In like a lion, and out like a lamb. This spring time proverb does not ring true this year. The lion has decided to stay. The snow is falling sideways today as winter makes one last triumphant crescendo across the Cascade mountain range. Winter is tired, yet makes its last moments of fortitude known as a conquered foe who rages with one last cry before its reign ends in certain finality and succumbs to its victor, Spring.
I am preparing for our spring bible study at church.
Where do we start when we are teaching others how to study the Bible? One of the first questions might be: what is the Bible? What does the word “bible” mean? What did the Bible look like during the time period of the early Church when Jews, Greeks, Romans, north Africans, were first hearing the wonderful news that Jesus was truly the long-awaited Savior, and churches were being formed as new converts believed and were baptized?
Getting serious about the Bible, God’s Word, is life-changing, and at times, creates more questions in our hearts than we would prefer. It has caused me, personally, to go through seasons of deep questioning, challenging preconceived ideas about the Bible and about God, and wrestling with my own faith.
More than a decade ago, a friend was visiting my home. This was a regularly scheduled coffee visit, talking about faith, theology, church history and missions. We usually met in a coffee shop near my home, where I would drink coffee and she would drink water! Something I said caused her to question something she had always assumed in her understanding of theology. She didn’t talk much about it. Years later, she shared with me that for the next two years after that conversation, she went through one of the most difficult seasons of her life as she wrestled with theology and doctrine, searching the Scriptures to work out her understanding, studying, and asking questions of her pastor. God carried her through that time. After pursuing a Masters in Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada, she is now creating the Bible curriculum for a Christian school and teaching hundreds of young people about the Bible.
The writer to the Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote these ancient words:
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
As I prepare for our women’s Bible study, Search the Word, there are so many things I want to share here: my own story of a season of doubt and recovery (its complicated and beautiful), beautiful songs about Scripture, and links to resources to help whomever is reading and needs to hear this, see this, and grow on their journey of following Jesus of Nazareth.
I don’t know who will read these posts. But its out there for the Holy Spirit to use as He pleases. God created fantastic galaxies full of the brightest and most majestic stars and planets that will never be seen by a human eye, and yet, it still brings Him glory. May these words bring Him glory and delight His heart.