Profit and Progress

Bible study is a rewarding adventure. More than that, it is a means of intimate fellowship with the Lord, a fellowship which satisfies the heart and changes the life. A great man of God, George Muller, said, "The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts. I solemnly state this from the experience of 54 years. The first four years after conversion I neglected the Word of God … I remained a babe, both in knowledge and grace. Since I began to search it diligently the blessing has been wonderful."

You have undoubtedly profited from the topical studies in the first six books of Studies in Christian Living. In Books 7, 8 and 9 you'll learn to study New Testament books chapter by chapter, understand their message and see their application to life. Besides becoming familiar with three great New Testament books (I Thessalonians, I John and Philippians), you will get a grasp of principles of Bible study that will enable you to continue this kind of study as a habit of life. You will learn how to:
• Paraphrase
• Summarize
• Outline
• Cross reference
• Apply Scripture to life
• Find answers to questions

Books 7, 8 and 9 are planned so that you can complete each of them in six weeks. After the 18 weeks you should know how to tackle a passage of Scripture without outside help, analyze it, understand it and find food for your soul and relevance to your daily life. Work and pray toward this goal as you begin your study of I Thessalonians.

Be diligent and regular in your study—great dividends are ahead.

In the previous studies you have been encouraged to complete a chapter each week. As you begin The Life of Hope, again plan to do a chapter a week. Plan whether to spend 15-20 minutes a day toward the week's assignment, study two or three sessions of an hour each, or complete your study at one sitting. Find your best schedule—and stick to it.

Ask the Lord's guidance as you begin your study periods. You will probably find it best not to refer to commentaries until after you have completed your week's study. This gives the Holy Spirit an opportunity to reveal what He wants you to understand now, and how to apply it. A good prayer is:

Meeting with another person or a small group to share each week's completed study is one of the most stimulating rewards of searching the Scriptures. It will help you know the Lord and His Word better, and will give freshness and balance to your understanding.

If you have access to one of the following reference books, it will aid your study of these next three books of Studies in Christian Living — as well as help you in all future study:
Cruden's Complete Concordance, Alexander Cruden—Zondervan Publishing House.
Halley's Bible Handbook, Henry H. Halley—Zondervan Publishing House.
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, Fleming H. Revell Company.
Pictorial Bible Dictionary, Merrill C. Tenney—Zondervan Publishing House.