"Let's Play Bible!"

I called a friend of mine the other night and invited myself over to his house. His wife and my wife were going to attend a meeting one evening that week and I thought it would be a good time to get together and "play Bible".

I like to use that term for Bible study. Think about it. It's a lot of fun playing games. We play cards, we play ball, and we play music. Those things are fun, entertaining! It's fun studying the Scriptures too, so why not call it playing Bible!

There really aren't any rules. It's good to play with a few people so you can hear different thoughts but not too many that the game becomes too chaotic, with lots of rabbit trails. It would also be good to have a few different translations and maybe a reference book or two. The most important resource is the Holy Spirit.

When I arrived at my friend's house, we just sat down and started talking. We discussed "repentance" because that's what my Wednesday group had discussed a couple of weeks ago. It was so much fun. I had a great time. I like the dialogue, the back and forth, anticipating what the Spirit will reveal next.

When the women returned from the meeting, I suggested to my friend that we get together and "play" again. Hey! Maybe next time the ladies can play too!. The "game" is fun for everyone, male or female, young or old, mature or new believer.

Proverbs 9:9,10 says, "Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous and they will learn even more. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgement." (NLT)

Acts 2:42 says, "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (RSV)

Romans 15:14 says, "I myself am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another." (RSV)

The growth that results from playing Bible are priceless. From my evenings with the Gerbils and challenges from the German, to Bible and Bagel Fellowship, the Wednesday group, and Ballofdirt, I am growing by leaps and bounds. "You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17, The Message Remix Bible)

I challenge you to gather with a friend, friends, or family and play Bible. It's a "game" that will impact your life. God bless y'all real good.

Teachable But Not Gullible

In responding to a recent blog post I accused the writer of being immature. Some may have taken my comment as being disrespectful. He is the pastor of a church and many people look up to him. My comment, even though it was harsh, was not meant to be insulting. My hope was that it would be thought provoking.

Many times in the Scriptures believers are referred to as "sons" or "children" of God. Matthew 18:3 says, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Now I ask, do we remain children?

1 Corinthians 3:2 says, "I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not able to receive it."

Hebrews 5:13-6:1 says, "For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about Christ, let us press on to maturity..."

2 Peter 3:17,18 says, "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard, so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

It's obvious from the Scriptures above that there needs to be growth. Why?

Ephesians 4:14 says, "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;"

2 Peter 3:17 says, "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall away from your own steadfastness."

We need to grow so that we are not deceived. It's easy to take advantage of an infant or someone who is uneducated. When I was a child I believed in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny , and the tooth fairy. Guess what?

When I was an infant in Christ I was told a lot of things about being a Christian, the Church, and my Christian walk. Guess what? Almost thirty years later my relationship with Jesus, the Church, and others is a lot different. I'm still teachable but I'm not gullible.

So, when I accused the pastor of being immature, I was referring to his maturity as a believer. Things will look a lot different to him thirty years from now. I would encourage him and you to pursue the Scriptures, remain steadfast, and to "run with endurance the race that is set before us."(Heb.12:1) God bless y'all real good.