Phil and Martha Matthews » Bible Study

Word Cloud Bible

Phil — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:20:40 +0000

I use word clouds some times and i think they are fun and creative. They are great to use in presentations. wordly is a good place to start making them. Enjoy the clip! It gives a good clue as to what the bible all about.

If we really understand our bible. When we talk about the Bible we will talk about the LORD, about the Lord Jesus Christ, God.

SOAP Journaling

Phil — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:38:57 +0000

For a long time I have been keeping a prayer journal and it has been very helpful to me. I don’t write a lot in it. I just enter prayer requests that people ask me to pray for. Once in a while I would write a prayer down or a scripture that came to mind while praying, may be just for myself or to share with someone I have been praying for. It has also been amazing seeing how the Lord has answered prayer in my life.

About a year ago I came across SOAP Journaling in a blog on the net, and thought I might pick that up sometime. In 2010 I have been using Eugene Peterson’s excellent devotional Solo, which is based on the classical method of lectio divina: reading, thinking, praying, and living Scripture. I love doing it every day and it has been very challenging. I would recommend it to everyone. One thing I wish I had done last year was to write notes each day, sometimes I would highlight a passage that stood out, but I never really kept much notes.
So this year I have decided to give SOAP Journaling a go. Journaling is an brilliant way to both record, process and reflect what God has spoken to you.

S = SCRIPTURE: What?
Select the passage of Scripture for today’s reading. Ask God to speak to you through His Word. Then take time reading to hear from God. When you are done, look for the verse(s) that spoke to you that day, and copy into your journal.

O = OBSERVATION: So What?
What is the meaning of what you’ve just read? What is the author intending to communicate to his readers? Paraphrase and write the meaning in your own words in your journal.

A = APPLICATION: Now What?
Personalize what you have read by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write down how you would obey this Scripture in your life today. Include a statement that starts “I will…”

P = PRAYER
This can be as simple as asking God to help you obey this Scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

And that’s it.

Good advice as you read Scripture

Phil — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:10:55 +0000

I have been thinking about this quote this past week. What do you think about it, do you agree? leave a comment.

Remember:
Scripture meant one thing before you were born,
means the same now, and will mean the same, should you die.

Year long study of the book of Ephesians (March)

Phil — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:43:20 +0000

This month, read the entire letter of Ephesians through at least once.

You may choose to read the whole book in one day or over several days.
As you read, pay attention to the study guidelines listed with each month.
Use a notebook to write down your observations and then pray in response to what you have seen.
Share your observations and bless us by leaving a comment.

March 2010
Read: All of Ephesians
Write: List all references to power. What are the different types of power?
e.g. Eph. 1:19 “his incomparably great power for us who believe”; Eph. 1:21 “all rule and
authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be invoked”
Pray: Rejoice in Jesus’ resurrection power and ask for that power to be demonstrated in places
you feel weak.

Study Ephesians for one year with me (February)

Phil — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:03:59 +0000

Continuing our year long study of the book of Ephesians for February:

Each month, read the entire letter of Ephesians through at least once.

February 2010

Read: All of EphesiansWrite:
List references to the people of God.

e.g. Eph. 1:1 “God’s holy people”; Eph. 1:23 “his body”

Pray: Pray for the local and global church to seek God’s will and hear his voice.

Read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians for one Year with me

Phil — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:20:28 +0000

Why Ephesians? The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Lausanne III) will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, 16-25 October 2010. The Congress, held in collaboration with the World Evangelical Alliance, will bring together 4,000 leaders from more than 200 countries to confront the critical issues of our time. As preparation for this they have put together a study plan for the book of Ephesians. Lindsay Olesberg (who is leading the Bible exposition sessions at CT2010) has prepared the study.

So my suggestion is to follow this plan for this year. It would be great if you would join me in this challenge and share your thoughts and reflections each month.

How To Participate:

Each month, read the entire letter of Ephesians through at least once. You may choose to read the whole book in one day or over several days.
As you read, pay attention to the study guidelines listed with each month.

Use a notebook to write down your observations and then pray in response to what you have seen.

This would be a great study to with your Cell or small group or one to one with a friend, put please join in with us and leave a comment.

For January 2010

Read: All of Ephesians

Write: List verbs related to God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit.

e.g. Eph. 1:4 “God chose us”; Eph. 1:20 “he raised Christ”

Pray: Worship God for who he is.