Think About It!

Before doing this study, please read the 1-minute introduction Paul Tells Us to Think About It. It explains that fixing our thoughts on positive things will bring God's peace to our soul. 

In this study, we'll address another aspect that affects our well-being and reflects what thoughts we are thinking... our words.

Scripture explains that "the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." (Matthew 12:34-35). 

Our thoughts affect our speech and our speech reveals our thoughts.

1. When we speak to others do have a negative attitude, thinking the worst of people and situations?

Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

See Our Words Matter - 26 Scriptures.

2. Do we use profanity and tell dirty jokes or speak with a thankful heart?

Ephesians 5:3-4: But among you there must not be...obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 

See Gratitude Attitude.

3. Do we let worldly lies fill our minds and speech?

1 Timothy 6:20: Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge 

Ephesians 5:6: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 

Colossians 2:8: See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 

See Colossians 2:8 Contains Both a Warning and an Explanation.

4. Do we "make music in our hearts to the Lord?

This passage offers a number of ways our speech can affect our thoughts.

Ephesians 5:18-20: Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

See Wholesome Speech: Shining Like Stars in Our Fallen Culture.

5. Is our speech seasoned with the "salt" of the gospel?

Colossians 4:6: Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

See Seasoned with Salt.

Examining our speech helps us examine our thoughts...think about it!

copyright 2015, updated in 2025, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com

Soldier, Athlete, Farmer

Before doing this study, please read the 1-minute introduction: Reflect on This.

We're told to reflect the passage below because the Lord will give us insight. What a wonderful promise! 

2 Timothy 2:1-7 explains that we should suffer like a soldier, compete like an athlete, and work hard like a farmer:  

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

1. Like a soldier:

Because my husband was a career soldier, we moved 12 times in 22 years, and we had no choice where or when. When we were stationed in West Germany during the Cold War, he spent 4 months of the year away from home doing field training. He was subject to 4 a.m. alerts, long hours, and rigorous physical training. 

Soldiers today have the additional challenge of regular deployments, leaving their country and families for a year at a time. 

In what ways should our Christian walk reflect the "suffering" (self-denial) of a soldier?

Another verse about soldiers:

Matthew 8:5-13: When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. 

This is a wonderful story and it highlights a major element of serving Christ: authority. In what ways does this apply to our daily walk.

2. Like an Athlete.

2 Timothy 2:1-7 specifically talks about the need for an athlete to compete according to the rules. How does this apply to our walk with the Lord?

Can you list some Scriptures that speak of integrity and honesty?

Another verse about athletes:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 

3. Like a Farmer.
2 Timothy 2:1-7 specifically talks about the reward of doing a task like a farmer. Consider ways that farming is different from other tasks and reflect on those things in regard to your relationship with the Lord.

Another Farmer Verse: 

James 5:7: Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 

Reflect on what these verses tell you, "for the Lord will give you insight into all this."


copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated 2025

Who Wants a King: Cultural Compromise

Before doing this study, please read the 1-minute introduction Who Wants a King?.

In 1 Samuel 8, the people wanted a king. They weren't satisfied with the Prophet Samuel giving them God's guidance. 

God planned to place a king over Israel, but the people wanted one earlier than He planned. So He honored their request, even though it wasn't His perfect will. 

Sometimes God honors our bad requests. We could call this His “permission will,” not his perfect will because He allows such situations to teach us a lesson. And typically it's a lesson that shows us we should seek His purposes, not our own. 

The Israelites wanted to fit in with the pagan nations around them:

“We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” 1 Samuel 8:19-20

Wanting to fit in with ungodly cultures is a popular reason for making foolish decisions.

God assured Samuel that it might appear that they were rejecting Samuel, but they were first and foremost rejecting God's plans and purposes for their lives:

And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” 1 Samuel 8:7

Note the worldly temptations listed in the following passage:

1 John 2:15-17: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Take a few moments and consider everyday examples in these three categories mentioned:

lust of the flesh

lust of the eyes

pride of life

We are living in a time in history where the majority of people reject biblical principles and mock Christians who trust God's Word. And many Christians are trying to fit in.

When they entered the promised land, Joshua challenged the Israelites to make this important choice, and it's a choice we also must make. They were tempted to fit in with the pagan practices of the nearby nations and modern Christians are tempted to fit in with beliefs and practices of ungodly cultures.  

“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15

Let's make the right choice!!

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated in 2025