| By: Pastor Deane | |
Too many young people think that Bible study is boring and that they have plenty of time to learn and follow the word of God once they are an adult. This is not true, and a lie that Satan uses to stop young people from knowing and loving God. Bible study is exciting because learning and following the word of God. A person is never too young to understand the word of the Lord and apply its message to their life.
Young people can find many rewards from the Bible. God has promised many rewards to those who find him through His words and prayer. He has promised Strength (Isaiah 40:29-31), Peace (Psalm 119:165), Joy (Psalm 16:11), Success (Joshua 1:8), Stability (Psalm 16:8-9), Answered prayer (John 15:7), Personal testimony (Acts 4:13). Youth Bible study does not have to be complicated. There are three important steps that a youth Bible study group should follow to understand the Lord’s word. They should observe God’s word and see the message in the passage. Then they should then interpret the meaning of the text as it applies to their life and finally apply the message to themselves by asking what the passage wants them to do. When you observe the passage ask who is in the story, who is writing and who is being written to. Look for what is being communicated, the cause, affects and meaning in the words. Put yourself in the passage and think about your reactions to what is being said and what the words mean to you. In order to interpret the Bible’s message ask why the writer said the words, why they are significant, and what is important about the words. Finding the importance of the words as they are written will help you to find the importance of the words in your own life. To figure out how a passage can be applied a student Bible study group should focus on taking the message and working it in to their actions at home, at school, and everywhere else. They should think about the changes they should make or actions they should take to embrace the message. The goal of teen and youth group Bible study should be to develop a love and understanding of God’s word. The messages of His word will help young people to navigate the confusing world of today with lessons that will teach them how to love and revere God. Young people can show their love of God by following John 5:3 and joyfully obeying his commands. Andy serves as an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel Old Bridge in central New Jersey. In 2009 he published, Learn to Study the Bible: |
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