BECOMING A THEOLOGIAN

When we think of a theologian, we automatically think of someone who has been to Bible college. Someone who has dedicated their life to studying the Word of God. Maybe someone who has their doctorate. But the truth is, a theologian is simply one who studies theology. And, theology is the study of the nature of God.

It doesn't require a dissertation to be a theologian. It doesn't require a degree. It requires a heart and mind that desire to learn more about God. It's that simple. And by that definition, we should all be a theologian.

No one, absolutely no one will ever "arrive." There is no possible way that we will ever learn all there is to know about God and the Word of God. Someone who has been saved for 62 years, read the Bible through dozens of times, and even taught the Bible can still learn something new about God just as much as someone who has been saved two years and hasn't finished reading through the Bible yet.

So, how do we become a theologian? We already said it requires a heart and mind that desire to learn more. So to be a theologian we simply need to dive in heart first.

Becoming a theologian

What do I need? The most important thing you need, the one thing you must have is a Bible. Having a Bible study, a journal or notebook, a good commentary, those are great and will be helpful. But without an actual Bible, those things mean nothing. And an actual study Bible is a great option. Study Bibles give commentary, give explanation of things happening with the culture and time, and can help you go deeper.

Who should I listen to? There are so many great Bible teachers to glean from. Some still living and sharing God's Word, some no longer with us. There are so many wonderful books, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. These are helpful resources. But when you listen, read, and watch, you need to do two important things. First, always, always, measure what is being said or written to the Word of God, Just because someone claims to know something or claims to be a teacher, doesn't always mean they are teaching Truth. Always measure against the Word. Second, always ask a trusted source. If you read or hear something that you aren't sure about or can't find a clear answer in the Bible, ask a trusted source like your pastor. And of course, the most trusted source, ask God Himself. Pray about it and trust the Holy Spirit to teach you.

What do I need to actually do? Reading the Bible is the best place to start. Highlight things. Make notes. Look for keywords. My pastor has said, "If you see a therefore in the Bible, what is it there for?" Utilize the study portion of the Bible if you have a study Bible. Utilize the cross referencing in your Bible. Most Bibles have cross referencing. You know, those tiny numbers randomly next to words and other Scripture addresses randomly on pages. Those aren't there by accident. They are there to tell you to look up those verses in correlation to what you are reading. And of course, always pray before you read and study the Word, and after you finish.

How often should I be in the Word? Daily! The Bible is called our "Daily Bread." Those two words right there tell us how often we should be in the Word. Daily, obvious. Bread, sustenance, not cake for special occasions. Every single day may not be a deep dive with commentary and cross referencing. Every day may not be journaling and note taking. Yet, every day can and should be getting into the Word and seeing what God has for you. We can't learn more about God, we can't know His heart and nature if we aren't opening our Bibles.

Anyone who claims to be a Christian should desire to continually want to study the very nature of God. Anyone who claims to be a Christian should strive to be a theologian.

I am loving the new Theologian collection from The Daily Grace Co! The Theologian Boat and Tote is a large, roomy bag sturdy enough to carry those heavy Bibles and all the extras you might use. The Theologian notebook is a beautiful soft leatherette spiral bound journal perfect for notetaking. The Theologian pen set is one of my favorites. These pens are the best. They are fine tip and write so smooth. They also have a Theologian tumbler that is so cute! And of course, The Daily Grace Co also has a wide variety of Bibles and Bible studies. Everything you find at The Daily Grace Co is perfect for beginning your journey to becoming a theologian. To shop the Daily Grace Co, click HERE and use code JENIFERMETZGER10 for 10% off your order.

Bonus! If you are like me and love adding pops of color to your Bible study time, I love the Goodness and Mercy Bible study stickers and the Give Me Jesus Bible study stickers from Daily Grace Co. I tear the pages out of the books and slip them into these clear pages and add them to my sticker binder (comes it lots of colors). It makes them more organized and helps me see them clearly. 

(IN)COURAGE DEVOTIONAL BIBLE {GIVEAWAY}

God's Word is truth, it is life, and it is alive. God's Word can stand alone. It doesn't need frills and thrills. It is the words inside that are life giving and life changing. It is the words inside that lead us to the heart of God.

God created beauty. He created color and shapes and textures. While the Bible stands alone, not needing the frills, beauty draws us in. I love beauty and I am thankful for beautiful Bibles. Bibles that invite me in to read the words.

One of my favorite Bibles is the (in)Courage Devotional Bible. This Bible is a beautiful invitation for women from all seasons and all walks of life to find their stories within the tapestry of the greatest story every told—God's Story.

The (in)Courage Devotional Bible features devotions by writers of the (in)Courage community, and provides resources for women to explore the Bible, dive deep into Scripture, record their own stories, and find themselves among friends.

The Bible features:

-312 devotions by 122 (in)Courage community writers
-10 distinct thematic reading plans
-66 book introductions connecting each book of the Bible to the whole biblical narrative
-stories of courage from 50 women of the Bible
-Journaling space at the bottom of each page
-Topical index
-Two-column text
-Theme verses

The (in)Courage Devotional Bible is the Christian Standard Bible, or CSB. CSB is a readable and relatable translation while staying as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture's life-transforming message and to share it with others. The Bible comes in several beautiful cover options, including two brand new covers, Bordeaux and Sage. These new covers are so soft!

I truly love this Bible! The (in)Courage Devotional Bible makes a wonderful Bible is you are looking for a new Bible or looking to gift a Bible. Be sure to check out the (in)Courage Devotional Bible, just click HERE.

Giveaway:
We are giving away one (in)Courage Devotional Bible in the Bordeaux cover. To enter to win, simply leave a comment with you name, email address, and your favorite Scripture verse. One winner will be chosen at random and emailed from jenifer@jenifermetzger.org on January 15th.

MEMORIZING THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

Quite a number of years ago, my first grade Sunday School teacher led our class in memorizing the books of the New Testament. Our reward, a bag of candy! Yes, please! At six years old I memorized all 27 books of the New Testament and still to this day know them in order.

The Old Testament, however, I never memorized. I guess I needed that incentive of candy! Thirty-something years later, I know the books of the Old Testament, but I only know a handful of them in order and I am ready to change that!

Why is memorizing the books of the Bible important?

Have you ever been in church and the pastor gives a Bible reference and you flip back and forth trying to find the passage only for him to be done by the time you get there? I have. It can be frustrating. But knowing where the books are located sure helps!

Knowing where the books of the Bible are can help in Bible study. All 66 books are divided into sections and when you know the sections and where they are located, it can help with studying God's Word. Memorizing the books of the Bible can help us identify Old and New Testament books as well as the organization of the books. And finally, memorizing helps to exercise your brain and your spirit.

Why should you memorizing the order of the books of the Bible in this age of Bible apps?

Yes, it's true. Bible apps are super easy! Just type in the book, chapter, and verse you want and boom! There it is! No page flipping. No memorizing. While Bible apps are convenient and even great for a quick access for let's say you're in a waiting room and want to read a few verses, they can also be a hinderance.

Using a Bible app doesn't allow for you to read the verses before and after which leads to reading a verse out of context. It also doesn't allow you to know the chapters and even books before and after the chosen verse. The Bible needs to be seen as a whole, not just a verse here and there.

For more on a physical Bible vs a Bible app, click HERE.

How can you memorize the books of the Bible?

We all memorize differently. For some, writing things over and over works. For others saying it over and over works. And for others, you need to hear it in song. No way is wrong.

Here is how I am working on memorizing the books of the Bible. The books of the Bible -New and Old Testaments- are split up into sections. I am going to take a section at a time. I will work on a section by writing it and saying it a few times each day. Once I have that section memorized, I will add the next section.

Here are the sections:

Old Testament
Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
History: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
Poetry: Job, Psalm, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs
Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micha, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

New Testament
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Church History: Acts
Letters: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
Prophecy: Revelation

Even books I know, including the New Testament, I am going to work on. I want to be able to recite all 66 books in order without looking. I know this will help in Bible study, sitting in church, and I am excited to finally memorize all the books in order.

For a free printable of all 66 books in their sections, click HERE.

Discussion:
1) Do you know all 66 books of the Bible in order?
2) If not, would you like to join me in memorizing them?
3) What method helps you to memorize?

TRUE & LOVELY

All Scripture is inspired by God and

is useful to teach us what is true and

to make us realize what is wrong in

our lives. It corrects us when we are

wrong and teaches us to do what is

right. God uses it to prepare and equip

His people to do every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

As Christians we should have a deep desire to read and study the Word of God. Yet sometimes, we don't know how to study the Bible. And other times, we need a fresh perspective. That is why I am so excited to share a new resource that I am loving!

Whatever is True & Lovely by Carrie Cristancho is a new devotional guide at Dayspring. Carrie gives practical tips for Bible study and techniques for Bible journaling. Whatever is True & Lovely has brief devotions and reflection questions to inspire and encourage you. Then Carrie shows you how to break down verses in the Bible. You'll also find a Scripture passage with plenty of space to use her method for breaking down verses.

As you dive into and learn to study the Word, not only will your quiet time be transformed but so will your life!

I am loving Whatever is True & Lovely and I know you will to! Pick up your copy HERE!

WRITE THE WORD

I have been using Write the Word journals from Cultivate What Matters for a few years now. I can honestly say these journals have transformed my quiet time. As a busy wife, mom, and minister, I found myself rushing through my quiet time. Reading just to get it done because I knew I needed to read the Bible. But Write the Word journals have helped me to slow down and linger in the Word as I get Scripture into my heart.

My Write the Word process is simple, but has helped me grow in God. I begin by writing the date at the top and then something I am thankful for. Then I open my Bible to the Scripture prompt. Before reading or writing, I say a brief prayer asking God to speak to me. Next, I read the Scripture prompt and then I write out the verses. On the following page is space to write something "on my heart." I use this space to write something I learned as I read and then a brief prayer. Finally, I write a word to focus on for the day.

I thought I would share three things that I love about Write the Word journals. First, I love that they can be done anywhere, any time. Waiting in a doctor's office, waiting in the car pick up line at school, on lunch break at your desk, sitting on the porch swing, laying in bed, you really can do Write the Word journals anywhere, any time. The second thing I love is how a sturdy they are. These journals are hardback covered with a soft vegan leather. They are strong to hold up to whatever comes your way. Toss it in your purse or diaper bag, no worries! Spill coffee on the cover, wipes right off. Tears streaming down your face as you write, it won't bleed through. And the third thing I love is the legacy they leave. Because the journals are made so well, they will last for many, many years to come. Our children, grandchildren, and maybe even our great-grandchildren will one day read our Write the Word journals and see that we were women who read, studied, and wrote God's Word. What a beautiful legacy to leave!

Cultivate What Matters is launching three brand new Write the Word journals today! Write the Word Cultivate Wisdom, Write the Word Refresh Your Mind, and Write the Word for Kids Adventure are adding to the Write the Word Collection along with a brand new faith sticker pack.

I am so excited to use the Wisdom and Renew Your Mind journals! And the stickers are such a beautiful touch of color and fun to each journal entry.

If you are looking to refresh your faith, Write the Word journals are incredible tools to help you do just that. The journals also make beautiful gifts. My favorite deal is the Your Favorites Bundle! Get the new sticker packet, Wisdom, Renew Your Mind, and pick a third journal of your choice. This is a great way to save money and add a few journals to your shelf.

To shop Write the Word journals, click HERE or the banner below.

KJV STUDY BIBLE

If you've been around here long, you know I have a deep love for Bibles. My husband and I are constantly acquiring new Bibles. We love to see the differences in Bibles and we love to give Bibles away. I have several Bibles I want to share with you so this week you will find a new Bible post each day! First up is the KJV Study Bible.

If you love the King James Version, the KJV Study Bible is a wonderful option for you! Standing apart from all other KJV study Bibles on the market, the KJV Study Bible, Full Color Edition is the only Bible featuring extensive commentary, doctrinal notes, archaeological insights, and time-tested study aids developed exclusively for the King James Version.

Features include:

Full-color throughout
Easy-to-read 10-pt type large print
5,700 authoritative and study note
Center-column references with translation notes
Hundreds of color maps and charts
Over 100 archaeological notes
Over 100 personality profiles
Over 200 notes on Christian doctrines
Easy-to-navigate topical indexes
Book introductions and outlines
Word-study concordance
Time-honored KJV Bible text
Six different cover options

The KJV Study Bible makes a wonderful Bible for personal study and ministry study. There is just so much to this Bible that help you dig deep and learn the Word of God.

To enter to win a KJV Study Bible, click HERE. To order, click HERE.

Disclaimer: I received this Bible in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

WRITE THE WORD {GIVEAWAY}

In this very electronic age, I find there is so much power in writing something in your own handwriting. I can put a reminder in my cellphone, but I seem more likely to remember it if I actually take the time to write something down. It feels more committed to memory, sinking down into my heart, as I put pen to paper.

For this reason, I absolutely love Write the Word Journals from Cultivate What Matters! These journals are stunning and they are the perfect tool to help you get into the Word. Write the Word Journals are simple, no fluff, but lead us into a deeper time with God. All you need is your Bible, a pen, and a Write the Word Journal!

Write the Word Journals are wonderful for digging deep, but they are also perfect for the busy woman on the go. The journals are strong and durable which make them perfect to toss into your purse to do on your lunch break at work, waiting at the doctor's office, or waiting on your kid at sports practice.

Each journal has:
•66 selected scriptures throughout 145 pages
•Gold-foiled cover with gold-foil details throughout
•Easy-to-clean vegan leather
•Four gorgeous art pages throughout featuring gold foil scripture artwork and a special journaling prompt
•Satin bookmark to hold your place
•Measures 5.5 x 8.5 inches with high-quality, thick paper

They currently offer nine Write the Word Journals:
•Write the Word Bible Journal - NEW - this journal is blank so that you can choose your own Scriptures
•Write the Word Cultivate Confidence - NEW
•Write the Word Cultivate Joy
•Write the Word Cultivate Hope
•Write the Word Cultivate Faith
•Write the Word Cultivate Renewal
•Write the Word Cultivate Contentment
•Write the Word Cultivate Forgiveness
•Write the Word for Kids

Here is how I use a Write the Word Journal

I currently use my CSB Study Bible for Women, Write the Word Cultivate Confidence, a cute matching pen (I am slightly obsessed with matching things!), and the Cultivate Faith Stickers. I begin by praying, asking God to help my heart and eyes to be open to receive what He has for me through His Word. Then I open the journal and write the date and something I am thankful for, these prompts are in each journal. Then I open my Bible to the given Scripture and read it carefully. After I have read it completely, I write the verse in the given space.

Next, I write down a thought or revelation from that verse. Then I write out a brief prayer, saying it aloud as I write, asking God to help me remember and apply the verse to my day or situation. Then I write my focus for the day. Sometimes it comes from the given verses, sometimes it does not. And finally, I add a sticker or two (or three!) for a cute pop of color.

I have used my Write the Word journals as my "main" quiet time each morning and I have used them as a Spiritual "pick me up" in mid-afternoon. There is no wrong way or time. The goal is to just get into the Bible and write out Scriptures.

Cultivating and growing in my faith and my walk with God is important to me, it should be important to all believers. It is always one of my most important goals. I even put Write the Word as one of my action items in my Powersheets. This helps me to have a visual to see that reminds me to get into the Bible.

If you are looking to start reading the Bible, need to renew your faith, or just want to try something new, give a Write the Word Journal a try. You will love it as you cultivate what really matters.

To celebrate the new Write the Word Journals, we are giving away a Cultivate What Matters 6 Month Powersheets Goal Planner! My Powersheets have become a vital part of my day and helping me grow and cultivate what's important to me. To enter to win, complete each task in the rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To purchase Write the Word Journals, Powersheets, or fun accessories, click the banner below.

BLESSINGS & STUDY BIBLES

Continuing to count God's sweet blessings...

2385. A relaxing weekend with my family.

2386. Faith conversations between my husband and kids.

2387. Rainy nights.

2388. Sunny mornings.

2389. The reminder that after the rain, the sun will shine, and after the rains in life, the Son will shine.

Share something you are praising God. I would love to rejoice with you.

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I love God's Word! I love having the Word in my hands. I love reading the Bible. I love studying the Bible. I just love the Bible. So I am thrilled today to tell you all about the brand new CSB Study Bible for Women! This Bible is beautiful!

The CSB Study Bible for Women is not only beautiful to look at, but includes character profiles, word studies, commentary notes, verses for cross referencing, extensive book intros, maps, timelines, a concordance, and more to help you really dig into the Word.

The beginning of the CSB Study Bible for Women offers pages to fill with your family tree, family milestones, your Spiritual mothers, and more, making it a great legacy to leave your children and grandchildren.

I love the CSB Study Bible for Women. It is beautiful to look at and also helps deepen my time in the Word.

To purchase the CSB Study Bible for Women, click HERE.

To enter to win a CSB Study Bible for Women, click HERE.