump right into abiding in Scripture without giving any thought into abiding in God. Our thoughts are still in this world and distracted by daily life. Our focus can be hindered by the issues, problems, concerns, and all the other things we face in a fallen world. These are things the enemy uses to cloud our thinking and keep us from hearing and understanding during Bible engagement. Would you agree?
Below are some tried and true tips from this chapter:
Pause prior to reading: This is a brief mental exercise to separate yourself from the world. The length of time is dependent, but it is a way of letting go of your surroundings and opening your mind to greater things.
Pray first: “Ask the Lord to direct your focus and provide you with His discernment.” Wow, just a short prayer can display intentionality to prepare for what God has to say.
Prepare your heart: Pausing and praying opens the door to sharing your heart and giving your concerns over to the Lord. It is a way to safeguard your time in Scripture and letting the enemy know that he is not welcome. “He would love nothing more than to distract you form having a softened heart.”
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead: He is abiding within you to deliver knowledge and understanding. He is our GPS when we allow Him to be. He can channel our attention to hear and see what God speaks as we read. He often highlights portion of our reading to guide us through our pathway. He is often just waiting for us to ask.
But whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. Psalm 1:2 (NIV)
Give these four tips a whirl the next time you engage with God’s Word. It is not easy to carve out uninterrupted time to read the Bible, but our approach to Scripture can deliver a more productive experience. Let these practical methods allow the Lord to bless your time, reveal a personal message, and assist you to hear His voice through the words. “Remember, He is Jehovah, a relational Father so, pause, praise Him, and reciprocate your interest in Him and His Holy Word.”
May you find your prepping well worth it in the end.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17 (NIV)
Framework…And does that mesh with Scripture study? As with anything the mind comprehends, the brain needs structure to organize the incoming information. Once we process context, we mentally filter and decide what is valuable enough to place in our memory bank as we build our schema around the topic.
So, you may be still asking, what does that have to do with God’s Word? Our understanding of the Bible requires a deciphering and configuring system for the vast array of wisdom found in Scripture. It furnishes a structure to consume the words of the Lord and establishes how we can approach, process, and absorb passages. Framework is an important tool to assist in comprehending the individualized message through God’s love story.
There are lots of options available: SOAP, TEXT, SOAK, POWER Inductive method, PRAISE, and the list goes on. If you would like to read more, here is a website highlighting a few: 27 Bible study methods for beginners and groups – The ultimate guide – The Faith Space The purpose behind each is to assist readers in pinpointing the essential knowledge and recognizing the significance for their life. It is not meant to complicate or hinder the process.
Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? Job 11:7 (ESV)
It is a system to enhance your time with God’s Word and permit you to grasp and comprehend Scripture easier. If you choose something too complex, the purpose become a moot point. Although it does take time to develop a muscle memory framework, the deciding factor should be based on the significant difference it can make on your life over time.
Everyone must find a framework to furnish them a way to deepen their understanding of Scripture and open a pathway to better communication with the Lord. The structure should not only simplify how to approach God’s Word, but challenge you in your spiritual growth. God wants us to explore the Bible to gain a greater understanding of His message and to know Him on a deeper level.
If you do not currently have a framework, I encourage you to read over some methods and start with one you feel you would benefit from using. If you do have a system in place, research other approaches and see if there is one new idea you could include periodically to avoid a stagnate engagement with the Bible.
I have been asked many times of what I would recommend. My suggestion is much like what Bible to buy—one that you will truly use. I rely on the AMPS approach presented in chapter five. This is a combination of various proven methods from humbling yourself before the Lord to inductively participating with Scripture. I found this extremely effective when I am working through the Bible chapter by chapter, but it is also relevant to any time when His Word is studied.
This has become my choice of framework for the following reasons:
It reminds me to posture my heart, mind, and soul under the authority of the trinity.
I tend to read Scripture with more intentionality and Holy Spirit vision.
This method reminds me to read the text in context and search for the meaning in Biblical times as well as the here and now.
AMPS prompts me to remember the text is living and God’s perspective should be my priority regardless.
The framework has given me a way to stay accountable for my actions.
I would encourage you to find your “skeleton diagram…to build your Bible intake actions and approaches while strengthening your relationship with the Father”. Pray about it and begin searching for your personal plan for Scripture study. It is the next step after determining why you want to engage with God’s Word. Let your desire generate your scaffolding. Once you find your platform, be ready for a new level of understanding with the Father and His Word. It will come with a great reward.
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. Proverbs 16:20 (ESV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
Welcome readers! This post begins a ten weeks study over a newly released book entitled, Beyond Scriptural Typography. It is designed to assist believers in personalizing their interactive framework with the Bible. In the introduction, the book refers to Scripture as “an open invitation to go beyond the charming print and a chance to experience the life-changing power…”. The book offers readers a chance to become better equipped in interacting with God’s Word no matter their level of spiritual maturity.
Pondering Revelations
As you ponder how many Bibles you own, how do you define the Bible? This week’s focal verse is Hebrews 4:12. The verse clearly refers to Scripture as the “word of God”. These words are often found in lyrics like a song by Mercy Me: Word of God speak, Would You pour down like rain, Washing my eyes to see Your majesty. To be still and know that You’re in this place. Please let me stay and rest in Your holiness-Word of God speak. The Bible is an intentional mode of communication established by the Lord to speak to each one of us. It is the very words of God.
We cannot deny the Bible is alive and active, more than print on a page, when we begin using it as a guide to daily living. Chapter one states:
“The potential elevation level of biblical print will always remain flat without action on our part.”
Scripture has transformational power ready and waiting as an invitation to ignite change throughout our lives. However, it is our choice to accept the welcoming welcome, surrender to it’s authority, and determine the depth of our interaction with God’s Word.
The Bible provides the knowledge that God lives among us, loves us, and longs for us to intimately know Him the way He knows us. He has full transparency of all that is within us, good, bad, and ugly, and yet loves us despite of it. The Lord has provided His Voice as spiritual food to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to Him. It is a tool to obtaining intimacy, but we have to be in it’s presence-reading, studying, interacting, listening, relying, praying, and believing on it’s every word to experience the beauty of the relational instrument.
His Voice can ignite change throughout our lives as our reliance grows daily. Matthew 4:4 reminds us that every word from the Father helps us know right from wrong and gives us a roadmap to carry out His plans. As we accept His invitation to partake in Scripture, we have to ponder our actions. To what extreme are we willing to serve and seek? Can we be all in with a willing mind showcasing a wholehearted commitment? What are we willing to do to learn “how to truly read, study, and apply the Bible?”
Chapter One gives you the opportunity to reflect on your Bible intake and Scripture infusion. It presents a challenge to embrace the process of discovering new ways to engage with God’s Words as part of loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. (Deut. 6:5)
“No one innately arrives with the knowledge, skills, and experience to comprehend and digest God’s Word.”
If you envision yourself fully saturated with Scripture, intentionally leaving no room for the enemy to pull you away from God, this book is exactly where the Lord needs you to be. It is an opportunity to foster an individualized method to delight in His Word through defining the Bible’s value for you and obtaining practical methods to experience its active and living power.
Chapter One helps you reveal your current interaction with Scripture, gives you amp opportunities to ponder your unfiltered view and value of the Bible, and identify ways you need God’s Word to be a stronger beacon in your life. The chapter end with Psalm 119:105
“Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
I look forward to this book study the next ten weeks: a discovery to use God’s Word to navigate life.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; … Psalm 1:1-6 ESV
Reading God’s Word has often been referred to as nourishment for the soul. So why isn’t everyone feasting on it daily?
This is a question I have asked myself over and over for years because I lived daily without Scripture being my manual for life. You may be wondering my reasons for this.
Well, I felt inapt to study the Bible on my own. I also had a fear of inadvertently misunderstanding text and possibly taking it out of context. I knew how easy it would be to possibly twist God’s Word to fit my liking. Also, I had not truly developed a routine nor sought ways to study Scripture on my own. And of course, I had all the traditional excuses too.
It wasn’t until life hit rock-bottom and I mean flat of my back-overwhelmed and determined to no longer live, that I realized my lack of personal seeking God through Scripture had caused a self-induced deficiency in knowing and relying on God for who He truly is, especially in the pit of darkness!
Therefore, the Lord allowed many rocky years as a method to gain my attention (aka…getting through to my thick skull) to ignite a mission within me. A journey to infuse my life with Scripture and discover the LORD on a deeper level.
So, where does one start to become a discerning student of the Bible? My first response would be-Go to God and pour out your heart to Him. Ask Him to give you full discernment of what the first step is for you. Here are a few basic suggestions as well:
Invest in a study Bible. It is a great tool to understand Scripture.
Attend a true Bible study class over a book of the Bible. This is a great way to gain study skills and resources from other Christians. Take it verse-by-verse.
Pause each time before you begin to study/read Scripture and ask for the LORD to reveal Himself to you. Be open to hearing the perspective of God through the Holy Spirit’s guidance and prompting.
Are you digesting God’s Word as your daily nourishment? What steps might you need to take to know the LORD on a deeper level? I am praying for you…May the Father reveal the next level of study to you as you are reading this article. Know this…you are greatly loved, and God wants to grow your faith daily-hand and hand with Him.
I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. Psalm 89:20-38 ESV
Refining [Spiritual Growth] 