Reading: How to Lead Attention Bible Studies

Transcript: 
This is fun, I have to say that it is the word of God changes our lives, our homes, our families, our marriage, everything, to where we're saying the word of God, and actually getting curious about the process. And then learning different ways in ministry that you can do this. We're gonna, we're going to look this time at the attention Bible study. Okay, so this is all based upon, you gotta know, basically, the, you know, the context, you know what I'm saying, now, right, do this without threat. But, but once you do that, you get to shift a methodology. This is especially easy, it's an easy way to go, if you just want to get some discussion, I think, you know, like, especially for new people that, you know, might be overwhelmed. I mean, as a leader, you know, the background and so on. But sometimes, you know, people that know a lot about the Bible tend to, sort of gravitate towards all this teaching, right. So that a new person is like, then they feel intimidated, and they feel like they'll never catch on and never get anywhere. And this sort of Bible study really helps a new person feel like maybe I can do this. So in other words, the first style of Bible study as a leader, you can know all this trouble in the text and the context. But to a certain audience. This is more like taking them more lightly, or putting their toe in the water without blowing them away, and also to keep away from the danger of becoming the Know it all. All right. That is a downside to if you know a lot in ministry, you start like it's so enthusiastic how we are, you know, we come up with the answer people like, oh, we know this and you know nothing. Exactly. So and then people then think that way for the next five years about their mentality, I will never catch up to all these church people. But if you do something like this, we'll just show it. How to create your own attention Bible study. So you read the passage and have everyone silently take note of what got their attention, something they don't understand, or something that's really interesting, or something that stands out for them for any reason, okay, for any way they read. So, this feels like you're going on the subjective side. Okay. All right. So take us out of there. All right. So Henry, as we look at this is the story of the prodigal son. And if I were to look at this, how many are I'm no longer worthy to be called your son make me like, your hired servants. So you got up to his father. So off the top, Henry this is your first time just looking at this. What would you underline? I would, First of all, he came to his senses. Okay. So he came to his senses. So Henry chooses, he came to his senses. And I am going to choose I'm no longer worthy to be calleg your son. Okay. All right, 2 million points. So we got two sentenses. I'm no longer so now we had three questions, okay. of each person, right, each person, underline something, okay. And each person is going to answer these three questions. So the first question is, what stood out to you or what got your attention? So we've done that. Why do you think that got your attention? Well, because I mean, ministry, sometimes people just so are going down a path that is so destructive from themselves or family. And many times, people weren't raised that way. They were raised with the Word of God. So I'm praying right now, for a large number of people. And I have a prayer, Lord. Help them come to their senses. I'll tell you, right, like, all these different ways, so you're so this is sort of a concern that you have right now. And this This gave voice to it. Yes. So it was mine again, mine is I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. He got my attention, because just before that the Father had already accepted him back as a son. Right. And he, you know, he made he did this confession thing. Like he practiced it but then he came home and he was accepted back as a son before he made his confession. Right. But he still makes his confession. So why, right? Well, but he made his confession. But he didn't say make me like one of your hired servants. That's what he Practiced, but he doesn't say it here. And he doesn't say it here because he's already been accepted as a son. So when I saw this text is he was forgiven without asking for it. But he's still at he still confesses, right? Because now he really feels bad not to get something, because he just feels bad. Okay. So that's why I got my attention, then number three, what do you think God might be trying to tell you, by what stood out to you. So if I think about coming to senses, I think God is recognizing the truth that this is a problem. And that the prodigal son happens 10s of 1000s of times, millions of times, since this was written by Jesus being encouraged that the story talks about a father concerned about his son, and I'm concerned about my children or my friends, that, here's a story that gives me great hope. It speaks to me, like if in those days, you know, like, Adam and Eve were God's children, but they fell. 

Really amazing people have children or friends, or that you, you're raising the habits of walking them, they fall. And yet there's this powerful story of redemption, that gives me hope, transparently for anyone, so God is trying to tell me keep praying, and keep hoping. So what I find interesting is you started off kind of in the third person, it's good for people, then then you finally got to, well, in the context of my own family, see, now that's a little more personal. Okay, so that, because that's what people are gonna do, they're gonna go into teach mode, or this text is really good for the world, because the world is broken. right, my friend needs this and on and on and on. But it's a lot harder to get into the personal Why do I need this? When where do I need to come to my senses? Right? What what exactly is going on in my life, see if that is a harder leap. And as a leader, that's where you have to sort of lead them in that in that. So it's like, you know, that's really true. People do need that, but why do you need that? Right? I think you'll have to do that. Because if I took mine too, you know that, that? Why do you think God may tell you it? What's there now what stood out to me was the fact that the son was accepted without me before he made his confession. So for me, it would be where am I trying to manipulate God? Where am I trying to do good things? 

You know, and now, I somehow deserve it like that prodigal or like the older son, you know, in some ways the older son is, how am I like the older son? Right? And why am I thinking about it this week? Okay. So as a leader, you really have to push you have to go in deeper, because people want to want to stay with the first two questions. If you go back to questions. What stood out for you? That's easy. You just underlined something. Right. And then number two, well, why do you think it got your attention? Well, because I, I was confused by that they'll have some reason. And everyone, regardless of this was the first Bible study they've ever gone to will be able to get that. 

Right. Okay. So those first two are easy. That third one is really hard. Yeah. I mean, you're right, if I think about it, there's a lot of encouragement. But to go to that level of Where do I come to my senses, I love you actually, as a leader intentionally, you know, start robbing and it's interesting when you talk about, like yourself, then I thought of an application. So when you do it this way, you can you can bring me quicker to an application for what stands out for you. So I thought to myself, you know, the younger son can, you know actually went through that confession when he didn't need to. Right? And there are times when, you know, we pray the ACTS adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication. And sometimes the, you know, the theology of your sins are all forgiven at the cross. So I don't really need to do a confession. So why do we do confession, our entire childhood in churches where we went out to every single Sunday, had a call to confession and promise of forgiveness, all of those things every week. And in the south, I remember at one point, I was thinking in church, I was like 15 to 16. Now, what's the deal with that? I mean, we got Jesus Christ died in the cross. Your sins are forgiven, but it's still the conscience we have, there are sins that we commit, we still need to come to confession there. In fact, the tradition of the ancient traditions, Catholic even still have a confession booth. 

Well, you know, we did do that in our churches. And I know, my father ended every prayer. Most of everyone I knew, and forgive us, our many sins for Jesus. But, but no one ever elaborated on that. No one ever said what those sins were. So as a broad general thing, we're forgiven in general, the reason the prodigal son made his confession, even though he had already gotten what he originally came to his senses. And the first thing he realized is I'm hungry. Right? But how am I gonna go back? I'm gonna have to confess. So he has this confession, but it's to get something right. Make me one of your servants so at least I won't starve okay comes back. And he's overwhelmed, because he's accepted back as a son without even saying anything, right? So why did he confess, he confesses, because he sees how loving his father is in the face of all his rebellion, all of his sin. And the father never stopped loving me. I didn't realize that. And now, how did I treat my father this way? He really feels bad. So part of, I think what you're saying is, is we need to, to understand what Jesus did on the cross, we actually have to understand what he did for us. And if we don't realize the sins if we don't realize how we hurt our father, by going our own way, and being selfish and saying, you know, Father, I'm gonna do my own thing. 

Well, how do you and I do that? Specifically? Because then we realize what we've been forgiven for. Right? So it's, like entitlement. No. Gratitude. Yes. Okay, so it's like, you know, Paul even put it, we do not sin that grace will abound, right. So it's really he's applying this story of Jesus in very powerful ways. And we had a little Bible study here talking about Bible study. We will often do that we're talking about the next thing, you know, impromptu Bible study. Yeah. So we're just another example of friendship Bible study. And we've traveled the world together, always interested in how these types of things build. And we will do devotions. Like, even when you do family devotions, this is a beautiful thing to do. Like, okay, kids. You can have a two year old, a five year old, 10 year old or 15 year old and that works for all of them. And, you know, it's also sort of a life coaching thing. Let's just look at these questions. What stood out for you, I'm not telling you, I'm not giving you the answer. 

Why do you think it got your attention? What do you think God all these are more coaching kinds of things. And notice that when people do it, they feel like, wow, I'm actually letting the Word of God, you know, have its way with me. I'm learning things about me. And, and what gets the credit, Bible study, right? And here's really where the theology of the Holy Spirit comes in, in a very tangible way. So in as you take more ministry training, you know, we talk all about some of the theological understandings around the Holy Spirit works now the wind blows. But this type of Bible study can be done in a lot of context with new Christians, old Christians. I mean, we preface this by saying this is for newer Christians to put their toe in the water. Well, we did we talked, we will, ourselves are going deep, right? Because we know that the powerful pastor could do this with his sermon writing what you know, it's really it's really maybe the preface to this kind of Bible study is praying that the Holy Spirit will lead us Lord open us up to what you want to speak to us draw our attention. When I start underlining I may underline it because I like that particular word or real is why. But if I asked the Holy Spirit to please direct me, I want the Word of God to help me understand who I am, what what your role for my life is. So ask the Holy Spirit, and then trust that the Holy Spirit is going to be like saying you are the man. You know, the story of David. And, it's that when the light goes on, you ask these kinds of questions. Often, yeah, the light goes on. Well, it's sort of like the first few questions are just sort of easy, but they're getting they're setting you up for getting under something that might or to help you reveal or have it revealed a deeper level than you would have ever thought. To go back, this is the curious walk with God. And once you start opening yourself up to it, you know, you become changed over layers of truth through the Holy Spirit that gets put to you. And this increases your impact as a ministry leader as well. Alright. On this one, we before we did this, this would be a really short here, we ended up doing it live because we had a little Bible study while we're okay till we meet again.

Introduction

• The transformative power of the Word of God on personal and family life is highlighted.
• The speaker expresses enthusiasm for exploring different methods of conducting Bible studies.

Concept of the "Attention Bible Study"

• The approach is designed to make Bible study accessible and less intimidating for new participants.
• It allows for lighter engagement without overwhelming participants with deep theological knowledge.

Execution of the Attention Bible Study

• The Bible study session begins by having participants read a passage and note what captures their attention.
• Participants are encouraged to reflect on why certain aspects of the text stood out to them.
• This method aims to foster personal connections with the Scripture rather than focusing solely on teaching.

Discussion Example: The Prodigal Son

• Participants identify and discuss phrases that resonate with them from the story of the Prodigal Son.
• They explore personal and contemporary applications of the passage, discussing its relevance to their lives and current societal issues.

Methodology Discussion

• The leader emphasizes the importance of making Bible studies relatable and avoiding the "know-it-all" approach that can alienate newcomers.
• The discussion method is explained, where participants share their observations and discuss the implications on a personal level.

Importance of Personal Application

• The leader stresses the need to connect biblical teachings to personal experiences to make the study more relevant and impactful.
• The approach encourages participants to consider how the teachings apply to their own lives, fostering deeper understanding and spiritual growth.

Role of the Holy Spirit

• Emphasis is placed on inviting the Holy Spirit to guide the study, helping participants see beyond the text to its application in their lives.
• The discussion highlights how this approach can facilitate personal transformation through deeper engagement with the Scripture.

Conclusion

• The session concludes with reflections on how such Bible studies can enhance personal faith and understanding.
• The leaders discuss the potential of this method to be used in various contexts, from family devotions to more formal Bible study groups.