Forward for 2014
One Question: How will I move FORWARD?
This is a question that we should continually ask ourselves.
Philippians 3:13-15 – Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way...
Three Words:
1. Saturating
Like a sponge, soaking up water, being wrung out, soaking up more water, etc. we need to be “Word Sponges.” We need to be in the ongoing process of soaking up the water of the Word, wringing it out on others, and soaking up more.....
Five ways to be saturating yourself:
1. Hearing
Every believer needs to formally join a church that’s committed to the Scriptures. Part of that membership involves participating in the weekly worship gathering. How will you be committed to the weekly worship gathering?
Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another...
2. Reading
No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of God’s Word. Nothing can substitute for it. There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture. (Donald Whitney)
You need to have a plan in place to read Scripture, preferably reading through the entire Bible each year. There are many ways to do this, here are a few ideas:
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2013/12/26/how-to-read-the-whole-bible-in-2014/ This blog article has some great thoughts on Bible Reading as well as links to several excellent plans. The ESV Daily Reading Bible, based on the M’Cheyne plan (which I’m using this year) is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S1LXM0?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=393177&creativeASIN=B000S1LXM0&linkCode=shr&tag=kellquot-20 How to Read the Bible Book by Book takes you by the hand and walks you through the Scriptures. For each book of the Bible, the authors start with a quick snapshot, then expand the view to help you better understand its key elements and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible.
http://www.gty.org/resources/devotionals/daily-bible This link will take you to a daily Scripture reading that includes a brief commentary on the passage. You can also sign up for a daily email reminder.
www.youversion.com - YouVersion has many options, including an app for your mobile device. You can choose among several reading plans, including a daily email of the reading.
If you’re really ready for a significant “challenge,” then read this blog: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/12/27/a-bible-reading-plan-for-readers/
http://www.esv.org/resources/reading-plans-devotions/ - this link has several reading plan options to choose from in a variety of formats including PDFs, calendar files, and email options.
http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf this is the plan that we’ve used as a church the past couple of years.
(You can pick up a copy of the M’Cheyne plan or the Discipleship Journal reading plan in the Foyer at the church.)
3. Studying
While reading is good, studying is also necessary. Donald Whitney describes the difference between reading and studying this way: Reading is like riding in a glass bottom boat across a lake. You’ll see the entire lake in a beautiful way. Studying is putting on scuba gear, diving in and spending time really looking at one part of the lake.
The difference between reading and studying is pen and paper.
This blog article has some very helpful advice on studying the Scriptures:
Living by the Book, by Howard Hendricks
Paperback: http://www.gbibooks.com/ISBN/9780802408235
How to Study the Bible, by John MacArthur
click here for kindle ($4.61)
click here for downloadable audio lessons (free)
click here to order a copy of the book ($7.19)
4. Memorizing
Click here (3:53) to hear John Piper on Scripture Memorization.
The 8 principles he mentions are:
1. Memorizing Scripture makes meditation possible at times when you canʼt be reading the Bible and meditation is the pathway to deeper understanding.
If youʼre going to meditate on the law of the Lord day and night, you need to have some of it in your head.
2. Memorizing Scripture strengthens my faith.
Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God. That happens when I am hearing the Word in my head.
3. Memorizing Scripture shapes the way I view the world.
It conforms my mind to Godʼs viewpoint on everything.
4. Memorizing Scripture makes Godʼs word more readily accessible in overcoming temptation to sin.
Godʼs warnings and promises are the way we conquer the deceitful lies of the devil.
5. Memorizing Scripture guards my mind, making it easier for me to detect error.
The world is filled with error because the god of this world is a liar.
6. Memorizing Scripture enables me to hit the devil in the face with a force he cannot resist to protect myself (and my family) from his assaults.
What are you hitting him with? He is millions of times stronger than you and he hates you and your family and your marriage and your church and God. How can you walk through this devil-ruled world without a sword in your hand?
7. Memorizing Scripture provides the strongest and sweetest words for ministering to others in need.
Ever been caught off guard when you meet someone in need? You donʼt need to be.
8. Memorizing Scripture provides the matrix for fellowship with Jesus
He talks to me here and nowhere else. But oh sweetly, powerfully, authentically, really speaks to me here. I speak back to Him in prayer. If the words of Scripture are in your mind, you can talk with Him anywhere!
(P.S. - be sure to watch the video, don’t just read the principles)
5. Meditating
Meditation isn’t some trippy-hippie thing.
It’s not yoga - it’s not relaxation therapy
It’s not some crazy New Age thing.
Meditation is actually commanded in the Bible.
Joshua 1:8 – 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.
It’s filling your mind with God’s truth. It’s constructive mental activity. It’s not creating your own reality in your mind. It’s following the words of Paul:
Philippians 4:8 – whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
You’re not going to find anything more true, honorable, pure, or worthy of praise than what you find in the pages of Scripture.
Psalm 1:1-2 – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
There is a flow to all of these.
We all need to first be hearing God’s Word taught, but we can’t leave it there. We also need to read it for ourselves. We can’t be satisfied with reading only, we need to dig into God’s Word and study it like the noble Bereans. When we’re seeking to be saturating ourselves in Scripture, we’ll also memorize it and when we memorize it, we move quickly and easily toward meditation.
2. Serving
How are you serving the body?
Check back next week for more on service opportunities at Fellowship.
Check back next week for more on service opportunities at Fellowship.
(There’s one coming in this week’s bulletin)
3. Sharing
Step 1 - are you ready to share the Gospel?
Download a “Gospel Learning Kit.”
This three page PDF is designed to equip you to share the Gospel using Scripture in a clear, comprehensive way.
Click here to download the kit from the church website.
Check back next week for more on Serving and Sharing.
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