GROWING INTO MATURITY: LESSON 5- Personal Devotion (1)

Review of Lesson 4

LESSON 5: PERSONAL DEVOTION

Introduction:

The Christian’s strength depends absolutely on his dependence on Christ, his Master. Most Christians today are weak because they depend mostly on large group activities instead of their personal relationship with Christ. A Christian’s personal relationship rests on his personal devotion which includes his bible study, Quiet Time, Prayer and Fasting.

We hope that the end of this lesson, you would have learnt more about the importance (and appropriation) of Bible Study, Quiet Time, Prayer and Fasting.

A            PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY

1.              What is personal Bible Study?

2.              Why study the Bible?    2 Tim. 2:15;  Josh. 1:8;  1 Pet. 3:15;  2 Tim. 3:16; 17;  Hosea 4:6;  Ezra 7:10

3.              Types of Personal Bible Study.

This includes Book Study, Verse Study, Word Study, Topical Study, and Character Study. The form it should take depends on what one wants to achieve.

Below are some guidelines as to how to have a Personal Bible Study.

i).   a)    Choose a Passage /Verse                  b)           Note the context in which the passage occurs.

ii)..   OBSERVATION:  (What does the passage say?)

Answer this by asking yourself the following questions:

a)          Who are the characters involved?   i) Note the verbs, adjectives and phrases used to describe them.           (ii)    What is revealed about the character of God?

b)          What is happening?      i)   The verbs are the key to the actions of the passage; list them.  ii) What commands or promises are given? By whom?   (iii) What conditions are presented (or implied)

                c)          Where do the events occurs?  Use a Bible Atlas.  How other significant events take place there?

d)          When does the events occur?  How much time elapses during the event. Is the season of the year significant?   The time of the day?   The time in a persons life (age)?

e)          Why does the events occur?   Stick to reasons suggested in the text.   Who offers an explanation?

                f)           How does the events happen?   Is any process described?   What are the steps?   What are the effects?

g)          Summarise   the passage by writing down a simple statement of what seems to be the authors main purpose or lesson.

iii) INTEPRETATION:   (What does the passage mean?).

a)          What caused a particular action or statement?  What is the intention?  How does it relate to the previous incident?   (b)  Why is it significant?  Why is it significant?  What does this teaches?   (c)   What is its consequences and implication?   (d)   Is it revelation?  How does it fit in with the whole?  Why is it stated here?   (e)   What meaning does it have today?   (f)   What does this imply about God’s relationship to men?   About Men’s relationship with God

iv) APPLICATION:  (What does the passage mean to me?) 

Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you.    (a)  What is already part of my thinking?  My action?  (b) What is new to me?   (c)  What am I doing that is wrong.   (d)  How can I make the needed change?  (e)  What will I need to do not some future date?  What tools do you think will be helpful for a meaningful personal Bible Study?