Article November 18, 2002 Issue

Bible study... transforming lives

Barbara Weigt

FOR ME, life without the stimulation and fellowship of a Bible study group would be like dinner without dessert. During my childhood in a small Wisconsin town, dessert was the focal point of family dinners—most often, after a Bible reading. Over homemade apple and blueberry pies—a la mode—we talked about everything from Jonah to Jesus to joy and everlasting life.

My love of the Bible was developed when I was in Sunday School. We were given verses to memorize and were rewarded with points toward summer camp scholarships. In this way, the words of the Bible were programmed into us and became available for later reflection. I can remember the first phrase I committed to memory—four little words, "He careth for you" (I Pet. 5:7). How often those words have come to mind to reassure me in difficult times!

When I went away to college, I took with me the Bible my parents had given to me—a black leather copy that had many of my favorite passages underlined. Several years later it was stolen from my car, and I can remember consoling myself with the thought, "Well, I just hope whoever stole it gets as much value out of it as I have!"