We give thanks for your faithfulness in prayer and Bible Study!

SOAPY BIBLE STUDY:

This Bible study is an intentional focused effort of growing in the understanding of the scriptures. This form of study will assist in the transformation of our inner lives as we mature in understanding and in faith.

Set aside 15 minutes every day for the study.  You might want to take more time after you have gotten started.  Don’t overload yourself in the beginning

Keep a “soapy” journal because there will be the need to write everyday.

As you develop your routine, share what you are learning with your Discipleship Group, Sunday school class, Circle, other groups in which you participate, or with friends in conversation.

S – SCRIPTURE: Read the scripture passage aloud so you can hear it.  Second, write every word of the scripture in your journal.  Both reading it aloud and writing it will help put the scripture in your mind and heart.

O – OBSERVATION: Ask yourself the question, “What is God teaching me in this scripture?”  As you ask yourself the question, your mind will be full of thoughts.  Write those thoughts down.  You will know what is being communicated as you reflect upon what you have written.

A – APPLICATION: Ask yourself the question, “How does this scripture apply to my life?”  As you reflect upon the question, look for promises to claim, attitudes to change, challenges to accept, sins to confess, commands to obey, actions to take, examples to follow, or skills to learn.  Write in your journal how the scripture applies to you and to your life situations.

P – PRAYER: Write a prayer to God.  Depending on what you have read and written the prayer might be one of praise and thanksgiving, a prayer asking God to help you apply the teaching to your life, or a prayer of confession.  This is your prayer to God.  The discipline of writing your prayer will lead to transformation.

Y – YIELDING: As you complete your  “SOAPY” Bible study, ask yourself the question, “What of my life must I yield to God?”  This is the question that leads to obedience.  Everyday, through Bible study, you will have the opportunity to yield a little more of your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  The prayer I use each day that leads to yielding is, “Lord, by your grace grant me the obedience to yield another part of my life to you today.”

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life,and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own,and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ “) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son,who is close to the Father’s heart,who has made him known.

SOAPY BIBLE STUDY:

This Bible study is an intentional focused effort of growing in the understanding of the scriptures. This form of study will assist in the transformation of our inner lives as we mature in understanding and in faith.

Set aside 15 minutes every day for the study.  You might want to take more time after you have gotten started.  Don’t overload yourself in the beginning

Keep a “soapy” journal because there will be the need to write everyday.

As you develop your routine, share what you are learning with your Discipleship Group, Sunday school class, Circle, other groups in which you participate, or with friends in conversation.

S – SCRIPTURE: Read the scripture passage aloud so you can hear it.  Second, write every word of the scripture in your journal.  Both reading it aloud and writing it will help put the scripture in your mind and heart.

O – OBSERVATION: Ask yourself the question, “What is God teaching me in this scripture?”  As you ask yourself the question, your mind will be full of thoughts.  Write those thoughts down.  You will know what is being communicated as you reflect upon what you have written.

A – APPLICATION: Ask yourself the question, “How does this scripture apply to my life?”  As you reflect upon the question, look for promises to claim, attitudes to change, challenges to accept, sins to confess, commands to obey, actions to take, examples to follow, or skills to learn.  Write in your journal how the scripture applies to you and to your life situations.

P – PRAYER: Write a prayer to God.  Depending on what you have read and written the prayer might be one of praise and thanksgiving, a prayer asking God to help you apply the teaching to your life, or a prayer of confession.  This is your prayer to God.  The discipline of writing your prayer will lead to transformation.

Y – YIELDING: As you complete your  “SOAPY” Bible study, ask yourself the question, “What of my life must I yield to God?”  This is the question that leads to obedience.  Everyday, through Bible study, you will have the opportunity to yield a little more of your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  The prayer I use each day that leads to yielding is, “Lord, by your grace grant me the obedience to yield another part of my life to you today.”

1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

SOAPY BIBLE STUDY:

This Bible study is an intentional focused effort of growing in the understanding of the scriptures. This form of study will assist in the transformation of our inner lives as we mature in understanding and in faith.

Set aside 15 minutes every day for the study.  You might want to take more time after you have gotten started.  Don’t overload yourself in the beginning

Keep a “soapy” journal because there will be the need to write everyday.

As you develop your routine, share what you are learning with your Discipleship Group, Sunday school class, Circle, other groups in which you participate, or with friends in conversation.

S – SCRIPTURE: Read the scripture passage aloud so you can hear it.  Second, write every word of the scripture in your journal.  Both reading it aloud and writing it will help put the scripture in your mind and heart.

O – OBSERVATION: Ask yourself the question, “What is God teaching me in this scripture?”  As you ask yourself the question, your mind will be full of thoughts.  Write those thoughts down.  You will know what is being communicated as you reflect upon what you have written.

A – APPLICATION: Ask yourself the question, “How does this scripture apply to my life?”  As you reflect upon the question, look for promises to claim, attitudes to change, challenges to accept, sins to confess, commands to obey, actions to take, examples to follow, or skills to learn.  Write in your journal how the scripture applies to you and to your life situations.

P – PRAYER: Write a prayer to God.  Depending on what you have read and written the prayer might be one of praise and thanksgiving, a prayer asking God to help you apply the teaching to your life, or a prayer of confession.  This is your prayer to God.  The discipline of writing your prayer will lead to transformation.

Y – YIELDING: As you complete your  “SOAPY” Bible study, ask yourself the question, “What of my life must I yield to God?”  This is the question that leads to obedience.  Everyday, through Bible study, you will have the opportunity to yield a little more of your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  The prayer I use each day that leads to yielding is, “Lord, by your grace grant me the obedience to yield another part of my life to you today.”