A novel idea…
April 8, 2008 by David Alexander
Filed under Bible study
I’ve been publishing my Friday Playlist for five weeks now. If you’re not familiar with the Friday Playlist, I started writing it in response to a survey of our congregation about what “tools” they felt like could assist them in their study. Fairly consistently, I heard that most had a desire to study the bible, but felt hampered by several factors.
1. They didn’t know where to start.
2. They often didn’t understand what they were reading.
3. While most experienced substantial growth in the past by committing to a weekly study, currently they were struggling to find the time to be a part of that type of group.
The Playlists that I put together are five selections of readings with some brief notes and questions for reflection. My hope was that people would print that out, do those daily readings, and then find a few friends who would share in that discipline and commit to getting together during the week to talk about those readings. My thought was that by allowing people to find a group of friends to work together, the format of the study could be adjusted for many different life situations. It could be a study for a group of men to work through over their lunch break, a group of moms sharing a play date with the kids, etc.
This Friday, I will post the final set of playlists for the book of Matthew, and I hope there are a few groups who will have taken the time to work through all 28 chapters of Matthew by the end of next week. Over the past several weeks, I have put together all the readings and questions at the end of the week and it has usually run into the weekend. Starting this week, I’m trying to enhance my own practice and prepare one track per day so that on Friday, I can post the work I have done throughout the week. What a novel idea… Daily readings!
I’d love to hear any comments and/or feedback about the playlists. The only reason I’m doing this is as a resource for you, so let me know if I can do anything that will enhance the practice.
I’m also trying to decide on which book I want to work through next. I’d love to hear your suggestions… as long as their not Revelation. Let’s save that one for later.
erin on Tue, 8th Apr 2008 5:33 pm
I love the playlist and I know my group does too! I would love to work through another Gospel next or would that be too repetitive? It is awesome though and we really like when the associate pastor walks by so we can ask him all our questions! :o)
johnnybrower on Tue, 8th Apr 2008 11:32 pm
how about something in the old testiment? i know that’s a bit broad, but it seems to me like it’s the hardest to understand. especially with all the violence, etc.
love the playlists. no group, but personal study has been beneficial.
kimberly on Wed, 9th Apr 2008 4:15 am
I love the playlist. It has not only offered me a way to dig deeper, but helps me maintain my commitment to daily study. It keeps me focused on a commitment I have made and you took most of the work out of it! I especially like the history, even more would be great.