Follow-up to our “Smell Like Sheep” weekend with Lynn Anderson.

This post describes the follow-up process to our “Smell Like Sheep” weekend with Lynn Anderson. Follow up will occur in four stages.

Stage 1 Invite Feedback and input from our leaders (e.g. What did you hear God saying? What resonated with you? Where is God leading? What do you think God wants are next steps to be? Anything else?)

Stage 2 – Prayer and discussion – Three levels of meetings will be scheduled – the first meeting will be with elders. The second will include the elders and the ministering shepherds. The third meeting will include all of our leaders. The purpose of these three meetings is to pray, discuss and discover God’s will for our church.

Stage 3 – Implementation. Once we understand what God’s will is for the future, we are asking God to give us the strength and ability to carry it out.

We are currently in stage 1.

I sent the following email (Jan 18, 2011) to the ministering shepherds, small group leaders, ministry leaders, student life guards and others who participated in the “Smell Like Sheep” Weekend with Lynn. People are still responding – I just another one this afternoon.

_____________________

Brothers and Sisters,

What a weekend! You made Norway Ave shine like Jesus.

Lynn said great things about you. We have a great church family. Lynn praised you for your preparation, enthusiasm, faith and especially your love. As I listened to Lynn say all those wonderful things about you my heart was so full of joy for our church. You shine just like Jesus!

Late Sunday night, after Lynn returned to his home in San Antonio –he sent me this text – Lynn wrote “What a church!! I did feel a sense of God’s hand. Do so much hope that, in some way, it has been and will be some meaningful help to Norway (not just encouragement – but significant game changing help“

That’s why I am writing you.  The elders and I want to know – Did you feel God’s hand? Did you hear God’s voice? What does God want? What’s next? We want God to show us HIS plans – Right?

My heart is full! I love times like this! But I’ve learned if I don’t write it down I’ll forget it – “Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through the lips and fingertips” (Dawson Troutman)- Please write down your reflections – don’t let it slip away.  Let’s to do it while it is fresh. If we let it set on the shelf it may grow cold.

Below are some notes from the weekend. We had five sessions with Lynn. I highlighted a few items at the beginning of each of the five sessions and pasted Lynn’s handouts to help you remember – my notes are not exhaustive – just a “sketchy” outline of what happened + Lynn’s handouts & notes). Skim the notes and pray as you respond to the three questions below (Note: I did not include Lynn’s notes in this post due to copyright)

The elders are currently working through a similar process of reflection and writing – they will be meeting for face-to-face prayer and discussion soon. But the shepherds want your thoughts and input before they meet – this will allow them to pray over and consider everything. They are seeking God’s will and he speaks through his people – so please respond – the shepherds are listening!

I will compile all the responses I receive from you (ministering shepherds, small group leaders, ministry leaders, Jon, Lifeguards, myself and anyone who participated – I will collect all response and send them as one document to our shepherds so they can think about, pray over and consider what you heard from God.

We are praying Exodus 33:12-13 – “Lord, show us your plans”. Remember? That passage that framed our recent six-week study of “What does God Want?”

We are seeking the face of the Lord – we are praying the same prayer Moses prayed below.

Exodus 33:12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have told me to lead these people, but you did not say whom you would send with me. You have said to me, ‘I know you very well, and I am pleased with you.’ 13 If I have truly pleased you, show me your plans so that I may know you and continue to please you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

Please respond to 3 open-ended questions below. Reply to me – I will collect and compile your emails and handwritten notes into one document and present them to the shepherds.

We need your input! Please respond to the three open-ended questions below.

Three Open-Ended Questions

1. What did you hear God say this weekend? What resonated with you?

2. What do you think God wants our next steps to be? Short term? Long term?

3. Anything else?

______________

The leaders of our church are still responding to the three questions and we are collecting it all – praying throughout the entire process.  Stage 2 begins next week.

FOOTNOTE

The leaders of our church are still responding to the three questions and we are collecting it all – praying throughout the entire process.  Stage 2 begins next week.

Amber and I took Lynn and his grandson Connor to the airport after church last Sunday. The pictures below were taken right before they boarded the plan. We will always remember our weekend with Lynn and Connor – it was fantastic!

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Introduction to Inductive Bible Study Methods (Bereans Online at Norway Ave Church)

 

A NEW ONLINE BIBLE STUDY (under construction).

I am developing a new online Bible study. I have made brief comments about this project in two recent sermons. I want to share my progress. I still have a lot of work to do. It is not complete. I am developing the content, creating templates, collaborating with Jeff Garrison (from StudyLight.org – see below). It is a lot of work but I think it is worth it. God put this on my heart and I want to see it through. But I need your feedback. This post (and the three the follow) contains an outline of what I envision for a new study group I want to develop. I would like to call it “Bereans Online @ Norway Avenue Church”. The name comes from Acts 17:11 which says “the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” The name “Berean” is widely used by Bookstores and study groups. But it communicates the purpose of what I envision. Please send me your feedback, ideas and suggestions after you read this post and the three that follow. Father, please use this for your glory. In Jesus name, Amen!

Summary Sheet (Eighth Draft)

Introduction to Inductive Bible Study Methods

(For Bereans Online at Norway Ave Church)

Jeff Garrett (jgarrett@norwayave.org)

In 1993, when podcast didn’t exist, I listened to Insight for Living on the radio everyday at 12pm. Chuck Swindoll spoke so highly of Howard Hendrix and the book he had written that I bought “Living By The Book”. William and Howard Hendrix taught me how to dig deeper and it changed the way I studied the Bible. For me, their classic text is the best. My worn out copy is outdated. Living By the Book has evolved over the years – I have most recent version of the text but I do not have all the new resources (yet).

I also like Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word. In the late 90’s I adapted (with permission) Rick Warren’s C.L.A.S.S. 101 – 401 materials for the Reynoldsburg Church in Ohio. In my version of 201, I lengthened the section on Bible study. In that section I combined principles of Hendrix with the methods of Warren and added a few of my own techniques.

The process of using inductive techniques for personal study, sermon preparation, and writing my version of 201 helped me dig deeper. There are many other books on the inductive approach (e.g. Kay Arthur) available and there are tons of resources on line.  But Hendrix and Warren are the two writers who have influenced me the most.

This introduction to Inductive Bible Study will cover the basics. It is designed for individual study and online collaboration between 5 to 10 people at the Norway Avenue Church. There will be no face-to-face meetings. It will not be incorporated with our small group ministry. You will increase your quiet time with Jesus from Monday through Saturday, dig into God’s word, and post a three-paragraph summary on Sunday evening.

There are twelve studies (one per week). You’ll learn 17 Inductive Bible Study Methods. The more you use the more you will get but you do not have to use them all. For instance, I list 10 methods for observation but you may use only five due to time limitations. That’s fine! You can grow closer to Jesus even if you use only three. These methods work because they enable you to examine God’s word more thoroughly. You are not going to glance at the Bible – you are going to study it and wallow in it. You will learn to use your knees, eyes, ears, hands, mind, and heart.  As you wrestle with scripture your Teacher, the Holy Spirit, will illuminate God’s word. I pray that God will use what I have prepared and you will grow to know Jesus better.

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

There are many different ways to study the Bible including topical studies, biographical studies, etc. But this will be a verse-by-verse study of Matthew 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount. There are two helpful resources below.

1. John Stott’s Study Guide (required & no cost to you – We purchased the study guide as PDF with a multiple-user license).

Contents

1. Unexpected Blessings – Matthew 5:1-12
2. God’s Way to Make a Difference – Matthew 5:13-16
3. The Importance of Obeying God’s Law – Matthew 5:17-20
4. What’s Wrong with Private Sins? – Matthew 5:21-30
5. Faithfulness in Marriage & Speech – Matthew 5:31-37; 19:3-9
6. How to Really Love Your Enemies – Matthew 5:38-48
7. How Not to Be Religious – Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
8. A Pattern for Dynamic Prayer – Matthew 6:7-15
9. What God Thinks of My Ambitions – Matthew 6:19-34
10. Relationships That Encourage – Matthew 7:1-12
11. Detecting the Lies of Our World – Matthew 7:13-20
12. Making the Choice of a Lifetime – Matthew 7:21-29

John Stott’s study guide is written in a workbook format and features the inductive Bible study approach.

2. John Stott’s Commentary – The Bible Speaks Today Series

Note: The commentary is optional. You will spend far more time study the Bible and the online commentaries at www.studylightforums.org/ are sufficient.

Note: The commentary is optional. You will spend far more time study the Bible and the online commentaries at www.studylightforums.org/ are sufficient.

BIBLE STUDY BASICS

MY TEACHER – Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 1:10-16; John 14:26; 16:13; Eph 1:16-17)

MY BOOK – The Bible (2 Tim 3:16)

MY METHOD– Inductive Bible Study

Three Disciplines & Three Prayers

1. Observation – Lord, help me see it.
2. Interpretation – Lord, help me understand it.
3. Application – Lord, help me live it.

MY TOOLS

Knees – (Eph 3:14)

Ears – (Romans 10:17; Neh. 8:3; Luke 9:44; John 10:27; Mark 4:24)

Eyes – (Heb 12:2)

Mouth – (Ps. 19:14)

Hand – (Duet 17:20)

Mind – (Acts 17:11; Dan 10:12; 2 Cor. 2:16)

Heart (Psalm 19:14)

Spirit – (Romans 8:16)

Body – (Romans 6:12-14; Romans 12:1-2)

Whole being (Luke 10:27)

MY PRIMARY ONLINE RESOURCE – Studylight.org

Concordance

Topical Bible

Parallel Bible Translation

Audio Bible

Bible Atlas

Bible Dictionary

Encyclopedia (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

Commentaries

Notice that the inductive approach encourages you to consult commentaries after you study the Word. Learning what scholars say about the passage is important. But it always best to go straight to scripture first.

More about StudyLight.org

Jeff Garrison is the owner, operator and developer of Studylight.org. Jeff is a missionary in Gdansk, Poland. Jeff and I (Jeff Garrett) talked by phone (on Jan 6, 2010) about my desire to create an online Bible study for our Church. Jeff expressed interest and wants to use it as a pilot as he develops the new version. If everything goes well, we will use his resources at www.studylightforums.org/ and meet in the forum that he creates for our “Bereans Online @ Norway Ave Church.”

Jeff Garrison’s Contact Information: Email – jgarrison@studylight.org

Links

New StudyLight (Garrison is currently developing) – http://new.studylight.org/

Classic StudyLight (Garrison older version which)

I am grateful to Jeff Garrison and amazed at his work. The following are excerpts from his sites.

“Studylight.org provides fast, Accurate and FREE Bible Searches, along with the most comprehensive collection of Bible Study Tools and Resources on the internet.”

StudyLight.org provides dozens of English Language Bible Translations, Bible Commentaries, Bible Dictionaries, Bible Encyclopedias, Bible Concordances, Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic Lexicons, Historical Church writings, and contemporary articles and commentary to understand and live out God’s instructions.”

I hope that Jeff Garrison has the time to collaborate with me and create a room or forum (not sure what he calls it) for our church. I just sent an early draft of templates. It would be a great honor and privilege to work with him. Studylight.org is used my thousands of Christians around the world and the site is recommended by international leaders like Kay Arthur.  On page 175 Arthur’s book “The New How To Study Your Bible” she listed five Online Bible Study Resources and Garrison’s StudyLight.org is third on the list. For more information on Studylight.org. click here. If Garrison does not have time to collaborate I totally understand. He is a family man, missionary and sole owner/developer/operator/manager of a international website. Garrison is a busy man! I hope he has time to collaborate with me and help Norway Avenue Church. Perhaps this little project of mine will, in some small way, contribute to the development of his new website (which is currently under construction) so other churches can use (or build on and improve) the Inductive Bible Study Templates that I am creating.

Follow StudyLight.org – Facebook and Twitter

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS YOUR TEACHER

The following pic is a ppt slide from one of my recent sermons. It emphasizes the fact the the Holy Spirit is your teacher. You cannot understand the word of God without the Holy Spirit.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Jesus said in John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Since the Spirit is your Teacher, it is important to begin each time of study with prayer and continue to pray throughout – talk to God – say short little prayers like Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

AN EARLY DRAFT OF THE INTERFACE

The slide below is an early draft of what I want the interface to look like. A few days ago I received helpful feedback from one of our members regarding my long list of methods – it was too much. You are busy and your time is limited. The last think you need is a 10 page document with 17 assignments! Based on feedback, I simplified the interface and presented the methods as options, not requirements. You can use all 17 Inductive Bible Study Methods but  it is not required. If you choose to learn and use 7 or 8 methods you will make great gains! Start small and let it grow. Use three or four methods – that’s more than you are using now – right? Notice the question in the top right corner below. When I complete the final draft with hyperlinks you will be able to click on each tool box and decide which methods you have time to use.

REGARDING THE NEXT THREE POST (below)

The next three posts contain a list of 17 Inductive Bible Study Methods which are grouped into three major categories or steps – observation, interpretation and application. The steps are  sequential. Do not skip a step because each one builds upon the next. For instance, if you try to interpret scripture (Step 2) without observing (Step 1) its content, the risk of misinterpretation is high. Another example – if you do a great job one Step 1 (Observation) and go straight to Step 3 (Application), you increase the risk of misapplying God’s word. You cannot apply what you do not understand. So work the steps in order. Each step contains a certain number of basic inductive Bible Study methods (i.e. tools, aids) to help you understand and apply God’s word. There are ….

10 Inductive Methods associated with Step 1 – OBSERVATION

5 Inductive Methods associated with Step 2 – INTERPRETATION

2 Inductive Methods associated with STEP 4 – APPLICATION.

It is as simple as 1, 2, 3.

Please at the post below and give me feedback. I want to make sure my explanation of the process is clear, accurate and concise. This is a work in progress and I need your help.

Step 1 – OBSERVATION (Inductive Bible Study)

Method 1 – HEAR IT (http://www.audio-bible.com/niv/)

Get the Big Picture!  Listen to Matthew 5-7 two times.

First listen to the sermon without following the text.

Then, listen to the sermon while following the text.

Method 2 – Create a 1-page-outline so you ca see it in a glance

Method 3 – READ IT Focus in on one passage (Matt 5:1-12)

http://www.studylight.org/desk/?query=mt+5&t=niv&st=1&new=1&l=en

Read it repeatedly (3 times)

1. First, read it silently
2. Second, read normally
3. Third, read it slowly, thoughtfully & reflectively

Method 4 – WRITE IT (optional)

Transcribe it word for word in the box below

Method 5. PROBE IT

Ask 5 questions:

Who?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

How?

Method 6: Six things to look for (notes from Hendrix)

1. Things that are emphasized (Amount of space? stated purpose? Order?)

2. Things that are repeated (Key words? Key phrases? Characters? Stories?)

3. Things that are related (Movement from general to specific or vice versa?  Questions & answers?)

4. Things that are alike (Similes? Metaphors?)

5. Things that are NOT alike (The use of “BUT’? Irony?

6. Things that are true to life (People? Groups? Principles? Laws? Warnings?)

Method 7 – Keep asking questions – Use the questions in John Stott’s study Guide

Method 8: Examine the structure (see Appendix A)

Method 9:  RESEARCH IT – Identify and define key words and phrase

Bible Dictionary (http://new.studylight.org/dic/)

Encyclopedia (ISBE) – http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/)

Concordance (http://new.studylight.org/con/)

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance  (http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html)

Parallel Bible Translation (http://www.studylight.org/par/)

Method 10: RECORD IT (record your observations below)

STEP 2 – INTERPRETATION (Inductive Bible Study)

STEP 2 – INTERPRETATION

Method 1 – Consider Context (see Appendix B)

Method 2 – Synthesize Content (see Appendix B)

Method 3 – Check Cross-reference Comparisons – do they support or contradict your interpretation? What do they add?

Concordance (http://new.studylight.org/con/)

Topical Bible (http://www.openbible.info/topics/)

Method 4 – Consult Commentaries and record the most significant contributions your glean below. (see Appendix B)

Commentaries (http://new.studylight.org/com/)

Method 5 – Jeff Garrett’s Sermon Series on Matt 5-7 – Disciple of Jesus

Podcast Numbers and Sermon Titles

110 & 111 The Greatest Sermon Ever Heard (Jeff Quotes Jesus’ Sermon)

108 – Righteousness Inside Out

106 – Healing Broken Relationships

104 – Love, Sex & Marriage

102 – Marriage & Divorce

100 – Honest to God

098 – Love Your Enemy

096 – Treasures in Heaven

094 – Worry Wart

092 – Do Not Judge

090 – Ask, Seek & Knock

088 – The Road Less Traveled

Step 3 – APPLICATION (Inductive Bible Study)

STEP 3 – APPLICATION

Method 1 – Use Jeff Garrett’s “Jesus Christ Acrostic”

Look for “J.E.S.U.S. C.H.I.R.S.T” everywhere!

Joy in your heart? (Ps 19:8)

Example to follow? (or avoid)

Sin to confess?

Understanding and insight?

Something that hinders?

 

Command to obey? (Comfort to receive? Cleansing from guilt?)

Habit to Break? (Habit to begin? Hurt to heal?)

Relationship to mend? (a verse to remember)

Inspired by a promise?

Song to praise?

Truth to believe?

________________

Method 2 – Rick Warran’s S.P.A.C.E. P.E.T.S.

Sin to confess? Do I need to make any restitution?

Promise to claim? Is it a universal promise? Have I met the condition(s)?

Attitude to change? Am I willing to work on a negative attitude and begin building toward a positive one?

Command to obey? Am I willing to do it no matter how I feel?

Example to follow?

Prayer to pray?

Error to avoid? Is

Truth to believe?

Something to praise God for?

 

TAKE AWAYS – Write a 3-paragraph summary of your study below

Paragraph 1 – Summarize your most important observations

Paragraph 2 – Explain your interpretation

Paragraph 3 – How are you going to apply what you’ve learned

 

APPENDIX A – STRUCTURE (notes from Howard Hendrix)

APPENDIX B (notes from Howard Hendrix on Content, Context, Culture, Comparison, and Consulation)

APPENDIX A & B will be included in the final draft and appear on StudyLight.org

 

Download Sermons FREE on Itunes – Norway Ave Church

Download Sermons FREE on Itunes –

Norway Avenue Church of Christ’s

Podcast

Second of Three Wed. Night Discussions (Smell Like Sheep)

Lynn’s PET scan was clear – Remission! Praise God! That’s what we’ve been praying for and we will keep on praying for Lynn and his family. We are preparing for Lynn. Our shepherds and leaders are reading his books, watching his training videos and meeting for Wednesday night discussion and prayer. Tonight we finished the 2nd of 3 Wednesday nights. The discussions are going great! Debbie and Becky are our prayer coordinators – you ought to see the prayer room they prepared – it’s called “Mary’s Upper Room”. They named it after Mary Dunford – our dear friend who resides in heaven. Great things are happening at Norway Avenue Church – we’re praying the Psalms and preparing for what God is going to say through Lynn. Visit Lynn Anderson’s Mentoring Network – Below is an excerpt from Lynn’s They Smell Like Sheep (Vol. 2) Lynn wrote “The flock you shepherd deserves—and desperately needs—a shepherd with a heart for the Word of God. So hungering to know and teach God’s Word is a top priority for shepherds.

Faithful shepherds feed on the Word, because as Frak says, “Even when we ‘know it,’ we still ‘need it.’ ”  Peter says that the point in studying the Bible isn’t always to learn something new. More often it is to remind us of something old.

More importantly, reading the Bible leads us repeatedly into an encounter with the awesome God!

The shepherd with a heart for the Word uses the Bible to lead his or her flock to encounter the Sovereign One. He longs to help them find light for the journey, to help them manage the day-to-day ethical, moral, and relational challenges of life. He knows that only God’s Word supplies a compass able to show people the way in a world of bewildering questions, unbearable sufferings, and profound mysteries, a world without maps explaining how to make it through life’s insoluble problems.

Good shepherds have the joy—and the responsibility—to know and to teach the Word.”

Small Group 2010-2011 Interview with Allen Meadows