Preparing for a season of celebration! What better time of the year to reflect on all the goodness, He has provided us than during Advent. The circumstances and special events surrounding the advent season make it extra special to most people across the globe. This season reflects a time of taking time to pause and become filled with wonder and awe on the good doings of God from the entire previous year. It thereby reflects a season of looking back and remembering the faithfulness of God and his Word while also creating an anticipation of what the Messiah brings to us in the next year. It is then really imperative we share and reflect on the gospels and the Word during such a time. Many people take the time to read through the Four Gospels which recount the story of Jesus’ birth during this season. Advent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Many Christians and believers use this sacred time to remember the reason for the season using the Gospels. The Four Gospels are found in the New Testament in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Matthew, Mark and Luke specifically are sometimes referred to as the synoptic gospels which means they are identical in their storytelling. Historians believe Mark was written first around 70-75 AD with Luke being written close to 90-95. John’s gospel is the last one written and Historians believe they can place it at being written around 95 AD with some saying it was written probably even later than that. The book of John is the hardest one for researchers and historians to date. Each of these four books are not considered a biography of Christ but rather they are stories told to us so we can have a better image of just how Mighty and all encompassing Jesus Christ is to us. They are written so we have a clearer understanding of the significance of who Jesus is and teach us why the gospel is our Good News. It can be a daunting task to take on all four gospels during advent but if you break it down, it is easy to digest each lesson being taught to us. During this celebratory time, here are some simple, yet super effective ways to study the Gospels during this time of the year.

• Print your own reading and printable plan

There are so many available worksheets and study documents available online to help you navigate the Gospels one step at a time. Consider researching which option is best for you and print out a daily worksheet to make your way through each book and chapter during advent. This is an easy way to break it down day by day and retain the information better through the use of writing. Through a printable reading plan, one is able to check and cross out the various parts already read and foster a way forward. A subscription to the website and the daily reading plan will give you a quick guide on the various readings, and thus a betterment of the sharing of the gospel.

• Ask someone to join you

Who else needs a good accountability partner when it comes to improving our lives? I know I do! During this time, it is essential that you find a spouse, a friend, or someone you trust who is disciplined to join you on this journey. Through this, you are able to talk about the various gospels and insights in detail and thus share in the insights. The celebration of the Messiah is also imperative in a place of fellowship. Studies show having an accountability partner will help you stay on track, provide feedback, fellowship and community, help you create and stay on top of those deadlines and keeps you grounded on the goals. Accountability helps you remember your goals and your target deadlines. A study partner is important as they will offer you reminders on the various portions of scripture that you are to read.  Also, the study partner will be essential in encouraging you and picking up seasonal words for you, thus not only bolstering your knowledge and wisdom, but also your faith. Whether short-term or long-term, having that community is essential to your spiritual growth. They can help you stay mindful on the present chapter and guide you along tough passages which may need to a deeper dive in order to digest all that is being taught. You can find an accountability partner is so many areas of your life. Try reaching out to a coworker, a significant lover, sister, brother, fellow church member, parent, or neighbor. Tell them about your goals and simply see if they want to join you on this journey. Who knows you may be able to bring someone else closer to Christ.

• Pause and Pray

Despite the continual reading, it is imperative you pray during the reading of the plan. The anticipation and excitement surrounding the birth of Jesus also brings better revelation in the various areas. Moreover, communication with God brings a betterment in understanding of the various gospels, especially during this season. Taking the time to pause as you are getting deeper in to His Word will allow you to be better able to retain the information you are taking in. To take advantage of this step, we recommend you stop for a brief moment before a chapter and pray to God. Ask him for discernement of the chapter ahead and to allow Him to show you clear as day what it is you need to take away from this particular passage prior to reading it. Tell Him you do not want to miss any teaching or lessons He placed in the word and you are open with your heart and mind to receive any thing He is ready to deliver to you. Read the chapter with an open heart and as you finish it, conclude with another pray of thanksgiving. Thank Him for opening your eyes to a new way of hearing a story and have gratitude for what you have read and pray for retention to remember the stories from that particular chapter so you can hide it in your heart and remember it in the days to come ahead. Allow the verses to absorb in your brain and they will be there for you when you need it the most as your go forth in your day to  day life.

• Subscribe to daily text messages

Have you ever considered signing up for daily bible verses sent to you? The daily text messages will give you a platform and area of a reminder to read the Word. Dailytext.net is a new and popular daily bible text message subscription service which allows you to receive inspirational quotes to start your day off on the right foot. Even during times when there is too much to do, then a daily text would be sound in reminding you to read the Word and encourage you for that particular day. With the use of the Scripture Scanner software,it scans the entire bible for you to find the best verses to suit you as you are getting ready to take on the day. It sends a text message to you at the same time each morning and from there you can dive deeper in that passage to gain more of an insight into the promises of what God wants you to remember.

• Journaling

The aspect of noting down your points and insight is crucial. Once you note the various points, then you are able to create remembrance in the various areas shared. Journaling is crucial part of the self help community. Similar to an accountability partner but with yourself. When you journal you are talking to yourself and sharing all that is in your mind and putting it down on paper. This is a three step process, reading the word, allowing the thought to marinate in your mind and then writing it down. When you are journaling, it is a conversation between the subconscious and conscious mind. Plus when you read back over your notes down the line you will be able to retain more than you thought.

• Go to Sunday school

We all need a sense of community to feel like we belong. The Sunday School environment and activities will offer you the chance to have various sessions with people who have a better understanding of the word and to converse with more like minded people who share similar goals with you. You can thereby ask in the various areas of the gospels where there was not enough clarity and this can help in growth and betterment even during study at such a time. Especially during the advent season, there is so much a Sunday School teacher can instill in you that can be of good use years down the line. Remember our church leaders are scholars and students of the word so do not hesitate to lend on them and ask for help. We all need leaders in our life and mentors to help us grow. Finding these at the church is the perfect way to grow your spiritual discipline.

• Start with the Gospel of Mark

In your reading, you can begin by studying any of the gospels. However, it is encouraged that one starts their study with the gospel of Mark. Mark will offer you with all the essentials of the Gospel. It is also the shortest gospel and does not require vast background in theology as the other gospels do. The Book of Mark begins with John the Baptist preparing a way. It is here where we are introduced to John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, in the middle of the wilderness as his is asking for his forgiveness and leading up to him getting ready for what is the first baptism of the time. It’s also in Mark where Jesus calls on his first disciples and told them to ‘follow me’ and we are taught about why each man was chosen despite their worldly struggles. Which disciples’ lives resonate with you the most in this passage?

• Do research on the audience

The understanding of the original audience and the context of the word is imperative as it betters one’s understanding.  This knowledge will help in the understanding of the various texts and helps in getting knowledge on the various tools in communication. The receiving of daily text messages with a background setting will help you in developing your mastery and knowledge in not only the word of God, but also the contexts in the writing of the various gospels. Also research each author of the Gospels to get a better understanding of the writer for each book.

• Use commentaries

It is important that you read the bible by yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the word keenly. However, commentaries by knowledgeable people in the word would help you to understand the gospels in the various seasons.  The various commentaries will give clarity on meanings, biblical story line, content and word meanings and thus creation of a better understanding. This can also be discussed in the various group settings and also by the various study partners. Hearing or reading someone else’s interpretation of the word can make it a bit easier to go through the Bible and understand how you are interpreting the word yourself.   Studying the Gospels can seem like a daunting task to begin with, but with the use of one or more of these ideas you can easily break it down to fully remember the promises God laid out to us in these books. Remember these are the teachings of Jesus as told by those who were close to him. Each one has their own personal interpretation of the significance of who he was while He was here on Earth. Taking on the Gospels do not have to be hard or super complicated for you to hear and absorb all that the Lord has instore for you. Simply take it one day at a time during this season and pray for guidance from the Most High.   Subscribe here!