Meeting God In Scripture

Dallas Willard Center Book Award Finalist Jesus is speaking to us here and now. Lectio divina is a practice of Scripture reading that treats the Bible not only as a text to be examined, but also as the living Word of God spoken anew to us. Experienced Bible teacher Jan Johnson gives us forty Scripture meditations, organized topically, giving us the tools we need to practice lectio divina on our own. Each meditation can be used both individually and in group settings, and includes an introductory space of quiet along with an optional preparatory exercise; the full text of a passage from Scripture with explanations of unusual or important words, and with cultural and historical background as needed; cues to help us enter the text; space to contemplate the passage, respond to God in prayer and rest in his presence; and an exercise to "try on" one of the main ideas of the passage in our daily lives. Meeting God in Scripture moves us beyond merely understanding what the text meant in its original context to a direct spiritual encounter with Christ.

Have you ever felt intimidated by the Bible? Would you like to get to know it better, but worry you might find it difficult or daunting? How to Read (and Understand) the Bible is the book you need. It's a fascinating, accessible approach to Scripture that will help you go deeper into the heart of what it's all about: the timeless true story of God's love for you. Join scholar and theologian Larry Richards on a journey through the Old and New Testaments as he explores 21 key stories and themes in Scripture and shows what they reveal to us about God. Whether you are new to reading the Bible or were brought up on its stories, you'll come to understand it more deeply than ever before--and connect in a whole new way to the God who wrote it for you.

We know that one of the primary ways that God speaks to us is through His Word. But sometimes we approach Scripture with so many questions to be answered and problems to be solved that we have difficulty hearing God in all the confusion. In Listening to God, Jan Johnson introduces us to lectio divina or sacred reading -- a way of reading that makes space for God to speak through the text. Instead of asking questions of the text, lectio divina helps us listen to the questions God is asking us through the text. Listening to God arranges passages of Scripture by topics, so that you can zero in on a topic that is personally relevant and spend a day or week on a single passage learning to listen to God through His Word. Some topics included are -- finding intimacy with God -- making progress in the spiritual life -- having the heart of Christ -- building relationships. Ideal for personal or group use, Listening to God helps the Bible text come vividly alive and teaches how to experience God's voice through a passage you may have heard over and over, or are finally understanding for the first time.

Provides a process for grounding our spiritual growth in the sacred story, for coming to an intimate knowledge of the God who desires relationship with us.

Are you a new Christian who wants to learn how to read the Bible and hear God's voice? Or are you a more experienced Christian who struggles with meeting God in the pages of Scripture because your head is more engaged than your heart or your hands? Do you long for true intimacy with God, for the sense that God is speaking directly to you through his Word? If so, then this book might be for you. And you're in good company.Meeting God in the Bible through the devotional practices of Quiet Time, Spiritual Journaling, and Lectio Divina is explored almost entirely through story-an extended story of a long-term discipleship process between a pastor's wife and a new Christian. Other Spiritual Formation practices encountered in the story include prayer, spiritual testimony, overcoming temptation, Scripture memorization, discipleship, and biblical interpretation. God has made us for himself, and we invite you to deepen your journey toward the intimate communion with God that you were created for.

Because of the Bible's sheer size and structural complexity, the effort to grasp its message seems to daunting of a task for some. With this problem in mind, the author designed this handbook to guide readers through the highlights of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. These 365 carefully selected readings are designed to be read daily and instill a deeper, rich appreciation for the message of Scripture.

The Bible reveals glorious things. And yet we often miss its power because we read it the same way we read any other book. In Reading the Bible Supernaturally, best-selling author John Piper teaches us how to read the Bible in light of its divine author. In doing so, he highlights the Bible's unique ability to reveal God to humanity in a way that informs our minds, transforms our hearts, and ignites our love. With insights into the biblical text drawn from decades of experience studying, preaching, and teaching Scripture, Piper helps us experience the transformative power of God's Word—a power that extends beyond the mere words on the page. Ultimately, Piper shows us that in the seemingly ordinary act of reading the Bible, something supernatural happens: we encounter the living God.

Most Christians have experienced the "laundry list" phase of spiritual life, in which praying means giving God an agenda of needs to handle. But how do you move to having real conversation with God? How do you hear what God is saying back to you? How can you make your experience of God's presence part of everyday life? In this six-session LifeGuide® Bible Study, Jan Johnson covers the disciplines of prayer and of practicing God's presence. Going deeper in these areas will help you to draw closer to God in everything you do. For over three decades LifeGuide Bible Studies have provided solid biblical content and raised thought-provoking questions—making for a one-of-a-kind Bible study experience for individuals and groups. This series has more than 130 titles on Old and New Testament books, character studies, and topical studies.