My RiverOaks
New Members “Growing Deeper” Study
Introduction
Throughout the New Testament, Christians are encouraged to take root. As the Apostle Paul reminds the church in Colosse, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught…” (Col 2:6-7). It is my prayer that this study will help you understand the foundational teachings of the Christian faith so that you might take root and grow into oaks of righteousness, planted by the Lord, for the display of His splendor.
As you begin each study, please take time to pray first. Ask God to speak to you through His Word. The Scripture is inspired by God, or “God-breathed,” and the Holy Spirit, who inspired the writers, will also illumine the readers. Allow the Holy Spirit to be your partner in Bible study. A beautiful prayer to begin with is found in Psalm 119:18, which says, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
Also, remember the value of reading God’s Word with a teachable, submissive attitude. Powerful life change can result as we allow the Bible to shape our lives. James 1:25 reminds us, “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”
May you be richly blessed as you experience the joy of knowing God more fully through the study of His Word!
—Pastor David Beaty
