Women to Women December 2020

Getting down to earth

–– Gardening tips from Mark chapter 4

Heather Holdsworth   Mark 4 verses 1 - 20

 Define and give examples of

1. the cares of this world
2. the deceitfulness of riches
3. desires for other things

from verses 7, and verses 18-19

Next steps for weeds

1. How can we help clear the weeds for each other?  What has helped you best when things have gone awry?
2. Write down what you are going to do this week to act on what the Lord underlined tonight.

Next steps for good soil

1. Our spiritual lives flourish as we meditate on the word.  Think about a verse that has brought solace, correction or help.   Share about the circumstances that made it meaningful.
2. At home this week, take Don Whitney’s first 5 meditation methods and enjoy thinking more deeply about your verse.

17 Methods of Meditation

Donald Whitney (Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, 2014)

1. Emphasize Different Words in the Text
2. Rewrite the Text in Your Own Words
3. Formulate a Principle from the Text—What Does It Teach?
4. Think of an Illustration of the Text—What Picture Explains It?
5. Look for Applications of the Text
6. Ask How the Text Points to the Law or the Gospel
7. Ask How the Text Points to Something About Jesus
8. Ask What Question Is Answered
 or What Problem Is Solved by the Text
9. Pray Through the Text
10. Memorize the Text
11. Create an Artistic Expression of the Text
12. Ask the Philippians 4v8 Questions of the Text

• What is true about this, or what truth does it exemplify?
• What is honourable about this?
• What is just or right about this?
• What is pure about this, or how does it exemplify purity?
• What is lovely about this?
• What is commendable about this?
• What is excellent about this (that is, excels others of this kind)?
• What is praiseworthy about this?

1. Ask the Joseph Hall Questions of the Text

• What is it (define and/or describe what it is) you are meditating upon?
• What are its divisions or parts?
• What causes it?
• What does itcause; that is, what are its fruits and effects?
• What is its place, location, or use?
• What are its qualities and attachments?
• What is contrary, contradictory, or different to it?
• What compares to it?
• What are its titles or names?
• What are the testimonies or examples of Scripture about it?

1. Set and Discover a Minimum Number of Insights from the Text
2. Find a Link or Common Thread Between All the Paragraphs or Chapters You Read
3. Ask How the Text Speaks 
to Your Current Issue or Question
4. Use Meditation Mapping [ie, mind-mapping]