Focus on building a consistent habit of Bible reading this year! Explore the effectiveness of structured approaches, akin to a detective's work. Discover strategies for diving deep into Scripture and understand the contrasting Christian and Mormon views on heavenly rewards. Delve into workplace diversity training and how it impacts personal beliefs. Gain insights about reading the Bible contextually to enrich your understanding, especially when tackling complex texts like Romans.
Establishing a consistent Bible reading habit through a structured plan facilitates deeper engagement and spiritual growth over time.
Flexibility in reading practices allows individuals to explore personal interests while maintaining a systematic approach to scripture study.
Deep dives
Establishing a Bible Reading System
Setting a consistent system for Bible reading can greatly enhance your spiritual growth. Rather than treating Bible reading as a one-time goal or resolution, establishing it as a regular habit allows for deeper engagement with the text. A useful approach is to use a structured reading plan that divides the Bible into manageable sections, enabling consistent progress over time. This method helps to create a rhythm in one's spiritual discipline, fostering a long-term commitment to understanding scripture rather than simply checking a box for completion.
Learning from J. Warner Wallace
Inspiration for a systematic Bible reading approach can be drawn from J. Warner Wallace's detective methodology. As a cold case detective, he emphasized the importance of thoroughly reviewing all available evidence to solve cases, advocating for a comprehensive reading of the Bible from start to finish. This strategy allows readers to gain a broader perspective, connecting various passages and themes throughout the scripture. By applying this detective-like attention to the Bible, one can see the bigger picture of God's narrative and make meaningful connections over time.
Flexibility in Bible Study
Flexibility in how one engages with the Bible plays a crucial role in sustaining a consistent reading habit. Readers can alternate between following the structured reading plan and exploring sections of personal interest, allowing for both systematic learning and curiosity-driven exploration. This approach makes it easier to stay engaged without feeling restricted, as individuals can return to their structured system after pursuing their interests. Such flexibility ensures that the Bible remains relevant to personal life experiences and dynamic conversations, yielding insights that resonate at that moment.
Long-Term Benefits of Systematic Reading
Adopting a long-term reading system enhances the understanding of scripture and its applicability in daily life. By reading through the Bible multiple times over the years, one becomes increasingly familiar with the entirety of God's counsel which aids in developing a balanced viewpoint. This repeated exposure allows individuals to recognize how seemingly unrelated scripture passages can apply to everyday situations and challenges. Ultimately, this long-term commitment to scripture enriches one’s faith journey and fosters a deeper relationship with God throughout life.
Greg recommends creating a habit of Bible reading this year, then he answers questions about attending a mandatory equity training, practices for doing a deep dive into a smaller portion of Scripture, and the Christian view of rewards versus the Mormon view of levels of Heaven.
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Commentary: Create a habit of Bible reading this year. (00:00)
Do you think it’s a good idea to go ahead and attend an employer’s mandatory equity training as an educational experience? (13:00)
Can you recommend any practices for doing a deep dive into a smaller portion of Scripture? (30:00)
How does the Christian view of rewards in Heaven compare with the Mormon belief about different levels of Heaven based on one’s performance in this life? (43:00)