Days 8-14 Thoughts on Jonah 1

Hello everyone!  I hope you can forgive me for not posting last week!  The past two weeks flew by me, so we will just be covering days 8-14 in one post!  The main thing I would like to talk about this week is what is inductive bible study?  And what did you all learn from studying Jonah 1 inductively?

So a brief overview of inductive bible study:
1. Observation - What does the text say?  Such a vital step to make sure we have a solid foundation!
2. Interpretation - What does the text mean? With out proper observation we can not interpret accurately.
3. Application - Conforming to the word of God.  This could be an action or choosing to believe what you read and conform your mind to the truth.

The thing that hit me the first time I went through this was that I was continually trying to apply scripture to my life without properly understanding it because I had failed to simply observe what the text said.  For me also realizing   and believing that all scripture is God- breathed and that God said what he said and how he said it for a reason.  Because I know God is in ever word that makes me all the more want to carefully observe it to see exactly what God is trying to teach me. Despite the repetition of reading over and over I hope that you enjoyed watching the text unfold before you each time you went through it!

1. How has this new way of leaning to study the bible changed your perspective in approaching the Bible?
2. What did you learn from making the key words calamity and prayer?
3. What did you learn about God?
4. Was there someone specific God used from this study in your life this week?

In Jonah I am so encourage that in the midst of Jonah's disobedience that God still uses the situation to reveal himself to the sailors and that in the end they sacrifice to the LORD and make vows!  Wow!  Pretty cool how calamity reveals who God is to the lost!  And we see it over and over today that in the midst of trials, people surrender to God! Something good to think about...are we going to make God look great even in the midst of our suffering?

My challenge this time around has been the question, "Is God the first one I run to in the midst of calamity?"  Even though the sailors worshiped other gods, their first response was prayer!  I must say many times I want to call family or friends first instead of Creator God!  God can use people to give us comfort and guidance but I must first go to God for only through him can the storm cease from raging!

Much love to you all!