how do you approach the Word?

Despite my grumblings about bible dig-in, there's something truly beautiful about it. 

Bible dig-in is where all the small group leaders of AAIV come together and go through (almost) all the bible passages for the quarter. It's a whole day ordeal of studying Luke, passage by passage. By the end of the day, we are all exhausted.

HOWEVER

There's something different about when we study the Word in bible dig-in than when we study it ourselves. 

When I read the bible on my own, I approach it in a "what can I get out of this?" way. It's about my own comfort, my own understanding. Not sure if this is so to speak a "bad way" to approach reading the bible, BUT ...

...in bible digin, you can tell that every small group leader is thirsty for the word and yearning to understand every single aspect of the passage. Not only for theirselves, but we learn because we are dying to understand so that we can pass it on to our family groups. Because if we don't understand it, then how will we explain it to our family groups? 

Of course, that last sentence is a bit cryptic. God is sovereign and will communicate the message He wants to communicate regardless of our good or bad bible studies. Nevertheless, we want to know every corner of the passage.

And from that change in approach, a new and better understanding of these passages come about.

When AAIV seniors stop going to AAIV stuff or even TASC/CSA upperclassmen stop having a duty within that organization, they stop attending. With good reason -- there's nothing there for them to do. It's important not to just "chill" and serve, because it's how we're called to live. 

In the same way, I think if Christians don't approach the word with the intention to serve, much of the power within it might be lost.

warning: haven't thought this through thoroughly, but this idea has been on my mind so I thought I'd get it out in writing.