Our study of Philippians has come to a close, and many of you have been asking, “What is next?” and have been wondering if I will be leading another Bible Study for the fall.
I’m so glad you’ve asked, dear friends, as I have been completely humbled and blown away by how God has used (& continues to use) this dream He planted in my heart at the beginning of summer. He gave me an aching desire to know Him more, and a passion to “drag” you along with me! And, I just can’t praise Him enough for the incredible work He has done in my heart and in so many of Your hearts over these past few months of studying His Word!! I have truly LOVED hearing all that God has been teaching you, and I am SO grateful for those of you that took that faith-filled dive into Philippians over the past few months along with me (and for those of you who are still diving!)! To God be the glory!
Yet, I have to admit that this one “little” Bible study has taken A LOT of my time- good time, precious time, time where I learned more from a passage of Scripture than I probably ever have in my life, time that I wouldn’t trade for anything, time by no means wasted!! Yet, I’m realizing that this is something I need to set aside for now. I’ll still be reading and studying my Bible, and sharing what God is teaching me along the way! I just won’t be leading a new Bible Study these next few months as I get back into the routine of schooling my incredible children, getting my house back in order, continuing to seek God for our future, and catching up on a little rest, as I can’t even bring myself to admit how late I was up working on that Bible Study many nights. :) But, God-willing, I am praying and hoping to do another Bible Study in the not-too-distant future!! {In fact, I’m already taking some “behind the scenes” looks at other books of the Bible, in preparation! Any suggestions???}
Yet, my biggest fear in stepping aside from this for a time, is that you and I will go back to the “flip” method of Bible Study {Where we flip our Bibles open to wherever they happen to land, and start reading. This CAN be good. ALL Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful no matter where we “flip” to… but, we can miss so much of what God’s Word really says by using this method. There’s a joke that I’ve heard a number of pastors use that drives home this point… You open your Bible and “flip” to the verse that says, “[Judas] went away and hanged himself”… and then you “flip” to the verse that says, “Go and do likewise.” ;)}, or that we wouldn’t know what to study, so we stop reading and studying our Bibles altogether.
And, so, I would LOVE for this to be a place where we can come along side one another and bring encouragement and accountability. No matter what, how, or where you would like to study your Bible next, would you just take a few moments to let me know!? Maybe you’re starting up a new study with your church, or are hoping to read through the entire Bible, or really want to read through Philippians again, or have a desire to read other letters of Paul, or you can’t wait to read a book from the Old Testament, or you want to do a word study on “grace”… or maybe you’re just not sure where to go next. Either way, I’d love to hear from you and pray for you as you seek out truth in His Word!
Here are just a few options if you’re seeking what to do next (& then I’ll share what my Bible study plans are for the fall!)…
*If your church is starting up a Bible Study this fall, that is an excellent place to start.
*Inspired to Action has “Hello Mornings” groups that are studying 1 Peter. (I really appreciate many of the women that are a part of this team.) Their groups are already filled for the fall, so I missed the cut off, but you could still go through the 1 Peter study that they are doing (at a minimal cost), and gleam some wonderful wisdom from the ladies there.
*Mom’s Toolbox hosts reading the Bible in 90 days. This was an INCREDIBLE blessing to me when I read through the Bible in 90 days last summer. I learned SO much! They’re on day nineteen or twenty now, but you could still follow their format, and commit to reading through your Bible in 90 days or 900 days.
*Focused 15 is another Bible Study that I have really appreciated. My blogging friend, Katie Orr, has written this excellent Bible Study on 1 Corinthians 13. You can purchase your own copy on her Focused 15 site. (You can also read my review on it here.)
*Good Morning Girls encourages women to study the Word by using the S.O.A.P. method of Bible study, as well as offering blog posts and videos to encourage you along the way. This fall they are studying Colossians. You can join a “Good Morning Girls” group for accountability, or study on your own. And we haven’t missed the cut off for sign-ups yet! :)
{My Bible Study plans that I want you to keep me accountable to…} I’m excited to be participating in this study of Colossians, and look forward to sharing what I am learning with you!! And since I LOVE to find ways to share truths of the Bible with my kids, I will happily let you in on any family {Bible} times that we have relating to Colossians. :) Would you like to join me? {This is my first time joining Good Morning Girls, so I’m a bit anxious and excited all at the same time! The study begin September 17th.}
Now, would you please take a few moments to let me know what YOU are (or soon will be) studying from God’s Word!? Let’s keep each other accountable! I would love to know that you are praying for me as I continually seek out God’s Word, and please know that I am praying for you!
And, I would love for you to pray that God would guide me in any other future Bible Studies here at Our Family for His Glory!
Thank you for your kind encouragement! You are a blessing to me!
Hi Jessica. I am planning to do the Colossians study with GMG too! I have done a few with a great group of homeschooling moms that I met online through GMG. I am looking forward to it and think you will love it!
Theresa, I’m so excited that you will be doing the Colossians study too! :) I’m looking forward to it!
Hey Jessica :) I’m currently doing the Kept Study with my HelloMornings group and I’ll be diving in to the Colossians study with the GMG in a few weeks :) When I’m between studies I will just *flip* and see where I land, or I’ll read my way through Psalms.
Hi Aurie! I’ve never heard of the Kept Study (or at least my “mommy” brain can’t remember it right now). I’d love to hear more about it and how you are liking it! Do you have both a Hello Mornings group and a GMG group? I look forward to studying Colossians with you! :)
Here is the link to the Kept Study. It’s one that many of the Hello Mornings groups are using.
Yes, I’m in a Hello Mornings group on Twitter, and I’m also an ACE for the challenge :) This is my 7th time though and I love it!! I’m also in a GMG FB group and I’m looking forward to diving in!
Ahem….HERE is the link: http://www.savoringlivingwater.com/bible-studies/
Thanks again, Aurie! Sounds like a wonderful plan! :)
Thanks, Aurie! That’s funny that I somehow missed the name of the Hello Mornings study, as that’s the same page I linked to. :) I SO appreciate Katie and Lara!
Oh, and what’s an ACE?
Thanks for all your help! :)
Hello again :) Each Hello Mornings group has an Accountability Captain {AC} which I have done in the past. This session they decided to have Accountability Captain Encouragers {ACE} which means that my job is to encourage and pray for the ACs assigned to me during the session :)
I am thrillled that you WILL be doing a bible study sometime! Right now, with church we are going through Romans. We just just finished chapter 9. On my own I am going through Deuteronomy, and with the children we are doing The Dig for Kids Luke vol.1! We just started and are only on Lesson 3 but we are all really loving it, and loving this one on one time together and with God! This study with the children is FOR the children, but it is making me more confident in leading my children to the Lord!!
Bless you Jessica! And I look froward to hearing about your Colossians study.
Lindsay, I am just so, so blessed by your words and encouragement! Thank you! I’m praying for you as you study God’s Word and teach your kids! I’ve heard great things about The Dig for Kids, and look forward to hearing even more of how you are liking it as you continue!
Have a blessed day! :)
I love the book of Hebrews. Thanks for inspiring us! I pray that your school year goes well.
I really like Hebrews too!! So much goodness, and precious truths about faith packed into that book. :) Have a great day, Amanda!
I love the thought of sharing the focus of our studies so we can pray for one another! I am in a women’s circle at church that is moving VERY slowly through the Book of John (we only meet one evening a month), as well as a women’s Bible study at church that meets one morning a week and studies Hebrews. In the evenings, I am reading a chronological Bible that takes me through the whole Bible in a year. I am several months behind, but will be happy to get through in TWO years. It took me much longer than that to get through all of it the first time! :-) At some point, I want to go back through your Philippians study!
Andria, I love how you are able to study so many different ways! I think two years is a great amount of time to read through the Bible. The first time I read it all the way through, it took me a good six or seven years. I started in high-school and remember reading off and on throughout college and then finished when I was married. :) I’m praying for you!! Jessica
I have been reading a lot of books pertaining to David this summer and scripture alongside it. I would love to do a study on him. Need to find one or I will do one on my own. :)
Amy
Amy, Let me know what you find! I’d love to study David too. Jessica
I just finished up a Precepts Study of 2 Peter at our church that I just loved! Such a short book but so incredibly full of truth! I will be joining a women’s Bible study group tomorrow evening that is doing Psalms this fall…I might have to follow along with the Colossians study too though. Thank you for your encouragement to stay in His Word!
That sounds wonderful, Meredith! You’ve encouraged me to read through 2 Peter before the Colossians study starts! :) Many blessings, Jessica
Jessica, I have not been following along w your Philippians study although I have read a few of your posts for it. I totally understand your need to take a break from “hosting” your study. I have also been making many “media” related changes to my schedule lately also. I am so excited though because I am also participating in the Colossians study :) :) I just came across it the other day. I have been wanting to do something lately and church just started up another ladies study but it just is too difficult as a homeschooling mama plus the baby should be arriving any day :) :). So I was pretty excited when I came across the GMG study :) I also have never done one before. As I was reading your post tonight I had a good friend text me and ask if I was doing the study because she saw I posted it on Pinterest and she and I are going to do it together :) I originally was going to just do it on my own because if I fall behind with the baby I didn’t want to feel like a failure from the get go ;) but I am so excited that God opened an opportunity to have that accountability for me. How about you? Are you doing it with a group or on your own? I would love to work with you if you are looking for a partner :)
Kelli, I would LOVE to do it together with you too. Although I signed up for the study, I didn’t sign up for a group {for a number of reasons- one being that although it’s a “morning” group and I will probably do my study in the morning, I try to stay off the computer in the morning (& I didn’t know how to work that), and not knowing what the future holds and if we will be moving in the next month or so. I look forward to connecting with you and keeping each other accountable. And I look forward to hearing about that new little one of yours due any ay now! :)
Jessica
Jessica, I totally understand that. Wonderful! What a blessing we can share in encouraging one another!! What is your tech medium of choice? I no longer have FB (one distraction in my life God was calling me to abandon, and I am very thankful I obeyed!) but I do email and text messaging. Whatever works easiest for you will work for me. And if one of these doesn’t work, let me know what you would prefer instead and I am more than willing to be flexible :) I am so excited about this study and the online accountability/fellowship it will offer :) I know Colossians will teach me much!! Could you email me and we can chat from there as far as what way will be easiest to communicate from here on out? Kellibeuten@gmail.com
Hi Jessica!
I have been joining in with the Hello Morning Group for the past 4 weeks and have been studying 1 Peter! It is wonderful!!
Looking forward to hearing what you are learning as you study through Colossians…such a powerful book, this one! :)
That 1 Peter study looks soooo good! I’m so glad that you (didn’t miss the cut-off like me and) are able to gleam precious truths from your study! I’d love to hear what God is teaching you! :)
Jessica
I am doing the good morning girls study except my group has decided to do their Proverbs 31 study that they did over the summer. We have a facebook group set up and I am leading it. It is my first time ever leading a bible study and it is also my first time with GMG. I am posting their blog and videos along with the scripture on our FB page and then we all comment from their about our bible time. I am loving it so far. We started a week early as the P31 study is a bit longer than Colossians study and I am hoping we will be done in time to be able to do the Advent Study along with GMG after Thanksgiving. I love the book of Philippians and hope to do your study after the one i am doing now. Thanks so much.
Jennifer, Thanks so much for sharing! I didn’t do the actual study of Proverbs 31, but really appreciated reading the posts that went along with it. I bet you are learning so much! Oh, to be the Proverbs 31 women. :)
Have a great night!