E05 Feeding Yourself
List of the Online Lessons: A B C D E F G H
E05 Feeding Yourself
There are several mobile apps with the Bible. For example „And Bible“.
Check out this short video here on the right! → → →
You might be interested in The Bible Project also.
One of the important ingredients for spiritual strength is healthy and sufficient spiritual nutrition. That’s why, right from the beginning, we try to show the new believer George how to feed himself. I want to put special emphasis on the word „self“ – „feed himself“. Various meetings can help. If getting to know Jesus began at Discovery, that’s great. However, our George needs to learn to feed himself. This is an important building block of the movement.
Library
When the average Czech or Slovak picks up a Bible, he tends to read it from left to right. This means that when he reaches the middle of Exodus, he is done with reading. That’s why a new George – or already unbelieving friends at Discovery – will usually find very helpful explanation in one sentence that the Bible is a library. „You don’t read the library from left to right either. There are all sorts of genres, for example very interesting stories, poems, codex of law, personal letters. We can choose what interests us and what we understand. I would highly recommend you starting with the New Testament, for example Mark – so-called „Gospel“ of Mark. It contains interesting account of Jesus‘ life.“
Then have ready a sequence of other Bible books to recommend to George. We’ve read Acts, Philippians is interesting, Romans is helpful for people from religious background…
The way to read
For the actual reading, it is good to show George some practical principles:
„When I read it, I talk to Jesus about it. I’m telling Him what speaks to me, or what is challenging to me, or what I’ve just learned about Him, and how I’m enjoying it.
I underline in my Bible, so that I can easily find what has already inspired me. And I think about what to take for myself, what I should probably start doing, what to stop doing. If you don’t understand something, just skip it and move on. When you read the passage second time, you’ll understand it much better. Though I am very busy sometimes, I try to read at least a little bit every day. It’s like food for the soul.“
Listening
Especially for so-called „auditory types“ or for people who are busy and travel a lot, it is often helpful to listen to the Scripture. There are several translations available on Internet. Some are quite well presented.
Example
Remember, with all challenges, your own example is absolutely crucial. Tell George about what you have read yesterday and how it moved you, how it transforms you, how it feeds your soul. Be enthusiastic about the Word of God.
Together
I used to go to a new George for a period of time so that we could have a short quiet time together in the morning before work. In a few weeks I showed him how I do it. We had breakfast together, read a bit of God’s Word, meditated on it, talked with Jesus, and in half an hour we went our ways.
Other options
I a separate lesson, there are „Life Transformation Groups“. And it would be for another lesson: how to learn Word of God by heart. That wouldn’t fit into five minutes.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for God’s Word, which holds tremendous power. Thank you that we can read it (or listen to it) and be built up and protected by it.