Post by Cindy on Jan 27, 2016 10:54:02 GMT -5
I got a book recently that's called The Walk of Repentance, by S. Gallagher. It says it's a study about repentance: what it is, what kind of behavior and attitude we must repent of, and what it brings about—victory, abiding joy, and inner peace. It says it's written so it can be done in a Sunday School (for adults) or a small group. I thought I'd let you all know about it. It looks pretty good. I did the first day's study myself today to check it out and got a lot out of it. I'll post a bit from his introduction so you can see what it will be like:
As you go through the program, you will find that you will get out of it what you put into it. If you simply read it and quickly answer the questions, I’m afraid you will simply end up with more head knowledge. But if you will prayerfully take your time through each lesson, I know that God will do something wonderful in your life.
Occasionally you will be asked to look a word up in a Strong’s Concordance. If you don’t own one, we would strongly urge you to get one. You will find it to be a tremendous tool in studying the Bible. But we would also encourage you—in addition to using the Strong’s—to purchase a Vine’s Expository Dictionary. You will find that it too is an invaluable tool in studying the meanings behind words. I made those books links to "bible study tools" so you could use them online for free if you need to.
THE LESSONS
Each week of this curriculum has a theme, with a different Bible study each day. For instance, Week Eleven is entitled, Speaking Truth. On Monday, you will study “delusion.” On Tuesday, you will study “being truthful.” On Wednesday, you will study “being deceitful.” On Thursday, you will study “using flattery.” And on Friday, you will study “gossip.” All the studies combine to bring out realities about the need for truthfulness in our lives.
Each day you will have different types of studies. One day you may study one specific portion of Scripture, pulling out key truths from that section. Another day you may have to make a list of facts that are evident in another portion of Scripture. Still another day you may have to look up a word in the Strong’s or Vine’s and give the Greek or Hebrew meanings of the word. But one of the primary study methods you will be asked to use here will be to look up verses and write what you learn about that day’s subject.
Let’s say that the day’s lesson is about “judgment.” One of the verses you are asked to look up is 1 Corinthians 3:12-13. It says:
“Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.”
Your assignment is to read the passage and tell what you learn about it. The answer many would give to this verse would be something like this:
“We will be judged by the kind of work we do. That which is good—gold, silver, & precious stones will remain and we will get a reward for it. That which wasn’t good—wood, hay & straw—will be burned up. The fire of the Holy Spirit will burn away the work that isn’t done with the right heart and will show what it was really made of.”
What you have here is a sort of commentary on what the verse says. In essence, the person has just rewritten the passage; sort of summed up the meaning of it. It is apparent that he hasn’t prayed over the Scripture and sought God about its meaning for his life. The answer he has given is somewhat shallow. When you do the studies, spend a few minutes in prayer before you study it. Ask God to show you what He wants you to get out of it. Remember one thing: He has something special for you everyday in His Word! Come to expect it!
After praying about it, chew on the words for a few minutes. “If any man builds....builds.... what does building have to do with my judgment? What am I building? OK, I see from the previous verse that the foundation for this building is Jesus Christ, but what am I building? Oh! What about that passage in Matthew 7 where Jesus tells about the man who built his house on the rock and the one who built his house on sand? Let me look that up real quick and see what He shows me there....”
“OK, I can see that I am building my life on this foundation, and that I will be judged by how my life has lined up with the will of God. What else can I learn here about my own life? Let’s see... What is the difference between gold, silver, precious stones and wood, hay and straw? Well, the first group are lasting. They are valuable. They don’t burn. They are beautiful to look upon. Maybe the Lord is showing me that when I am obeying His will my life looks beautiful! Maybe when it is really built on the foundation of Christ, my life will truly touch others and the effects will last an eternity.
“What else? Each man’s work....My work.... What is my work? What has God called me to do in life? Well, I know that my work is to love others and to live a life of mercy to others. I know that I can look spiritual to others, but one day I will stand before the Lord and all my self-serving motives will be revealed. Okay, let me put down my answer:”
“This passage of Scripture shows me that if I build my house upon the foundation of Christ, if I live my life in accordance with His will—as shown in the story of Matthew 7—then my life will appear as beautiful as gold, silver, & precious stones when the Lord looks upon it. I will be rewarded with eternal treasures. But when I do things my way, then my efforts will be burned up! I know that I will be judged—not on how spiritual I may appear to others —but on how much love I have really shown to others. The truth about my life and motives will be revealed when I stand before the Lord.”
Can you now see the difference between someone who prayerfully put his heart into the question, and someone who just scribbled out the first thing that came to his mind? The answer given here isn’t that much longer, it’s just more personal, more relevant and effective. The more prayer and effort you put into these studies, the more you will find your heart changing!
CHRISTIAN STORIES
On day six and seven of each week you will find the story of the Church woven in character studies of different Christians down through the centuries. The purpose for this is simple. It is my hope that, as you read these stories, you will be deeply affected by the level of devotion of others who have served God. Their relationship with the Lord was all they had, and it showed by their lives. As you go through these stories, please ask God to show you what Christianity is really all about.
Well, you’re all set! Get started this coming Monday and stay faithful everyday. God will use it to help you find the deep, heart-felt walk of repentance I know you desire. Gallagher, S., & Gallagher, S. (1993). The Walk of Repentance
I'm not going to do the study here, I just wanted to let you all know about it in case anyone's interested in getting it for themselves.
As you go through the program, you will find that you will get out of it what you put into it. If you simply read it and quickly answer the questions, I’m afraid you will simply end up with more head knowledge. But if you will prayerfully take your time through each lesson, I know that God will do something wonderful in your life.
Occasionally you will be asked to look a word up in a Strong’s Concordance. If you don’t own one, we would strongly urge you to get one. You will find it to be a tremendous tool in studying the Bible. But we would also encourage you—in addition to using the Strong’s—to purchase a Vine’s Expository Dictionary. You will find that it too is an invaluable tool in studying the meanings behind words. I made those books links to "bible study tools" so you could use them online for free if you need to.
THE LESSONS
Each week of this curriculum has a theme, with a different Bible study each day. For instance, Week Eleven is entitled, Speaking Truth. On Monday, you will study “delusion.” On Tuesday, you will study “being truthful.” On Wednesday, you will study “being deceitful.” On Thursday, you will study “using flattery.” And on Friday, you will study “gossip.” All the studies combine to bring out realities about the need for truthfulness in our lives.
Each day you will have different types of studies. One day you may study one specific portion of Scripture, pulling out key truths from that section. Another day you may have to make a list of facts that are evident in another portion of Scripture. Still another day you may have to look up a word in the Strong’s or Vine’s and give the Greek or Hebrew meanings of the word. But one of the primary study methods you will be asked to use here will be to look up verses and write what you learn about that day’s subject.
Let’s say that the day’s lesson is about “judgment.” One of the verses you are asked to look up is 1 Corinthians 3:12-13. It says:
“Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.”
Your assignment is to read the passage and tell what you learn about it. The answer many would give to this verse would be something like this:
“We will be judged by the kind of work we do. That which is good—gold, silver, & precious stones will remain and we will get a reward for it. That which wasn’t good—wood, hay & straw—will be burned up. The fire of the Holy Spirit will burn away the work that isn’t done with the right heart and will show what it was really made of.”
What you have here is a sort of commentary on what the verse says. In essence, the person has just rewritten the passage; sort of summed up the meaning of it. It is apparent that he hasn’t prayed over the Scripture and sought God about its meaning for his life. The answer he has given is somewhat shallow. When you do the studies, spend a few minutes in prayer before you study it. Ask God to show you what He wants you to get out of it. Remember one thing: He has something special for you everyday in His Word! Come to expect it!
After praying about it, chew on the words for a few minutes. “If any man builds....builds.... what does building have to do with my judgment? What am I building? OK, I see from the previous verse that the foundation for this building is Jesus Christ, but what am I building? Oh! What about that passage in Matthew 7 where Jesus tells about the man who built his house on the rock and the one who built his house on sand? Let me look that up real quick and see what He shows me there....”
“OK, I can see that I am building my life on this foundation, and that I will be judged by how my life has lined up with the will of God. What else can I learn here about my own life? Let’s see... What is the difference between gold, silver, precious stones and wood, hay and straw? Well, the first group are lasting. They are valuable. They don’t burn. They are beautiful to look upon. Maybe the Lord is showing me that when I am obeying His will my life looks beautiful! Maybe when it is really built on the foundation of Christ, my life will truly touch others and the effects will last an eternity.
“What else? Each man’s work....My work.... What is my work? What has God called me to do in life? Well, I know that my work is to love others and to live a life of mercy to others. I know that I can look spiritual to others, but one day I will stand before the Lord and all my self-serving motives will be revealed. Okay, let me put down my answer:”
“This passage of Scripture shows me that if I build my house upon the foundation of Christ, if I live my life in accordance with His will—as shown in the story of Matthew 7—then my life will appear as beautiful as gold, silver, & precious stones when the Lord looks upon it. I will be rewarded with eternal treasures. But when I do things my way, then my efforts will be burned up! I know that I will be judged—not on how spiritual I may appear to others —but on how much love I have really shown to others. The truth about my life and motives will be revealed when I stand before the Lord.”
Can you now see the difference between someone who prayerfully put his heart into the question, and someone who just scribbled out the first thing that came to his mind? The answer given here isn’t that much longer, it’s just more personal, more relevant and effective. The more prayer and effort you put into these studies, the more you will find your heart changing!
CHRISTIAN STORIES
On day six and seven of each week you will find the story of the Church woven in character studies of different Christians down through the centuries. The purpose for this is simple. It is my hope that, as you read these stories, you will be deeply affected by the level of devotion of others who have served God. Their relationship with the Lord was all they had, and it showed by their lives. As you go through these stories, please ask God to show you what Christianity is really all about.
Well, you’re all set! Get started this coming Monday and stay faithful everyday. God will use it to help you find the deep, heart-felt walk of repentance I know you desire. Gallagher, S., & Gallagher, S. (1993). The Walk of Repentance
I'm not going to do the study here, I just wanted to let you all know about it in case anyone's interested in getting it for themselves.
!!
