Free Bible Studies Leader Training Discipleship Resources About Us
The Essential of a Daily Bible Study
Free Bible Study Materials for Christian Discipleship September 2009
Dear Fellow Disciple-makers,
The person who is too busy to have a daily Bible study is too busy. God did not intend for man to live life at a frantic pace. The Scriptures teach us to Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).
Benefit of daily Bible study
When we always work and never rest we experience a subtle form of self-destruction. Our soul loses touch with God. We no longer sense God’s presence. The solution for this condition is to slow down, focus on God and listen for His voice. Being alone with God enables us to breathe the air of eternity. When we
set our hearts on things above,
we see another world; we see Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55). Consider how Moses, David, Daniel and Jesus demonstrated the importance of taking time to re-orient their lives around God and not themselves.
They had a "tent of meeting"
Exodus 33:7-11 Moses set up a “tent of meeting” outside the camp, some distance away. Anyone inquiring of the Lord could go to the tent of meeting. As Moses went into the tent the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man would speak with a friend.
Psalm 119:164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.
Daniel 6:10 Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark,
Jesus
got up, left the house and when off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
True story from African history
Gordon MacDonald tells a story from African colonial history: In the deep jungles of Africa, a traveler was making a long journey. Natives had been engaged from tribe to tribe to carry the loads. The first day they marched rapidly and went far. The traveler had high hopes of a speedy journey. But the second morning these jungle tribesmen refused to move. On inquiry as to the reason for this strange behavior, the traveler was informed that they had gone too fast the first day and they were now waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies.
Do you have a “tent of meeting” where you spend time alone with God? For many years my "tent of meeting" has been a near-by restaurant. Early every morning I hold an appointment with God himself. When I was first learning the practice of daily Bible study, I would write TAG (Time alone with God) in my calendar. Once scheduled, it becomes an appointment I keep.
Find Your Tent of Meeting
Click on the "Play" arrow to hear about Paul's tent of meeting.
How about you? Perhaps it’s time to make an appointment with God for a daily Bible study so your soul can catch up with your body.
If you'd like to teach this lesson to your small group or Sunday School class, we offer this same lesson as a
devotional
that includes discussion questions.
Our newsletter is all about Christian discipleship. Learn more about the essential of daily Bible study in another
newsletter.