Deep in the belly of a piscine, a man floundered aimlessly in an ocean of rebellion and anger for three full days. He ran from doing what God called him to do and fought will against will until he could fight no longer. Capitulating and confessing his error, he agreed to say what he was suppose to say, do what he was suppose to do, and be the man God called him to be. His name was Jonah—and his story looks a lot like ours.
For six weeks every summer I teach a series on or through the bible to people who can bear to hear me talk. It’s a decision they make and one I do not apologize for. 😉 I speak and teach on issues we need to talk about, but run away from because we don’t want to face the proverbially Nineveh in our lives. So we run. And run. And run. Until we are swallowed up by a divine act of intervention.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to run from God’s calling in my life. With summer a few months away, I thought about doing a series through the book of Jonah, but I’m not sure about it. I’m faced with making a decision about whether or not this is for a live group or my friends in the blogosphere. Or for the blogosphere and then for the summer series. Or a sub-section of the blog entirely with homework, vlogs, and daily reading assignment. Or I can hide behind my computer screen and talk about Crocs, Spanx, and leather stretch pants short people should never wear.
I know Jonah is what I’m suppose to study right now… and if I have to do it, I ain’t doing it alone! That’s right, I’m taking all y’all with me.
Any suggestions on how to do this, feel free to share. If you have suggestions for a killer six-week summer series or blogosphere bible study, drop it like its hot. If neither sound remotely interesting, speak the truth in love. If you’ve never said hello and want to do it now, speak up, child! We all love you 😉
Hey! I'm not sure I can suggest which way I think you should do it, but I am definitely encouraging you to DO IT! I know that I have benefitted greatly from the previous series and so you can definitely count me 'in'! Seriously, I spend months looking forward to your summer series! x
Ok, I'm partial to my English friends! To know you and your friends are joining us in England just makes me swoon!!!! Thanks for the encouragement 🙂
This is brilliant! I’m an avid follower (;)), and would LOVE having a Bible study here on your blog. Because I just love how God has been using you to be real about your faith.
WOOWOO! Hi Erika, nice to meet you 🙂 Thanks for your insight… more info to come.
I think the question is do you think you have enough material from the book of Jonah to fill 6ish hours in the summer or could that time be better spent on something else? Most of your blog readers will be catching the summer series either live or via iTunes (please put it on iTunes or make it available to us outside-California-rs) anyway. Just my 2 cents 🙂
GOOD questions, Suzanne! I totally think it'll work in both scenarios… but I don't know how to lay it all out. And of course I will post it on iTunes for my English friends! Lindsay English is also from England and she joined in our last summer series 🙂 Woohoo!
I VOTE blogosphere bible study!!!! i am a avid stalker of yours. and you would love a blogoshpere bible study. sounds like just what i need!
Nice to meet you, Mer! I don't have stalkers, I have online friends… er, that sounds totally weird. Eh, you get what I'm saying. Ok, keep me in prayer ok? Lord knows I need it!
B
Hi bianca…. I've watched the summer series online and on itunes and that was a huge blessing for myself and many ladies that I know. But I will be praying for you that the Lord leads you in the direction He wants you to go. Either way we will all be blessed 😉
Nayi :O)
Nayi, my Jersey Queen! Thanks for the love and support. Hopefully I will make it to New Jersey again soon!
This sounds awesome and I can't wait to be a part of it! A blogosphere study would be cool. I lead a college women's group, I'd love for us to do your study together so having the homework and reading assignments posted would be great! But whichever way God leads you, count me and my girls in! 🙂
Also, is the summer series you did last year available on iTunes?
SO fun! I love college groups and would feel privileged to do this along side of you 🙂 More info to come… until then, PLEASE pray for me.
i vote blogosphere study too!!! can't wait no matter what you decide! Sounds amazing!
I'm totally for the blogosphere study with vlogs, reading assignments, and more.
I loved you other series and I know whatever you do will be great. Can't wait!
YES please do a blog bible study 😀
I'm not sure if this is what you're asking but I absolutely looooooove your summer Bible studies. So if you're saying do the blog study IN PLACE of summer studyy… nooooooooooooooooooooooo………. [Yes, I'm a dramatic Puerto RIcan too. 😉 ]
Butt… if you're suggesting to do the blog study AND summer study, Woo hoo!!! I get double the wisdom from Mrs. Bianca this year! <3
I’d prefer blog because i cant drive to s. cal weekly.. but to be honest…. you are a great teacher and if i could have it may way i’d like you to do it live like you did the 7 sins study.. so if u happen to have 600 bucks laying around for gas so i can drive there weekly then hey its all good! lol! jk
I would love a blog bible study! I am from TN and listened to your James study this summer. I have been looking forward to your next series ever since. One thing I definitely missed was being able to participate in the homework part of it. I would love an opportunity to be a part of that!
Either or I'd be excited and interested to follow along. : -)
Whichever I can do online with you. 😉 But it most certainly use the bible otherwise we leave out God…so whatever that means. 😉 -one other thought…when you go to man for an answer, you get man's answer. Go to GOD girlfriend! He's the only answer you need!!!
attending last summer was awesome! From the worship all the way thru communion. I was pregnant so watching it live on the web two times was soooo helpful. Also being alone watching was a blessing for me as well, because the Lord spoke to me that way to. I do like the way of doing it on a blog as well but for me it doesnt work well. Perhaps I need that LIVE interaction. Either way I am praying now about it since Im missing the retreat this year 🙁 Im sure doing it live and putting it also on the blog is ALOT of work huh? Well praying God reveals what is the best His way!
Doing it on the blog would be nice so I can follow along, but I hope you add vlogs too! I love those!!
Since you live no where near Atlanta ): My vote is for somehow in the blog world. Not sure how thatveould work though.
I’d love to participate if I’m able!
I wouldn't be able to do the live series so I vote you do it here on the blog! I've done several bible studies on my blog and have gotten great feedback and I have a small little blog, so I'm sure yours would do amazing and impact many lives!!! 😉
I would love a blogsphere biblestudy. Getting out of the house is not always as easy as I would like it to be even though I live in so-cal. So online vlogs, reading assignments would be AWESOME! So looking forward to you sharng your wisdom with us! You really bless me 🙂
I enjoy your small little blog 🙂
haha… you're silly….thank you. 😉 MISS YOU! 😉 Hope the littles are doing well. 😉
*blog hijacking now over*
Blogsphere or podcast or both 🙂 because I live in Tennessee.
I think it's a great subject! It would be great to do it through the blog!!! With HW and all! I think it would be great to study the Bible as a blogosphere community!! 😀
Either is a great idea but I think it would be really interesting to do a blog based Bible study – if only for purely selfish reasons as I'm in the middle of a massive move and could do with some community Bible study, which is going to be pretty difficult to find where I'm moving to.
Hi Bianca. I'm one that has never said Hi. 🙂 I live in Washington so if you do your Bible study online, I can participate. I would LOVE that.
Yay! It's nice to meet you 🙂 Welcome to the club!
Thanks Bianca! Nice to met you too! 😉 You are very inspiring!
Blog bible study please!
Bible study here on the blog would be AWESOME!!! The way you teach from the Bible is so different than anything I've experienced so I think having an open forum here on the blog would be great. You can reach so many people and we'll all be able to participate! I need this in my life! Please do a combo – blog & summer series!!! 😉
I just want there to be videos, whether it's vlogs on the blog or videos we can download on iTunes, I like being able to watch you talk. Makes me feel like I'm there with the rest of the ladies since I can never make the drive to East LA during the week.
definitely a blog study — i love the summer series, but for those of us who want to keep digging deeper, waiting for summer is tough 🙂 itd be great doing it online!
Both! why not! you will be able to reach more people this way! plus with the Blog, people can discuss the issues and ask questions that they may have but feel embarrassed to ask in a public face to face manner!
A blog is merely a tool that lets you do anything from change the world to share your shopping list.
I would LOVE to do an online study!!! I've thoroughly enjoyed listening to your studies!! I'm listening to the SOS podcasts right now. :o) Been hoping you'd do an online study and Jonah would be a very good one. :o)
Hey girl,
I wrote my first bible study on Jonah, and have downloadable homework and an online chat using the material, it's also as a six week. I LOVE it. I think it's a great place for people to dive in (ha ha) and it provides such awesome application for our lives. Like you, I think we are all more like Jonah than we realize. So I give it two HUGE thumbs up.
Jonah! What a wonderful character to study. I think the blog will reach more people… the online live series for those of us in different time zones are not convenient. Either way…you go girl!
I would love to hear you teach….about anything! Doing something within your blog would be amazing. I've only had you in my reader a few months but I thank you for your words. You are real and honest. I can't wait to see what you choose to do!
I would LOVE this!
I would love to be a part of an online study!
Your summer series are amazing so I'm excited for whatever God leads you to do.
Hi there I discovered your blog by mistake when i was searching Google for this concern, I must say your website is totally valuable I also love the design, its good!
Do it online and do videos for each lesson!!!!!!
Blogosphere would rock, because I could participate. I know I run from things I shouldn't and suspect this would be a great study for me.
Jonah's my favorite book…I get stuff every time! You should TOTALLY do it live, even if I can only watch the podcasts :]
don't think i've ever said hi before! been following you for a few months now, found you through your sister jasmin star. an online bible study on jonah would be awesome! go for it.
I just read Jonah last month and of course learned a TON from it! I hope you blog it just because it will be nice to hear your thoughts and perspective on it. Rock it girl!
Blog Bible Study! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! I wanna hear how God's uses you to break down the book of Jonah! Get it girl!
You should do both! Live and a deeper insight on the blog.
Bianca, in all honesty I love the summer series' you do and that you make them available for your fellow bloggers to watch live online. I would love to see you do so again with this. You may have already made up your mind but in case you haven't yet… there are my two cents. Keep rockin it. We all love you!
It is a thing I need to find more information about, many thanks for the blog post.
I say definitely the summer series because I go with a group of ladies from my church and we ALL greatly benefit from it! Im getting married this summer and im looking forward to your series already I know I will need those studies they always help me connect with God in a different way and thus would love that right before my big event! Will definitely be praying that God uses you greatly!
My sis advised me about your site and how great it is. She’s right, I’m really impressed with the writing and slick design.. Noticed your site on delicious right now and genuinely enjoyed it. tremendous fantastic outstanding.
What I wouldnt give to have a debate with you about this. You just say so many things that come from nowhere that Im fairly positive Id have a fair shot. Your blog is wonderful visually, I mean people wont be bored. But others who can see past the videos and the layout wont be so impressed together with your generic understanding of this subject.