homework in the bible

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23 Bible Verses about Homework

Ecclesiastes 12:12 esv / 74 helpful votes helpful not helpful.

My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 35 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Hosea 4:6 ESV / 33 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

John 3:19-23 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized

John 14:27 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Proverbs 3:1-4:27 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ...

Philippians 1:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Romans 2:8-16 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ...

John 4:1-17 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ...

Proverbs 24:1-34 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble. By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, ...

Proverbs 22:6-15 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail. Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. ...

Psalm 128:1-6 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord , who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord . The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! ...

John 3:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Proverbs 12:11-18 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit. An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble. From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. ...

Deuteronomy 6:1-25 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord , the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ...

Exodus 5:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Acts 17:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Proverbs 14:14-18 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Proverbs 6:2-23 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. ...

1 Peter 3:15-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Proverbs 25:2-13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, ...

John 9:1-11:57 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ...

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Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles , a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.

Biblical Counselor's Toolkit

Free Biblical Counseling Resources by Nanette Loveless

Chapter 6 – Homework That Transforms

Printable Resources: “Interacting with Scripture” bookmark: [pdf] Journaling Behaviors worksheet: [pdf]

Homework is an integral part of biblical counseling. It sets biblical counseling apart from other methods of counseling. It is the key tool used in helping the counselee to integrate change into her life. In this chapter, we will consider some benefits of homework as well as how to design good homework assignments that can result in genuine heart change. Because every assignment should be given with a specific purpose in mind, we will also consider possible purposes for particular assignments. In addition, this author has made free, downloadable, reproducible homework packets available online [1] for counselors to assign as homework when relevant. Some of the titles include “Attitudes,” “Attributes of God,” “The Fear of God,” “Fear of Man,” “Living for God’s Glory,” “The Sovereignty of God,” “A Study in Job” and “Who Am I?” Additional studies are added on an on-going basis.

Benefits of Homework

The advantage that biblical counselors have over other counseling systems is God’s sanctifying (transforming) power in the lives of His people through His Word. God’s goal in changing His people is that they might “grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ … ” (Eph. 4:15). This change process is called sanctification (1 Thess. 5:23-24; Heb. 2:11) and is discussed more fully in Chapter 7. Paul points to three aspects of growing in Christ-likeness: Putting off sinful conduct, replacing it with righteousness while being renewed in the mind. Homework provides opportunities for God’s sanctifying power to be at work in the counselee on a daily basis by presenting opportunities to practice putting off sinful ways and putting on righteousness, while the counselor provides accountability. Reading, writing, listening and viewing assignments provide for renewing of the counselee’s mind.

A counselor and counselee will generally meet an hour or two per week but sanctification does not take place in an hour or two per week. It is a continual daily progression of change and growth. Imagine an athlete setting a goal to run a race and then training for only an hour or two per week. It is unthinkable in the world of athletics and it should be just as unthinkable in the area of spiritual growth. Homework provides the counselee with the daily training required to run the race toward Christ-likeness.

It is a counselor’s hope that his counselee will come face-to-face with biblical truth in each counseling session, but for genuine heart change to take root, a counselee must come face-to-face with her Maker on a regular basis. Homework provides this opportunity for the counselee when she seeks to “mine the riches of Scripture for understanding, conviction, promises and guidance.” [2] The homework assignments provided at www.bctoolkit.net  are designed with this purpose in mind.

When people lose sight of God and His purposes, becoming self-focused in the midst of their trials, they respond to their difficulties as if they are alone and left to their own devices. Homework offers the opportunity to point the counselee to God and His work in the lives of His people. The awareness of God’s presence and power helps to clarify what is God’s responsibility and what is the counselee’s responsibility. Homework focusing on God, His character, His ways and His standards will put the counselee’s circumstances in proper perspective, bringing hope, direction and purpose to the counselee. The counselor cannot be with the counselee throughout the week; the Holy Spirit can and is. Well-constructed homework can help the counselee view her circumstances through the lens of Scripture, directing her to daily depend on God, His Spirit and His promises while preventing her from growing dependent on the counselor.

In addition to the benefits that homework avails the counselee, homework is also profitable for the counselor. For example, it is not uncommon for a counselee to come to a session having discovered, through a homework assignment, biblical truths that the counselor had planned to teach, freeing up the counselor to move on to another agenda item. This is a demonstration of the Holy Spirit teaching the counselee through the Word. Another benefit to the counselor is homework that provides rich data that directs the counselor’s agenda. Journaling as well as assignments that contain questions for the counselee to answer are examples of data gathering homework assignments. Figure 6.1 provides a worksheet that can be assigned for a counselee’s journaling.

Figure 6.1. An example of a journaling homework assignment

Designing Homework that Transforms

As we saw in Chapters 2 and 4 while completing the steps of preparing the homework for the first and subsequent sessions, there are six basic elements that every good homework assignment should include:

• Relevant Bible Reading including instructions to interact with the text
• Relevant Scripture Memory with instruction to “meditate on” or mull over practical applications of the passage throughout each day
• Prayer: Assign specifics such as what, when and how to pray
• Collateral Reading involves the reading of a theologically-sound book, article or pamphlet relevant to the counselee’s problem, including a short assignment to interact with what is being read (i.e. answering study questions or highlighting principles that the counselee will implement)
• Church attendance, involvement and/or note-taking
• Projects include anything that the counselee is asked to do, apart from the above

Each of these six aspects of life-transforming homework is addressed individually below.

• Relevant Bible Reading

Something that few Christians understand about reading the Bible is that the Holy Spirit had a specific purpose for every biblical passage written. The purpose of a particular passage is its telos . “The Greek word telos means ‘purpose’ or ‘end.’ What’s the goal that God has in mind?” [3] Jay Adams further explains:

… Let’s consider the telos of John’s entire Gospel. Why do you think so many people have been converted through John 1:12, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 14 and so on?

Because that was the telos (or purpose) of that Gospel: “These are written that you may believe and that through believing you might have life in His name” (John 20:31). Use the Bible, whether you are discussing a book or just a section of it, for the purpose that it was given. Search out what the Holy Spirit had in mind. Don’t use it for your purposes or anybody else’s. Find the Holy Spirit’s purpose, use it for that purpose, and you’ll find it powerful. It will change people. It will do things to them. [4]

This means that the counselor must always be studying the context of Scripture passages used and seeking to increase his understanding that he might interpret and teach accurately and according to the telos of each text taught. Not all counselors are Bible scholars, but all counselors, especially beginning counselors, should be consistently double-checking his understanding against the understanding of more mature teachers. A good Bible commentary such as John MacArthur’s is a helpful resource for gleaning and checking understanding, but counselors should be growing in their understanding of how to study Scripture. Books that can promote learning in the area of Bible study and interpretation are:

• Journey Into God’s Word: Your Guide to Understanding and Applying the Bible by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays
• What to do on Thursday: A Layman’s Guide to the Practical Use of the Scriptures by Jay E. Adams
• Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days by Kay Arthur
• The New How to Study Your Bible: Discover the Life-Changing Approach to God’s Word by Kay Arthur, David Arthur, Pete DeLacy

When a counselor uses Scripture in accordance with its telos , lives are transformed. “Telic analysis asks, ‘What did the Holy Spirit intend to do to people through this passage?” [5] This is what is meant by “Relevant” Bible Reading assignments. Helpful sources available to the biblical counselor to assist in locating relevant biblical texts are Transformed Into His Likeness by Armand P. Tiffe published by Focus Publishing and the Quick Scripture Reference series published by Baker Books.

It is important to understand that simply reading the words as they are written in the Bible will not necessarily result in transformation. The reader ought to be interacting with the text so that it becomes integrated into daily living. Jay Adams speaks to this:

There’s nothing magical about the Bible or about how to read and understand it. Some people think that if they just read a certain number of words or passages every day at a certain hour, that’s going to make a difference in their lives. And, by the grace of God, it might! The Word of God might snag them at some point. But just reading words in the Bible is not the same as studying and understanding those words. God places no premium on ignorance or sloth. [6]

For this reason, biblical counselors should encourage their counselees to interact with the text in some manner that is relevant to the counselee’s problems. This means that the following assignment would not be the most effective tool for sanctification: “Read one chapter per day in the book of Colossians.”

Now, granted there is much in the epistle to the Colossians that would most likely bring the counselee under conviction that might lead to change. But assignments ought to be concrete leading to a specific action. A more effective assignment would look like this:

Read through the book of Colossians one chapter per day.

Keep a journal answering the following questions related to your daily reading:

• What did this passage say about God?
• Is there a sin to avoid? Is there a command to obey?
• What is a specific teaching that can be understood from this passage?
• What did this passage say about putting off sin or putting on righteousness?
• What is one thing from this passage for which I can thank God?
• From this passage what is one thing I should ask God to help me do?
• Write down a specific application you will make in your life today as a result of your reading. [7]

Notice the difference between the two assignments above. Note how the latter provokes thought, digging for answers, self-examination and dependence upon God, while the former may become a duty checked off a list. Depending upon what the counselor’s purpose is for any given assignment, the questions suggested above may be modified to fit any situation. For a new counselee, it may be best to have the counselee looking for only one item on the list but by the time she graduates from counseling, she may be consistently able to complete the list in one sitting.

One note of warning in regards to assignments: If every assignment asks a counselee to change something, she will most likely begin to feel overwhelmed with attempting to change several things at once, as if she has “too many balls in the air” or “too many irons in the fire.” A counselor must be sensitive to the counselee’s “load.” If she is working on a plan to trust the Lord more to overcome anxiety and worry, for example, and her Scripture reading points her to communicating in a more loving fashion, she may not yet be ready to take on a new plan for controlling her tongue. Instead, the reading may be preparing her heart for her next plan, but she should not be held accountable to changing every sin pattern in her life at once. As she learns to love the Lord more fully, she will ultimately trust Him more, be less anxious and begin to have a desire to love others as well. As this change takes place in her heart, she may then be ready to begin a new transformation plan on controlling her tongue. Jesus said: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). This must be the counselor’s approach as well.

Figure 6.2 contains a list of ideas that a counselor might use in helping the counselee learn to interact with the text of Scripture. This list is presented in the form of a bookmark which can be given to the counselee, streamlining the assignment process. For example, the assignment might be, “Read one chapter of James each day and respond to numbers 4 and 6 on the bookmark.” As time progresses, the counselee can begin to design her own homework assignments, using the ideas listed on the bookmark. A counselor can add his own ideas to the list and seek additional ideas from counselees, compiling a custom-designed list of ideas for interacting with the text of Scripture.

• Relevant Scripture Memorization

Unlike other methods of counseling, the biblical counselor is not concerned primarily with outward change in the counselee but is concerned with the “heart” (inner man) as it is defined in Scripture (see figure 6.3 for biblical doctrine on “The Heart”). Because God’s Word tells us that human problems are rooted in the heart, we know that what controls the heart shapes human behavior (Heb. 4:12; Matt. 12:18-20; Mark 7:15-23). The Psalmist wrote, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11). As a counselee spends time memorizing Scripture passages that target sin areas in her life, God’s Word is being “hidden in her heart” in order to crush idols and correct unbiblical thinking, leading to more righteous patterns of living. Therefore, memorization of relevant Scripture passages is essential for homework assignments that lead to genuine heart change.

When referring to a counselor assigning “relevant” Scripture memorization, the meaning is similar to that above in the discussion about “relevant” Bible reading: The counselor should consider the telos of the text being assigned. If a counselee is working on a sinful pattern of angry outbursts, for example, she should be assigned the memorization of passages where the telos is overcoming the sin of uncontrolled anger. As noted in the “Relevant Bible Reading” section above, sources available to the biblical counselor to assist in locating relevant biblical texts for memorization are Transformed Into His Likeness by Armand P. Tiffe published by Focus Publishing and the Quick Scripture Reference series published by Baker Books.

Interacting with Scripture

Cut out the bookmark below and fold on the center line, forming a two-sided list of ideas to promote the interacting with Scripture. The image below can be used as a master and reproduced onto cardstock and laminated.

Figure 6.2. A bookmark for interacting with Scripture

Figure 6.3. The doctrine of “the heart”

A counselor cannot assume that the counselee has a regular prayer life or that she enjoys a strong prayer life. Many counselees seem to be neglecting prayer and do not really know how to pray. Although God tells us to ask Him for what we need, it is important that the counselor teach the counselee that prayer is not simply about bringing a list of requests to God for Him to fill. Prayer is about fellowship with God. It is about exalting Him and bowing to His Majesty. Prayer is a demonstration of dependence upon God and an exercise in trusting His sovereign will. Prayer is an act of confessing sin to God. There are several resources listed in Chapter 7 under “Step 3: Pray”  regarding prayer. In addition, some specific homework assignments are listed below to guide a counselee in prayer. It would be best to assign these one or two at a time for multiple weeks each, so that the counselee can gradually integrate them into her daily habits:

• Every morning when you wake up (before you get out of bed), think about how Jesus suffered on the cross so that He could save you, then thank Him for doing that. Ask Him to give you the strength to please Him today – to get out of bed and live the day for Him instead of for yourself.
• Thank God for His provision EVERY time you eat something, even when eating alone.
• When you sit down to read your Bible, ask God to open your eyes so that you see what He has for you today from the Bible reading. One way to do this is to read Psalm 119:18 to God as a prayer for Him to “open your eyes” to His Word.
• During a dedicated prayer time, confess your sins from the day to God and ask for his forgiveness and ask Him to change your heart to make you more like Him. Pray for your needs, your kids and for the needs of others. Pray for your counselor so that God would give him wisdom and power to counsel you. Pray for your own heart to be receptive to God’s conviction.
• Paraphrase Colossians 1:9-14, Ephesians 1:16-19 or Ephesians 3:17-19a into a personalized prayer. Write it on index cards. Pray these verses for your loved ones (or enemies) daily.
• Take time to look up into the sky and praise God for His majesty at least once every day. Acknowledge His attributes (i.e. love, patience, power, wisdom, sovereignty, compassion, mercy, grace, omniscience).

For the counselee who wants to teach her children to pray out loud, the following structure can provide confidence in her teaching:

• Instruct the children to close their eyes to shut out distractions and to think about talking to God; not about the people in the room. Kneeling in front of a couch, chair or a bed is a great way to demonstrate humility before the Almighty. Go around the room giving each family member an opportunity to thank God out loud for one thing. One parent can begin and the other parent can close. After a few times, increase the one item of thanksgiving to two items. The next step would be to add a request for something that is needed, later increasing it to two requests. After a time, confession of sin can be added as well as praises for God’s attributes. Soon the structure will not be needed. The children will know how to pray.
• Collateral Reading

When biblical counselors talk about “Collateral Reading” they are referring to the reading of a theologically-sound book, article or pamphlet written by a human author and relevant to the counselee’s problem. In addition to continued Bible study, then, the counselee ought to be taught the importance of continually reading books on solid biblical doctrine. Books approved by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) have been read by biblical scholars for biblical accuracy before being released for counselors’ use. Although there are no humans that are infallible, a counselor can proceed quite confidently that ACBC approved books are written from a perspective where the telos of the Scriptures used is accurate. It should be noted here that the counselor ought to make it his aim that he will routinely read ACBC approved books on an on-going basis for his own personal growth and equipping for ministry.

As with Bible reading, the counselee should be directed to interact with the text of the collateral reading assignment.  Some books include discussion questions at the end of a chapter or within the text of the chapter. Discussion guides are available with other books. If so, these questions can be used as homework assignments to guide the reading and the application of what is read. But often a reading assignment does not include questions for the reader. One option that the counselor has in these cases is to prepare questions in advance that can be assigned. Another option is for the counselor to assign the reading along with an instruction such as one of the following: [12]

• Write down five questions from the reading that you would like to discuss.
• Highlight the ten most important statements and prioritize them. Come prepared to explain why you prioritized them as you did.
• Choose the most important statement for you to apply in your life right now.
• List three specific steps you can take in order to integrate the teaching in the reading assignment into your life. Record the results in your journal.
• Highlight three principles for living the Christian life. Choose one to work on. Come prepared to discuss making a plan to integrate the principle into your life.
• Highlight one thing that you learned from the reading and come prepared to discuss its significance in your life.
• Answer the question, “What am I going to change about myself as the result of this reading?” Be prepared to point to the text that prompted your thinking.
• Answer the question, “How does this reading give you hope or encouragement?”

When it comes to collateral reading, the counselor must again bear in mind what the counselee’s work load is. Assigning three or four chapters in a book along with other assignments is generally not wise. Typically, if a counselee is reading a book, only one or two chapters should be assigned per week, depending on the length of the chapter, the counselee’s academic level, her lifestyle and other considerations. A “Recommended Reading List for Biblical Counselors and Counselees” is provided online [13] to assist in planning collateral reading assignments.

• Church Attendance

God has given us His church to aid in our sanctification, as well as His Spirit, His Word and the privilege of prayer. The church is the community of saints for whom Christ died (Eph. 1:1, 22, 3:6-10, 21, 4:25, 5:23-30). The purposes of the church might be articulated as:

• Ministry to God: Worship
• Ministry to Believers: Nurture
• Ministry to the World: Evangelism and Mercy [14]

Because our very purpose for existence is the worship of God, the first purpose of the church is worship. Counselees must be held accountable to being involved in regular public worship as well as private worship individually at home. Because God uses the church to “nurture those who are … believers and build them up to maturity in the faith,” [15] counselees must be held accountable to sitting under the teaching of the word and to be involved in the church community. Paul explained in his letter to the Ephesians that gifts are given to each of Christ’s followers “for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). This means that a counselee, if she is saved, has gifts to offer to the body of Christ as well as the privilege of receiving help from others. Counselees should, therefore, be held accountable to being involved in small groups and in service. Finally, God has designed the church to be a “light” in the darkness; a light whereby the lost world experiences the love of God in Christ (Matt. 5:14-16). If saved, the counselee has the responsibility to be an active part of the evangelistic effort of the church.

The church is God’s providential plan for the sanctification of His people and His divine power is demonstrated through His church. Counselees ought not to attempt to be unattached from the community of believers. Counselors must, therefore, ensure that the church is woven through the counselee’s life and that the counselee’s life is woven through the church. This is accomplished through homework assignments such as:

• Take notes in Sunday’s sermon (or Bible study group, for example). Choose one thing that you plan to do as the result of what you heard and learned and prepare to discuss what you have written at the next session.
• Research the various small study groups available and choose one to join. Be prepared in two weeks to report about the first session that you attended.
• Research the various ministries in the church and choose one in which to serve. Be prepared to report who is the ministry leader, what you will be doing and when you will begin serving.
• Be on time for the Sunday worship service. Write down the time you sat down in your seat and bring it to the next session. If late for worship, write down how many people your late entrance disturbed from their worship (this is most useful for counselees who have a habit of arriving late for worship).

An assigned project might involve acquiring materials for future counseling assignments such as a particular book, index cards or a notebook. A project might entail practicing a specific behavior throughout the week. It might include viewing a relevant video, signing up for a class or Bible study, seeking forgiveness from someone they have offended, maintaining a record of how time is spent over the course of the week, writing a letter to someone, starting a praise or prayer journal or drafting a transformation plan. Transformation plans are discussed more fully in Chapter 7.

Purposes that Drive Homework Assignments

While utilizing the six aspects of homework assignments as discussed above, the counselor must continually ask himself, “Why am I assigning this?” Every assignment should have one or more identifiable purposes and those purposes might include:

• Instilling hope and encouragement
• Knowing, trusting, loving and serving God more
• Gathering data
• Identifying personal sin patterns or heart motives
• Addressing sin patterns or heart idol issues by developing a plan for overcoming sin or providing practice opportunities for putting off sinful behavior and putting on righteousness in its place
• Renewing the mind (gaining God’s perspective; correct wrong thinking)
• Providing opportunities for the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin
• Preparation for a future session

Hope should be woven throughout each session as well as throughout each homework assignment. There are multiple examples of homework assignments that build hope presented in Chapter 5. Studies and reading assignments on God’s character provide opportunity for growth in the area of knowing, trusting, loving and serving God more. There is a “God’s Attributes” study as well as a “God’s Sovereignty” available online. [16]

Journals are a prime example of homework that gathers data for the counselor but at the same time, can aid the counselee. A journal involves asking oneself specific questions about comfortable habits that are done automatically by the counselee, often without awareness. Figure 6.1 provides an example of a journal form that might be used to gather data and to help the counselee identify behavior patterns.

In addition to journals, the counselor may assign a series of questions to be answered by the counselee. In an article published in The Journal of Biblical Counseling , David Powlison coined the term “X-ray Questions” [17] referring to questions that can expose heart motives. Listed below are some examples of such questions:

• What do you love? Hate?
• What do you want, desire, crave, lust, and wish for? What desires do you serve and obey?
• What do you seek, aim for, pursue? What are your goals and expectations?
• Where do you bank your hopes?
• What do you fear? What do you not want? What do you tend to worry about?
• What do you think you need?
• Where do you find refuge, safety, comfort, escape, pleasure, security?
• What or who do you trust?
• What would bring you the greatest pleasure, happiness and delight? The greatest pain and misery?
• What do you see as your rights? What do you feel entitled to?
• In what situations do you feel pressured or tense? Confident and relaxed?

Above is a mere sampling of Powlison’s questions that provide a “window” for peering into the heart. Additional questions can be found in figure 2.2, “Questions that Probe.”

Another form of a homework assignment that affords significant data to the counselor is the use of resources that provide checklists for the counselee’s self-examination. Two key resources that are highly recommended are:

• From Pride to Humility by Stuart Scott
• Transformed Into His Likeness by Armand P. Tiffe

In figure 6.4 a checklist of potential heart idol themes can be found. This checklist can be reproduced and assigned to a counselee. It will provide insight for both the counselor and the counselee. In addition, a four-page reproducible homework packet entitled “Attitudes” containing a similar checklist assignment is provided online. [18]

Figure 6.4. Potential heart idol themes

Identifying sin patterns and heart idols can be accomplished through data gathering assignments as discussed above. Additionally, relevant Bible and collateral reading and Scripture memorization provide opportunities for the Holy Spirit to convict the counselee of her sin. When the counselor sees a sin pattern in a counselee that the counselee has not yet identified, rather than pointing a finger at the counselee and saying, “I notice this sin pattern in your life,” it is often helpful to assign Scripture reading with a telos directed to the particular sin pattern and pray that the Holy Spirit convicts the counselee, assisting in her identification of her own sinful behavior. Collateral reading and media resources directed toward a particular sin pattern can also be assigned to prepare the counselee for a future session where they will be addressing a sin issue. Once heart idols and sin patterns are identified by the counselee, a transformation plan should be constructed together by the counselee and counselor to promote the putting off of sin patterns, the putting on of righteousness and renewal of the mind. Chapter 7 provides details for developing transformation plans that address sin patterns and heart idols.

There is much more that can be said about homework and resources are continually being developed to help counselors and their counselees to grow in the various areas where change is needed. The astute counselor will regularly read biblical counseling articles, blogs and books and attend classes and conferences as well as maintaining a regular Bible study routine in order to gain more understanding on how to glorify God through biblical discipleship.

[1] www.bctoolkit.net.

[2] Tripp, Instruments , 319.

[3] Jay E. Adams, “Biblical Interpretation and Counseling, Part 2,” The Journal of Biblical Counseling Volume 17, Number 1 (Fall, 1998): 30.

[5] Adams, Interpretation , 29.

[6] Ibid., 23.

[7] Somerville, 74.

[8] Strong, (G2588).

[9] Elyse Fitzpatrick , Idols of the Heart (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2001), 93.

[10] Fitzpatrick, 96.

[11] Ibid., 93-96.

[12] Adapted by Nanette Loveless from Robert Somerville’s SCF, 58.

[13] www.bctoolkit.net .

[14] Grudem, 867.

[15] Grudem, 867.

[16] www.bctoolkit.net.

[17] David Powlison, “X-ray Questions: Drawing Out the Whys and Wherefores of Human Behavior,” The Journal of Biblical Counseling Volume 18, Number 1 (Fall, 1999): 2-9.

[18] www.bctoolkit.net.

• Doing the Homework: Tips for Deeper Bible Study

What’s an average Christian to do when trying to study the Bible for all its worth? RTB theologians Kenneth Samples and Krista Bontrager, along with RTB physicist Dave Rogstad, provide a tutorial in biblical interpretation techniques in a recent, five-part series on Ken’s podcast,  Straight Thinking . Entitled  “Top 10 (or So) Misunderstood Bible Verses,”  this podcast series illustrates how sound hermeneutics and exegesis help believers avoid faulty interpretations.

• Ask, “What was the  author  trying to say?” (This is greatly different from simply asking what the text means for you or me personally.)
• Do some homework; this includes researching the literary genre, historical and cultural context, and biblical language.
• Always view verses within the broader context of the surrounding text.
• Finally, consider how the text applies to the life of modern believers.

Steps 1, 3, and 4 don’t seem too difficult, but the homework in step 2 sounds overwhelming. Personally, I don’t have time to delve into ancient Hebrew or peruse libraries of theological works. Fortunately, Ken, Krista, and Dave also recommend several lay-friendly books to help us armchair theologians dig a little deeper into Scripture.

• Douglas Stuart and Gordon Fee,  How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth  (an accessible guide to beginning hermeneutics)
• Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words  (try saying  that three times fast)
• Robert Stein,  Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible
• R. C. Sproul,  Knowing Scripture  (an intermediate introduction to hermeneutical principles)
• James Sire,  Scripture Twisting: 20 Ways Cults Misread the Bible  (an exposition of  bad theology)
• D. A. Carson,  Exegetical Fallacies  (a look at interpretive mistakes)
• F. Wilber Gingrich and Frederick William Danker,  Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament

Happy studying!

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5 Bible Verses about homework

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Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank.

We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you

Exclusive of the property of the Levites and the property of the city, which are in the middle of that which belongs to the prince, everything between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin shall be for the prince.

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Do women need Bible study homework?

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How do your women feel about Bible study homework?

Do they hate it?

Do they fail to get it done?

You’ve probably heard these Bible study excuses:

• I’m too busy.
• I don’t like to do homework.

Since many women don’t like Bible study homework and don’t complete it, we can’t help but wonder…

Is Bible study homework necessary?

Why not just meet once a week, listen to a teaching or video, and then discuss it? Isn’t that enough?

Aren’t women already regularly engaging in God’s Word during their personal quiet time? Unfortunately, research tells us otherwise. According to the State of the Bible 2020  only 9% of Americans use the Bible daily. That’s a sharp drop from 14% in 2019.

Daily Bible study is on the decline.

And if you think that doesn’t apply to your group, I encourage you to distribute the My Bible Study Habits survey. You’ll find it in this post and in the Rethinking Women’s Ministry Workbook .

Your women are not studying God’s Word as much as you may think they are.

How can we encourage our women to regularly engage in God’s Word?

Let’s start by looking at what God says about His Word:

• Is living and active ( Hebrews 4:12 )
• Revives our soul ( Psalm 19:7 )
• Is for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17 )
• Should be stored up in our hearts ( Psalm 119:10-11 )
• Is sweeter than honey ( Psalm 19:10 )
• Renews our mind ( Romans 12:2 )
• Is a light ( Psalm 119:105 )

Being in God’s Word has many benefits, but how often do we really need to be in the Word.

Is daily Bible study biblical?

A couple of years ago, as I prepared for a keynote talk on Joshua 1:9, God directed my attention to the two verses right before it.

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:7-8

The idea of meditating on scripture day and night seemed to hint at studying the Bible at a minimum of twice a day .

As I dug deeper, I discovered that the Israelites would have known the phrase “day and night” to mean always. Not just twice a day, but continuously .

Joshua’s success was dependent on knowing God’s Word and obeying God’s Word. His strength and courage came from God through the Book of the Law (which would have included the first five books of the Bible).

One could draw the conclusion that there is a connection between our success (not necessarily monetary success) and God’s Word.

Back to the Bible has some eye-opening research.

People who engage with the Bible 4 times per week or more are:

• 228% more likely to share faith with others
• 407% more likely to memorize scripture
• 59% less likely to view pornography
• 30% less likely to struggle with loneliness

And those are just the highlights. Bible study makes a difference!

If one of our ministry goals is spiritual growth (and it should be), encouraging regular engagement with God’s Word through Bible study homework should be a priority.

How much Bible study homework is too much?

Some of the women in your group may have large chunks of time available for Bible study homework, and others will struggle to find ways to get even the smallest amounts of Bible study homework done.

Offering homework that allows women to go deeper if they have the time can be helpful.

Bible study reading and homework that require an hour every day may not be realistic for most of your group members.

Yet, we don’t want the homework to be so brief that women can complete it easily in one sitting. We hope that they will engage with God’s Word on multiple days (beyond Sunday mornings and once a week at Bible study).

If you’re looking for a Bible study with a manageable amount of homework, I encourage you to check out my READ Bible Study for Groups . The weekly worksheet guides women through the study of one chapter of the Bible each week, and it can be completed in less than 20 minutes a day (there’s a 4, 5, and 6-day suggested pacing included). Group facilitators lead women through the worksheet during their discussion time (women love the discussion time).

How can we encourage women to complete their Bible study homework?

There are many things we can do to encourage our women to complete their homework.

• Set an expectation that homework is to be completed. Some Bible study leaders make the mistake of telling women it’s okay if they don’t do the homework. While we should welcome women to attend if they don’t do the homework (God’s Word does not return void), they will get much more out of the study if they do the homework.
• Send an email in between meetings with a reminder of the homework assignment and a note of encouragement. You might share how the homework that week has been a blessing to you. Or give them a heads-up if there’s a day that may take a little more time. Be their homework cheerleader!
• Provide ample time to discuss the homework during your Bible study meeting. Some of your women will complete their homework because they want to be prepared for the discussion. But women will stop doing the homework if it isn’t discussed. You may need to shorten your prayer or teaching time. Part of engaging with God’s Word is talking about it. Many women aren’t used to talking about God’s Word so give them time to practice.
• Help women find time in their schedule for homework. With rare exception, we all choose how we spend our time, and most have pockets of time that we could spend differently. Social media can be a huge time suck for some of your women. Challenge them to do their Bible study homework before checking their phone. Some of your women might need to get up 30 minutes earlier. Some of your women may need to trade TV time for time in God’s Word. Sharing how you make time to get your homework done may be helpful.
• Offer Bible studies that include homework that is meaningful and manageable. Women will lose patience over fill-in-the-blank homework or homework where the author hands the answer to them on a silver platter. Homework should be challenging , but not so challenging, that women who are new to studying God’s Word cannot answer any of the questions.

In my book, Rethinking Women’s Ministry , I share about my friend Melissa. Melissa’s very first Bible study ever was a Beth Moore Bible study. There were hours of homework, and it was necessary to look at several different scripture passages every week. Just finding those verses in the Bible was challenging for Melissa. It would have been easy for her to give up, but she didn’t. She may not have attended every week, but she tried, and she stuck with it.

Our Bible study leader certainly encouraged Melissa to work at her own pace and never made her feel less than for incomplete homework. But I believe it was the fellowship and friendships she was developing in our group that kept her coming back week after week.

We all have to start somewhere.

The goal is not perfection, but growth.

Bible study homework is one way to encourage strong, healthy growth in the women in our groups.

May we not forget that Bible study can transform relationships with God and others.

You may also want to read: Teaching Women to Read the Bible Three Keys to Consistent Bible Study How to Be a Great Bible Study or Small Group Leader Why I’m Tired of Bible Study Books How to Launch Your Next Bible Study Session Tips to Increase Your Women’s Bible Study Attendance Bible Study Facilitator Training

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February 20, 2021 at 9:26 am

This is so timely as my group is starting in-person Bible study meetings in the next two weeks. Some people are still hesitant to meet in person, but I am hopeful that we can get them used to getting together again making them comfortable with the steps we take to meet. During the pandemic, I happened upon an idea (after flopping on Zoom) to “text” a devotional. A group of nine of us have kept connected through texting by commenting on what we read as well as sharing our struggles, which has led to prayers using texts. It’s worked well, but rest assured we are looking forward to meeting in person again. I have ended up choosing one person each day (M-F) to pray for together each day. Wow! It’s been such a blessing to all of us as well as the person being prayed for. We have seen God’s timing so perfect because the person prayed for has responded with the need to be covered on that very day.

February 22, 2021 at 10:02 am

Wanda, I am so glad you’ll be meeting in-person again soon! Thank you for sharing the idea to text a devotional to your group and to encourage prayer. <3

February 17, 2021 at 4:47 am

help me with bible topics for discussion

February 22, 2021 at 10:04 am

Hi Irene, I recommend selecting a book of the Bible to study with your group. Slowing down and working through 1 chapter a week is how my READ Bible study is structured (www.readbiblestudy.com). If you want to select a book, I recommend my course on How to Select the Best Bible Study for Your Group here https://womensministrytoolbox.teachable.com/p/how-to-select-a-bible-study .

February 16, 2021 at 5:44 pm

Love this article. As a Bible Study writer, I have often pondered the question of how much homework is too much homework. For me, starting with God’s word is essential and I often have them look up and read larger passages. I also like to create questions that inspire application to the readers life. I have been in some studies where the expectation is that participants can’t talk unless they have done the homework and memorized the weekly verse and other studies where showing up is all that is required. I genuinely believe both can be beneficial but I have gotten more out of the studies where I put in the time and do the work.

February 22, 2021 at 10:05 am

Penny, thank you for your comments. 🙂 I agree, I find I get more out of the studies when I put in the time and do the work.

February 16, 2021 at 1:55 pm

Thank you for always promoting the Word of God – it tranforms lives. We have had ongoing in person studies since the beginning of the year. We are doing book studies and have steered away from ‘personalities and videos’ to get our women digging for themselves. Thank you for all you do for women’s ministry

February 22, 2021 at 10:06 am

Reyna, you are welcome. Knowing and following God’s Word is critical to our spiritual growth. I’m thrilled you’re teaching your women to dig for themselves. Thank you for your comments. <3

February 16, 2021 at 11:15 am

It is funny, or possibly ironic that this is the blog post you sent out today…..at least for me. I am currently in 2 Bible studies. One with a group of Lutheran ladies, and one at my home church with a diverse group of ladies- some who don’t regularly attend church. Homework really, usually, is not a problem for me at all; but, this time I am struggling. Not because I have two study journals to do but, because one is more like a high school literature class. I do not enjoy finding the “hidden deeper meaning” behind authors words. I believe especially with the Bible: God means what he is saying. Does He use metaphors and hyperbole? Yes! But I would rather allow the Holy Spirit to do His job than try to do it for Him. I also do not enjoy rewrites of scripture in our own words or re-writing of the examples the study author gave. I enjoy thought provoking questions in which we are allowed to share what Holy Spirit laid on our heart for the questions, but I do not want to simply be re-writing the authors study. Anyway I do finish my homework even when I find it less enjoyable because I enjoy my time with the Lord in it. Thank you again for giving us a toolbox Cyndee! God bless!

February 16, 2021 at 1:37 pm

Niki, thank you for your comments. You make some great points about different types of Bible study homework questions!

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Seamless Online Bible Study | Session 1

Welcome! We are excited about studying the complete story of Scripture with you! We can’t wait to hear what God teaches you through His Word and the words of Angie Smith in Seamless .

We’ll have some instructions here. Please read carefully because we’ve tried to anticipate your questions!

Here’s how this will work

Each week, you’ll come here and watch the video with Angie Smith. The videos are about 5-10 minutes long and have some fresh insight from Angie. She will lead us through the  Seamless study week by week. Once you watch the video, we have some questions for you to answer in your group or in the comments section of the post. We want this to be available to those who are studying together and those going solo. Some of the questions ask you to get to know your fellow Bible study participants and we hope the interactions you have will be both challenging and encouraging. Each week at the end of the video, Angie will let you know the homework assignment for the next week. You can do the homework in the   Seamless Bible study book . We highly recommend you getting a copy for this study, since that is where most of the studying will take place! You can get a copy by clicking here . That’s it! The study will be seven weeks long (including this little introduction week).

If you can’t participate right now, or if you miss a week, don’t worry.  We will leave these posts up for you to do when you’re ready! You can find all the older ones using our  Online Bible Studies tab at the top of the blog. Just click on it and then click the Seamless  study.

A note about the Bible study videos

Seamless  is a video-based Bible study. These videos are available to rent or download here  and also through the purchase of a  Leader Kit .   These videos are not the same as the free videos available here on the blog.  The videos for purchase are longer (around 15 minutes each) and dive deeper into the topic of each session. They are the videos that go with the viewer guides in the Bible study book. We recommend them if you want to hear more of Angie’s teaching and learn even more about the seamless thread uniting all of God’s Word.

OK, let’s get started!

Questions to answer in the comments

• What is your name?
• Where are you from?
• What drew you to this study?

Before next week, complete Session 1: The Beginning. We’ll meet back here next Thursday to discuss!

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