Study - Spiritual Discipline #5
2/5/12
"The purpose of the Spiritual Disciplines is the total transformation of the person. They aim at replacing old destructive habits of thought with new life giving habits. Nowhere is this purpose more clearly seen than in the Discipline of Study." (pg 62)
"The apostle Paul tells us that we are transformed through the renewal of the mind (Rom 12:2).
The mind is renewed by applying it to those things that will transform it.
(And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:8 & 9)"
v Wesleyan Quadrilateral
§ SCRIPTURE – the Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments)
§ TRADITION – the two millennia history of the Christian Church
§ REASON – rational thinking and sensible interpretation
§ EXPERIENCE – a Christian's personal and communal journey in Christ
v Scripture is foundational - and we are to:
Study it. Know it. and Strive to understand it.
v Scripture Study is not the end goal!
§ It is a tool - a resource – it is a discipline.
v The Goal of the Christian Life is not mere knowledge.
§ But the knowledge that moves us to act as Christ!
§ Luke 10: 27 “He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Four Steps to STUDY:
1. REPETITION
§ Ingrained habits of thought can be formed by repetition alone
· Thus changing behavior.
§ This is why the issue of television programming is so important
¨ With innumerable murders portrayed, the repetition alone trains the inner mind in destructive thought patterns.
2. CONCENTRATION
§ Live in a culture that does not value concentration. Distraction is the order of the day.
· Many will go throughout all activities with the radio on.
¨ Some will read a book & watch TV at the same time.
(they call it multi tasking) (Alison Rank!)
¨ Seem to "live" for the distraction, the text, email...
3. COMPREHENSION
§ Understanding what we are studying.
· John 8:32 = Jesus reminds us that it is not just the truth
¨ But the KNOWLEDGE of the truth that sets us free.
¨ Comprehension focuses on the knowledge of truth
§ We all have "read, read, read" and all of a sudden - understand it
- "Eureka" experiences catapult us to new level of growth & freedom
4. REFLECTION (pg 65)
§ Reflection defines the significance of what we are studing.
· Reflection brings us to see things from God's perspective.
¨ We come to understand not only our subject matter, but ourselves.
HUMILITY:
It soon becomes obvious that study demands humility.
Study simply cannot happen until we are willing to be subject to the subject matter.
We must submit to the system.
We must come as student, not teacher.
"Arrogance and a teachable spirit are mutually exclusive."
How do you study Scripture?
Here are a few ways to approach Scriptural Study:
1. Read large portions of Scripture.
§ Consider a 'major' book like Genesis or Jeremiah, read it straight through.
§ Notice the structure and flow.
§ Note areas of difficulty and return to them.
§ Jot down thoughts & impressions.
2. Read smaller books - like Ephesians or 1 John
§ Read it through each day for a month!
· This will put the structure of the book into your mind.
· Read it without trying to fit it into established categories.
¨ Expect to hear new things in new ways.
¨ Keep a journal of your findings.
3. In addition to studying the Bible - do not neglect the classics in Christian Literature.
§ Read Foundational Christian Books
¨ The Confessions of St. Augustine
¨ The Imitation of Christ
¨ Table Talks of Martin Luther
¨ The Journal of John Wesley
¨ The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
¨ Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Ø When we read books from the cross the ages
§ We begin to understand how others have viewed this Christian Walk.
§ We begin to put our own study and perspectives, and leanings rightly into the larger Christian framework.
Unique Opportunity
v We have the opportunity, unlike any previous generation before, to STUDY the Scripture.
§ Not only is the Scripture in a language we understand
¨ But, it is readily available!
§ Prior to the Reformation - and Martin Luther - Scripture was only in Latin, and only for the priests - only for a few.
· Luther translated it into German - a heretical act
¨ "His translation of the Bible into the language of the people (instead of Latin) made it more accessible, causing a tremendous impact on the church and on German culture. It fostered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation into English of the King James Bible."
§ Now - every home has the opportunity to have a Bible.
§ Every Pastor, every believer - has one or two. (and if you don't have one, let us know and you can go home with one today!)
v There are more translations than I care to count. (YouVersion has: 27 in ENGLISH)
§ What's YouVersion?
QUESTION
v How are you engaging in the Spiritual Discipline of STUDY?
v Start a READING PLAN?
§ YouVersion, Bible Gateway, The Year Bible
Ø Repetition, Concentration, Comprehension, Reflection
- Read large portions of Scripture - all the way through
- Read smaller books - over and over
v While we must understand that "Scripture Study" is not the end goal
§ It is a tool - a resource - it is a discipline.
As you go - engage the Word on a daily basis, comprehend it, and reflect upon it.
Let it be foundational to your walk with God. GO AND LOVE!
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