Category: Bible Study

  • SOAP: Revising the to do list

    Scripture: 1Timothy 4:7-8 7…Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. 8Physical exercise is important, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. Observation: Spend your time and efforts on the thing that really matters and will last: your spiritual health.…

  • SOAP: Don’t get bogged down with the details

    Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:4-5 4Don’t let people waste time in endless speculation over myths and spiritual pedigrees. For these things only cause arguments; they don’t help people live a life of faith in God. 5 The purpose of my instruction is that all the Christians there would be filled with love that comes from a…

  • SOAP: A little guidance on prayer

    Scripture: Colossians 4: 2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Observation: Pray, and approach God in thanks and be prepared to listen. Application: God wants us to spend time with him. Time that is dedicated just to him. (I am not doing so well at this exact moment, I…

  • SOAP: Be Kind

    Scripture:  Colossians 3:12-13 12Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13You must make allowance for each others faults and forgive the person who offends you. Observation: God chose us to be His and has a request for us:…

  • SOAP: True relationship is key, not going through the motions

    Scripture: Colossians 2:16-17 16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For those rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself. Observation: The important thing is a relationship with Christ. Let that be your focus,…

  • SOAP: Whenver you seek him you will find him

    Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15:2 (partial) …The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him… Observation: God will be there whenever you call out to him and whenever you work to build your relationship. Application: It is comforting for me to know that God…

  • SOAP: The most important thing in life is free

    Scripture: Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Observation: God’s gift of salvation is exactly that: a pure gift, given freely without cause. I didn’t do anything to earn it or not. He just gave it to…

  • SOAP: Frankness is better than flattery

    Scripture: Proverbs 28:23 In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery. Observation: I am guessing God must want us to be honest and frank rather than empty flatterers or praisers. Application: I see two applications, here. Application One: God doesn’t want us to just praise Him, he wants our heart to be in the…

  • SOAP: I’m praying for you

    Scripture: Romans 15:13 So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Observation/Application: (I am combining the two because I think this verse is pretty straightforward.) I write a lot…

  • SOAP: Do the right thing

    Scripture: Proverbs 22:1 Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold. Observation: It is more important to do what is right than to do what will bring money. Application: This is something that I really want my children to understand. Sure, money brings…

  • SOAP: The Conversation with Christ test

    Scripture: Romans13:13 (partial) We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Observation: Do the right thing. You are representing Christ. Application: Everything I do should pass the Conversation with Christ test. If I was talking to Jesus, I would want to be able to talk…

  • SOAP: Committing your work to God = Success

    Scripture: Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed. Observation: Do everything for the Lord and success will follow. Application: Stopping and analyzing my motives, then committing my efforts and plans to the Lord, will bring true success. Prayer: Lord, you know that this is a struggle for me.…

  • SOAP: Stay calm and make fewer mistakes as a result

    Scripture: Proverbs 14: 29 Those who control their anger will have great understanding; those with a hasty temper will make mistakes. Observation: Stay calm and keep your anger in check and you will make fewer mistakes. Application: I need to keep working towards controlling my frustration when my children disobey. It’s humbling to admit that…

  • SOAP: So how do I get to be saved?

    Scripture: Romans 10:9 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Observation: All it takes is belief and an acknowledgement of belief to be saved. Application: I remember acknowledging my belief in Jesus many, many years…

  • SOAP: He knows what we need, even we don’t know what to say

    Scripture: Romans 8:26-27 26And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. 27And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying,…