The study of the Bible is a discipline that is waning fast in our modern world of gadgets, social media and technology. I bet you’ll agree with me that most youth in the church today do not know the Word of God as they are supposed to know it; this is because they do not study their Bible. Of course, it doesn’t have to be that way. As a matter of fact, you can – and you should – study the Bible and know it as much as you know your smartphone!
Why study the Bible?
The study of the Bible is very essential in the life of God’s people – it is food for the heart and soul. Jesus shows us this truth in Matthew 4:4 AMP – It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’” A healthy Christian must not only pray but must study his Bible so he can understand the ways of Christ the King and His Kingdom and also learn to listen to His voice. No one can please God without faith, and faith comes by studying, hearing, and trusting in God’s word.
I am of the personal opinion that the troubles that threaten to overwhelm us in life today would be no threat at all if we paid attention to the study, believing, and practice of the Word of God. This is one of the reasons why the greatest Spirit-filled theologian of the New Testament, Apostle Paul, tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV – Study to show yourself approved unto God – The Father, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly expounding (dissecting) the word of truth.
The word of God – both by study and by faith – will empower you to overcome the enemy’s lies and attacks will help you walk more closely with the Lord and will give you both the knowledge and the grace needed to live a victorious Christian life!
Here are some resources to help you get started or continue with the study of the Bible:
10 Resources for Bible study.
Whether you are a Bible class leader or just a wonderful Christian seeking to know the Bible some more, these resources will be a great blessing to you:
This great handbook provides us with illustrations and historic references right from the first book of the Bible – Genesis, to the last book – Revelation. It contains maps, images, charts, illustrations and key verses. It is really a great resource where you could find help in preparing your study in the context of culture and scripture.
This is a great collection of original creeds and some early Christian documents up to the modern era. While it is not a book that you read every day, having it in your library will help you in understanding the perspective and the experiences of the Church through the ages.
If you want to understand (or refresh your memory of) the Bible from start to finish, right from Eden’s Garden to the very end of time – then this book is a perfect solution to your desire.
This book contains a deep and amazing write-up on 175 stories in the Bible; it also provides suggestions on how these stories could be taught effectively. Every story has its own lesson focus, application, biblical context, interpretations, background and the mistakes to look out for.
The Bible was written – not because of Abraham, Israel or King Solomon – but because of Christ. He is the central message of the Bible; His death and resurrection are vital keys for the Christian’s victory over the woes of life. In this book, John Piper clarifies the centrality of Jesus’ death and resurrection. One thing that makes this book a great resource for Bible study is that no matter what other doctrines we may know, if Christ is not known and lifted up above all else, there will be no fruit in our lives.
This book was created to foster a deeper understanding of scriptural truth, to increase the Biblical literacy of Christians and to stimulate true Christian thought and action in a world where Christianity is undervalued and undermined by forces and people that shape contemporary culture. It contains writings from more than 50 distinguished professors, of whom a few are: John R.W Stott, Bruce L. Shelley, Ravi Zacharias, and Robert G. Clouse etc.
If you want an introduction to seminary education but cannot afford the time or money, or are in any other type of situation that would not make it possible to attend a seminary – then this book will provide just what you need.
If you want to catch the divine flame of passion for the word of God – I believe you will find it in this book. It is a book that will ignite your hunger for and help you appreciate the blessedness we have in God’s holy word.
This is an innovative reference guide that helps you learn more easily about specific topics in the Bible without having to go through the troubles of digging through loads of books. It is a most suitable resource for the on-the-go student of the Bible and makes study easier and more enjoyable.
This book contains proven methods and techniques that will help you memorize entire chapters and books of the Bible more easily than you ever imagined. It is a great tool that will prepare you for the rewarding exercises of spiritual and mental labor that most people try to avoid, and you can be sure that this will enrich your heart with a greater level of hunger for the Word of God.
The Bible Project is a really good video-study resource and has been really helpful to many people as it provides them with the opportunity to understand parts of the Bible more easily. The short-form, fully animated Bible videos are specifically designed to help people experience the story of the Bible in a way that is both engaging and personal. It provides a creative overview or lead into your study and makes learning the truths of the Bible more fun.
We all might have witnessed that the real distraction might come when one starts to read the Scriptures. Satan never likes when one starts to invest his or her time in the Word of God, which is the truth and strength for soul, mind and body. Many read the Bible because of traditional practice, compulsion or like a usual procedure, and this doesn’t make one’s life get align with God. Scripture is God-Breathed and spending some quality time in the presence of God can take us closer to God and dwell in His presence. Are you serious about studying the Bible? Here are some great hacks to Bible study, which can help you to elevate your Bible Study creatively and skillfully with some everyday things unique to the Christian walk.
Airplane Mode For Distraction-Free Bible Study:
Most of us want to study the Bible without interaction, but they are often foiled by distraction. This generation has started to study the Bible through Apps, but with the floods of apps in the gadgets and with the notifications, it is really hard to spend the time in the Word of God.
Try to make use of Print Bible which gives a real feel of reading with the text.
To have a good time it is advised to TURN ON AIRPLANE MODE. This would block your data, text, and calls until you finish up with your Bible study. No more tempting distractions! We need to prioritize the Word of God.
Opt a Bible Study System that works:
The acronym S.O.A.K. methods work a lot with regards to Bible study.
Write out a Scripture verse or passage.
Write out your Observation of that verse or passage (The things which settled on your thoughts, the verses which spoke to you, key aspects of main characters, who is this passage talking to, etc.)
3. Write out an Application – how you can apply this particular verse or Scripture passage in your day to today’s life.
4. Kneel in prayer. Writing your prayers is a wonderful practice in slowly thinking about what you want to say to God. Plus it helps to keep us focused on prayer.
Find a Quite Place
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35
Finding a quiet place can produce a great difference in your Bible study process. Many munches on the Word of God on their go in their busy schedule, but finding a place to dwell in the Word helps us to focus. By setting yourself a quiet place to read, pray, and meditate on the Word helps to “reset” the rest of your life in a positive way.
Color Code Your Devotional Reading
Many might be already practicing this; however, this could be an ideal hack to make your Bible study more effective. Rather than using highlighters on the pages which could bleed through and can be costly sometimes. Instead, make use of colored pencils. They don’t bleed and pleasing effects on your devotional passage, and more importantly, you can erase.
Team Up
The ideal way to keep yourself motivated is to team up with an accountability partner. By opting for a partner and creating a good Bible Study devotional plan together can elevate your study to a different level. Moreover, you can not only challenge one another to stay focused but will benefit in the fellowship of sharing your devotional thoughts.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. –Matthew 18:19
Put your Bible in an easily accessible place.
This doesn’t look to like a great deal. However, in our hectic lifestyle, we could easily postpone reading and studying the Word of God. It is better to place your Bible in a place where you can see them and reach it. Having in an accessible place gives us a constant reminder of the Word of God.
N.I.V. LifeHack Bible.
The list of great hacks for Bible study could not be complete without highlighting the official N.I.V. lifehack Bible. One of the best in the markets which give “lifehacking” methods to provide practical and also achievable tools for your Bible study so that you can grow more in the Word of God. They offer skills to help you grow in your Christian walk.
Get your Bible study notebook.
Your Bible Study notebook is one of the much-needed tools to progress in your Scripture study. You can find a free Bible study notebook available online, which can help you to achieve your goals. This notebook aids you to pen down your key points, thoughts which ministered you while you were meditating and studying the Bible. We could quickly forget the things which Holy Spirit gives at the time of devotion, and this could be a treasure when you write down in the notebook.
Set shorter reading goals –
Many would have made a new year resolution to study the Bible daily; however, we might have dropped our resolutions as days passed. If you are not a regular Bible reader, then you have to consider looking for shorter reading goals. This could be a great hack as periodic milestones may keep you going where that Dec. 31 stop date may seem too far out in the future.
Have An Email Devotionals Account
It’s easy to find ourselves with the best intentions of doing devotionals but are quickly derailed by new emails. If you like receiving your devotionals by email, consider creating an account just for that purpose. By not signing into or opening your other email accounts, it will allow you to stay focused on your time with God.
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. – Proverbs 16:3
Nigerian Christian music was first presented in Benin and Warri by Portuguese Catholic ministers in the sixteenth century through a simple type of Portuguese spiritual music during the early proselytizing of these realms somewhere in the range of 1485 and 1600. It was not that hearty until the center of the nineteenth century by the teacher exercises of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in the United Kingdom, and this far-reaching proselytizing occurred in Nigeria. The Church Missionary Society (CMS) presented the choral music of the Anglican Church, which was basically about congregational tunes.
The pioneer of a novel Nigerian variation of choral music was Reverend Josiah J. Ransome-Kuti, who started trying different things with the combination of choral music with Yoruba language and melodic structures during the 1890s. As an organist of the Church of San Pedro, Ake, Abeokuta, he created choral pieces that epitomize the language and style of the Yoruba. His work was perceived to such an extent that he was welcome to the UK in 1922 to record a collection of these syntheses on the Zonophone mark. A sum of 43 tracks were enrolled, some of which became principles, for example, “Egbe awon angeli”, “Oyigi yigi olorun wa”, “Jesu oba alaanu”. In the whole West African he was the first to record a collection.
Ransome-Kuti (granddad of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti), thusly, can be known as the dad of Nigerian gospel music, given that the class is characterized as a combination of the music of Christian songs and different types. Kuti’s work may have been unique and not the same as the equal advancement of gospel music in the United States.
The other compelling figure in the development of Nigerian gospel music in the mid-twentieth century was the ensemble and arranger Ikoli Harcourt-Whyte, who was the first to form Christian choral music in the Igbo language of southeastern Nigeria. He started trying different things with the two structures during the 1930s and was enlivened by his time as a patient in the Methodist sickness state in Uzuakoli, in eastern Nigeria. His creations, as Ransome-Kuti previously, became gospel principles in Igbo-Land with an aggregate of more than 200. In spite of the fact that he had not recorded a collection, his creations were recorded by the ensemble of the Uzuakoli sickness state after his death in 1977. The second Engraving in 1999 by the African Choir of St. Louis Missouri in the United States.
Ransome-Kuti and Harcourt-Whyte became good examples for a few ages of Nigerian gospel performers since gospel psalms in various dialects were created with administrations in indigenous dialects. As initially arranged by Ransome-Kuti, these administrations have become a key component in the outreaching search. During the 1950s and 1960s, a few free temples rose with an indigenous obligation request: the Church of Cherubim and Seraphim, the Celestial Church of Christ (established in 1947), and the Qua Iboe Church (established in 1887).
The C&S Church, established in 1925 by previous CMS part Moses Orimolade Tunolashe, created serious indigenous impacts, for example, the appropriation of the Yoruba language and customary Yoruba music as a psalm. Qua Iboe was established by Irish ministers in 1887 and later received the Efik language and the components of conventional Efik music in their vocal and ensemble exhibitions.
This inclination to consolidate conventional types of music with choral music spread all through Nigeria. More seasoned places of worship, for example, CMS, Catholics and Anglicans, consolidated conventional African instruments out of sight music of their choral exhibitions, with the cadence of the customary drums being the most significant and the low pumpkin (Udu) in the east of Nigeria.
In the mid-1970s, changes started to develop in Nigeria that was impacted by American gospel music, especially people and nation gospel. Stars like Jim Reeves and Johnny Cash had numerous supporters. His intermittent invasions into the gospel affected another age of contemporary Nigerian Christian performers. One of the principal Nigerian groups to reform this subgenre was the Karis Band of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The Pentecostal development flourished with the dynamic proselytizing of the United States and this band was established by individuals from the Union of Scriptures (SU), one of the most dynamic Pentecostal gatherings of the time. The UB advanced evangelism using a chipper, sprightly and contemporary music in the purported “love and love design”. As in the hour of Reverend Ransome-Kuti, this ought to urge changes over to take an interest.
If your child has been dreading going to church each Sunday or if they are insisting that they do not want to go, you may want to consider scheduling a meeting with your family and your local church officials, namely the pastor. This is ideal, as your child can get to know the individual who will be providing them with guidance in their future. Your pastor or other church officials also know your congregation well. They may be able to help your child develop new friendships with other churchgoers or they may even be able to get your child excited about upcoming activities or events.
Speaking of upcoming activities and events, you will find that most churches, possibly even yours, host a number of events, both privately and throughout the community. These events may include anything from having a sporting team, such as a softball team, to putting on a play for the community to take part in. For many teens and even younger children, these are activities that may sound appealing to them. Each time that your church sponsors a community-related event or a fundraiser, you may want to think about volunteering with your child. This is a great way to help your child understand that there is more to church than simply just attending Sunday services.
In addition to helping to get your child to express interest in your religion and church by using assistance from your church congregation and attending community events, you may also want to do your own fun activities at home. This is particularly ideal if you have an elementary school-aged child, a toddler, or a preschooler, as they may be more receptive to at home church or religion-focused activities.
Speaking of those church-related activities, there are a number of different ways that you can go about getting your child excited about joining a church congregation. One of those ways involves using books and other media items, namely DVDs, to your advantage. There are religious videos and books that may be able to help your child understand their religion, but in a matter that is fun and exciting all at the same time. There are also games that you can play, which can be purchased online or you can even make your own religion-focused games. In all honestly, the decision as to how you want to work on your children at home is yours to make, but you should know that you do have a number of different options.
Are you a church leader or a member of your church group who is regularly involved in the planning of community events? If you are, has your church ever held a public concert, either as a free community event or as a fundraiser? If this is an approach that you have yet to take, you may want to consider doing so, as there are a number of benefits to reaching out to your community by way of Christian music concerts as a free event or as a fundraiser, it is important to examine the options that you have. As you likely already know concerts and music events come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles. This is something that you may want to use to your advantage.
When planning a concert for your community, either as a free event or as a fundraiser, it is advised that you place a focus on children. It is always said that children are our future and that couldn’t be more true. If you want your church congregation to continue on, even after you have passed, you will want to place a focus on children. That is why it may be a good idea to host a concert that targets children and their parents. The songs sung should have a kids theme to them. In addition to a kid’s concert, you may also want to turn the event into a fun-filled day. This can easily be done with games, foods, and drinks.
As important as it is to place a focus on the children in or around your community, you will also want to make sure that you place a focus on adults as well. That is why it is advised that you consider hosting concerts that may be ideal for adults and possibly even adults only. These types of concerts are ones that you may want to schedule a little bit later in the evening. You may end up finding that many of your attendees use your religious concert as a way to get out of the home or even as a date night.
As for the benefits of hosting a religious concert, either as a free event or as a fundraiser, you will find that there is an unlimited number of benefits to doing so. One of those benefits is the interest that may be generated in your church and the new members that may join. What you need to remember is that many individuals would like to attend church, but many are afraid to take the first step. A community concert, especially if you have church officials on hand, maybe the perfect opportunity for hopeful churchgoers to express interest in your church group, as well as ask any questions that they may have.
Another one of the many benefits of using Christian music concerts as a way to insert yourself into the community and make your presence known it that it is relatively easy to do so. Depending on the size of your church, as well as how it is operated, you may have a church choir or even a church music group. If that is the case, your own members can put on the concerts that you would like to host. With that in mind, you may also want to take steps to see if you can find any locally well-known music artists who would be willing to perform a concert with you as their sponsor. As for locations, many choose to use their own facilities, but you may also want to use local parks as locations for a concert, as well as other fundraisers or free events that you may be interested in planning.
As outlined above, there are a number of benefits to using Christian Music concerts as a way to reach out to your community. Those benefits include a possible increase in interest at church services, as well as the ability to raise money for a good cause, especially if you are interested in using your concert or concerts as fundraisers.
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