Alpha Week 4 - How and Why Should I Read The Bible - by Iain Jourdan - The Bible is a book that comes alive to Christ-Followers. This week we will look at how and why you should read the Bible.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Read the following passages

Mark 4:1-8 & Mark 4:13-20 and reflect on the following point outlined below:

The hard-hearted (v.4, 15)

1. What was the problem?
2. What is the difference between hearing the word and responding?
3. Can you think of a time when you read the bible or listened to a sermon, but it made little or no impact on your life?

The faint-hearted (v.5-6; 16-17)

1. What was the problem?
2. What sort of things do you think Jesus meant by ‘trouble’ and ‘persecution’ (opposition)?
3. What do you think the roots are?
4. Roots cannot be seen – the things we do in secret, such as Bible reading, prayer, giving,etc.

The half-hearted (v.7, 18)

1. What was the problem?
2. How long did it take for the problem to become apparent?
3. How do we prevent issues such as the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things from choking the word?

The whole-hearted (v.8, 20)

1. What does God promise to those who persevere?
2. What do you think the crop is?