Bible Study by PRAIJN

Bible Study

Back to School with God Series #1

Putting God in your Book bag

Readings for August 8-14

Focus: God wants and expects me to learn in school and in life. I must prepare myself today to return to school tomorrow.

August is back-to-school time when students, teachers, parents, and their families prepare themselves to return to school and learning. It is a time of renewal and new direction, anticipation and eagerness. Back to school in God’s view means returning to His plan for your growth.

Remember that our first teacher is the Lord and He instructs us through His word. He teaches and prepares us for many tasks and duties – to gain a heart of wisdom ( Ps. 90;12), to apply God’s word to everyday experiences (Elk 12: 12), and to make ‘disciples” or others ( Matt. 28: 19; Co. 1: 28). God asks each of us to prepare our minds to learn the messages that He places before us each day.

How can we prepare ourselves for learning? Consider three skills that are important in our preparation. God gives us the ability to use these gifts for our learning daily.

1. Wisdom Prov. 2: 6; Eph. 5: 15-16.

2. Confidence 1 John 5: 14-15.

3. Strength Joshua 1: 9

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.

I will guide you with My eye.”

Psalm 32: 8 NKV

Application.

What would God’s suggest for you to put in your school spiritual book bag? Make a list of items that you will need for your own learning this year.

1. ____________________________________

2. ____________________________________

3. ____________________________________

4. ____________________________________

5. ____________________________________

Go look for these items. Consider a visit this week to a Christian bookstore to look for items for your book bag. Better yet, design something to include in your book bag. [Note: Bethel still has a number of Bibles that are available for students. See Doris Carroll if interested.]

Scripture Readings

Parents are encouraged to read these scriptures daily to their children before they leave for school using language they can understand. After school, These readings can be used to create after-school devotional activities for your family.

Aug. 8 Work Hard, Don’t be lazy. Prov. 6: 6-11

Aug. 9 Be enthusiastic in school. Eccl. 9: 10

Aug. 10 Be strong and firm in your study. I Peter 5: 8-11

Aug. 11 You can succeed, even through trials. Jas. 1: 2-8; 12-17

Aug. 12 Find your spiritual gifts from God

and use them to thrive & grow 1 Cor. 12: 1-11

Aug. 13 As you study, be humble & help others. Phil. 2: 1-4

Aug. 14 Be content & in good spirit as you study. Phil. 4: 11, 13

Back to School with God Series

The “Back to school with God” Series” is a four-week set of scriptures and activities that will help children and their families prepare spiritually for the school year. In the A.ME Connectional church, we all are guardians of our children in their learning. Borrowing from to the African proverb, It takes a [Christian] village to raise our children according to God’s plans.

Prayer. Father, teach me how to set my priorities this year in the right order. Help me to put school, work, and church in the right perspective. I desire to be faithful, diligent, disciplined and consistent in all I do. Thank you, Father, for directing me set my priorities to fulfill Your divine plan. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Sources: Prayer adapted from Copeland, G. (2002). Prayers that avail much for teens. Tulsa, OK: Harrison House.

The Women’s Study Bible New King James Version. (1995). Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers. p. 2018.

Application exercise by Doris Wright Carroll, 2005. Bethel A.M.E. Church, Manhattan, KS.