Infusion Bible eStudies are downloadable small group studies that can be read online, printed, or emailed. Each study includes a leader guide and a study guide and is suitable for a one-hour group Bible study.
Listen...to the words of the Scripture, and in them discover God's message for you today.
Look...at a brief verbal snapshot from the scrapbook of contemporary life and discover its connection both to you and to the Scripture passage.
Live...inside the Scripture to discover its context and message; then allow the Scripture to come alive in you and cause you to live out your faith in new and more-effective ways.
Read an excerpt from this study below.
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During my first year of seminary at Southern Methodist University, an event happened in Dallas that drew a variety of responses from across the community. The pastor of a large church that televised its worship service (not a Methodist church, I hasten to add), announced one particular Sunday the need for buses for the upcoming vacation Bible school. Then, in the pastoral prayer, the minister offered words that went something like, “God, you know we need five school buses for our vacation Bible school. If there is anyone out there who has a school bus, touch their hearts and direct them to call 123-4567 to offer us the use of their bus. I repeat, God, the phone number is 123-4567.”
The first reaction, of course, was laughter; it was obvious to whom the words were addressed. I continue to see the humor, but that “prayer” raises some deeper questions. What is prayer, and how do we pray? Do we “use” prayer to impress or manipulate others? What thoughts go through our heads when we are asked to pray in public, including praying in front of the Sunday school class or congregation? For that matter, what about other acts of faith, from fasting to offering our gifts to the church?