Toss or keep?
What do you do with your old Bible study books?
You know, the workbooks where you read a passage of scripture, answered some questions and either applied what you learned to your life, or discussed it with others, later.
I’ve been in Bible study since I became a Christian at 15. At Trinity Lutheran Church under the direction of Larry Christenson and Paul Anderson, we did a plain study: read the passage, discuss.
Any notes I had were ones I took myself, usually in a blue notebook.
After I graduated from college, however, Bible studies turned into workbooks. I guess this made it easier for the leader–all they had to do was read the question and discussion could begin.
It never was that simple for me when I was the leader–I still did an exhaustive study along the order of Kay Arthur‘s Precepts ministry. I’d print out the passage and attack it like an editor–marking repeated words, underlining important concepts and writing personal reactions to the verses.
Then I’d fill out the questions in the Bible study book.
bibles (Photo credit: fancycwabs)
That’s been going on for 36 years.
Which brings me to the question: what do I do with all those filled-in Bible study books? The workbooks full of carefully considered answers fill two large boxes.
Do I dare throw them away? What if I forget something and need to check it in the workbook?
(Am I likely to do that?)
So what did you eat for breakfast?
Our friend Jon Schultz talked about the need to daily study the Bible once. “You should read it every day because of what the discipline of reading does to you, and whether you remember it or not.”
I screwed up my face.
“What did you have for breakfast on September 23, 1985?”
“I don’t remember.”
“But you ate breakfast?”
“Of course.”
His point was, I may not have remembered what I ate for breakfast that morning, but breakfast fueled that day. I didn’t remember what specific Bible passage I read that day (since I don’t keep a journal), but did I read something? Probably.
The word of God entering my heart did something on September 23, 1985, just as it does every day. If I wrote in a Bible study book, some lesson, some insight, some relationship wonder, was transmitted to my brain and my soul. Just because I can’t tell you specifically what that was, doesn’t mean God did not work in my heart using his word.
What was the point of answering all those questions about the text?
All the hours I’ve spent answering the Bible study book questions have served a purpose in my life–teaching me about God. They’ve deepened my relationship with him as I’ve learned about him.
Some questions I can call to mind and discuss. Most were just a way for me to get to know my God better.
And that’s, always, a good thing.
I don’t know what my husband ate for breakfast on September 23, 1985 either. But if he was home from sea, I cooked it. It helped fuel him for the day, but it also played a part in our relationship. Communing with him, spending time with him, means I knew him better.
Just like it works with God.
I am a better person because of all those Bible studies. The Word of God has come into my soul and is near me because of the time I spent reading, asking questions, thinking and honoring God with my time.
It’s enough.
Can I recycle those two boxes?
Well, what would you do?
Tweetables
What to do with old Bible study books? Click to Tweet
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Feel free to throw away your used Bible study workbooks! Click to Tweet
Update 2018– a friend works in prison ministries. He happily took all my Bible study books, though I removed my name first! 🙂
Michelle, the ministry, Love Packages, can make use of those. I wrote an article about that ministry and Christian Library International. Love Package’s founder told me in the interview that they can use filled in workbooks. Because CLI sends materials into the prison system they would not want those. Love Packages sends to missionaries in third world countries and your notes would be a valuable addition for their purposes.
I am distracted as I type by helicopters and sirens outside and by a kitty grooming herself in my arms. Hope you will look up those worthy ministries which both need used materials.
Blessings,
Janice (Bosley sends kitty nips!)
That’s good information, Janice G. I’ve wondered myself what to do with all those filled-in Bible study books knowing that when I’m gone the kids are going to throw them in the dumpster. lol
Do you have an address Janice, or should I google? Or, better, what’s the link to your article? 🙂
As a former Precepts leader, I know exactly what you’re talking about. I keep thinking that one day I am going to consolidate all of my notes and then get rid of the stuff to …somewhere. But I know that there are members of my family who have already said they want them. As a leader and teacher, I can’t bear to part with them because I do look to them for reference when making up lesson plans. But I keep all that stuff in loose leaf notebooks and just keep adding to them as I come across things that pertain. (Military wife note: I have always maintained that a PCS move is God’s way of telling me to downsize, but it has been more than 20 years since we moved from the area and we moved only once into a house larger than any set of quarters I ever lived in. I haven’t had to downsize lately. Burt there will be a lot of books not making the move with us when we finally retire to MI. I will have a difficult time letting many of them go if they don’t make the cut. 🙁
The time has come. The time is now. They need to go. They need to go now.
Ok, they’re going! I need the boxes this weekend anyway. 🙂