Week 2, JSB

So how did you guys do?

Were you able to read the first few chapters of the JSB? I personally can't get through the beginning parts without tearing up. I find it so interesting that a Bible storybook written for kids can speak straight to the deepest parts of my heart. I think it's because God's words are literally alive through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that the words of God are living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, able to pierce our hearts with a message meant just for us. That's why sometimes a certain truth can seem to jump off the page, or strike us powerfully at just the right moment. That's the Holy Spirit at work, a living and active spirit who is engaged and intentional about giving us what we need. No other book of religious teachings can make such claims.

So here are some of my answers to the questions.

First of all, I said that the Bible can be a bit frustrating for me because a person can never be finished understanding it. Also, it's at times confusing. What were your impressions coming into this study?

I loved how the JSB talks about the terrible lie that came into the world when Adam and Eve ate the fruit and violated God's rules. Oh how that lie causes trouble today! I certainly have had seasons when I believed that lie. I felt tricked by God and trapped by what I thought was His plan, not understanding anything about His great love. If I had known, or currently, when I do make it a point to remember how loving He truly is, I get tangled up in fear, which leads to a tendency to control, which leads to nothing good!

And yes, right now, I need to be rescued by His love. Today, even. I needed it, floundered, didn't call on Him, but in the background, through Pandora, I heard Him speaking love over me; song after song, He whispered love to me. I bet I'm going to need to be rescued again tomorrow too, because I am very forgetful.

Okay your turn. Pretend we're in a small group, sitting around a living room with hot cups of coffee in our hands. I just shared the answers that meant the most to me from this week's questions. What do you have to share?

(And then after that, here's week 2's homework. So happy to be with you today.)

Week 2

Chapters 4-9, up to page 83, JSB

When you have a quiet half hour or so when you’re less likely to get interrupted, briefly ask God to open your eyes and ears to what He wants to show you. Then, in your notebook, answer these questions. Try to answer them as honestly as you can. You will never have to share anything you don’t want to share with the group. Do the questions for yourself.

1. Which story was your favorite this week? Why?

2. We read about the Tower of Babel and how God stopped the plans of His people when they were going to lead them down the wrong path. Can you recall a time when your plans got thwarted and things turned out better for you in the end? Explain.

3. In the story of Abraham, we saw that sometimes God asks us to believe in the impossible. What is something you have a hard time believing about Him? OR Describe a time when God asked you to believe in Him when a situation looked hopeless. 

 4. In the story of Rachel and Leah, we learned about how God sees His daughters. Make a brief list of some of your faults in your notebook. Then cross them out, one at a time, writing one of these words in its place: Chosen, Beautiful, Loved, Princess. If you feel your own heart resisting, if you find it hard to accept, keep lengthening the list until the truth of how God sees you starts to seep in.  

5. Joseph’s story is full of redemption. God used Joseph’s awful and unjust circumstances for His good purposes, and then brought healing and forgiveness back into his broken family. Share one circumstance or relationship that needs redeeming in your life. Take a minute to invite God into that hurt and ask Him to use this part of your story for something good. 

Week 1, JSB

The first book we'll be reading together is the Jesus Storybook Bible. Yes, it is a children's Bible, and it is amazing. It will help us remember that God asks us to have faith like a child. And because I know most of you already have it or have purchased it, I will get right down to business.


Here is the assignment for Week 1:

Read Chapters 1-3 through page 36 (wait, go to the Table of Contents and NUMBER those chapters first).

Then, in your notebook, answer these questions.

1. List three impressions or feelings you already had about the Bible, either positive or negative.

2. So now that we know we will learn how the Bible is one big story, name one way you hope that this story may help you in your own personal story.

3. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the garden, they allowed a terrible lie to come into the hearts of mankind: God doesn’t love me. Describe a time in your life when you doubted that God saw or cared for you. How did you feel?

4. God didn’t want them to eat the fruit because He knew Adam and Eve would then think they knew everything. This is the definition of pride, thinking we know better than God does, living our own way. God knew we would stop trusting Him, and He knew what would happen in our hearts. Fear and control can set in when faith is absent. Describe a situation where you struggled with fear and/or control. If you had trusted God at the time, how might things have changed (even if only in your heart)?

5. Reread page 36. End your time by telling God in your heart or on paper how you feel about the story so far. Have you been running from Him? Do you miss Him? Are you needing to be rescued with His Never-Stopping Love?

Next Wednesday, I will review what we learned in those first few chapters, I hope you'll share some answers to your questions, and I'll give you the next reading assignment.

Sound good? This all making sense? I hope so.

Have a great day, friends. Love that we're doing this together.

Welcome!

Today is the launch of the 101 Wednesdsays blog.

Originally I started posting the studies on my regular blog, but not everyone reading top of the page was interested in following along. So I wanted to create a place for this study to flourish on it's own.

Last week, I announced on Instagram that I would be starting a new round of 101 Wednesdays and 20 more women expressed interest in joining! That showed me at last that a new space for the study needed to exist.

The problem with doing an online Bible study is that the benefit of Bible study is not just limited to studying the Bible. One huge benefit of being in a real life study is the fellowship and connection that takes place among women, and this is very hard to replicate online. Particularly in a "basics" study, it is very comforting to hear that there are so many other women who feel just like you do. A bit overwhelmed, a bit intimidated, a bit confused, and a bit excited to dive into God's word. That is why I am strongly encouraging each person following along to PARTICIPATE in the comments section of each post.

Imagine, as you come to this blog each week, that you are not sitting alone at your computer, but that you are sitting at a table with every other woman reading along. You all have something to teach one another, and you all need encouragement. Each week, I will post 4 or 5 questions to go along with a reading assignment. If something jumps out at you, or speaks to your heart as you read or work through the questions, please share it with the group in a comment. If you have a question, you can share that too. Of course, you'll be able to comment on others' comments as well.

Bible study is NOT a spectator sport, nor is it an individual sport. Well, it can be. But it is sometimes best studied in a community of people who have the same goal. 
The goal of 101 Wednesdays is to get back to the basics. If you didn't grow up in church, if you want to learn more about God but don't know where to start, if you need a review of the basics of the Christian faith, well, then this study is for you.

If you are, on the other hand, more seasoned in your faith and have been walking with God for a while now, then I'm going to tell you to think and pray about how you too may lead others younger in their faith. You only need to be one step ahead of someone else to have something to offer them. And you can use this exact study if you want. It is very simple and already written out for you.

For more information on how this study started (and how to go about leading one of your own), as well as suggestions on how to participate in this study, click on the links on the right side bar.

I'm so glad you have a desire to know God better, and to learn more about what the Bible says. Any amount of time you devote to seeking God will be worth it. Promise.