Preaching a Memorable Sermon

I was talking to a lay-member the other day who was very excited about a sermon he had heard. The member gave me all four of the points of the sermon and was excited about applying the sermon to his daily life. Interestingly enough, he searched on the internet to try to find this sermon and other sermons by the same preacher. So What did the preacher do?
1. Clear Points
The first thing the preacher did was have clear and easily identifiable points. The people did not have to guess about what was important, the preacher simply told them. The preacher clearly defined the points and clearly defined what he meant by the points. We as preachers cannot expect anyone to remember our points if they do not even know what they are.
2. Points Illustrated Well
The second thing the preacher did was clearly illustrate the points with stories. Each and every main point had a story connected to it. These stories were memorable and clearly connected to the point. Sometimes we tell stories that are only tangentially related to the point. Stop doing that. It takes away from your message. However, if you have a clear point and a relevant memorable story, you are well on the way to a sermon that people will remember.
3. Each Point Stronger than Previous One
Finally, the stories of the preacher were more intense as the sermon continued. The layperson told me that each story and point was "stronger" than the other one. Please note that I am not talking about yelling to manufacture intensity, I am talking about the content being stronger. So point two was stronger than point one, and point three was stronger than point two, and point four was stronger than point three. We must leave people with the strongest content at the end, and that content should be related to the point illustrated and the main point of the sermon.
Here was an effective preacher who had content that the people remembered. And the people were ready to apply it to their daily lives. If we are to learn from this preacher, we must clearly define our points, illustrate them well with stories, and make each point progressively intense. Then the people will understand and be ready to apply the sermon.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3871624

The Difference Between Good Sermons and Bad Sermons

How can you tell the good sermons from the bad sermons? There are plenty of ways to tell if your congregation is inspired by what you tell them every week. One easy way to tell of course is that if your congregation is fidgety or falling asleep, you might want to take a different approach with your next sermon. What makes sermon writing difficult is that telling the difference between good ones and bad ones is so subjective!
How many weeks do you look out at your congregation and find half of them nodding along with you while the other half look like they are counting the seconds until they can escape? Sure, that's an open-ended question, but for many it could be more than they would like to admit to.
Good sermons can speak to all of the members of your congregation regardless of individual ages, personalities, family dynamics, politics or any other individual traits that might normally inform their opinions. A good message will inspire your church members to take your words and thoughts to heart and apply them to their own lives. A good message will also inspire them to bring in their friends and other family members next week.
Of course, knowing this is one thing. Figuring out how to write good sermons on a regular basis is entirely different.
One of the biggest differences between sermons is the enthusiasm with which they are delivered. If you simply stand up front and drone on in a monotone voice every week, it won't matter how important or wonderful your words are, people will most likely be zoning out and looking at their watches until the weekly talk is over.
On the other hand, if you show your congregation how inspired you have become by the week's sermon, it will not matter if the message itself is perfect or not. Clunky delivery and odd wording can easily be overlooked if the speaker shows enthusiasm and passion for his topic!
This is just one of the differences that separate sermons that are inspiring from those that are not. As you continue working with your congregation you will learn how to tell the difference between a good sermon and a bad sermon before you stand up to deliver it!

Next, go to this website on Good Sermons [http://www.simplesermons.net] where you will find information and ideas on how you can be assured of always having a great sermon. [http://www.simplesermons.net]

One Church: All Things In Christ

EPHESIANS 3:16-20 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being. 17. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18. May have power, TOGETHER, with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19. And to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to HIM be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Paul was praying for the church at Ephesus that they would have power together in love through Christ. And that through the power that works in them, God could do more than we can ask or think.
Brother Holt spoke to us last week on moving from the sanctuary to the harvest, about following the spirit and staying under the fountain. I am excited about that! I believe it is possible! I also believe it is our purpose as a church.
The book of Ephesians talks about God's intentions for his people and insight into the nature of the church. Paul stresses the unity of believers and gives us practical ways to live in unity with God and one another.
I have been reading The Purpose Driven Life as a daily devotion and studying Ephesians for this message. I knew the Lord wanted me to preach Ephesians but I was struggling with exactly what he wanted me to say. In the mean time in my devotion time, I was reading about how God views my life. I was so blessed and humbled by what it had to say that I felt impressed to share it with you.
1. Life on earth is a test. God tests our character, faithfulness, love, obedience and loyalty.
2. Life on earth is a trust. Everything belongs to Him and he has placed things in our trust.
As I began to ponder these things and realize how it could change my life the Lord asked me how these revelations could change the church. More specifically, how these truths could change the church and help us move with the spirit.
Tonight I want to explore these truths in the context of the church and compare them to the Word of God and the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians.
I. Life on earth is a Test: character, faith, love, obedience and loyalty
A. The bible is full of proof that God tests his people
1. He tested Abraham's faith when he asked him to sacrifice his son (he passed)
2. He tested Noah's faith and obedience when he asked him to build an ark (he passed)
3. He tested Joseph in many ways
4. He tested David and on many occasions he failed. Yet he was a man after God's own heart. God loved him. Even when David failed tests, his faith in God was strengthened because he repented and it served as a time of purging and David learned to rely more on God.
5. It is these tests, passed or failed, that strengthen our faith and our character if we let them.
B. As a church we are tested. Many times we have passed and many times we have failed.
1. AS a church we are tested in faithfulness, loyalty, obedience, integrity and love.
2. As a church we are tested as a whole and a whole is defined as the sum of it's parts.
3. Half of this church cannot pass the tests and move forward with the spirit. We must be as a whole faithful, loyal, obedient and most importantly, we must love one another. A divided church cannot follow the spirit. The church at Ephesus was tested. Jesus told them they were doing well with persevering and enduring hardships but He had this against them.... They had forsaken their first love. He told them they needed to repent or He would remove their lamp stand.
4. Ephesians 4:1-6 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle: be patient, bearing one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one faith, one baptism one God and one Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
5. As individuals in this church, we must all realize that we are tested everyday. By what we say, what we do, how we lead, if we follow. When I look at things that way, I want everything I say and do involving this church to edify and benefit the body. I want to pass the tests before me to build my character and make me more useful to the church and to the Lord.
II. Life on earth is a trust: everything belongs to God.
A. We are the body and Christ is the head of the body. The body receives life from the head. Let's look at what Paul said to the Ephesians.
1. Ephesians 1:18-23 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19. and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, 20. which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21.far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over EVERYTHING for the church, 23. which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.
B. This church has been entrusted to us.
1. Whatever part you play in this body has been entrusted to you. No power belongs to us. This building doesn't belong to us. It doesn't matter how much tithes you pay. The ministries, even if you are a leader, do not belong to us. Our pastor, no matter how much we pay him, does not belong to us. They have been entrusted to us. If we understand that simple truth, we will understand how important it is to seek God in everything we say, do and decide. When we talk about our sisters and brothers, we are not being good stewards with what God entrusted us with.
2. The scripture says according to HIS power that works in us. Paul is telling the Ephesians that in order to have their eyes enlightened, to see their calling, they must operate under His power. Church, if we are going to follow the spirit into the harvest we must first line every part of this body under the Head, who is Christ.
3. Then, and only then, will we be filled as a church to the measure with all the fullness of God.
a. That is when we are going to see miracles happen.
b. Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work in us.
If we want to see immeasurably more than we can ask for or imagine, we have to unite and line ourselves under the one who has all power and authority! We have to be one church from one end to the other. If we surrender all things to Christ we will be found faithful when we are tested. We will be found trustworthy with the church that was entrusted to us.
I don't know about you, but I've asked for God to do some things in this church. HE CAN DO MORE! I can imagine souls being saved in this alter every time the doors are open. I can imagine this church growing so much we have to build a bigger sanctuary. HE CAN DO MORE! I can imagine laying hands on every sick person and them being healed. I can imagine, just through our food pantry alone, souls being ministered to and lives being changed. HE CAN DO MORE THAN I CAN IMAGINE OR ASK! I can imagine our youth so on fire for God they are winning souls outside these four walls. I can imagine that they begin to recognize their callings and use them for God in this church. Church, HE CAN DO MORE THAN WE CAN ASK FOR OR IMAGINE! According to the power that works in us...

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/170930

How to Build a Leading Youth Ministry

Nation often depend their future on the lives of the young people. The same is true with the Church. To have a firm and well established Church, that will continue to deliver the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, you must have a firm and strong youth ministry. Adolescent stage can be considered as the most dangerous stage in human life. These people, known as the youth, are subject to violence and different kind of danger that will grab them away from their faith. In the current generation, there are numbers of bad influences that may ruin a youth's life.
The best thing to keep them away from those matters is to keep them close to the arms of the Beloved. Youth who live and spent most of their time on Church really have a different attitude from those who live outside of it. These two kinds of young people also have different views and have different kind of future. Therefore, the Church has a big responsibility on the kind of path that the youth in their community may have. In order to keep the youth in the Church, there must be people who will lead them in the right path. Thus, there is a need to build a strong and leading youth ministry.
There are important steps that a church must consider in building a leading youth ministry. First thing is to focus on the youth that are present in the Church. Divide them in small cell groups with a spiritually matured leader that will help and guide them in their spiritual lives. It is important that each one of them will be involved in every discussion and will have a chance to share the kind of life that they have outside the church. Second, is to enhance their God given abilities and talents that will be beneficial to the church. This can be done through regular workshop and trainings that is sponsored by the ministry. Third is to have a regular fellowship among other young people inside the church. Bible studies and Sunday school classes are some ways where this step can be done. Fourth, is to invite them or encourage them to share their faith to their fellow youth in the community. Through this, the young people will become aware about the importance of their ministry within and outside the Church.
The church must also develop the leadership aspect of the youth's life in order to prepare them to their future calling. Their spiritual lives and prayer lives must be regularly checked so that they will not be subject to spiritual stagnation. By making them part of the whole church ministry, the youth will learn to value their faith. The most vital part in building a leading youth ministry is to help them develop a strong relationship with the Lord. They must be aware of the reasons why they go to the church and why they have their own ministry. A strong relationship and commitment with God will also help them to hold on and to keep on doing the ministry not just for ministry sake, but most of all because of their love for Jesus Christ.

Are you looking for more information regarding youth ministry? Visit http://www.trinitylivingtoday.com/Church-Growth-Course.html today!

Small-Group Worship - Have the Right Expectations

If you want to lead worship effectively at a small group meeting, and to keep it up for the long run without burning out your musicians or yourself, you need to get your expectations right. Many small group worship leaders try to reproduce what they hear on Sunday services or on the 'worship' albums available at the Christian bookshop, because they think this is what worship is supposed to be like. And it is this wrong idea that has frustrated many small group worship leaders and caused them to miss the joy and blessing of praising God in a small group setting.
These are the expectations you should embrace in order to consistently lead worship effectively in a small group setting.
1. It takes time for good things to happen
Allocate enough time for the people to let their hearts settle down into praising God. You may have heard stories about gifted worship leaders who bring about God's manifested presence with the very first words they sing and the first chord on the piano or guitar. What you may not have heard is that often times there were months and months of groundwork laid, either by the worship leader personally or by other worship leaders who came before.
So be prepared to allocate time for good things to happen. If you give 4-5 minutes for each song, you can expect to unify the praises of the people in about 12-15 minutes, 20-25 minutes is even better. And persevere in this for 4 to 8 meetings. This, of course, assumes that you are doing other things right as well.
2. The people need clear direction and guidance
Many worship albums do not have the worship leaders giving clear direction to the congregation. Two reasons: it does not make for a slick performance; and it is not necessary for the people singing in that recording because they've heard the same song the same way umpteen times. And if your church worship leaders emulate such worship albums, you'll not see them giving clear directions to the congregation either. This is really ineffective, but in a larger church there are usually more musicians and back-up vocalists to cover it up. You are not going to get away with this in a small group.
So give the people clear directions. Prompt them with verbal or vocal cues so they will know if you want them to sing the verse again or to repeat the chorus next.
3. You do not have to entertain the people with new material
There is this unspoken assumption in charismatic circles that any leading of the Holy Spirit must be something new, fresh and exciting. If you just reinforce the same themes and songs you heard used in your church Sunday services, there may be people who think you are counting on formulae, routines or rituals instead of depending on the leading of the Spirit.
"But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness." (1 Tim 4:7 NKJV)
This is one aspect of godliness that many do not address: it is something we exercise through constant use and repetition. We do not grasp something with our hearts when we read or hear something once. Often we need to be exposed to something (a theme or a song) many times before it really sinks into our hearts and changes the way we think and live.
So do not be surprised if after seriously seeking the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit about the worship theme or songs for your small group meeting you do not get any radical ideas but believe you are to repeat either the songs or theme of your church's most recent Sunday service. Remember that, in the Bible account of the calling of the prophet Samuel given in 1 Samuel 3, we learn that the voice of God often sounds so similar to the voice of our spiritual leadership. Sometimes what the Holy Spirit wants us to do is just walk along the direction our church leaders have taken.
Conclusion:
These three expectations are not glamorous or very exciting. But they are the expectations that enable us to serve effectively in a small group worship ministry in the long run, and without burning out. Embrace them and see how much simpler worship ministry becomes for you!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2475124

How to Start a Christian Cell Group

If you want to start a cell group in your church it is important to begin with prayer. There needs to be a very clear calling from God before starting anything, and a cell group is no exception. If you do feel a calling from God, and you are willing to sacrifice, the next step in starting a cell group is asking yourself hard questions. Is your church ready for a new group? Will people come? Do you have what it takes to lead it? Will more groups spawn from this group? Are there other leaders in the church that can rise up and lead other cell groups? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself before beginning a cell group.
If you still feel called from God, and you have answered the hard questions truthfully and still feel prepared to keep going, the next step is to develop your cell group vision. Where do you see the group going, where would you like it to go, and what do you feel God is calling you to? These are questions you need to answer when developing the vision for the cell group. When you have developed a vision, speak to your pastor. How does he feel about this? Does he give you his blessing? And does he have any tips/words of encouragement? If your pastor has blessed your endeavor, start talking to your friends. Ask them what they think about your idea, and ask if they would be interested in helping you start the cell group. Once you have gotten feedback from your friends, and hopefully some of them have signed on to help you, talk to other key members in your church. Ask them their opinions, and if they would be willing to help you in your cell group.
Once you have a group of friends and key members signed on to your cell group, come up with a group vision statement together. The vision statement should be short and easy to remember, expressing the group's hope and coinciding with the church's beliefs. Once you have a vision statement, start your group. Announce it during church services. There might not be an overwhelming turn out, but your friends and the key members will be there to support you. The group will grow as it progresses. It is important to keep inviting church members, and even people who do not go to church. Remember to keep an "open chair" policy. Never turn anyone away, no matter who they are or if you do not have room for them.
Starting a cell group is a big deal, and should not be taken lightly. There may be some stress added to your life because of the group. However, whatever stress may be felt is worth it, because you are creating a place where people can come together and grow, not only as friends, but in their relationship with Jesus Christ. If you feel called to small group ministry, do not keep it a secret. Talk to your pastor and talk to your friends.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1158118

The Purpose Driven Life (5 Purposes) for Christian Small Groups

"A group needs only two things to be a tribe: a shared interest and a way to communicate."
~Seth Godin
When we do small group right, we develop a tribe; and beyond allusions to 'the tribal' we can know that it is God's will that the small group connects as a tribe. Tribes are intimate. They know each other. They share in each other's struggles and celebrate each other's joys. Not one is better than or worse than another; but there is difference, and a tribe learns to operate within, and appreciate, the difference - using difference as strength for the tribe.
For small group tribes to be effective in realising the will of God, through them, they need to connect not only with each other, but also with these tasks or purposes below:
1. WORSHIP, WITHIN THE SMALL GROUP, AS A LIFESTYLE
We bring glory to God when we meet together with hearts bent on worship and praise.
From out of the group experience comes the example of living broadly the worshipful lifestyle. Within the small group we have models of worship, from which we learn.
The most important purpose of a small group is to create a culture where worship is a lifestyle.
2. SMALL GROUP AS A MEANS OF AUTHENTIC FELLOWSHIP
As God is a community - the Godhead three in one: Father, Son, and Spirit - we were ordained from the beginning to belong within community. Indeed, coming together, authentically, and willing to be vulnerable before each other is an act of worship; an act of surrender to, and trust in, God.
Small group can be hardly any good for God's purposes if it doesn't break past superficiality. We must allow superficiality, but we need to be open if we are to create the deeper trusting and intimate relationships.
We literally need to share in each other's lives; much as the First Century church did.
3. GROWING TOGETHER IN CHRIST
Perhaps the central purpose of meeting together is to grow together. I think it may be our core purpose in life to Grow In GOD.
We may think that growing together in Christ is possible in isolation, but it isn't.
The vital ingredient for character growth is what many call 'sandpaper ministry'; we cannot grow in Christ unless we do so together, learning to be humble, merciful, and just, in the midst of our relationships.
4. SERVING TOGETHER WITHIN, AND BEYOND, THE SMALL GROUP
Serving together is a direct means of growing together, as serving builds upon the purpose of fellowship (because we do it together), it ensures we remain humble (supporting the purpose of discipleship), and it, in itself, is an act of worship.
The servant-hearted serve with genuine joy, but someone who is just pretending will be found eventually in frustration.
5. SMALL GROUP AS A WITNESS TO THE WIDER WORLD
When the preceding four purposes are achieved and made manifest through the group, the small group is well positioned to be a witness to the not-yet-believing world.
The reason why the First Century church was so attractive to those looking in was that it embraced the previous four purposes, and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, mastered them. That is our anointing. We have the self-same task.
As groups, we have opportunities to broaden our reach, evangelistically, into the world.
***
When our groups behave like tribes, integrating worship as a lifestyle, having authentic fellowship, growing together in Christ, serving each other together, and being a compelling witness of God's power to the world, they bring glory to God.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7538574

Making Small Groups Ministry Work

Each time I run our small groups ministry seminar Shutting The Back Door I ask the audience this question:
"What is the single most important thing to keep in mind when leading your group?"
Here are just a few of the answers I receive:
*Awesome bible studies
*Discipleship
*Christian accountability
*Experiencing Christ together
*Good leadership
*Pastoral ministry; shepherding
*Koinonia
*Spiritual growth
Now don't get me wrong - these are major ingredients. In fact, I believe these are the most important aspects of cell groups, as you will see if you take a few moments to look around my site. But that's not what I was asking. Let's look at the question once more:
"What is the single most important thing to keep in mind when leading your group?"
My answer is this:
"The key principle to keep in focus is that small groups offer a completely different way of 'doing church' compared to a congregational setting."
Now, of course, we need both formats. It's not either/or, but both/and. The point is that when we meet in small groups we should exploit the advantages they offer to the full.
If they become just a re-run of Sunday's congregational meeting we have missed the point. Sure, we do similar things to some extent, like fellowshipping, bible teaching, worship, prayer, etc. but there are two main differences:
1) We do them in a completely differently way. The style presented in a congregational meeting is mainly that those present are spectators. Whereas the emphasis in a cell group is that everyone gets to become a participator. This can best be summed up in the New Testament recurring phrase "one another". Every believer present is a recipient of the grace of God and therefore has something to share with the rest of the group. The body edifies itself in love (Eph.4:16).
2) We also do things in groups which do not happen in a congregational setting. For example, discipleship. Christian small groups are the ideal setting for making disciples.
Unfortunately, some today have opted for one aspect of church life against the other. On the one hand you have those who have no place for cell groups in their church. At the other end of the scale there are those who see no value in congregational meetings and believe everything is done in small groups.
The New Testament clearly recognizes the need for both. In the book of Acts we often come across the two formats of church life in terms such as "in the temple" and "from house to house" (e.g. Acts 2:46&47; 5:42; 20:20).
I once had a man in my church who always wanted to preach. The problem is that with other pastors and me on staff, and visiting speakers from time to time, we had enough preachers. So, he became frustrated. Then I made the mistake of giving him a home group, thinking this would keep him happy. I have since learned that groups are not designed for frustrated preachers. All he wanted was a group of people who would sit and listen to him preach at them. The result? A re-run of Sunday's congregational meeting - one participator and a dozen spectators.
Let me spell this out one more time:
"The key principle to keep in focus is that small groups offer a completely different way of 'doing church' compared to a congregational setting."
Watching people's lives being impacted as God's grace flows from person to person is an amazing thing. Let's make sure it happens! And let's see how we can help facilitate it....

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3944376

Bible Study Recommendations for Young Adults

These Bible study recommendations for young adults are for Bible study on a personal, individual level, not for a group. I have two reasons for choosing this level, the personal, individual level. The first is that I noticed that there is so much literature already on Bible study on a group level, either in Sunday school or in catechism classes or in other formal and informal groups, but there is so little on the personal, individual level. My second reason is that in my opinion there are more benefits to be derived from a Bible study on an individual level than on a group level. Very many who attend a group Bible study do not really develop their Christian life. They just go and grow with the group. At least this has been my personal experience, both in participating and in leading Bible study groups.
My Experience of Bible Study
I began to read and study the Bible on my own (without any human teacher or parent telling me to do it) when I was 8 years old but it was only when I was 49 years old that I got the full benefit of studying the Bible. I am now 65 years old.
If somebody guided me correctly when I was a young adult of 20 to 40 years old on how to study the Bible maybe I would have gotten this full benefit from studying the Scriptures earlier and I would have more years of enjoying this benefit. As it happened I have enjoyed this benefit for 16 years only as of now, instead of a possible 45 years, missing some 29 years when I could have enjoyed the full benefit of studying God's written Word.
When I was 26 years old I enrolled in a subject on studying the Bible. But this was for preaching purposes. It was basically a course on how to get to the real meaning of a Biblical passage in order to share this with the church members by preaching. I learned a lot in this course but it did not give me the full benefit of Bible study. It was only 23 years later that I got the full benefit.
It is my hope and fervent desire that young adults who read these recommendations and do them will get the full benefit of Bible study while they are still young and strong and thus enjoy this full benefit many, many years before they leave physically this planet Earth. It is understood and presumed that they do have the motivation to study the Bible on their own. After knowing through this article what this full benefit of Bible study is they may be encouraged to study the Bible on their own and not depend on a group leader or pastor or priest or catechist to teach them about the Word of God.
One: Get a Good Translation of the Bible
In the English language the translation that I recommend is the so-called King James or Authorized version. I am a Catholic and yet I recommend this translation for personal study of the Bible. I know some of the words there are foreign to a present day reader. They are called archaic words which belong to the English language in the 16th century but are no longer used now. But there are copies of this version where at the back of the Bible there is a Bible word list where these words are given equivalents in our time. Get a copy of such a King James version Bible. Many groups of Christians are giving out this copy free. Avail of one.
The reason why I recommend this translation of the Bible is because it is the one I consider done by the translators with the utmost reverence and so the unction of the Spirit can be felt most from this translation than from other translations. In my opinion it is the version that is most congenial for praying. And it has produced more holy men and women than any of the other translations.
From the point of scholarship and readability there are other better translations. The New International Version Bible may be better from the point of scholarship. The New Living Bible is far better from the point of view of readability. But from the perspective of a genuine, reverential, loving study of the Bible, I recommend the King James version. It is only a recommendation. You can use another version if you want.
Two: Have a Conversational Mode of Relationship with the Holy Spirit
As you begin to set yourself to study the Bible have a conversational mode of relationship with the Holy Spirit. Look up to him as your teacher, for he is indeed the best teacher of the Scriptures. After all he was the one who wrote them. Thank him for writing these and ask him to help you understand their content. Anytime that you think you need to know about the meaning of a passage, ask him first. He will be the one to direct you to a Bible dictionary or a commentary if needed. Be attentive to him always as you set about to study the Bible.
Third: Begin Studying with the First Book of the New Testament
Do not begin with Genesis or any other book of the Old Testament. Begin with the New Testament and begin with Matthew. The reason for this is because it is easier to understand the Old Testament after you have read the New Testament. There is a saying that the Old is in the New explained and the New is hidden in the Old. This means that the New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament and it explains the meanings of the words in the Old Testament. So, if you know the explanation of the Old Testament passages by reading the New Testament, it is easier to understand them later.
Another reason for beginning with the New Testament is because using the method that I am going to show you you can use this method more easily and with more profit if you use it first with the New Testament and only later with the Old Testament.
Fourth: Your Main Guide Question Is What Does This Passage Tell Me about Jesus?
Read only a small portion of the Bible. Maybe it is only a verse or few verses. Sometimes it may just be a phrase, a part of a verse. As you read this passage ask the Holy Spirit, What does this passage tell me about Jesus? Pause and listen for the answer. Then stop. Think about the answer given you. This may take only a minute or two or about 5 minutes. Sometimes it may be longer. But focus only on one character or description of Jesus.
The reason why I recommend this method is because our real life is hidden in Jesus and the more we know him the more we know ourselves and what we are supposed to be and do to be happy.
Almost all Bible study guides will tell you to reflect upon your life in the light of the passage read. In my experience this method does not really lead you to the full benefit of a Bible study. It will get you stuck thinking about your life, eventually forgetting about Jesus.
Five: Keep a Record of the Bible Verses You Have Read and the Descriptions or Insights about Jesus Given You by the Holy Spirit
This record is brief. It has the day and date when you studied the passage and the book, chapter and verse number or numbers you have studied for that day. Then you write in a sentence or two what the passage tells you about Jesus. Here is an example.
May 31 Thursday 2012. Matthew 1:1. Jesus descended from Abraham through David.
That's all. The next day you proceed to verse 2, doing the same thing. And you continue until you get to the end of the New Testament. Then after the last verse of Revelation proceed to the Old Testament. Begin with Genesis. After you finish with the Old Testament you can go back to the New Testament. From time to time read your record of your Bible study. Sooner or later you will be given the full benefit of Bible study.
The Full Benefit of Bible Study
Throughout this article you may have noticed that I mention the words "full benefit of Bible Study". If you follow this method prayerfully you will learn more and more of Jesus. Sooner or later you will come upon a passage where your spirit begins to understand all the mysteries of God. The conviction comes upon you that now you understand the Truth. When this happens keep a special record of this event in your life. This is the moment when you begin to see God face to face but darkly, like in a Roman mirror at the time of Paul the Apostle which was made of polished metal unlike today when our mirror is made of glass.
When you see God face to face while you are still on earth, you get the full benefit of Bible study because you are going to possess God himself. There is nothing greater than God. There is a sense in which you can say that your joy and happiness are full. That is why I call this full benefit.
Then you continue enjoying God for the rest of your life. This does not mean that you will no longer have problems or that you will no longer suffer. But in the midst of all these problems and sufferings you know you have God and with him you enjoy the full benefit of your salvation, the vision of God. And this happens while you are still living physically on earth.
Those are my Bible study recommendations for young adults so that while they are still young they can begin to enjoy the blessings of God himself, not just the blessings of the things God created for us, but he himself, the source of all blessings.

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Bible Studies For Christian Small Groups

"What's the key to inspirational bible studies for my group?" That's a question I'm sometimes asked. My reply is to learn from the shepherd, after all God's people are described in the bible as sheep. So how does a shepherd feed his sheep?
A good shepherd will lead his sheep into pastures of rich, green and lush grass. But, he will not let them overstay there. If they stay too long in one pasture, no matter how green it is, they will eventually eat the grass down to the roots and destroy the roots. So he will move his sheep from pasture to pasture. When the flock has had a good feed in one pasture, he will move them into another, allowing the grass in the first pasture to grow once again.
There are many pastures in the Word of God. Yet, a Christian small group's leader may sometimes have a liking for certain pastures, leaving others virtually untouched. Our role, however, is to bring the whole counsel of God. A balanced, well-rounded presentation of truth is the best safeguard against heresy. Heresy is usually truth which becomes overemphasized. There are often strings on our harps we have never touched.
Type of Pasture Examples
Doctrinal: e.g. Justification, the Person of Christ, the Second Coming of Christ
Book Study: e.g. Genesis, Job, 1 Corinthians, James
Character Study: e.g. the life of David, the Patriarchs, Peter, Paul
Expository Study: e.g. Psalm 139, the Sermon on the Mount, the Epistle to the Galatians
Topical Study: e.g. Forgiveness, bible studies on Marriage, Finances
Devotional: e.g. Worship, Prayer, Relationship with Jesus
Character Development: e.g. The fruit of the Spirit, the Beatitudes, Growing in Christ
Christian Service: e.g. Servanthood, Discovering our Gifts, Evangelism
The Godhead: e.g. the Names of God, the Life of Christ, the Work of the Spirit
Practical Learning: e.g. How to share our faith, How to read the Bible, Dealing with grief
Bible Study Styles
One way to ensure you have inspirational bible studies is to vary the style. Variety is the spice of life. The most monotonous of jobs and chores can be made more interesting by doing them in different ways. Conversely, even the most exciting career can be turned into drudgery and boredom through routine. There are different ways of doing guided bible studies and the leader should be creative in this.
Here are some different styles:
- The question/answer basis, where a question is asked, a bible reference is looked up and the answer is written down. This is usually suitable for younger Christians, as it saves them from the embarrassment of not knowing much on the subject you are studying.
- Another style is to study a passage, then discuss it together, bringing out its applications. The group would read a paragraph or so and specific questions would be asked, leading to further discussion and application.
- Yet another approach is to do a full bible study for half the allotted time or so, then have four or five discussion-type questions for the remaining half of the time.
- Another style is, at some stage in the study, to split the group into cells of three or four people and give each cell a question (preferably not all the same question). Give the cells twenty minutes or so to discuss and jot down a brief summary of their discussion, then re-form the whole group. Each cell shares with the group its question and their findings. Not only does this provide another means of approach, but inevitably shy and withdrawn people will share more openly with three or four than they would with 13 or 14.
Do's and Don'ts
*Never lecture. Encourage discussion. One of the major characteristics of a Christian small group is that it must do what can't be done in congregational meetings. With regard to the teaching this includes having the freedom to discuss the bible together in contrast to listening to one person preach from it.
*Be aware of shy people who like to 'hide'. Draw them in, but don't embarrass them.
*Don't allow anyone to dominate the discussion.
*Don't wander; keep on track. Avoid 'red-herrings' (distractions, diversions).
*Don't let the study go for too long. Let them want to come back for more! If you finish late, people may be polite to you as the leader, but they won¡¦t come back. Many have to get up early the next day for work, etc.
*Never bluff. If you don't know an answer, say so. Tell the group that you will try to have an answer for the following week.
*Don't argue. Truth is received by revelation, not argumentation.
*Don't ride your own hobby horse.
*Never use the study to 'get' at someone. The Word is to build people up, not put them down
*Keep it positive. Communicate hope and inspire faith in God.
*Don't allow anyone to use the study to contradict the pastor's teaching, to gossip about others, etc.

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