Tag Archives: Spiritual Formation

BIBLE STUDY | LEARNING TO ASK QUESTIONS: PART 2

If all went well, you have between 15-20 questions that you have put together for Mark 12:13-17.  Below is the passage and a list of questions compiled by a group of students I recently helped walk through this exercise.

13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him in order to trap Him in a statement. 14 They came and said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.” 16 They brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they [d]were amazed at Him.

Mark 12:13-17  (NASB)

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BIBLE STUDY | LEARNING TO ASK QUESTIONS: PART 1

Learning to ask questions about a text is one of a few basic skills you can develop, that will help you achieve great strides towards depth of understanding, as you study the bible.

As a reminder, the verse that we have chosen to explore is Mark 12:13-17.

At this point we are trying to remove any bias we may have towards the Scripture.  We want to make as few assumptions as possible.  Our primary concern is to ask questions, to be answered later.  Therefore, do not get hung up on what you think you know or how a question sounds.  Just jot your questions down as quickly as you can. Continue reading →

BIBLE STUDY | CHOOSING A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE TO STUDY

There isn’t anything magical about choosing a section of Scripture to study.  People choose passages for different reasons, but whatever your reason, I hope you choose to dig deeper than a cursory reading of the bible.  While a reading plan helps you become familiar with God’s Word, I believe that a deeper study of the bible is needed to help you grow in knowledge, wisdom, and maturity of faith.

Here are a few recommendations for choosing a section of Scripture to study: Continue reading →

31 POWERFUL PRAYERS: DAY 30 | IT’S TOO HARD FOR ME

31-Powerful-Prayers.jpgAnna Eleanor Roosevelt (October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962) was an American politician, diplomat, and activist. She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, holding the post from March 1933 to April 1945 during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms in office, and served as United States Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1945 to 1952. President Harry S. Truman later called her the “First Lady of the World” in tribute to her human rights achievements. Continue reading →

31 POWERFUL PRAYERS: DAY 29 | A GENEROUS GOD

31-Powerful-Prayers.jpgThere are a pair of verses in the bible that I think should make us as Christians very humble and very thankful people.

James 1:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Romans 8:28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

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