One of my father’s favorite quotations is attributed to Oliver Cromwell, the 17th century English political and military leader, “I beseech you, think it possible you may be mistaken.” My father was never shy about sharing his opinion, but he was always open to hearing different points of view and willing to change or at least expand his mind on the subject. Not a bad attitude to bring to a Bible study.
Sharing thoughts, insights and even leadership in a Bible study group is a really good idea. It’s not just about giving up the familiar but gaining the joy of new direction and new insight.
A group Bible study is not a test in which there are clearly right and wrong answers, where the “teacher” knows best or at least has the answer book. It’s good to be reminded of how important God’s Word was to Martin Luther – so important that everyone should be able not only to read it, but to engage with its life-giving, life-changing power.
This message is excerpted from “Studying scripture” by Karen G. Bockelman in the January/February 2018 Gather magazine. Today we commemorate Ansgar, Bishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark and Sweden, 865.
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