Date: November 6, 2022
Meditate on God’s Word
The Point: Saturating our minds with Scripture keeps us focused on the things of God.
Get Into the Study
Use the following information to introduce Question #1.
Pittsburgh radio station WYEP (91.3 FM) recently polled its listeners, asking them their all-time favorite song. For the WYEP listeners, here are the top 10 favorites:
- The Band, “The Weight”
- John Lennon, “Imagine”
- Bob Dylan, “Tangled Up in Blue”
- Van Morrison, “Into the Mystic”
- Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
- The Rolling Stones, “Gimme Shelter”
- The Beatles, “A Day in the Life”
- Marvin Gaye, “What’s Going On”
- Bruce Springsteen, “Thunder Road”
- Queen and David Bowie, “Under Pressure”
Say: Maybe you have a favorite song on that top 10 list (or maybe you don’t). Then call attention to Question #1 (What song or jingle often gets stuck in your head?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
Get Into the Study [Option from Adult Leader Guide, p. 113]
In advance, play some popular commercial jingles your group members are likely to be familiar with. Then ask Question #1.
Study the Bible
Use the following information to introduce Question #2.
A few months ago, Crosswalk.com, an online Christian living magazine, published a list of the most popular Bible verses. This list is based on online search rankings – so they are the verses people are searching for online. The article accompanying the list noted that, “Several themes connect these popular Bible verses: Connecting with God, living with purpose, and finding strength.” Here are the top 10 most popular verses:
- John 3:16
- Jeremiah 29:11
- 1 Peter 5:7
- Romans 8:28
- Joshua 1:9
- Philippians 4:13
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
- Psalm 23:1
- Genesis 1:1
- Romans 6:23
Say: Perhaps you have a favorite verse (or verses) that you recall again and again as a source of encouragement and hope. Then call attention to Question #2 (When has a Bible verse stuck with you during a season of life?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/top-10-most-popular-bible-verses.html
Donna McKinney wrote these Leader Extras. Donna is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in North Carolina.
Additional Questions
Icebreaker
- Which commercial jingle gets stuck in your head?
- What is something you still remember that you memorized in school?
- What song often gets stuck in your head?
Psalm 1:1-3
- What causes you to delight in God’s Word?
- What does it look like to meditate on Scripture?
- How can you recognize someone who delights in God’s Word?
Psalm 1:4-6
- How can Scripture meditation help us seek a godly lifestyle?
- What can we do to ensure that our lives resemble the tree that is planted by streams of water?
- How would you describe our culture’s view of the Bible?
Philippians 4:8
- What effect does thinking about godly matters have on our attitudes?
- How can consistent time in Scripture change the way you think?
- What practices or habits have helped you stay focused on right thoughts?
For Those in Your Group
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought:
A Solution for Those Who Feel Guilty About Not Reading the Bible
Magazine Article
This article complements the study. Share this link with your group members.
- Mature Living – There’s a Psalm for That!
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
Why don’t you have Session 4 — Meditate on God’s word podcast in the ITunes store?
The last one in the store is session 2.
I found the complete podcast for session 4 above but prefer to listen to your podcast on my phone/ ipod on the go.
I use your podcast, your leader guide, your advanced bible study and the personal study guide to prepare for teaching the senior ladies Sunday School Class
Jowanna, we are investigating why the podcasts have not stopped uploading to other podcast platforms. My colleagues in IT are looking into this.
This lesson reminded me of a time that my husband and I were helping with a young church in North Alabama get started and we had an interim pastor from Tennessee. His name escapes me, but he had memorized the entire Bible. He always recited the scripture from memory. It blew me away.
Inspiring. Encouraging. I am motivated to hide God’s word in my heart and the heart’s of my grandchildren. This was a transformation Bible study and podcast. Thank you. I am grateful for all the LifeWay writers and staff.