Bible study designed to strengthens one’s relationship with God
August 19, 2022
By Elizabeth Fazzini
LOWER BURRELL - “Want to worry less and enjoy life more? If so, here’s a simple prescription that’s tested and true: spend time with God every morning.”
This excerpt from “Prayers to Start Your Day” by Smith Freeman Publishing articulates the importance of nurturing one’s relationship with God. And the Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church weekly Bible Study group is doing just that.
“It’s made my life and commitment to God stronger - and keeps me living in the faith,” said Sharon Saffer, who leads the Bible Study. “We need to stay in the Word and keep our focus on God. And to keep our focus on God, you need to read your Bible.”
The group meets during the school year and is open to men and women of any denomination. Each hourlong meeting consists of a Scripture reading, reflection and questions to prompt discussion. There’s no commitment to weekly attendance. People are encouraged to participate when their schedules permit, and Bibles are provided.
Visitors are welcomed with open arms by a friendly group of participants who are clearly passionate about growing in their faith and relationship with Christ and others.
Reverend James V. Arter III, who serves as interim pastor at Bethesda, said the Bible story is “our story.”
“It’s about ordinary people just like us who are facing a lot of the same challenges, a lot of the same struggles. And God is ministering to them through that (Scripture),” Rev. Arter said.
He said the Bible is best studied and read with others. Participants can help one another understand how the Scripture applies to their everyday lives and experience the love of God through the love of people.
There’s also great value to a group setting, he said.
“To be able to talk openly about our questions, our doubts, our struggles when it comes to God in an environment that is accepting and non-judgmental, there is great transformative power in that - to know that you are truly not alone, that you’re not the only one asking questions,” Rev. Arter said.
“Ultimately, we’re all in this together. We’re all following Jesus, going in the same direction. Getting there together is the beauty of following Jesus.”
Participant Paula Grinder agrees that gathering as a small community to study the Word is beneficial.
“I think there is a positive effect for gathering in small groups,” Grinder said. “People are made to be together.”
She said it’s a great way to get to know the church’s members – outside of worship services. It’s beneficial to showcase Bethesda’s welcoming nature to the outside participants. And the stories of the people in the Bible are helpful to us today.
“Life has become so complicated that we need some Biblical background to show us that this has been going on for hundreds and thousands of years – and how they got through those things,” Grinder said.
Looking through this lens with a group of people can make my life better and improve my attitude toward everything that is going on in today’s world, she added.
Saffer added the Bible Study is foundational to her faith journey.
“If I don’t stay in the Word, I can lose my focus,” she said. “The Bible is just a wealth of information to help us out and keep us in the faith – to give us hope.”
