QUESTS

Adults often have very busy lives. That means there is no minimum requirement for preparing for this class. When we have class I plan to first have a short lesson drawn from some brief passage from the previous week's reading, followed by discussions about the questions you bring to the class. If we have time after that I'll have some additional questions for our consideration. Please pray about what the Lord would have you do to prepare for the class.

Think and pray about having a specific goal or quest as you read. Below are some suggestions for your consideration. I recommend you choose at least one of these (or one of your own design) but no more than two.

Persons of the Trinity: Focus on the activity of just one person of the Trinity or on one aspect or attribute of God, like Love, Wisdom, Justice etc. Or one of the Spirits mentioned in Isaiah 11:1-3. Or one of the Spiritual fruit or gifts mentioned in Galatians 5:22, Romans 12:3-12, 1 Cor 12:4-11, or Ephesians 4:11

People: For each book focus your attention on one of the people mentioned several times in that book. Even when that person is not specifically mentioned, think about what he might have been doing and thinking. What would it have been like to be him? Why did he do the things he did? What did he do that you admire? What did he do wrong and what were the consequences. Try to find extra material about him and read it. If they had an encounter with the Living God what difference did it make in their lives?

Peoples: Notice a particular group of people over time - the tribe of Levi or the prophets or the warriors. Focus your attention on the behavior of those people. Even when they are not specifically mentioned, think about what they might have been doing and thinking at that time. What would it have been like to be one of them? Why did they do the things they did? Try to find extra material about them and read it. What did they do that you admire? What did they do wrong and what were the consequences?

Personal Names: In many places in the Old Testament it says something like, "And he (or she) was called __________ (unprouncable Hebrew word) because ..." Look up the meaning of those Hebrew words and see if it enhances your understanding of the passage.

Plan or Outline: Write headings or short summary statements of each logical section or passage that you read.

Prophecy: Notice the prophecies in general or on some particular group of prophecies like Messianic or End Times. What was prophesied? Has it come true yet? So what?

Paranormal: Focus on what the Bible reveals about the supernatural/spiritual world, or on one aspect of that world like angels or heaven.

Perspective: As you read try to imagine you knew nothing about the Bible at all, that you were from some culture where Christianity is unheard of. How do you think your reading would affect you? Why? Or, imagine you were some person from history, public figure from today or some fictional character that you know a lot about. How would they see what you are reading?

Pristine: What new or surprising thing did you notice in the reading that you have never noticed before. So what?

Particulars: Read detailed commentaries about the scriptures you are reading. Or download and study our course associated with the book we are reading. See Course Listing by Scripture

Poetry: Identify poetical passages. There are some in almost every book of the Bible. Analyze them. Pick out one you might be willing to share with the class. If you need help with this complete our Bible Poetry Course

Prayers: Find the examples of prayers and answer these questions: Who is praying requesting what, and how do they try to convince God to hear them? What are the results reported for the prayer. How can we apply this to our own prayer life?

Promises: Identify God's promises and analyze them. What was promised to whom under what conditions? Does this promise apply to us today?

Perceptions: For each scene or story in the Bible try to picture what it looked like, imagine how it sounded, what it felt like and if applicable any odors or tastes that might have been involved. Did this approach give you any new insights into the scriptures?

Patterns: Pay specific attention to quotes, allusions and cross references to other parts of the Bible. Do these comparison of scripture with scripture give you any insights into the meaning and import of the texts. Pick out one or two you would be willing to share with the class.

Passion: Which passage had the most impact on you emotionally. Why?

Purpose: What is the purpose the author wrote the passage? Why did he write about what he did and not something else? How does that support the overall purpose of the Author of the Bible?

Publicity: Engage others in discussions about the scriptures we are reading either in person or on the internet and report back to the class any interesting comments you hear or puzzling questions that come up.

Participate: If possible also participate in the Facebook discussions about/around the questions I plan to publish each day. I'll publish one in public and several in the group Love Bible Study. Let me know if you want to join that group. For even more questions send a friend request to Ed Thor Carden on Facebook. You can participate in this even if you do not plan to attend the class.

Protect & Preserve: Try to find the answers to questions doubters or unbelievers might ask about a particular passage and think about how to defend our faith. (This is called apologetics.)

Premises: Write down your own personal statement of faith. Note scriptures as you read that strongly support your points or which seem to bring your ideas into question. Resolve these or change your statement of faith to more closely match the scriptures.

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