I admit that when I attended Florida College it was certainly not to become a preacher. I took the minimum required Bible courses and can’t even say that I excelled in them. However, in reading Nehemiah chapter eight this past week it occurred to me how we can all get "A"s in Bible Study. The teacher, Ezra, shows us how as he takes the stage that was built just for this occasion, the reading of the Law. Note that the people...

...were Assembled, v. 2. They didn’t stay home believing they could worship "just as well" there as with the group. Their assembly demonstrated that this was something worth going out for. Everyone who understand what they heard was present.

...were Attentive, v. 4. "The ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law," Nehemiah writes. I’m sure their I-Pods were turned off, as well as their cell phones. They were not balancing checkbooks or filing their nails or thinking about the sacrificial bar-be-que that might come later.

...were Agreeable, v. 5-6. When Ezra opened the book, they all stood up. It doesn’t say they remained standing for the next 4 hours, but that really isn’t important. They showed respect as they began and then as Ezra started with a blessing, they ALL answered, "Amen, Amen." There wasn’t the deafening silence heard in many churches after a blessing. They were all respectful and ready to hear, ready to learn, and said so.

...were Assisted, v. 7-8, ...in their learning, that is. Ezra just didn’t read for 4 hours. At least 13 leaders plus any number of Levites helped the people to understand what was being read. Ezra read "clearly" the text says, and these others "gave the sense" so that the people understood the reading. There is a place for application and explaining the scriptures, but one must have a mind set to accept such "sensible" teaching.

...were Affected, v. 9, 12. With hearts and attitudes ready to accept the word of the Lord and teachers present to give the understanding it is easy to see why they were affected to the point of mourning and weeping. In fact they had to be encouraged NOT to mourn, but to rejoice, and verse twelve says it was all "because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

How to get an "A" in Bible study then? Assemble with an Attentive and Agreeable mind set. Stay teachable so that when you’re Assisted you will be Affected. And of course, the end result is graduating eternally and avoiding eternal detention.