Hi, OBS friends! My name is Melissa Taylor, and I am the Senior Director of OBS and First 5 at Proverbs 31. I have the privilege of co-leading this study with my friend, teammate and OBS Manager, Kendra Schwarz. I’m kicking us off this week!

Today is the first day of our last Bible study of 2020! While this year has been full of unexpected happenings and events, it’s been our goal to have something we can all count on: studying the Bible together.

Here’s a little known fact: This is our 50th online Bible study! We have been doing OBS for almost ten years, and it’s been mind-blowing to watch how God has grown our team and our studies. If this is your first study, your 50th, or if you are somewhere between, I want to welcome you. Let’s get started!

Write the Word: Cultivate Worship is different from any other study we’ve done before. It’s simple and refreshing and will help us focus on what really matters: the Truth and promises of God’s Word.

Each Monday, the creator and founder of Cultivate What Matters, Lara Casey, will join us. In this week’s video, she shares how Cultivate What Matters came to be, how writing the Word (not just reading) changes you, and I’ll let you know how to use your journal for Bible study. Check it out!

Here are instructions for accessing closed captioning and the transcripts.

I think my favorite thing Lara shared in the video was when she asked, “How are we to rejoice in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) in a year like this? Let's acknowledge that this has been a really hard year, but God is bigger.” That’s exactly what we will discover through writing God’s Word each day! These journals won’t change your life, but getting into God’s Word will.

In the video, I mentioned we will keep it simple. Within the journal, on page 10, you will find your first day of prompts and Bible verses to write. Begin there. The next day, simply turn the page and repeat. Same with days 3-21. If you miss a day, no worries, just continue where you left off. It’s okay if we’re not all on the exact same journal page; our goal is simply to write the Word each day during this study. This is your time in the Word to write, reflect, grow and worship.

To help you know what to expect and keep up, we have a resource to guide you. It’s our Study at a Glance. This little gem is your place to easily find what’s happening throughout the study.

STUDY AT A GLANCE

You will receive two more blog posts this week. Wednesday's post will be written by special guest, Wendy Pope. She's prepared an optional Bible study lesson to take you even deeper into Scripture. Some of you may remember Wendy. She was the author of our summer OBS, Hidden Potential. Then Friday, I'll be back to wrap up our week!

Are you ready to begin worshipping through writing the Word?

Let’s Chat!

One thing that helps with consistency in Bible study is a plan. I do my Bible study first thing in the morning, usually at my kitchen table. When and where do you plan to do yours?

Giveaway!
Comment for a chance to win a Write the Word: Cultivate Worship journal! Three winners will be randomly selected and notified within three days via a reply to their comment on this blog.