Family break

The Wednesday in the Word podcast is on break to celebrate the arrival of my newest grandchild.

We’ll return to the Gospel of Matthew and the Sermon on the Mount in mid-September.

In the meantime, you can also listen to any of over 500 previous episodes and here are 16 things to do during the break.

If you skipped or missed a lesson, study it now to fill it in the gaps.
Explore one of the “rabbit trails” you didn’t have time to explore earlier.
Organize your notes so they will make sense to you when you look at them in 10 years.
Write a 1 paragraph summary of the main theme(s).
Revise/combine your chapter outlines in an overall summary of the book which you can use in the future to quickly remember the flow and content of the book.
Identify key verses to remind you of the main points and themes.
Using your outline and theme summary, write a summary of what you learned.
Reflect, meditate and/or journal about what you learned.

Read a new book on how to study the Bible. For example, if you plan to study Old Testament prophecy next, read something that will increase your understanding of Hebrew poetry.
Research the culture and/or historical setting of the next book you plan to study.
Decide which commentaries you want to use to supplement your next study.
Read through your next study in 3 different translations.

Read something completely different. For example, if your last study was inductive, read something devotional or topical. If your last study was a gospel, read an epistle.
Invite a friend for coffee and ask each other questions about what you learned. This can be especially fun if your friend was in a different study.
Listen to a new bible study or sermon podcast.
Relax and revisit one of your favorite devotionals.