HOW TO GIVE A BIBLE DEVOTIONAL

Below are the notes from the last "Worship Workshop" that was conducted on January 28, 2009.

HOW TO GIVE A BIBLE DEVOTIONAL
January 28, 2009

I. DISCOVERING A DEVOTIONAL TOPIC

Two primary ways:
1. Select a Scripture Passage
(1) You can usually determine the paragraph or thought divisions in your Bible. For help, use a study Bible or Bible commentary.

(2) It is usually best to choose a brief passage of Scripture that can be treated in a few minutes.

(3) You may find that even one verse of Scripture is adequate for a devotion. This is especially true of well know promises or Bible verses.
Examples: John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Galatians 2:21; Philippians 4:13

2. Select a Topic
(1) You might choose a particular topic of interest to you, then select a Scripture that supports your chosen topic or theme.
Examples: Love, Joy, Peace, Salvation, Heaven, Christian Fellowship, The Resurrection, The Cross, etc.

(2) A Concordance is especially helpful to discover Scriptures that deal with your topic.

(3) It is best to narrow or limit your topic. This will allow you to find supporting Scripture more easily and will give you a more manageable topic to present.
Example: The topic of “Peace” would be to broad to tackle in a few minutes. But the topic, “Peace in Times of Suffering” narrows the subject and makes it more presentable.

II. DEVELOPING YOUR DEVOTIONAL SCRIPTURE/TOPIC

1. Find the main idea of the passage of Scripture you have selected.
The main theme of the text will reflect both the original meaning of the text and be stated in a way that speaks to contemporary audiences.
Examples:
John 3:16 – “The Depth of God’s Love for Us”
Psalm 46:1-11 – “God Is Our Refuge in every Circumstance of Life.”
Galatians 6:1-5 – “Bear One Another’s Burdens!”
Philippians 4:6-7 – “How We Can Experience Freedom from Anxiety”

2. Test the validity of your main idea by examining the verses before and after your passage.
Resist taking a verse out of its original context. A text without context is pretext.
Example: Philippians 4:13 is found in the context of suffering.

3. Jot down your initial observations about the passage.
A helpful tool is to conduct an inductive Bible study of your passage. By asking questions (Who? What? Why? Where? When? How?) about your text, you will discover the particulars (induction) which will suggest truths (deductions) to share.

4. Use Bible commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and other tools to help give you insight into the passage.
There are a variety of Bible study tools in our church library.

5. Decide what truths you will share during your devotion.
Think in term of sharing thoughts that will help to explain and apply the passage.

III. PRESENTING YOUR DEVOTIONAL TOPIC

1. Introduce and Read Your Scripture Passage
Example: Philippians 4:6-7

2. Introduce Your Topic or Theme
Example: “How We Can Experience Freedom from Anxiety”

3. Make Your Observations and Insights about the Passage
Example:
(1) All of us worry at times (provide examples).

(2) God wants us to pray about whatever causes us to worry.

(3) We are to thank God in advance for answering our prayer.

(4) The result of our bringing to God our worries is that we will experience God’s peace, peace that “transcends” (NIV) all understanding.

(5) I want to encourage you to bring to God whatever you are anxious about.

4. You may want to close with either a specific challenge and/or prayer of commitment, praise, or thanksgiving.
Example: “Close your eyes and think of one thing that is worrying you right now. Give that worry to God in prayer.” Close with a prayer thanking God for His peace.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe