FACTOID # 104: In Ethiopia, nine out of ten births occur without skilled health staff present.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Bible study (Christian)

Bible study, devotion, or devotional is any of several related activities within Christian churches. This article is intended to describe the study of the Bible in Christianity as a religious or spiritual practice, and not formal methods of theological, exegetical, or other such study which are independent of personal spiritual attachment. Image File history File links Gnome-globe. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... A spiritual practice, spiritual discipline or spiritual exercise (sadhana) includes any activity that one associates with cultivating spirituality. ... Theology finds its scholars pursuing the understanding of and providing reasoned discourse of religion, spirituality and God or the gods. ... Exegesis (from the Greek to lead out) involves an extensive and critical interpretation of an authoritative text, especially of a holy scripture, such as of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, the Talmud, the Midrash, the Quran, etc. ...

Contents

In Protestant Christianity

In Evangelicalism

This term can refer to a period of time set aside to study the Bible and pray in an effort to build a stronger spiritual relationship with God. This time is often spent alone or with a small group of people. This is also known, mostly among evangelical Christians, as Quiet Time. This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... This article is about the many forms of prayer within Christianity. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Evangelicalism, in a strictly lexical, but rarely used sense, refers to all things that are implied in belief that Jesus is the savior. ... Quiet Time album cover Quiet Time is a music album by popular childrens entertainer Raffi, released in 2006. ...


Whereas the notion of 'quiet time' refers more often than not to individual devotionals of daily frequence or multiple times during a week, 'a Bible study' often connotes a less frequent--often weekly--meeting of a group of people for devotional study of the Bible and spiritual accountability. When used this way, a Bible study is also often referred to as a "small group", especially when the focus is on some aspect of a Christian's walk with God other than the study of the Bible according to some specific plan. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Look up group in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...


In a number of Protestant sects, the term also refers to an individual story or message that follows the above format. Pastors and youth ministers who speak using stories as opposed to sermons are said to be giving a "devotion(al)" or "devotionals". Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      A pastor is an... Youth ministry is an age-specific religious ministry and is the way in which a faith group, or other religious organisation, engages with the young people who attend its place of worship, or live in its community. ... A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. ...


Popular methods

Many devotional books, or devotionals, are available in retail stores today. These books contain directed Bible studies often incorporating stories or anecdotes that convey Biblical principles, similar to the parables used by Jesus in his ministry. One of the most famous of these is a devotional called My Utmost for His Highest, written by Oswald Chambers. Many Christian stores dedicate an entire section to these types of books, but they are widely available at secular stores as well, often shelved in an "inspirational" section. The parables of Jesus, found in the synoptic gospels, embody much of Jesus teaching. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Written by Oswald Chambers (1874-1917), My Utmost for His Highest is a compilation of Chambers Christian preachings to students and soldiers. ... Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a prominent early twentieth century Scottish Protestant Christian minister and teacher. ...


Some Christian communities (e.g. Christadelphians) have Bible reading schedules, like the one suggested in the Bible Companion, for example, as one tool to help them with their study of the Bible. Such schedules take people systematically through the entire Bible, reading approximately four chapters per day (in the case of the Bible Companion), which allows the reader to keep context in their studies through the different books of the Bible, and ensures different areas are not neglected. Christadelphians (From the Greek Brothers in Christ) are a Christian denomination which developed in the United Kingdom and North America in the 19th century. ... The Bible Companion (or Bible Reading Planner) is a follow guide used by Christadelphians when reading the Bible. ...


Criticisms

Some have criticized this approach to Bible study, prayer, and spirituality for various reasons. With regard to Bible study, liberal Christians such as exegetes or theologians who are sympathetic to higher criticism claim that the individual layperson receives little aid in fully understanding the text he or she is reading.[citation needed] Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Liberal Christianity, sometimes called... Exegesis (from the Greek to lead out) involves an extensive and critical interpretation of an authoritative text, especially of a holy scripture, such as of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, the Talmud, the Midrash, the Quran, etc. ... Theology is literally rational discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, rational discourse). By extension, it also refers to the study of other religious topics. ... Higher criticism, also known as historical criticism, is a branch of literary analysis that attempts to investigate the origins of a text, especially the text of the Bible. ...


In certain contexts, for example for group study on public school grounds, the term "wisdom study" may sometimes be used in place of "Bible study." Sections of the Bible are studied in addition to other texts, and the emphasis is changed from whole-Bible study and proselytism to the more general study of wisdom as it relates to the development of personal character and a life of purpose.


In Eastern Orthodox Christianity

In Roman Catholicism

See:

Catholic devotions are prayer forms which are not part of the official public liturgy of the Church but are part of the popular spiritual practices of Catholics. ...

See also

Exegesis (from the Greek to lead out) involves an extensive and critical interpretation of an authoritative text, especially of a holy scripture, such as of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, the Talmud, the Midrash, the Quran, etc. ... Hermeneutics may be described as the development and study of theories of the interpretation and understanding of texts. ...

External links

  • Bible Studies on Public Transit (Protestant Christian - simple Bible studies placed inside buses, subway systems and other public venues.)
  • Christian Daily Devotions (Protestant Christian)
  • Austin Bible Study
  • King James Bible with Study Aids Cascading Bible


 
 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms, 1022, m