Dodge ball and Bible study

Hebrews 4:12  (ESV)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

I remember as a teenager, there was nothing more fun that taking a dodgeball and hurling it with all your might toward another player on the opposing team. Follow that up with the awesome feeling you get when that dodgeball produces that satisfying smack as it hits your target’s body. Playing dodgeball can be a lot of fun, but did you know that you can learn a lot about reading your Bible by playing dodgeball?

In Dodgeball, you have a focus and a goal. You are determined as you play to hit as many of the other team’s players with a ball before they hit you and you’re out. We should approach reading the Bible that same way, with a focus and a goal. Reading the Bible shouldn’t be a boring aimless task, but it should have a purpose. For example, you could read the Bible with the idea in mind that you want know what God says about your future and the plans He has for your life. You then could search for verses in the Bible on that topic. Having a goal and a focus when reading the Bible helps it from becoming dull and boring.

Another thing that can be learned from dodgeball games is that the players leave the game changed. When they start the game, they smell good and their clothes are nice and clean. Usually by the end of the game, the players are sweaty, and they definitely don’t smell good. They are changed. Playing the game of dodgeball changes them. That is how we should be after reading the Bible. There is great power available to you in Bible. It has the power to change your life. The words in the Bible can encourage you when you’re having a bad day. The Bible can also challenge you to be more than you ever imagined you could be. Reading the Bible will change you because the Bible has power to change your life!

The Bible has power in it to change your life! Get into the habit of reading the Bible with a purpose and getting to know God though His word. If you do, it will change your life!

Dear Lord, we thank you for your word. We thank you that it is alive and full of power. We thank you that we can get to know you though your word. Help us to purpose to make reading the Bible a priority in our life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.