The topic before us ought to be of interest to all of us. This is true, because it stands at the very center of each of our lives. Essentially it deals with our relationship to God and is an important factor in our spiritual wellbeing.

The following study guide is prepared to stimulate our discussion of this topic at the ’75 convention. In order that our spiritual lives may be enhanced.

I. Our personal devotions and Bible study are determined by our relationship to God.

A. We are often called “covenant young people.”

1. What does that really mean?

a. What do we understand by God’s covenant?

1) What light does Gen. 17:7 shed on this?

2) How does Paul explain the word “seed” in Gal. 3:16?

a) What do we mean by the “sphere” of the covenant?

b) Who are covenant children according to Rom. 2:28?

 b. We also speak of the promise of the covenant.

1) What is it? (Baptism Form, p. 65 Psalter)

2) What then is our relationship to God in Christ? (H.H.’s Reformed Dogmatics, p. 324, top)

2. The Bible often speaks of God’s people as being His friends.

a. See: Is. 41:8, Jam. 2:23.

b. What light does the Scripture shed upon the real idea of friendship? (Gen. 18:17-19, Rev.

3:20, Ps. 25:14)

c. Covenant friendship then is communion and fellowship with God.

B. Knowledge is the basis of this fellowship.

1. Is true friendship possible without knowledge?

a. Consider this re. our earthly relations of friendship.

b. How about our infinitely greater friendship with God?

1) Why was Abraham called God’s friend? (cf. Jam. 2:23)

2) What is often called the “life-line” of the Christian?

3) What is the Heidelberg Catechism’s definition of faith? (L.D. 7)

 2. How is knowledge acquired re. our relationship to God?

a. On God’s part it is self-evident.

b. How about our part?

1) How do we learn anything about God?

a) i.e. How does God tell us of Himself?

b) What is the only objective standard of this knowledge?

2) How can we increase our knowledge of God and so deepen our trust in Him?

c. Then, how necessary is Bible study?

II. Let’s bring this to bear upon our topic.

A. Personal Devotions.

1. Does friendship with God require intimacy?

a. Do you think family devotions, church services, societies etc. to be sufficient?

1) Is true friendship possible without private intimacy?

2) Do we have secrets between God and us? Is this proper?

  b. Jesus often felt this need of intimacy with His Father.

1) Cf. Luke 5:12, 22:41, Mark 1:35, Matt. 26:38-39.

2) We must take Him as our example.

a) How much time must we set aside for this?

b) When are the best times for personal communion with God?

2. Prayer is no doubt the chief activity of our personal devotions.

a. What is prayer? (cf. The exposition of L.D. 34 in the “Triple Knowledge”)

1) The holy art of prayer can be learned from the Scriptures.

a) Why do we need to pray? (Matt. 7:7-8, Ps. 50:14-15, L.D. 45 Que. 116)

b) What does the Heidelberg Catechism consider prayer to be?

c) What must we pray for? (L.D. 45 Que. 118, Phil. 4:6, Ps. 32:5-6, Jam. 5:16)

1) How much do we pray with the Bible as a guide?

2) What kind of things are proper or not to pray for?

2) Prayer is the God ordained way of personal communion with Him.

a) Can we live without prayer? Why not?

 b) What does God do to us when we neglect to pray, often for a long time? (cf. Ps. 6-38)

b. Though prayer is chief, it is not the only part of personal devotions.

 B. That brings us to the proper study of the Bible.

1. Throughout we have established the importance of Bible study.

2. The Scriptures must be the staple of our devotional diet.

a. Must the Bible be our only source of devotional reading and study?

1) What about daily meditations?

a) How should or can they be used?

b) Our denomination used to publish meditations for enlisted men. Would these be beneficial on a broader scale?

2) Are there books that are conducive to personal devotions?

a) What type of books are suitable?

b) What should we be on guard against re. devotional material?

c) Can you suggest some beneficial works?

b. Re. Bible study itself.

1) How can we properly study it with benefit?

a) Is a good concordance or a commentary more beneficial?

b) Should we use other versions of the Bible? How and to what extent?

2) What constitutes improper study of the Bible?

C. In summation:

1. Why are personal devotions an essential part of our personal lives?

2. Why must the Scripture be basic to our devotional studies?

3. What part does prayer play in our devotions?