ottawa – Page 2 – Matthew Laker

Bible Study Method – One Way

Posted on August 16, 2014August 18, 2014 by Matthew Laker

Engaging the bible ultimately should lead us to engaging Jesus Christ. Otherwise we will never know the value of the bible.

How does the bible guide your life? How do you use the bible in your life as a follower of Jesus? No matter where you are in your spiritual journey with Jesus, the discipline of engaging the bible plays a significant role. It will be one of the great spiritual catalysts repeatedly in your life, as you live out the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

¹⁶All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The idea is one of formation. In all of our lives, there are things that form and shape us. Paul’s call here is to let the scripture form and shape us. The words we find in the bible are useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Listening to God’s voice through the scripture will cultivate our life with God, and direct us to living what we were created for.

Early in my journey, we were taught a method called “Inductive Bible Study. This is a useful method to start with for beginners, but a great one for those who have been on the journey longer.

Here is how I have adapted it in my life, and used it as I engage in the scriptures. Grab a piece of paper, divide it into three columns, and walk through each of the following steps.

Observation

Here you want to ask: What is being said? You are not trying to apply, just answer the question

Some Question to answer:

Who is speaking in the part of the selected text you are working on?
What do you notice in the emotion of the people?
Who is listening?
Where is it taking place?
What does it say about God?
What does it say about following God?
What are the main points

Interpretation:

Here, we are seeking to grasp the meaning of the text. We are looking to understand the meaning of the passage for the people to whom it was written We try to define terms, phrases and sentences. We look at the relationships and implications of the statements. Write out the main points of the text.

Application:

Here, we ask what it means for us today. Using the information from the above two steps, we have gained an understanding of the spirit of the text. We look at what questions we have from the text that were not answered.

I always encourage people to journal as they read God’s word, but you can also lightly do some of this in your mind as you reflect upon the text.

Looking for more help on developing the rhythm of bible reading, check out my series of posts called “Help Me Read the Bible”

When did you first start reading the bible?

Looking For a Church: Think Neighbourhood

Posted on August 8, 2014August 13, 2014 by Matthew Laker

Tips for looking for a Church?

The word “Parish” is an old term. It stems from the idea of a local body of believers targeting a certain area within a city. They are going to live there, and serve there. Sometimes it may only be possible to also work or study there.

When looking for a church I always recommend that you find one where you are going to live. This means we need to pray for God to guide us to a neighbourhood where we may live.

The reason, proximity is a big deal in sharing the gospel. Sharing the gospel is highly relationship centered. In an ideal situation, a neighbourhood church should be working to live beyond Sunday service, and engaging the heartbeat of the surrounding area.

I understand that at times it may not be possible to find a geographically local group. Try to see if the church has local groups that gather, where you could connect in order to influence your neighbourhood.

When looking for a Church, start by finding out who is meeting close to where you live. In Canada, you can Google map it to find locations. You could also just ask a pastor for three churches you could check out.

Looking for a Church Downtown Ottawa Give me a Shout. matthew@matthewlaker.com

More from Looking for a Church Series

Looking for a Church: Think Different

Posted on August 6, 2014September 14, 2016 by Matthew Laker

Do you find yourself looking for a church? What if you began the journey thinking differently?

Often when we look for a church, it is similar to selecting a product. Now that is not always a bad thing because of our personality. Looking at what is happening in the community, and how they will help you grow is an important question.

What if in looking for a church you did not approach it with a consumer attitude, but with serving in mind? Consider looking for a place where you can join in building the kingdom together. Look for a place to serve together with other believers, instead of asking how they can serve you. This may be serving in an uncomfortable area for some time, but that is okay.

Matthew 20:28 (NIV)

28 “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

When looking for a church, consider thinking differently. Go in prayerfully and, with an attitude to find a community where you may serve together in the kingdom of God.

More from Looking for a Church Series

Looking for a Church?

Posted on August 5, 2014August 13, 2014 by Matthew Laker

Help I am looking for a Church?

In many major urban centres, people move in and out. This means that often people are coming into the city and looking for a church. For some, this can be a stressful time of trying to find a church and balancing other responsibilities.. Here in Ottawa, we have one hundred thousand University students plus the normal transition of people. Each year there are many looking for a new community of Jesus followers in their new city.

In this series of post, you will find tips to help you find a Church.

Start with Prayer

A follower of Jesus knows the need for prayer. However, are you doing it? Before Jesus chose the 12 disciples, he spent a night in prayer. Prayer is important when seeking a community to live in, and live out the gospel together.

The scripture is full of texts that remind us that God will lead our steps, and is leading our steps. Prayer puts us in a posture to see the guidance of his spirit in our life.

Three things to pray for:

The city you are living in, and where to live that you may best serve the city and kingdom.
Gather a list of three churches and ask Jesus where to start.

If you are in Ottawa, I have to give a shout out for where I am: www.sunnysidechurch.ca

We would also be glad to help you find a church home if ours is not a good fit. Feel free to send me an email: matthew@matthewlaker.com