Hello Hello! Happy New Year and Welcome to 2020.
We are so glad to be entering another year because that means another summer is just around the corner. Have you applied to work at camp yet this summer? If not, stop this and literally go and apply.
For those of you who are ready to jump into 2020 and want to get off on the right foot. I want to spend a few weeks chatting about studying your Bible. We spent a lot of last year encouraging you to read the bible by following a reading guide like the Community Bible Experience.
But now I want to challenge you to take your reading to the next level by studying the Bible.
And I’m sure as soon as I said that some of us started to drift. I can hear that little voice in each of our heads “Blurgh, I don’t like studying and frankly, I’ve tried. Maybe I should turn off this recording.” But before you do let me tell you something:
I’m going to let you in on a little secret (one that I generally don’t bring up largely because it’s embarrassing and sort of tanks my ego). As you may know, my camp name is Doc and I got the name because I spent many years studying theology to get a PhD. Most people assume that because I did all that studying that I must have loved studying from the get-go. I must have started as a perfect student and progress into a somehow even more perfect student.
Here’s the truth: I didn’t like studying.
My first few years of university I scraped by. Barely passing some of my classes and coming dangerously close to ending my university days really early. And even more so I’d say I never became a perfect student.
When I let people in on that secret they typically ask “Wait! How did a struggling student stay in school for so long?”
The answer: I chose to study. That’s right studying is a choice.
When I look back on those early days I had a lot of really great things going on in my life. I was busy with a worship team, serving on student leadership, editing the school magazine, hanging out with great friends… And somewhere deep in the back of all that I was supposed to be studying.
I was dedicated to good things but failing to do the one thing that could have moved me forward.
Now, when we swing back to the question of studying the Bible I want to let you in on the secrets of how to get good at studying the Bible. You must choose to begin studying the bible. So my challenge for you today is quite simple. Make a choice. Decided whether or not you want to take your faith to the next level by choosing to study your Bible.
Next week I’m going to give you a simple guide as to how you can start studying your Bible on your own, without a teacher or a textbook. You can do it and you can start growing in your faith by studying your Bible.
Until then, let me encourage you with a simple thought. God’s word is a living and breathing text. It is the collected wisdom, history, and tradition of the faith that we all hold dear. Through studying you have a chance to connect (even if just through words) with some of the greatest pioneers of our faith. The words of Jesus, of prophets, of Paul. And all of that is readily available to you all the time, in a book, on your phone.
You just need to choose to make studying the bible a priority.
Hey, we want you to keep growing in your leadership and in your faith. We see so much potential in you and are here to support you as you go about the challenges of living life. You can connect with me any time by email at pat@miniyowe.com I believe that the Bible is alive and God is ready to speak to you. You just have to choose to start studying the Bible. I’m looking forward to what God will do in your life this year. Till next time keep being awesome!
This post is part of our Leap of Faith Audio Check-ins. We want to encourage you to leap into your faith and continue to grow at home, at school, and in your church. These audio check-ins are meant to encourage you as live out your faith every day.
Want to keep growing?
There are more episode of Leap of Faith and other resources for you to grow in your leadership and faith here.