We're two weeks into our series called The Shadow and we've been talking about how the Bible isn't just a collection of 66 books, it's actually one narrative, one great story. We've been looking at The Shadow of Jesus in the Bible and how it extends all the way back to creation. But His shadow can also reach all the way into our lives. You are a part of a bigger story! So when we read the Bible, how do we connect our lives into the story? How can we see the Shadow in the Scriptures?

When you go to read the Bible, don't approach it like you're reading a text book for class or a novel for entertainment. Don't just skim it like you would the newspaper, magazine or webpage. Appproach the Bible in line with our motto: It's about relationships, not religion. We are not reading to complete a task but to connect with God.

Take some time to pray first and ask God to reveal Himself to you. Open your mind. Open your heart.  Try to gain an understanding of the Bible as a whole. The Old Testament sets the stage for the New Testament. The Old Testament show our need for a Savior. The New Testament begins with the story of the Savior, Jesus and show how we can experience real life through Him. If your Bible has notes before the chapters or in the margins, read them to gain more insight.

If you are going to read for the relationship, ask yourself these 2 questions as you read and review:

1) WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT GOD?
2) WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ME?

When you ask these two questions, you are trying to see who God is, what He does and how can I know more of Him. Don't just walk away with some knowledge. Put Him and His ways to the test and see how life starts to make sense. The second question is about that aspect. It's about seeing how you can follow God and how you can experience life in a relationship with Him. For example, we might read how God has unconditional love. We are thank Him for that love, but what does that mean for me? It means we don't have to try to earn God's love and we can put our past behind us.

We know this can be overwhelming. You might not feel like anything or it can become routine. It understandable to feel like you don't know where to start or what to do. So check out the additional resources provided on our website. Also, being at the Connection Nights in your Network or in a Running Partner mini-group can be helpful because you can dialogue and learn from each other as we do life together. I hope you we find God's words like a light to your path in life.

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