Blog - Do Not Depart

Free Packet of Resources – Memorize Psalm 1

September 9, 2019 by Lisa Burgess 1 Comment

Click the memory packet below in your preferred translation and download.

Print any or all of the pages in your PDF packet to help you memorize Psalm 1.

For further instructions on how to use each item, check your FAQ email that you received after registering for the Psalm 1 memory challenge. Or ask a question in the comments here or in our Hide His Word Facebook group. We’re here to help!

Each packet contains:

1 page full text
Schedule bookmark
Daily checklist
3×5 text cards
First-letters page
Journal pages

The more you prepare now, the greater your chances of success later.

For extra community, join our Hide His Word Facebook group.

Post pictures on Instagram with #Psalm1 and #HideHisWord. Share tweets using #Psalm1 and #HideHisWord.

Here’s a button for your blog or social media. Click on it to download, then use however you’re like.

Any questions, problems, comments? Let us know in the comments.

Fasten On the Belt of Truth

September 6, 2019 by Ali Shaw Leave a Comment

This post continues our series on the Whole Armor of God and focuses on the encouragement to Fasten On the Belt of Truth, the first defensive weapon.

Everything Is Supported by the Belt

I recently heard a true story about a young woman who went to try on a bridal gown. She was frightened that her heavy, strapless dress would just fall right down because of her slender narrow frame.

The saleslady assured her that all the weight of the fabric rested at the waist. If the waist was strong, the dress would stay perfectly in place!

I love this story because it perfectly describes the importance of the belt of truth. All the rest of the spiritual armor “hangs” on the truth!

Not to jump ahead, but let’s look very briefly at the other pieces of armor. Righteousness, the Gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the sword of the Spirit hang (in various ways) on truth. Whether it’s the truth of who God is, the truth of who we are in Him, or the truth of His Word, the truth is central and binds them together.

Truth First

Why is the belt of truth mentioned first?

This would have been understood practically by the original audience. Today, we often use belts as fashion accessories, but Roman soldiers or anyone needing to fight (or work hard) would have needed a good, functional belt. It certainly would be the first piece of armor put on when dressing for battle.

Long robes could have been tucked up under the belt to free the legs and feet. And a strong belt would have given physical support to the back (much like the back support belts that physical laborers often wear today).

A Roman soldier took the first step to readying himself for battle when the belt was cinched.

Once the belt was on, the body was strengthened to hold the weight of all the other armor!

What About Us? Are We Soldiers?

The Book of 2 Timothy refers to Christians as “soldiers.” Matter of fact, all of 2 Timothy 2 gives the characteristics of a soldier of Christ. Verses three and four say:

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4)

So yes, we are soldiers. And we will fight spiritual battles as long as we are living on this earth! Like Patti said in our introduction,

When we remember that the battle is against the enemy, it realigns us with God’s view. We can remember to stand in His strength, because obviously you and I can not fight an enemy of that magnitude alone!

It is through His truth, faith in that truth, salvation because of that truth, and so on, that we can fight.

How Can We Know Truth?

If we have a saving relationship with Jesus, we have already chosen truth and know truth. Jesus said,

“I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Yes! Jesus is the truth that sets us free. He is the truth we can fasten on when we have spiritual battles to fight. He is our source of strength!

We know truth when we know Him. But we can also learn more about Him and His truths by reading and studying His word.

As I said in this post about Reading For Truth, https://donotdepart.com/reading-for-truth-abiding-in-gods-word

“As Christians, we must be grounded in truth or else we’ll be deceived by the lies of the enemy.”

Jesus said in John 17:17,

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

We’ll talk more about using the Word of God as the sword of the Spirit in a future post in this series, but for now, just remember that the Bible is foundational to learning truth! We need to know the truth to live by it!

Aren’t you thankful that we have access to the truth in the person of Jesus Christ and through the written word? Share your thoughts in the comments or in our Facebook community group.

Blessings,
Ali

Fasten On the Belt of Truth! Read today’s post to find out: Why a belt? Why is the belt first? Am I a soldier? How can we know truth? #ArmorOfGod #Ephesians6

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The Whole Armor of God

September 3, 2019 by Patti Brown 5 Comments

The printer doesn’t work. The car gets a flat tire. You get sick. Your phone lights up with complaints.

If you have ever been involved in ministry, whether as a volunteer, or for your job, you know – there are obstacles everywhere you turn. Your heart is to serve, but you find in the midst of your ministering that many things are difficult, and your patience is a little shorter than you thought. The twists and turns and tests prove to be more rigorous that you anticipated.

I see this all the time, both in my own work, and listening to others in ministry. The path can be very challenging.

Most often the challenges come in the form of humans. Conflicts and complaints are steady when you are in leadership. You might feel discouraged, embattled.

And guess what? You are in a battle! But not with people.

The Battle is Not Against Flesh and Blood

Ephesians 6:12 tells that our real battle is not against other humans.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12

We may live on earth, but as Believers, we have one foot in God’s heavenly kingdom as well. The battles we face here have an eternal component that you and I must remain mindful of.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

It is easy to be distracted by the joys and challenges of our day to day lives, but everything we do also has eternal significance. I have experienced times of great discouragement in ministry, times when I am exhausted and it seems like the problems will never end. I forget in those moments that my true battle is not against the people and the problems, but is rather a profound spiritual battle.

When we remember that the battle is against the enemy, it realigns us with God’s view. We can remember to stand in His strength, because obviously you and I can not fight an enemy of that magnitude alone!

Therefore Take Up the Whole Armor of God

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:13)

Our true strength is found in God, and God alone!

…apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5b)

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

The only way we can stand is in the strength of His might. (Ephesians 6:10)

And how do we do that on a practical level? We put on the whole armor of God!

As spiritual warriors, we adorn ourselves with the one offensive and five defensive pieces of our God-given armor:

Belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14a)
Breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14b)
Shoes of readiness/peace (Ephesians 6:15)
Shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)
Helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17a)
Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17b)

Throughout the month of September we will take a closer look at the whole armor of God, and how you can apply the concepts of the spiritual armor to your daily life.

We pray that you will grow deeper in understanding of the protection and strength that God has provided for you!

Take a closer look with us at the spiritual armor this month! #ArmorofGod #Ephesians6

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New Bible Memory Challenge – Coming Soon!

September 2, 2019 by Lisa Burgess Leave a Comment

It’s coming…

We’re getting ready for our next Bible memory challenge!

Whether you are a seasoned memorizer or this will be your first time, this challenge will be easy but beneficial. We’ll provide resources, support, and reminders so you can succeed.

Watch for more details here on September 9.

Building a Bible Study Notebook: Series Wrap Up

August 30, 2019 by Ali Shaw 2 Comments

All this month, we’ve been sharing printable resources to help you build a Bible study notebook. Here is our month long wrap up and a printable packet of our resources.

I quoted Lisa in the introduction to this series and really like how she explained why it’s so helpful to keep a Bible study notebook.

We all know that one effective way to retain what you read is to write it down. In a place you can find again.

In that introductory post, I also mentioned that Lisa wrote an excellent post titled How to Make a Bible Notebook and shared tips and told us how to get started.

If you missed the introductory post, make sure you check it out HERE because I gave some links in that post that will help you get started, print some tabs for your notebook, and find our previous notebooking series that has really great content (even if the printables look a little out of date.)

This months post was all about updating our previous printables and adding some new ones! And we’ve even made a printable pack of all the resources we created for you this month! (The individual blog posts have the links to the individual printables. If you’re not looking to print them all, head to the post you’d like to print. See below.)

To see each post in this series, just click HERE.

To download your FREE packet, click on this Bible Notebook Printables Packet!

The packet includes a cover sheet, a Bible reading tracker, a speaker notes printable, a double entry journal, a Book study form, an original word study sheet, and an ACTs prayer model printable.

We truly hope these printables bless you! If they have, let us know if the comments or on social media. Enjoy!

Blessings in Christ,
Ali

Bible Study Notebook: Double-Entry Journal Sheets

August 22, 2019 by Kelli LaFram 1 Comment

There are a number of wonderful Bible studies available that have been written and published by great Bible teachers. There are some amazing online tools available for word study and reading or listening to Bible commentary. However, there are times in our lives when we just want to open our Bibles and listen to what the Lord wants to say directly to us. Enter the double-entry journal.

Today’s printable is a double-entry journal page and is a great tool for building a Bible study notebook. It will help us record and meditate on all that comes to our minds as we enjoy God’s word.

I can’t take credit for this simple study tool. I’m not sure who originally came up with the double-entry journal, but I started using it years ago during my personal Bible study. I enjoy it because it is simple and flexible.

How to Use a Double-Entry Journal

Here’s how it works:

Print out several double entry journal pages (or see this post on how to convert a spiral notebook to a double-entry journal).
Fill in the passage and the passage title at the top of the page.
In the left column, write out word-for-word the any verses that grab your attention. (NOTE: You could also opt to write out the entire passage you are studying. This requires more printed journal pages, but also promotes greater concentration on God’s words.)
As ideas, questions, other verses, song lyrics, prayers or praises come to mind write them in the right column next to verse that triggered your thought.

Benefits of a Double-Entry Journal

Using a double entry journal can encourage you to slow down and truly meditate on Gods word. This simple technique helps you to:

know, understand, and remember Scripture;
connect what you are reading to your prior knowledge of the Bible;
express the feeling, thoughts, and/or questions you have;
think critically about and refine what you believe about God and His word;
respond in prayer or praise to God’s heart for; and
recognize sin and repent.

A double-entry journal section will be a great addition to your Bible study notebook. Regularly recording your time with God in such a way can become a habit that is rich and rewarding. Give it a try for a week or two. Then come back and leave a comment letting us all know what you think.

Only by grace,

Kelli

Download the double-entry journal page.

Get all the Bible Study Notebook printable here.

Here’s a simple & flexible way to meditate on God’s word. Free printables! #BuildaBiblenotebook

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Printable Resources for Prayer Life

August 19, 2019 by Cheli Sigler Leave a Comment

Continuing to build a Bible study notebook this month at Do Not Depart, today we will add printable resources for your prayer life.

Prayer is a conduit for better Bible study. Seeking the Lord in prayer prior to studying The Word tunes my heart and mind to the Holy Spirit, creates God-focus, and prepares me to receive and apply God’s message.

Seeking the Lord in prayer prior to studying The Word tunes my heart and mind to the Holy Spirit, creates God-focus, and prepares me to receive and apply God’s message. @DoNotDepart #BuildingaBibleNotebook

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Model prayers, like the Lord’s Prayer, serve as prayer tutors, keeping me on track and mindful of the Lord’s will while I pray. As a young Christian I was often frustrated during prayer because I struggled with distraction. Since then, I have been introduced to the ACTS prayer model (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication), and it has transformed my prayer life. The ACTS model helps me feel close to God and effective in praying for others.

Adoration

I start my prayer by saying, “God, you are….” Adoration is worship. It is affirming who God is. Spend a few moments completing that sentence with as many names and attributes for God as you can or can allot time. Need help getting started? Check out these verses:

2 Samuel 22:32-34
Isaiah 9:6
Revelation 4:8

Confession

This is where I tell God, “I’m sorry.” As much as God hates our sin, He loves it when we turn to Him, acknowledge our sin, and ask for forgiveness. Here are some verses to encourage you as you confess your sin:

Proverbs 28:13
James 5:16
1 John 1:9

Thanksgiving

When confession is done and God’s forgiveness begins to wash over me, thanksgiving flows: “Thank you, God, for ….” There are so many things for which to thankful. Let them flow with abandon. Need some help with the words? Try these verses of thanksgiving:

Psalm 9:1
Psalm 107:1
Philippians 4:6-7

Supplication

Now it is time to lay before the Lord personal requests and intercessory prayer: “God, please….” The Greek word for “supplication” is deēsis, meaning “a request.” The Bible teaches us to take our requests to the Lord. Physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs are all welcome; there’s nothing God can’t handle. Here are some helpful scriptures:

Matthew 6:11
Philippians 4:6-7
Ephesians 6:18

Free Printables

Download this free ACTS Prayer Journal Page, make several copies, and put it in your notebook. I find that I pray as I write. The writing is another way I stay on track and focused. There is no one way or perfect way to pray, but I have found this model to be meaningful and effective.

Do you have a favorite prayer model or a story how one transformed your prayer life? Tell me about it in the comments. Need a place just for prayer requests? Download this free Prayer Journal Page.

Bible Study Notebook: Original Language Word Study Sheet

August 15, 2019 by Lisa Burgess 16 Comments

Get your next free printable today to build your Bible notebook. It’s easier than you think to study Hebrew and Greek words. This sheet will help.

Deeper Meanings

“Think differently.”

Our behaviors follow when our thoughts change. “To think differently” is the literal meaning of the word “repent” [metanoeo] in the New Testament.

Did you know that?

Or this one? “To kiss the hand (like a dog licking his master’s hand)” is the definition of “worship” [proskuneo]. Think how loyal your family pet is to you. How much joy do we express when we’re near our Master?

We can learn the meanings underneath the words we read in our Bibles. It helps us think differently, worship more, and grow a deeper faith.

Use Hebrew and Greek

While it’s definitely NOT essential to know the original Biblical languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek to understand God’s grace, it can be helpful to look up words in the original languages when we want to learn more.

It can take less than 5 minutes to enrich your study of God’s truths.

And, more importantly, it can enhance your awareness of God’s love for you and increase your love for Him.

It doesn’t have to be all Greek to you.

It’s easy! Download this free study sheet. Then use it to study your own list of interesting words.

How to Study Original Words

1. Type in the word or verse you want to study.

Here are some online references that are easy to use.

2. Write down the Strong’s number.

Old Testament words will begin with #H for Hebrew. New Testament words will begin with #G for Greek.

3. Fill in the blanks of the study sheet.

Write down as much or as little as you’d like: original root word, its derivations, definition, and any extra verses that interest you.

4. File in your Bible notebook.

It’s helpful to three-hole-punch your study sheet (along with extras). Keep them all together in one place in your Bible notebook.

You don’t have to delve into grammar, pronunciations, tenses, alphabets, etc. (Unless you want to! If you do, there are many resources online, in bookstores, and possibly your local church.)

An Example

To study “worship” in John 4:24, I used this online interlinear Bible at Bible Hub. I typed in the verse.

Then I clicked on the Greek word for worship, #G4352.

I filled out my worksheet.

Want more ideas to study?

Check out these series previously posted at Do Not Depart:

Your Original Word Study Sheets

Click here to download your own Original Word Study Sheets. You can study two words per page. Print as many pages as you’d like to put in your Bible notebook.

Get ALL the free Bible Notebook pages here. More are being added all month of August.

Want an easy way to learn Greek/Hebrew root words? Free printable and links to resources. Enhance your study! #BuildingABibleNotebook

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Do you like studying root words? Tell us your favorite resources, along with any questions or extra tips, in the comments below.

Bible Study Notebook: Speaker Notes Printable

August 13, 2019 by Jaime Hilton Leave a Comment

All this month we are building a notebook to help us organize our Bible study. Did you grab your book study page and check out this guide to putting your book together?

I don’t know about you, but for many years I had a problem. I would hear a great message at church or a conference, or even a podcast. I would furiously scrawl notes on whatever scrap of paper I could find, then stuff the notes into my Bible or bookbag. Every few months I would have to clean out the pile of church bulletins, envelopes, and other random pieces of paper containing notes that no longer held any meaning because they had no context. It was messy and frustrating. I wasn’t getting as much out of the messages as I should because my notes didn’t have anywhere to live. Rather than contributing to my overall study of the Bible, they remained a disconnected piece of my spiritual walk.

Keeping a Bible study notebook with a section for speaker notes is one way you can connect what you’ve heard with the other things you’re learning. The practice of organizing your notes is an opportunity to review and remember the points that made an impact. The more we go over things, the more they become ingrained in our minds and eventually, our hearts.

Why Take Notes?

If you think of Bible study as feeding your faith, listening to a sermon or a special message from a speaker might be akin to a dinner party at a friend’s house. It’s as much about the fellowship as it is about the food, which is probably presented differently, perhaps more formally. It might even be a dish that’s more exotic than your usual fare and while you thoroughly enjoy it, you probably won’t be adding it to your own rotation of recipes.

Ultimately, even though the food is different and the presentation is different, it all works together with the other things you’ve eaten throughout the day to nourish and energize your body.

Similarly, I might be reading through Exodus while my church is studying Hebrews. Even though we are not looking at the same passages of Scripture, the Holy Spirit may use what I hear in the sermon to clarify or deepen my understanding of Exodus. The Bible is made up of separate books telling one connected story. You might be pleasantly surprised at how each unique flavor comes together to nourish and energize your faith.

Dress It Up

I like to use doodles when I’m taking notes. Something about keeping my hands busy helps my mind stay engaged while I’m listening. But I also find it useful to highlight keywords, verses or quotes I want to remember or questions I want to research later. The doodles decorating my page later serve to draw my eye back to the things that first caught my attention.

Be sure to get your copy of the Speaker Notes Printable and let your sermon notes season your Bible study!

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Bible Notebook: Cover Sheet and Book of the Bible Study Sheet

August 8, 2019 by Ali Shaw 2 Comments

Today’s post in our series, Building a Bible Study Notebook, has two printables — a cover sheet for your notebook and a study sheet for when you study a book of the Bible. We’re sharing new, updated printables with you!

I love to listen to a podcast called “Help Me Teach the Bible,” from the Gospel Coalition. Nancy Guthrie is an impressive host! I am amazed by how she remembers such specific details within the Bible. Yet, she also sees Scripture as a continuous whole, made of individual pieces.

It’s a great reminder to study the pieces (or books) as a “whole within a whole.”

What does that mean?

When we study a book of the Bible, we need to look at it as a whole book in addition to its importance in the entire Bible.

But why?

Studying a Book of the Bible… as a Book

I love the book, Little House on the Prairie. If you asked me details about the individual books and the author, Laura Ingalls Wilder, I could tell you quite a bit! I can summarize each work in the series and I know a great deal about Laura’s pioneer childhood (discovered through reading her stories). I also know who her audience was, why she wrote the books, the general theme of the stories, and can put many of the details in their greater context.

If you’re a “Little House” fan, you can likely do the same. And like me, you probably learned all of this by reading her books and doing additional research on the author.

Reading and research is a great way to know a book better!

Likewise, when we read and study a book of the Bible, our studies are enhanced when we go deeper. Researching the audience and author, why the book was written, the main themes, context, and so on, tell us much!

It’s a common Bible study focus to zero in on the verses with questions like, “What is God saying to me right here?”

That is an excellent question!

But it’s also important for us to be able to look at an entire book of the Bible and say, “What is God saying to me here? What was God saying to the original recipients of this word? Who was the human author? What circumstances shaped his life? What literary style did God employ in the author’s penning of this book? How does the writing show the greater context, date, or cultural practices?”

As we learn more about the background of a Bible book, we learn more about God, His message, and also about ourselves.

When we study a book of the Bible, our studies are greatly enhanced when we learn more about the audience and author, why the book was written, the main themes, context, and more. #Printables #BuildingABibleStudyNotebook

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Printables for You

To start building your Bible notebook, we’ve made a cover sheet for the front of your book. (Click here to print.)

To help you in your whole book studies, we’ve made a printable for you. It includes spaces to list the Bible book’s name and author, date of writing, facts about the original audience, the main purpose it was written, the general context, the main content and common themes, and key verses. (Click here to print.)

We pray that these printables will help you in your studies! To summarize what Lisa said (years ago) here:

Write it down. Remember.

Do you study a Bible book as a whole? What have you learned?

A printable for doing whole book study? Write it down. Remember. #BuildingABibleNotebook

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In Him,
Ali