Study to show thyself Approved unto God. A Workman who does not Need to be Ashamed. Rightly dividing the Word of Truth. (2Timothy 2:15)

This is what AWANA stands for: Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. So, how can I be an unashamed workman for God…study His word and learn to apply it to your life.

Good afternoon. This past weekend I was talking with someone and realized that not everyone knows how to study the Bible on their own. Even some who have been Christians for many years. So, I want to share with you some ways that has helped me over the years.

During the months of September through May my church offers both a Wednesday morning Bible study class exclusively for women and a few different co-ed Bible study classes on Wednesday evenings. Both groups are open to the public, not just church members. If the class is working through a particular Bible study book and you can’t afford to purchase the book, one will be given to you.

Another option, is through various online organizations such as: https://faithgateway.com/ or https://proverbs31.org/

If none of these appeal to you, you can always do this on your own. All you need is a Bible, a notebook, and something to write with. This is the format I use:

1. Pray–Pray that God will soften your heart and open your eyes and mind to His teaching.
2. Read–Read a small section of the Bible, not a whole chapter. I suggest starting with the Book of John, then moving on to Proverbs.
3. Write–Write down what is going on in this passage, who is speaking, to whom are they speaking, what is the lesson being taught, etc…
4. Write again–This time though write how you think this lesson applies to you and your life personally. Be honest, God already knows everything, and this notebook is only for His eyes and yours. So, there is no reason to sugar coat anything or try to hide anything…just put it all out there, the good, the bad and the ugly.
5. Pray again–This time though, pray that God will help you apply this lesson to your life, today and every day after.

A wise woman once told me that you are responsible for everything you learn. Once you have been taught something you can no longer say, “I did not do, because I did not know how to do”. For example, a child who has not yet been taught not to steal cannot be held responsible for taking a piece of candy from the store without paying for it, but once the child has been taught this lesson they are now accountable for their actions. This is the same with us as children of God. Once we learn how He wants us to live our lives, we are then held accountable for our actions.