Building our Bible study approach

....From Chapters 16 & 20, we learned ....the critical choices we must make in our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ:‍

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LIVE DAILY in the peace Jesus gives us

KEEP OUR FOCUS on Heaven's reality

PREP FOR SPIRITUAL BATTLES with Grandpa's strategies for winning

We also learned the "What?", "Why?", ....and the "How?" of studying the Bible, ....the Word of God.

And of great encouragement, we learned....

Our weapons in spiritual warfare....

"....are not of this world, but are POWERED BY GOD and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His TRUTH.  WE ARE demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. WE ARE taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to Jesus."
    — 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The Voice

It is by God's Word, ....HELP FROM JESUS HIMSELF, ....that we win any and all spiritual battles!  

....And it starts here.

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GOD'S TRUTHS abound from Genesis to Revelation ....and stated as a Truth, Commandment, Principle, or Promise....

....So, as we study God's Word....

We see how TRUTHS worked in countless stories of people living with God.  ....And why all these stories — narratives of historical events?  ....Because the Holy Spirit wants us to....

"SEE" the worth of God's TRUTHS as we READ, ....knowing how they worked out in other peoples lives ....in Bible times.

From that, "BELIEVE" in the goodness of God's TRUTHS ....as they RELATE to our life's circumstances today.

So, then we can PRAY for God to help us ....learn how to "APPLY" those TRUTHS in our lives ....as we RESPOND ....BEING "ALL IN" WITH JESUS.

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‍SEEING, BELIEVING, ....WE TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY for APPLYING Biblical TRUTHS in our lives,....

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KNOWING FULL WELL, ....we gotta have God's help ....TO EVEN TRY.  

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So, ....how does this "3Rs + Prayer" Bible study approach work?

....here's an example of what it looks like....

PRINCIPLES are TRUTHS we "see", discern, recognize ....from Bible stories that are narratives of historical events.  We see how God's TRUTH worked out in someone else's life, ....and believe those principles are/can be at work in our lives too.  

Read Luke 19:1-10 for the full story of Zacchaeus finding peace and new life in Jesus.  The Bible tells us ....Jesus was passing through Jericho surrounded by a large crowd.  Zacchaeus "was too short to see over the crowd.  So he ran ahead and climbed" a tree ....to see Jesus.  

....Doesn't it seem undignified for this very wealthy man — this chief tax collector in the region — to climb a tree ....in front of people he had cheated, ....just for a glimpse of Jesus?  ....What had he heard about Jesus that Zacchaeus would do such a thing?

Perhaps he wanted to talk with Jesus, ....needing something more in his life?  Maybe Jesus could help him ....find peace?  .......When we "see" what Zacchaeus said to Jesus in verse 8, ....and how Jesus responded in verses 9-10, ....we know Zacchaeus was carrying a heavy burden of guilt in his heart ....that ONLY JESUS could fix.

And Jesus knew what Zacchaeus needed....

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”  Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
    — Luke 19:5-6 NLT

Holy Spirit, what do you want us to SEE here?  ....Zacchaeus was desperate to see Jesus.  ....Jesus saw, ....already knew Zacchaeus' name, ....and wanted to be a Friend with this "notorious sinner".

‍As we seek Jesus, we find He already knows who we are, where we are, ....what we need in our lives, .......and He reaches out to start a personal relationship with us ....as our Savior, Lord, ....and Friend.  

What to BELIEVE?  As we seek Jesus, ....He accepts us as we are, and IS our Friend.

What to APPLY?  As we seek to know Jesus more, He comes into our lives for fellowship and our salvation.  With Jesus comes His peace to change our lives.

What to PRAY?  ...."Lord, I need you in my life. Help me seek you more, know you more, ....hear your voice calling me to come be with You.  Help me be your disciple and follow your TRUTH"....

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful (ACTIVELY ENGAGED) to my teachings.  And you will know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH will set you free."
    — John 8:31-32 NLT

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Follow this approach studying your Bible....

....and....

Be teachable as you read God's Word, ....responding to the Holy Spirit's nudges, ....as Jesus speaks into your life.

As your heart and mind become more Christ-like ....influencing your choices, ....so your life becomes more Christ-focused.

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‍^{*Credits: Old Testament writer image anonymous / Zacchaeus image anonymous / spiral from Clker clip art}