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Bible study International, Epe (2026)

24/11/2021

How to Be Grateful for Your Life:
• Devotional

Relationships

Relating to people is the heartbeat of our lives. We’ll rarely go a day without having interactions with other people in our many roles. We’re daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, and more. As we think about the different roles we have, let’s consider our gratitude level. Are we thankful for the people God has put in our lives? Do we express our gratefulness to (and for) them?

Maybe you’re in a marriage that’s become stale. It could be that there’s tension with a longtime friend. Or perhaps, you feel there’s too much stress between you and your child. Regardless if there’s strain or not, we have clear instructions from Romans 12 about how to treat others: be devoted to each other, honor each other, practice hospitality, and live at peace with each other, to name a few. As we learn how to be grateful for the people in our lives, here are some extra tips to help us:

Replace complaints with compliments. This can be a challenge, can’t it? Most of us are prone to see the things that frustrate us instead of the things that bless us. Let’s choose to see the good!
Serve someone. There’s someone in your life who’s load is heavier than yours. Show your gratitude by doing something that would lighten their burden.
Write it down. Write down something you’re grateful for about the people in your life. Write it on a note and leave it for them to find, or have an ongoing list and give it to them when you reach 50 or 100 things. Imagine the look on their faces!
Just say “thanks.” When we have eyes to see the gifts and blessings in our lives, we’ll see there’s much to be thankful for. So, daily thank your spouse, your child, your closest friend, or someone else for one thing.
It’s been said that we are like the people we spend the most time with. Who we allow in our personal inner circles affects our gratitude quotient. Be mindful of who you spend time with. One of the more challenging things in our relationships is that we may be willing to change, but other people may not. Sometimes that means relational adjustments are necessary.

No matter who’s in our lives, we can’t neglect our role in growing our gratitude. As Galatians 6:9 NIV says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” As we express our thankfulness for—and to—the people in our lives, we’ll be overwhelmed by how it changes us, and in the process, we’ll get to watch it impact them.

09/11/2021

Without Judas Iscariot, Jesus wouldn't have become the saviour of the whole wide world.

Stop seeing people in your life as enemies most especially those that didn't share in your point of view. Allow them to fulfill their assignment in your life.

looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 KJV

05/08/2021

Growing patience

'Troubles produce patience.' Romans 5:3 NCV

Thinking about small children, their understanding of the world means they have very little patience. If they're expecting something, they want it now. But the older a child grows, the more they understand the reasons for waiting, and the more they build trust and patience with those around them.

Our relationship with God is a lot like that. Initially we may have the patience of a toddler with God's plans, but the more we grow in our understanding of him, read his Word, and talk to him in prayer, the more faith we develop to say 'in your timing'. We can use every waiting period, and every seemingly-unanswered prayer to build our relationship and our trust in him. Let's learn to identify setbacks and delays as chances to step closer to God, and to seek his wisdom and guidance. The endurance we build could be key to fulfilling God's plans, as we recognise his hand at work, hearing his prompting more clearly.

We're told: 'When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy...when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow' (James 1:2-4 NLT). Looking for God in the quiet or tough times is part of what makes us who we're meant to be.

So what now? The next time you're about to treat yourself to something, such as a coffee break or an episode of your favourite TV show, make yourself wait for a short time first. Set a five-minute timer and spend that time with God.

29/07/2021

Obey then the blessings will come.

'Obey the Lord your God so that all these blessings will come and stay with you.' Deuteronomy 28:2 NCV

The Bible says that we should praise God 'who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ' (Ephesians 1:3 NIV). But sometimes God's blessing is conditional. This means we have to obey his commands before we receive any blessing. Moses gave the Israelites a list of the ways God was going to bless them (see Deuteronomy 28:3-13). But this list was preceded by these words: 'All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God' (Deuteronomy 28:2 NIV). The word 'if' is really important; it means we have to choose to obey.

How willing are we to obey our heavenly Father's good and life-giving commands? Sometimes we expect blessings without putting any effort in, but it's clear that obedience is necessary. So how do we know what God wants us to do? We need to be spending time reading the Bible. We need to be listening to what he's saying to us, and then acting on it. Obedience means we follow God wherever he's calling us, even when it's challenging or we doubt ourselves.

As humans we tend to desire to do our own thing, and we can struggle to surrender our whole lives over to God. When we ask God to help us humble ourselves and obey him, he'll gradually transform us to live godly, obedient and blessing-filled lives.

So what now? What's God been asking you to do or change recently? Take one step forwards in obedience today. God wants to bless you because he loves you.

09/07/2021

Rebuilding your integrity

'If I have cheated...I will pay back.' Luke 19:8 NIV

To have integrity means we do the right thing, even if nobody sees us or knows about it. It's about who we are when no one is watching. The Bible says, 'Integrity guides decent people, but hypocrisy leads treacherous people to ruin' (Proverbs 11:3 GWT). Zacchaeus is a great example of someone who lost and then regained his integrity. He became rich by collecting more taxes than his Roman masters demanded and keeping the extra for himself. But after he met Jesus, he said, 'If I have cheated people...I will give them back four times as much' (Luke 19:8 NLT). Jesus said, 'Salvation has come to this home today' (Luke 19:9 NLT).

Rebuilding our integrity means acknowledging that we've done something wrong, such as having ungodly thoughts or hurting someone. Then we need to repent of those mistakes. This goes further than just owning up to what we've done; it means making changes to our lifestyle to avoid redoing those mistakes. Zacchaeus made amends by repaying the people he had stolen from, and choosing to live differently from then on.

Sometimes we may think that if our mistakes don't negatively affect anyone else, then it doesn't matter. But Job said of God: 'Does he not see my ways and count my every step' (Job 31:4 NIV)? When God looks at us, does he see someone with integrity? Let's do the right thing, regardless!

So what now? Is there something you're doing, or not doing, that you know isn't right? Confess it to God, make a change, and rebuild your integrity.

03/07/2021

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my part.
Psalm 119:105

03/07/2021

God's training

'Suffering produces perseverance.' Romans 5:3 NIV

When we experience a tough time, our (totally understandable) natural reaction could be to ask God to take us out of it. And when he doesn't, we may assume he is harsh or doesn't care. But this is furthest from the truth. God cares about everything we go through, and he walks alongside us. The psalmist wrote: 'Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me' (Psalm 23:4 NIV).

So why doesn't God take us out of difficult situations? One reason is that he wants us to learn something important for our lives. Romans 5:3 (NIV) says that 'we know that suffering produces perseverance.' God's training us to be stronger and more like him. But we'll only learn if we choose to do so. If we're too busy begging God to take the situation away, we are not open for the opportunity to grow. All tests and 'valleys' are temporary. But it's up to us whether we'll just about make it through or if we'll come out looking more like Jesus.

And, we are actually called to rejoice in trouble! 'In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials' (1 Peter 1:6 NIV). This may seem impossible, but if we consider the training God is doing, we can be joyful whilst walking through the valley.

So what now? Ask God to open your eyes to what he's trying to teach you through whatever you're facing today.

03/07/2021

Listen to this!

30/06/2021

Get out of your boat

'Peter got out of the boat.' Matthew 14:29 ESV

Comfort zones are challenging to leave. We generally like things as they are, even if we're not totally happy. The Bible tells us that 'Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus' (Matthew 14:29 ESV). He took a risk and left his comfort zone.

Will we do the same? Here are some questions to ponder: (1) What's my 'boat'? Our boat is whatever gives us our sense of security; it's what we put our trust in when life gets stormy. It's whatever would cause us fear to leave behind. (2) What's keeping me from getting out of my boat? The thing that most stops us is fear: fear of people, of failure, of criticism, or not having enough. In order to grow, we need to step out into new territory, and fear is part of that. But each time we get out of our boat, we're a little more able to do it the next time, and we learn that fear doesn't have the power to control us. (3) What will I lose by staying in my boat? If we stay in our comfort zones, we won't reach our full potential or be able to achieve everything God has called us to do. If we don't take risks we may feel regret and wonder what would have happened if we had stepped out of the boat.

So what now? Ask yourself the questions in today's reading. Figure out what your 'boat' is, and ask God to help you step out and walk towards him.

27/06/2021

Bible study (1)

'Crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.' 1 Peter 2:2 NIV

Studying the Bible every day is essential to our spiritual growth, but often we prioritise other things! The Bible should be like food to us: helping us grow stronger and more mature in our faith. The Bible says, 'man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord' (Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV).

Peter uses the analogy of babies and milk, saying, 'crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation' (1 Peter 2:2 NIV). Babies desire and demand milk on a regular basis. In the same way, we should be consuming God's Word regularly. The main thing is to be deliberate about studying God's Word, even if we're starting with the basics. Paul said to the Corinthians: 'I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it' (1 Corinthians 3:2 NIV).

If we're not ready to get stuck into deep theological Bible study, let's start small. We can aim to read the Bible for ten minutes a day, choosing a passage we're familiar with, and then researching it. We can look online for commentaries, listen to teaching on the topic, and ask the Holy Spirit to show us what it means. This will grow our faith hugely!

So what now? Not reading the Bible too much lately? Don't feel guilty! Schedule in 10 minutes each day to read and study your Bible, and maybe even write down what you're learning in a journal. Enjoy growing in your walk with your heavenly Father!

25/06/2021

The purpose of this group is to study the Bible as we are led by the Holy Spirit. No argument but mature reasoning of the word of God. Iron sharpens iron.

25/06/2021

Bible study International is a call to return back to Bible base study and teaching of the word of God.

Bible study International

24/11/2021

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