Jesus: Listening For His Voice by Kay Arthur & David Arthur

   I fancy myself a kind of Bible study connoisseur.... Or quite possibly a Bible study hoarder. Either way, I love me a good Bible Study. Kay Arthur, the founder of Precept Ministry International is no stranger to Bible Study. If you haven't heard of her or her famous inductive Bible study method, you may have been living under a rock. Check out her method of madness at www.precept.org. 

   I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to check out one of Arthur's studies in her 40 Minutes a Week series. Jesus: Listening For His Voice is a 6 week study of the Gospel of Mark, chapters 7-13. It is the second book in a 3 part study of the Gospel of Mark. 

  

  Arthur designed this series to adapt to today's busy believer.  The study is ideal for lunch groups at work, an early morning men's group, a young mother's group meeting in a home, a Sunday school class or even family devotions. This book is designed so that all the groups participants will complete each lesson's study activities at the same time. Arthur suggests using a facilitator to lead the group through the motions. The "How To Use This Study" section gives helpful hints as to how to run the study. 

   The introduction provides an informative article about God, His Word, and the freedom and power that comes from knowing the truth and living accordingly.  The bulk of the book, naturally, is the study itself.   Broken in to 6 equal sections, the layout lends itself to the busy believer who doesn't have hours and hours to devote to in depth Bible Study on a daily basis. Even though the study is created to be finished in just six 40 minute segments, it in no way, shape or form lacks information or resources. Every study is self- contained. Kay Arthur uses her world renowned Inductive Bible Study Method to traverse through The Gospel of Mark. 

   The study uses Precept's unique method of observation, interpretation and application each week. You begin with a portion of scripture and apply Arthur's methods to compose a clear and easy picture of the text. The benefits you are able to glean from this formula is sometime overwhelming. Keep your journal close by. I loved to record all those ah-ha moments I had during my quiet time with this study. 

   I have been using the Inductive Bible Study Method on and off for a number years now. I was browsing through a Christianbook.com catalog and saw Kay Arthur's 40 minute Bible study series. I had to have one to check out. I was curious how the author was going to use her method in a pre packaged form. Arthur must have done a thorough job in the research and development segment because the flow of the study is perfect. It's one of the things I most enjoyed. Each section built upon the last and the continuity of the theme made it easy to pick up after a few days off.

 

   I can honestly say that I got a lot out of the study. I learned many things about listening for God's voice that I have never thought of. This is an important area to me. I have struggled for years with discernment and hearing God's voice. When I finished this study I walked away a new person in the eyes of my Almighty Father. My relationship with Him has been renewed and my life, over all is much happier and more enjoyable. It was like I was missing that small albeit important piece. It was something that I knew I was lacking but had no idea on how to find it or fix it. 

   Never have I had an inductive study make such an impact on my day to day life. I would recommend the Jesus: Listening for His Voice -40 minute Bible study to any person who feels that they are "missing that little piece". It is quite possible that the piece is right there in front of you. Maybe all you have to do is ask for it. Whatever the reason, give this Bible study a try. You will come out if it a different, but better person. 5/5. 

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”