To tell the truth, I started out better than I finished.
Covenant Bible Study seems to be a thorough, methodical review of selected Bible texts broken into 3 study guides. 1. Creating the Covenant, 2. Living the Covenant, 3. Trusting the Covenant.
I have always enjoyed small group gatherings at church. I really appreciate being with friends that want to know God better. (That isn’t a conversation that I have at work).
When I had the self-discipline to the daily readings, “my take” on a reading could be very different from my classmates … but Tami created a safe environment to question, explore and even laugh about what we read. It was okay to read tough scripture and be stuck on “what”? or “why”?
Some of the episodes I enjoyed the most were entitled:
- New Instructions for a New Kingdom
- Grateful Love Serves
- Love Never Fails
- Renewing the Covenant
- What is Good for My Life?
- Seek Good
- Hospitality is Christian Love in Action
- Living with Crisis
- Don’t Abandon Each Other
I fully admit I only selected the “warm, fuzzy” titles. I did not include titles that included Lament, Tragedy or Civil Disobedience (there were plenty of those)!
I did get frustrated for a while with Old Testament readings. I became resistant and would skip some. Those Old Testament people worshipping other gods and turning their backs on a God who loved them and wanted to be in relationship with them. At one point I decided I must be a New-Testament-only Christian … Just tell me what Jesus had to say – but as I sat with that thought for a week or so … I have come to believe that I’m not a fan of the Old Testament stories and those stiff necked, hard-hearted people doing whatever they wanted/worshipping other idols … because I may be more like them, than I realized or am comfortable with.
I struggled with keeping a daily reading practice … but that said … I practiced. I read the Bible every week, if not every day … and for me that was a good step in my personal faith journey.
I’ll close by highlighting how I grew in affection for my classmates. We spent months together exploring the Bible, in discussion, watching a weekly video and considering something new that you might have missed. This was very cool. It was another way to be in community.
I feel like we have just scratched the surface of all that God might have to say to us. However, His Word is right here for us and I plan to continue to build a daily reading practice, with renewed discipline and willingness to be in relationship with the God who loves us.