What A Difference One Month Can Make

The following is a suggested four-week plan that has as its aim to stimulate growth in our individual lives as Christians. By observing and putting into practice each step of this program, you can make progress in growing as a child of God.

Week #1 – Beginning this week, spend some time each day reading and studying God’s Word. To help accomplish this aim, set aside a particular time. Dedicate yourself to making this a priority. Begin this part of the program by reading some of the shorter New Testament books (for example, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon).

Week #2 – Now it’s time to add daily prayer into your spiritual growth program. This will be a period of time that you set aside when you pray about various needs and express thanksgiving to your Father in Heaven.

Week # 3 – One song says, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” Hebrews 13:1 exhorts us, “Let brotherly love continue.” This week’s aim will be to encourage three fellow Christians. This may be accomplished by making a point of speaking to the selected persons before or after the services of the church, a phone call, or a card that you send in the mail. The idea here is to let three other Christians know that you care about them.

Week #4 – This is the week when we add to our spiritual growth program a focus on people who are not Christians. The aim of Christianity is to make a positive difference in this world (Matthew 5:14-16). The objective this week is to make contact with two people who are not Christians, and make an effort to plant some “seeds” of the gospel with them. May we never forget that everyone outside of Christ is lost. As one gospel song reminds us, “Into our hands the gospel is given.” Truly, we must constantly be on the lookout for opportunities to help bring others to the Lord and His Truth.

Teach The Children Well

Scott is a normal four-year-old boy. He is full of energy. Also, he enjoys “Bob the Builder” and everything connected with Sesame Street. In years to come he will be probably play baseball.

But there is something even more impressive about Scott. He can say from memory the books of the New Testament. Now, his pronunciation of some of them may be unique (for example, Colossians). The reason Scott is able to say in order the books of the New Testament is due to good Bible class teachers, and especially his parents who have provided additional instruction and encouragement.

Indeed, the best time to start teaching our children the Bible is while they are very young. It will pay the high dividends!

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Practical Helps For Bible Study

God wants us to study His Word. Consider what the apostle Paul told Christians, “When you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4). While there are some things in the Bible that are more difficult to understand, those things necessary for pleasing the Lord can be understood.

Listed below are some practical helps that can help each of us in getting more out of our study of the Bible:

1. Study the Bible regularly. A “hit or miss” approach to Bible study deprives one of gaining a more complete knowledge of God’s Word. By studying for a few minutes daily we are establishing a pattern for our lives. As we regularly study, we are laying the foundation for gaining additional knowledge.

2. Study from all sections of the Bible. Most of us probably have our favorite sections of the Bible. But by studying from all sections of the Bible in an organized way we will receive benefit in being better able to “piece” things together from our study of the Scriptures.

3. Study in view of making application to your life. A constant thought we should keep in mind as we are studying the Bible concerns how we can make application to our lives. As James admonished, “Be doers of the word” (James 1:21). The Bible is more than history, but we have been given God’s Word to make a positive difference in the here and now and to prepare us for eternity.

4. After studying the Bible, meditate upon what you have studied. In Psalm 1:2 is presented a beautiful picture of the “blessed man”, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” To meditate means to ponder or to engage in deep thought. As we review in our minds what we have previously studied, additional applications and the planting in our minds of sacred truths can take place.

Christianity Is A Daily Religion

Christianity is more than a set of beliefs and practices that are based on the principles and precepts of the Bible. It also involves our daily lives. Listed below are some things that we should strive to include in our lives daily as we live for Christ:

1.Read And Study God’s Word - The apostle Peter urged, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:2). Time spent in God’s Word will give us a foundation for knowing how life should be lived day by day.

2. Pray – The Bible teaches that prayer is the way by which we communicate with God. The apostle Paul taught Christians, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Pray for yourself, the work of the Lord, the lost, our nation, and anything else that is on your heart. Let’s always remember that prayer works (James 5:16).

3. Do Something For Christ – It is possible to become too busy with personal pursuits. While we are not blessed with the same abilities and opportunities, each of us has a responsibility to fulfill. Our need is to find our talent or talents. The encouraging word you speak to someone has the potential to accomplish a great deal. A card or phone call can bring sunshine to another person’s life. Let’s be alert to the opportunities about us. Also, remember the apostle Paul’s said, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9).

4. Strive For Spiritual Growth – According to the Scriptures, we are either growing or declining in our spirituality. Indeed, our constant striving needs to be for continuing spiritual growth. The apostle Peter emphasized, “But grow in the grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

More Thoughts On Optimism

The greatest optimists in the world should be New Testament Christians. While we can allow the negative things in the world to drag us down, we should choose to emphasize the positive things. Regrettably, it can be easy for us to succumb to negative attitudes.

Here are some practical suggestions for attaining an optimistic attitude:

1. Make up your mind that you are going to be optimistic. As you begin each day, renew this dedication.

2. Remember to daily express your thanksgiving to God for His gracious outpouring of blessings in your life.

3. Daily read and reflect on the precious promises of God