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Bible Study Leading Towards Full Life Commitment to God

The scene of my first bible study is still engraved in my heart. In the beginning, five mature Christians sat around a small table with a novice (i.e. me). My back had been sweated through. Then the leader invited us to turn to the Book of Ephesians. Once I heard that, my sweating could finally stop because this was the book that I had read in my last night's devotion.

I believe that most Christians have had similar experiences because we know nothing about the Bible in our first Bible study, including the content of the Bible as well as the method to read the biblical text. In our minds, you and I may keep asking, “Will I say something totally silly to the people around the table?” In fact, after fifteen years of bible study, I still have a similar worry. Yet the question has been changed to “Can I appropriately address the life questions of the group members during this Bible study?”

My life has been changed since this first Bible study. In fact, I can like many other churchgoers just sitting in the sanctuary and listening to the preaching or the pastor. Then go. However, that first Bible study totally molded my spiritual life. I see my emptiness and insufficiency in God’s revelation; but God also catches my attention because of my self-awareness. Once I know his word more I can also discern the obscurity of the unbelievers’ thinking. I have turned from passive to active; this is the power in the word of God. It is also the product of approaching nearer to spiritual maturity.

Bible study started the momentum by enabling me to have a full commitment to God in ministry. Today most of my effort is in studying and teaching the Bible including many Bible study sessions as well as preaching engagements. I enjoy the fellowship with God and his people during the persistent Bible study at the church and my home. People can see the substance of the word of God. This is a kind of joy that nothing can be traded for.

To be honest, the factor still pushing me to study the Bible is my limitation in understanding God’s word. This is also the reason why I keep inviting people to join with me in various kinds of Bible study. We can sit either in Tim Horton's for a half hour and talk or just at the bench of a park while waiting for our kids in the playground.

Multi-faceted approaches and levels of discussions facilitate a fuller understanding of our God’s desire in our lives.

I have made a calculation that I invite you to do so. How many books in the Bible can we thoroughly read once in our lifespan? We can read one to two books per year. It means we need thirty three years a least to complete the whole Bible once. Can I guarantee that? I am not sure. However, if we can join into some Bible study groups, the pace of reading will be much faster and the understanding can be much clearer.

Enjoy in your Bible study and run towards full spiritual maturity.

Submitted by Rev. Alan Siu Kuen Wong