By: Emily Cook
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3
In 2008, I was introduced to Chronological Bible Discipleship, the method of studying the Bible daily that transformed my spiritual life like no other teaching tool. According to Donna Gaines, who teaches this curriculum at Bellevue Baptist Church, it’s chronological, because you read through the stories in the Bible in chronological order to see God as He reveals Himself from the beginning to the end. It’s biblical because it’s based on the text of the Scripture itself, allowing Scripture to speak for itself and to shape our response to God and to our circumstances. And it’s discipleship because it emphasizes the passing on of knowledge, experience, passion, wisdom, and view of God. CBD utilizes the Bible’s story to help women develop a biblical worldview—not merely behavioral modification, but life transformation. It enables women to gain a high view of God and Scripture, as it alone reveals God as who He is—not as we want Him to be or even who we think that He is. It also guides women to discover truth for themselves—to become “self feeders,” building in them a habit of reading the Bible actively by asking questions: What’s happening? What does this tell us about God, man, sin, etc? Where have we seen this truth before? And how should I respond to this truth? CBD also teaches women that God uses ordinary women and it helps women develop a high view of God and scripture. CBD produces women who will invest their lives in the next generation.
The way the study is set up, you read a daily reading of the Bible at home each day and come together with a small group once a week within a large group setting. In my case, Donna would teach a lesson from a portion of that week’s text and then we’d discuss the topic in our small group with simple questions that taught deep truths. This method of studying pulled a thread of redemption in Christ from Genesis through Revelation. All of the Old Testament text I never wanted to read became new and exciting as I looked for Jesus on every page. It took all those pieces of stories I’d heard in church and made one big frame where all the puzzle pieces connected. I saw myself in His story for the first time and began to learn on my own instead of being dependent on a preacher to teach me everything.
Since the end of 2008, I’ve been passionate about this way of biblical discipleship. I’ve lead or co-led 3 different groups. As this year drew to a close, I began praying about who was next on my discipleship list. God gave me a vision of women in my community, of all denominations and walks of life, uniting for a yearlong chronological bible study. I had no idea the logistics of this, but I trusted God with what my eyes could not see. He soon put me in the path of Lori Hawkins, who shared a heart for biblical literacy and discipleship. We both believed it would be transformational as a way to unite Christian women, empower them with God’s word, and send them out ready to disciple others through the Bible. She happened to be a pastor’s wife and offered their church facilities to host the weekly study on Tuesday evenings, so that women who work during the day would be able to attend.
So, on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, we will begin meeting at Covington First Assembly of God, studying CBD curriculum (ivamay.com) as we read through the Tyndale NIV One Year Chronological Bible together. We hope you will join us and spread the word to the women in your church. More information will follow on my blog, www.emilypeytoncook.typepad.com.
Understanding the story of the Bible resembles the assembly of a puzzle. 