“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, ‘if ye continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” John 8:31 & 32 KJV Daily Bible Reading allows you to discover the truths of God’s Word and find his plan for your life. Read it every day.

“Guard my words as your most precious possession. Write them down, and also keep them within your heart.” Proverbs 7:2&3 TLB Memorizing a Scripture verse gets God’s Word into your heart and mind. Then when problems come into your life, the memorized Scripture can help you overcome fears and comfort you in a time of need.

“You should not stay away from the church meetings as some are doing, BUT you should meet to together and encourage each other.” Hebrews 10:25 NCV Attending church services helps you and others keep strong in your faith. A burning coal can burn brightly when next to other burning coals, but a coal by itself burns out. You can strengthen your faith by meeting with other believers.

“They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” Nehemiah 8:5-8 NIV Members in the small group share their thoughts from their EPHOD journal about the Scripture read in the Daily Bible Reading Plan, notes they took on the Sunday Sermon, discuss the memory verse, ask questions and get answers from the group.

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else.” Habakkuk 2:2 NLT A journal is any notebook or electronic device like an IPad that can be used to record your thoughts. People forget 95% of what they heard in the Sunday Sermon by Tuesday! So writing down sermon notes in an EPHOD Journal can help you review what you have learned and share this in the small group. Also, you can remind yourself what God has done for you when you write down answers to your prayers. These thoughts from your EPHOD journal will provide a place to keep the truths God shows you in your personal walk with Christ and can be shared with your family, friends and the small group. You can write down your creative ideas as you read the Word of God daily.

“And he said unto them, ‘THIS KIND can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.’” Mark 9:29 KJV “This kind” refers to difficult situation when you need increased faith. Fasting and praying helps increase your faith and sensitivity to His Holy Spirit, especially when you need God’s guidance in making decisions.

After Jesus healed the man in Mark 5, he begged to go with Jesus in the ship. Jesus did not let him, but said “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19 NIV Sharing is telling someone what Jesus has done for you, the listener only listens and has no obligation to act. However, if someone asks you what Jesus can do for them, and you tell them and show them the verses in the Bible, that is witnessing.

“Bring to the storehouse a full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord All-Powerful. ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessing you need.’” Malachi 3:10 NCV It is good to give tithes and offerings where you worship, which is God’s storehouse for you. By putting the promises of God’s Word into practice in your daily living you will grow spiritually. As you test this principle in the Scripture, you will be able to watch God multiply what you have left to meet your needs.

“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3 NIV “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” Jude 20 NIV Prayer is the expression of your worship, praise and faith in God. Focusing on God in a prayer and worship time allows God time to speak to you and give you time to present your prayer requests.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.’” Exodus 17:14 NIV Notes written in your journal, listing the points in the sermon on Sunday, will help you review during the week. What you have written in your journal can be used to review the points of the sermon in your small group, with your household and friends.