Introduction

Welcome to “Better Things” - Online Bible Studies For Women!

Where Did “Better Things” Come From?

The name “Better Things” comes from a vision for ministry God gave me years ago related to His calling on (and purpose for) my life.  Perhaps some day I’ll share more of that story with you.  :)  Since the time God gave me that vision, the phrase “Better Things” reminds me that God is calling His children to live a life of freedom and to walk in spiritual maturity.  Maturity comes from abiding in Him and learning and doing His will.  We can’t learn the will of God separate from His Word.  And it’s very easy to stop spending time in Scripture without the support and accountability of others...life gets busy and one missed day turns into ten (or more) very quickly.  God created His children with a need for fellowship with one another and yet the pace of life in this millennium doesn’t always allow for face-to-face get togethers for support and accountability.  Thus, the beginning of “Better Things” online Bible studies.

James 1:25 “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

The Plan

Every few days I will post a new discussion topic related to the book of the Bible we are studying (the first one being Colossians).  I highly recommend checking the group wall on a regular basis, because posts on the wall will not necessarily show up in your individual news feeds.  (I temporarily signed my husband up for the group to see if I could ascertain if/how group wall posts would be reflected in individual news feeds, but I was not able to conclusively ascertain how that process works.)

Each of us may use different methods in our studies.  I will occasionally post ideas for ways to approach studying a specific section of the Scripture.  In studying Colossians, my overall plan is to approach the book using a modification of the Inductive Bible Study Method.  I have found over the years that approaching a scripture passage using the steps of Observation, Interpretation, and Application are helpful in 1) understanding what I am reading and 2) learning how to apply the concepts in my own life.  Because reading Scripture is vital but knowledge without action is fruitless, it is imperative to DO what we are learning.  

(Disclaimer:  I am NOT trained by Precept Ministries to lead an Inductive Bible Study and will not be teaching this method.   For a brief overview of the Inductive Bible Study Method, check out the webpage (and PDF) available here:  http://www.precept.org/site/PageServer?pagename=101_whatisinductivestudy.)

Your Role

You can be as involved or as uninvolved as you wish in the discussions.  Feel free to post comments on the wall or post thoughts/comments on discussion posts, however you feel led.  (Please be sure comments are respectful of and loving toward others.)

I Timothy 1:5 “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

In Conclusion

It is my prayer that we would each be continually conforming to the likeness of Christ through these studies!  I’m so excited to see what God is going to do in us!

Please take a few minutes to briefly introduce yourself and what you hope to get from this group in general, or from the study of Colossians we are going to be starting soon!