Let me know your thoughts -
The Global Orphan Project from The Global Orphan Project on Vimeo.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The Global Orphan Project
Here is an international mission project that we are considering for KCI Campus.
Let me know your thoughts -
Let me know your thoughts -
Monday, June 15, 2009
Teaching
Many people are very nervous about teaching and sharing God's Word. I know I was when God first called me to teach for the very first time. Sally and I were part of a new Young Adult group that was only a year old. The current class director/teacher was feeling called to go help in another ministry due to their need. He was a very Godly man who was sensitive to Holy Spirit. He asked the class for a volunteer to help teach the class. Woah! not me! I shouted in my mind. I'm Mr. Introverted on the back row - er - oh wait. There was only one row of chairs in the classroom - but you know what I mean. :-) God impressed upon me about being available to serve wherever He called me. 'But Lord, teaching?' I did not have the faintest clue. Yet, God's peace came upon me as if He was stating - 'I will equip you for the task, My child' And He did just that. So if you are nervous about teaching or faciliating a group, trust in God and watch what miracles He does through you, a vessel to be used by the most Holy.
In my experiences of teaching, I have found several encouraging teaching helps from http://www.lifeway.com/. Here are some short articles about teaching and faciliating discussion for group teachers:
At the bottom of each article, you will find more links to articles on similar topics.
I hope this helps you in your pursuit of teaching God's Word - and what an awesome pursuit that is!!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
A Brief Format in Reading the Bible
I am writing this entry in order to share one way about how to read the Bible.
In his book How to Write Critical Essays: A Guide for Students of Literature (London: Routledge, 1991), 31, Pirie provides a step-by-step guide for collecting information and ideas that will help guide "the overall shape of your essay" when writing critcal reviews. (Be sure to see www.questia.com if you would like to read the book). I have adapted this information and applied it to Bible reading.
The following is a my adaptation of Pirie's material and applied it towards a reading approach to the Bible:
Read the whole of each set text
When reading the Bible, it is important to read a whole book in context. In seminary, we were taught the phrase that “context is king”. Therefore, reading a whole book of the Bible becomes important when looking at individual passage within that book. It allows you the opportunity to get the main idea of the book before you begin to dissect it. For application, this means that before you begin to study a passage, it is necessary and vital to your understanding of the passage to first read the entire book in regards to what that passage is in. You must read every word of the book, no matter how long or tedious that it may seem. Even if you zone out on some of the reading, you need to make sure you go back and reread those areas that you “went blank” on. Sometimes to help me with the reading and staying on focus, I use a coloring format. If you are interested in it, feel free to send me an e-mail request (sboster@pvbc-kci.org).
Read again
Next comes the issue of reading again. Always try to read the book fully at least once. If possible, gain understanding of the purpose behind the text. If what you’re reading is very long, then pull out major sections or specific passages that you found interesting or important to the main idea. If you can, read the specific sections 2 or three times. Sometimes, reading in another translation is beneficial when reading a book of the Bible again. My personal favorite translations are the New American Standard Bible, the New International version, and the New Living Translation second edition. (The English Standard version and the Holman Christian Standard version are good ones as well.)
Reading aloud
One of the most interesting things that I’ve learned lately in my Bible reading skills has been the importance and the pleasure of reading Scripture out loud. Read as much as you can out loud. When you do this, certain specifics come out that you would not have thought of. Plus, it is just plain fun when you begin to use inflection in your voice or act out some of the stories with your voice.
Memorize key phrases or words after each reading section
As you complete a section or chapter in a book of the Bible, be sure to think about and memorize a key phrase or key idea of that section. Then, as you go about your day whether doing household chores or driving to work or whatever, you can recite to yourself that key phrase or idea of what you have been reading. Keep it short and simple and not long and tedious in your memorization. A fun quote that deals with this is “such unofficial acorns can often nurture them into intellectual oaks of extraordinary strength and complexity”.
Make notes
be sure to take time out to write down a record of fun insights of you reading. Make the decision and determination to do this. You will find that if you do not record your thoughts, feelings, ideas or key phrases, then you will remember and discover less. Be sure to record your own thoughts about the importance of what you are reading and how it applies into your own life. Your thoughts and ramblings, as you will find, truly become a treasure for you in your Christian walk.
This is just one format and there are others as well. I will be sharing others in future blog entries. In the meantime, happy reading!
In his book How to Write Critical Essays: A Guide for Students of Literature (London: Routledge, 1991), 31, Pirie provides a step-by-step guide for collecting information and ideas that will help guide "the overall shape of your essay" when writing critcal reviews. (Be sure to see www.questia.com if you would like to read the book). I have adapted this information and applied it to Bible reading.
The following is a my adaptation of Pirie's material and applied it towards a reading approach to the Bible:
Read the whole of each set text
When reading the Bible, it is important to read a whole book in context. In seminary, we were taught the phrase that “context is king”. Therefore, reading a whole book of the Bible becomes important when looking at individual passage within that book. It allows you the opportunity to get the main idea of the book before you begin to dissect it. For application, this means that before you begin to study a passage, it is necessary and vital to your understanding of the passage to first read the entire book in regards to what that passage is in. You must read every word of the book, no matter how long or tedious that it may seem. Even if you zone out on some of the reading, you need to make sure you go back and reread those areas that you “went blank” on. Sometimes to help me with the reading and staying on focus, I use a coloring format. If you are interested in it, feel free to send me an e-mail request (sboster@pvbc-kci.org).
Read again
Next comes the issue of reading again. Always try to read the book fully at least once. If possible, gain understanding of the purpose behind the text. If what you’re reading is very long, then pull out major sections or specific passages that you found interesting or important to the main idea. If you can, read the specific sections 2 or three times. Sometimes, reading in another translation is beneficial when reading a book of the Bible again. My personal favorite translations are the New American Standard Bible, the New International version, and the New Living Translation second edition. (The English Standard version and the Holman Christian Standard version are good ones as well.)
Reading aloud
One of the most interesting things that I’ve learned lately in my Bible reading skills has been the importance and the pleasure of reading Scripture out loud. Read as much as you can out loud. When you do this, certain specifics come out that you would not have thought of. Plus, it is just plain fun when you begin to use inflection in your voice or act out some of the stories with your voice.
Memorize key phrases or words after each reading section
As you complete a section or chapter in a book of the Bible, be sure to think about and memorize a key phrase or key idea of that section. Then, as you go about your day whether doing household chores or driving to work or whatever, you can recite to yourself that key phrase or idea of what you have been reading. Keep it short and simple and not long and tedious in your memorization. A fun quote that deals with this is “such unofficial acorns can often nurture them into intellectual oaks of extraordinary strength and complexity”.
Make notes
be sure to take time out to write down a record of fun insights of you reading. Make the decision and determination to do this. You will find that if you do not record your thoughts, feelings, ideas or key phrases, then you will remember and discover less. Be sure to record your own thoughts about the importance of what you are reading and how it applies into your own life. Your thoughts and ramblings, as you will find, truly become a treasure for you in your Christian walk.
This is just one format and there are others as well. I will be sharing others in future blog entries. In the meantime, happy reading!
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