Back to the Basics
Week 2: The Habit of Reading Scripture

This past week in WNL (April 17), we talked about the idea of reading scripture as a habit that shows us who God is and how he interacts with humanity.  Remember that the whole point of the Back to the Basics series is establishing habits that help us grow in our relationship with God.  It is the Bible, then, that is the the highest and most trustworthy authority when it comes to what we need to know about God (and humanity).  

One of the things that I really tried to get across to students is that we tend to understand God in ways that are really erroneous.  Unfortunately, most people (perhaps even most Christians) don't think of God in terms of a person.  He think of him more like an active force, almost devoid of personality or feelings.  But God is a person.  He thinks.  He feels.  He loves.  He relates.  And He lives, just like you and me.  How do we know this?  Because we possess all these things, and the Bible says we were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), not to mention the scores of scripture that give us a clear picture of God's character and personality.  So - when we read about Him in scripture, we're reading about someone who is real and can be experienced in personal relationship that is just as present as what we can experience with one another.  And this is just what we've been invited to do.

Each week, after giving the kids a biblical foundation for the habit, we also provide them with a practical plan for putting the habit into practice over the next several days.  The students have committed to this, but they need your help and encouragement!  


Application

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to be with you, illuminate the passage to you, and show you how you can apply it to your life.
2. Slowly read the passage to yourself two times.
3. Slowly read the passage out loud once.
4. Close your eyes for a moment and sit in silence.
5. Answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper or in a journal.
1. Through whom did God write this?
2. What would the passage have meant to the original audience?
3. Is this a stand-alone passage or is it part of a larger story?
4. What things do you notice about the passage?
5. What does this passage reveal about God?
6. What is the main idea of this passage?
7. Considering the previous two questions, what is one way you can apply this passage practically in your life?
6. Slowly read the passage out loud one final time.
7. Ask God to continually help you apply this passage in your life.

Parents, remember.  Walk through this with them and encourage (even compel) them to carry it out.  Holler at me if you have any questions.  If you'd like to see the entire sermon outline, click here.