The Path of Service, Part 1
Following the Lord Jesus Christ is an individual matter, but it is not individualistic. Let me explain.
 
When we say that discipleship is an individual matter we are saying that it is something the individual himself must do. No one can follow Jesus for you. Your husband cannot be your proxy. Your children cannot read the Bible for you, pray for you, or obey the Lord for you. You must do these things for yourself, and if you do not do them, you are no true disciple. Individualism is something different.
The Path of Obedience, Part 5
Over the last two days we looked at four Bible study methods.  Today we begin by mentioning one more.
 
5. Study the Bible prayerfully (Dan. 9:1-3). It is impossible to study the Bible devotionally without praying, since we are coming to God in Scripture and must communicate with Him verbally if we do. But although prayer is a part of a devotional study of Scripture, prayer is worth stressing for its own sake, if only because we so often neglect it.
The Path of Obedience, Part 4
Yesterday we mentioned what systematic Bible study is.  We now need to see how one does it. Certain procedures should be followed during study. First, the book itself should be read through carefully as many as four or five times, perhaps one of these times aloud. Each time something new will strike you. 
The Path of Obedience, Part 3

Everything I have been saying so far leads to a practical conclusion, and it is this. If discipleship involves obedience to Jesus Christ, as it certainly does, and if Jesus exercises His Lordship over us so that we can obey Him through the Bible, as we have seen to be the case, then there can be no real discipleship apart from Bible study. The study of the Bible is no option for Christians. It cannot even be a minor, occasional, or “vacation time” pursuit. It must be the most essential ingredient in the believer’s spiritual life.
The Path of Obedience, Part 2

Several years ago, when I was in northern California, I turned on the radio and heard part of an unusual religious program. It was called “Have You Had a Spiritual Experience?” and was conducted like a call-in talk show. A phone number was given, and listeners were invited to describe their “spiritual experience” over the air.