A Place in His Presence with Cody Andras: Encountering God in our Actual Lives

James: Context and Setting

This week, we will continue our study of the book of James by discussing how to begin to study the Bible. Our goal for this study is not only to walk away with a better understanding of what God is saying to us in the book of James but also to gain confidence to open up any book of the Bible and study it for ourselves. Show Notes [https://www.codyandras.com/2025/02/04/the-book-of-james-how-to-begin-to-study-the-bible/].

James: Introduction

This spring, we'll spend time seeking to encounter the Lord through a study of the Book of James. We'll practice some of the principles that we learned last semester (in our What In the Word study) as we seek to know and love God more through continued study of His written Word. One of my favorite things about the book of James is that it encourages us to put feet to our faith. It talks about what it looks like, practically, when we seek to live a life in the presence of Christ and in line with our faith. Salvation comes through faith alone, but that faith can and should shape the direction of our lives for the better as we seek to live in communion with Jesus and in obedience to His ways. Show Notes [https://www.codyandras.com/2025/01/09/james-introduction/].

Engaging our Strength in Bible Study

When we talk about engaging our strength in Bible study, in applying our own discipline and determination to know and love the Lord, we may be tempted to believe that this whole thing is riding on our own ability. Nothing could be farther from the truth! What we will see in our time together in Lesson Six is that the Lord does call us to love Him with all our strength, but He also promises to provide the very strength we need. Life in Christ is a life spent learning to balance a reliance upon God's strength and a cooperation with Him to receive that strength. The Lord does not invite us to a passive reliance on Him but to an active yielding to Him! We are to seek Him with all our might. We are to learn to rely on His might as we do! Show Notes [https://www.codyandras.com/2024/11/05/engaging-our-strength-in-bible-study-lesson-six/] (includes link to lesson and listening guide).

Engaging our Heart and Soul in Bible Study

Engaging our hearts in Bible study involves bringing our whole selves--open and honest--before the Lord. We are invited to come before Him just as we are. But we are also invited to cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit within our hearts to allow Him to transform us into the ones we were created to be. We were created to reflect the image of God back to a watching world, to walk in wholeness as God restores us, to seek the Lord and find Him! We cannot drum up a life of God on our own power. We are completely dependent on the Spirit of God to breathe life into us, once at the time of our salvation and daily through His restoration and renewal. Thankfully God is gracious to pour that life abundantly into our hearts and souls. Show Notes [https://www.codyandras.com/2024/10/30/engaging-our-hearts-in-bible-study-lesson-five/] (includes links to lesson and listening guide)

Engaging Our Minds in Bible Study | Lesson 4

In this lesson we'll talk about engaging our minds in Bible study. My hope and prayer is that these resources and tools--these methods of studying the Bible--would not become distractions but would grow our confidence in our ability to study and understand God's Word. The goal of Bible study is always to better know and more deeply love the God of the Bible. In the Introduction, we talked about engaging our minds, hearts, souls, and strength as we seek to know and love the Lord more through His written Word. Mark 12:30 encourages us: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." Today, we'll pay more attention to our minds as we read. Remember, though, that your mind is not completely separate from your heart, soul, and strength; instead, each is an aspect of your whole self. We do not disengage our hearts as we use our minds! Show Notes [https://www.codyandras.com/2024/10/23/engaging-our-minds-in-bible-study-lesson-four/]. (including links to video and written lesson)