From Steve Singleton... Can you suggest any plan for systematic Bible study?

Can you suggest any plan for systematic Bible study?

The most important thing you can do is to read the Bible. I do not mean reading a verse or two, but reading a book of the Bible all the way through. Many people who want to study the Bible do not do this simple thing. One easy way to accomplish this is to purchase or borrow audio recordings of the Bible on CD. Once you have read a Bible book several times through, you start to get an idea of what it is all about. Here are some verses on this point: 2 Chronicles 34:14-28; Nehemiah 8:l-18; Psalm 19:7-10; all of Psalm 119, but see for instance, verses 9-16; 1 Timothy 4:13; Revelation 1:l-3. These all show the importance of reading, meditating on, and remembering the Word of God.

Here is a Daily Bible Reading Schedule you can follow throughout the year. The schedule starts you out at the beginning, at the Book of Genesis. It lays the foundation for all that follows. After Genesis, the Old Testament books through Esther are in roughly chronological order. The schedule guides you through book by book, typically interspersing one New Testament book after you read two books from the Old Testament.

After you have been reading regularly in the rapid-fire style this schedule requires, you will be ready to read more slowly and thoughtfully. Write down questions that occur to you as you read. Watch for themes and areas of emphasis. Start using the Bible study tools available from the public library and online. Get involved in a group Bible study.

The next step is to outline the book of the Bible you have read over and over again. Find the natural places where the author moves on to a new topic. In the historical books this is often indicated by a change of place or by the passage of time. In the prophetic books and the epistles, there will be indicators in the text, such as “This is what the Lord says,” or “Now I want you to know, brothers” or “Finally.” When you come across these “context markers,” they will help you to break the text up into smaller pieces. Then, read each piece over and over until you can summarize in your own words what that portion is about. Your summary might sound like this: “Jesus heals a lame man at a pool” or “Paul discusses the importance of living a pure life.” Summarize each of the pieces of the book in a similar way.

Then divide each piece into its paragraphs. Your Bible should be able to help you here, for many Bibles divide the text into paragraphs, indenting the first line of each paragraph. You should be able to summarize each paragraph like you did the larger pieces. Try to figure out how the thoughts flow from one paragraph to the next.

Once you have done this for the entire book, you have a good idea.of what the book is all about, and how the ideas flow from beginning to end. Then you can use that overview to help you understand what any one or two verses mean. You can also look at other passages where the same concept occurs and let those verse inform your thinking about this passage. You are looking to understand how the verses harmonize and fill in meaning for one another. If you think they are in conflict with each other, chances are good that you have misunderstood one or both of them.

Then, you can compare your results with what the writers of commentaries have said about a passage. But it is much better to do you own work first before you consult the commentaries. Then you will be able to debate with the writers and not just swallow everything they try to feed you. If you look at commentaries, it will not take you long to discover that some are better than others, and that some are written for expert scholars, while others are on a very simple level. Find the level that you need given where you are in your Bible study. Take a look at the commentaries  available for free online.

Try to discern the strengths and weaknesses of the commentary writer. Do not just accept what they say because you suppose they are better informed than you are. Listen to their reasons, and see if they make sense to you. (Sometimes they will persuade you, and sometimes you will only become convinced never to use that commentary again.)

Finally, you should be able to summarize what you have learned about a passage by explaining it to someone in a way that they can understand. Give your reasons for the interpretations you have made and the conclusions you have reached. Also, remind yourself and others that you are willing to study the passage some more and would be open to considering another point of view.

Encouraging as many people as possible to engage in ongoing careful and systematic Bible study is one of the main purposes for DeeperStudy.com. Once you are finished “navigating the Shallows,” go on to explore “The Depths.” Also check out the extensive “Study Links.” We have provided you with a wealth of resources and tools for Bible study, and we expect to offer even more in the future.

Want to go deeper?  The following are useful resources for growing in your ability to study the Bible for yourself. Note: I work hard to find the best resources to recommend, but I cannot possibly endorse everything they might teach. Think for yourself!

Recommended for purchase:

Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart.  How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth  (3rd Ed., 2003).
This classic reader-friendly manual explains the different kinds of biblical literature—such as prophecy, Gospels, poetry, and history—so you can get the most from them. The newly revised edition includes an updated list of recommended resources and a new section on the Song of Songs. Highly recommended.

Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart.  How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour  (2002).
Your personal guide to reading the Bible with understanding. Experienced tour guides walk you through the Scriptures. Each book of the Bible has a quick snapshot, then an expanded view to help you better understand its key elements and how it fits into the grand narrative of the Bible. Features include: thumbnail of the book, brief panorama that introduces key concepts and themes, pointers for accurately understanding the details and message of the book in context with the circumstances surrounding its writing, section-by-section tour that helps you see both the larger picture and how various parts work together. Written on a more popular level than How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.

John Stott.  Understanding the Bible (1999).
Stott gives students, leaders, and new Christians an essential grasp of the Bible’s message in the context of its geographical, historical, and ancient Jewish religious settings. He also enlarges our vision of Christ by revealing him as the focal point of the entire Bible. Stott answers the basic questions, such as Who wrote the Bible?; What is its message?; and Why is it thought to be a holy book?. Stott places Jesus in his proper geographical, religious, and historical setting. Maps and focus questions are at the beginning of each chapter. Stott’s commitment to the Bible as God’s inspired Word greatly enhances his teaching.

Online resources:

World Bible School“ Enroll in free Bible study courses by snail-mail, or you can study your way through their  online Bible studies.

Many thanks to brother Steve Singleton, for allowing me to post from his website, deeperstudy.com.

From Ben Fronczek... Letters From God

Letters From God  

Reading Luke 10: 38-42 

“While Jesus and his followers were traveling, Jesus went into a town. A woman named Martha let Jesus stay at her house.  ³⁹ Martha had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach. ⁴⁰ But Martha was busy with all the work to be done. She went in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me alone to do all the work? Tell her to help me.”

⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. ⁴² Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her.” NIV

As a Christian, wouldn’t it be nice to get a personal communication from God every day. Imagine going out the mailbox and finding a letter of encouragement or instruction from God everyday. Wouldn’t that be awesome. Can you imagine getting letters like these in the mail:

Dear Ben,

Here’s something for you to think about today, I have blessed you in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

I chose you before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in my sight. In love I predestined you to be adopted as My son through Jesus Christ, because it was what I wanted and it pleased me to do so.

I have redeemed you through with My Son Jesus’ blood, and have forgiven your sins, It is my gift to you

I have also made known to you the mysteries of My will which I revealed through Christ because that also pleased me as well.

 

Ben, think about and enjoy these blessing today,                                                                   

Your loving heavenly Father, God     (From Ephesians 1:1-9)

 

Dear Ben,

I thought you could use these instructions today. Ben, you Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to others and love them. Honor others above yourself.  Don’t lack in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, in serving Me.Ben, be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with My people who are in need. Practice hospitality.Even bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

 

Ben, do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, but leave that up to Me for as it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”

Ben do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Love you Lots, Your Father God      

(From Romans 12:9-21)

 

I wonder how you would treat those letters if they were actually from God addressed to you?  Would you tear them open to see what God had to say to you each day? Would you cherish those letters and save them like a treasure? Or would you just read them real quick and maybe stack them up like a old pile of magazines?

Hopefully that would not be the case. Hopefully you would go through them periodically, maybe even refer back to them if something came up in your life that you know He wrote to you about. Maybe refer to that last one if someone started treating you bad. I think it would make God feel good knowing that His letters were not being treated like ‘junk mail.’ Or, that you even re-read and refer to them often.

Would not such correspondence every day be a precious treasure?

Well that’s what you have when you take the time each day to pick your Bible and read from it. It contains personal messages from Him to you.

The Bible is the main way that God speaks to us on a personal level. And what He has to say within is important. I am sure you’ve heard it over and over before about the importance of reading your Bible every day.

But how can we take better advantage of what He writes and what we read?  I have to admit, I have a problem when I read. Quite frankly no matter what book I read from I don’t remember as much as I would like to remember after reading it. Even if I read an amazing statement, it won’t be too long before that fact fades away. So if some of you are like me I am concerned about How we can take better advantage of what God is trying to tell us without forgetting it so quickly.

The answer is a relatively simple one and it’s this; When you read God’s word I suggest you read it with a pen or pencil. I find when I read the Bible, God’s letter to me, the Spirit almost always causes a particular verse or passage to stand out. You could have read the same thing over 5 times before but for some reason on that particular day you notice something you never saw before. That’s when you need to take that pencil and underline it.

Better yet I would like to share with you a practice that has changed lives across this globe, and that is start a journal.  What am I talking about?A journal is simply a notebook where you can write down what God says to you that day. A journal is not a diary; it is notebook of precious gems or profound treasures that God reveals to you so that you do not forget them or why they are important.

How many of your really want to draw God’s thoughts out of scripture and them imprint them on your soul – this is one way to do it.

If the Bible just sits on a shelf or your coffee table it’s just another book. But when we open its pages to your eyes and drink it in, and then take notes on those special things He wants you to see, then the Spirit breathes those truths into your life.

I am constantly taking notes on things I read, or when I go to hear people speak, even when I watch or listen to TV or radio programs. If not I forget.

Whether you realize it or not, You honor God by note taking. Taking notes is one of the best ways to honor any instructor. It’s a statement saying that what they have to say is very important to you, ‘note worthy’, something worth saving, preserving so that you can go back to it again.

In the book entitled, THE DIVINE MENTOR, the author teaches a very helpful technique to journal your thoughts as you read scripture, and I would like to share what he has taught thousands do, and it has changed lives.

If you can remember the word SOAP you can remember this simple yet life changing technique,   The word SOAP is a simple acrostic:  

S = Scripture;    

O = Observation;   

A = Application; and  

P = Prayer.

So after you read a portion of scripture, in your notebook write down the date, then write the Scripture reference and what it was all about. Then list some personal observation you noticed. Then the Applications you can personally make to yourself from that scripture, and then write out a small prayer.

More than likely a year from now you will not remember that verse and why it made such an impression to you on that day, but when you write it these things down, and refer back to them, you will remember.

(Here is an example of one of my journal entries)

 

January 5

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25 

As Jesus and His disciples were sailing across a lake, Jesus fell asleep in the boat, and a fierce wind storm came up and the disciples were so afraid that they woke Jesus up . They told Him that ‘We are going to drown.”  Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and the waves and all went calm. Then Jesus asked them, “Where is your faith?”

The text goes on to say that they were amazed and asked one another,  ”Who can this be.  He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

 

My Observations:

Jesus got so tired he fell to sleep and did not wake up. He was really tired. This shows me His humanity and how He is in some like us when we get over tired.

Also, the weather must have been quite fierce for those seasoned fisherman to be so afraid.

Also, I wonder if Jesus asked them, “where is your faith” more because of their fear and reactions in the situation. Maybe they would not have received such a rebuke from Him of they simply came to Him, and calmly woke Him up letting Him simply know about their concern and then asking Him to please take care of the matter. But instead their reaction was more like, “WAKE UP LORD, WE ARE GONNA DIE!!”

 

Application:                                                                                                        No matter what storms of life may come our way we should not forget that Jesus is more powerful that we are and able to handle the situation. We can either get all worked up and flustered like those men, or we can  simply turn to Him in faith and ask Him to handle it and help us through it. We need to trust Him all the way!. Our fear, our anxiety, our frustrations, and poor reactions do not do any good and will not help.

 

Prayer:

Dear Lord, Help me to recognize that you are ever present and that you love me. When difficult, scary, or nerve racking situations arise help me to simply trust in you, and turn to you immediately so that I do not get consumed with anxiety, fear or other bad or negative emotions. I Praise you Father for your care and strength, and majesty.

I know life is full of too many things that can rob our time and distract us from sitting at the feet of our Lord, hearing what He has to say.

In Luke 10:38-42 God sent us a message for the day. As busy as both Mary and Martha could have been, Mary made the better choice. She realized that time spent with Jesus was more important than anything else. There will always be other things to do.

I hope that you make that same choice each day. And I hope that if you do, you will do in a way that really makes it count so that you will remember and benefit from what you read.

I pray God’s blessing upon you.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Jim McGuiggan... Baptism: No trivial issue

Baptism: No trivial issue

 Tell someone you believe baptism is a part of God’s saving process and you’re accused of believing in self-salvation. We hear words like Pelagianism and the heresy of salvation by good works. Tell someone you believe it is merely symbolic and a witness to a salvation already gained before and without baptism and you’re likely to be told that you don’t love God, aren’t interested in obeying him and that you’re undoubtedly hell bound.

There are those who despite knowing it is called for in the New Testament have no opinion on baptism at all, which I suppose is really an opinion on baptism. They see it as an ordinance without significance; well, except for those who care to invest it with significance. They don’t practice it nor do they care that they don’t practice it so when they hear robust dialogue about it they wonder what all the fuss is about.

Those who see it as part of the whole conversion experience press it hard on people and marshal texts to prove that it is part of the saving process. Those who think it’s an “outward sign” of an already experienced “inward grace” of salvation argue just as fervently to prove their case and deny the other. If both sides in the disagreement are sensitive they tend to avoid talking about it for fear of distressing someone. It’s like talking about crazy Uncle Charlie in the presence of highbrow strangers.

And again, those who think the whole thing is a waste of good time and energy piously get on with “the real heart of Christianity” and wonder why the debates go on and on. (I can’t help remembering that one momentous night when the world was hungry and just as lost as now the Savior took twelve men aside in an upper room and engaged in a “church ordinance”. Only a silly person thinks baptism (or Holy Communion) is a trivial issue. They didn’t learn this silliness from the New Testament.)

What strikes me with real force is that none of the above happens in the New Testament. First of all, you simply can’t read the New Testament and think baptism is a trivial issue. I won’t stop to cite texts because that would be to kill a corpse. Whatever else we get from the New Testament record, no one sighs and says, “Oh dear, more talk about church ordinances when the world is starving and lost. What a pity we have to descend to the trivial issues.” Those whose reading of the New Testament shows them that baptism is a very significant matter shouldn’t pretend it is otherwise neither should we intentionally give others the impression that we think it is unimportant or trivial.

Then there’s this. No one in the New Testament ever tries to prove anything about baptism, they simply call for it and those who are called obey it. Did thousands want to be right with God in Christ? They were told to repent and be baptized for forgiveness and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-38). Were Christians with a Jewish background confused about their responsibility to the torah? They were reminded of their baptism into Christ (Romans 6:3-7 and Galatians 3:26-27). Was a penitent persecutor waiting to be told what to do to have his sins washed away and enter a living adventure as an apostle? He was told to wait no longer but get himself baptized to wash away his sins, calling on the Lord’s name (Acts 22:16). Neither Peter nor Ananias nor Paul was attempting to prove anything about baptism and the people who obeyed didn’t ask, “Do I have to be baptized?” All this debating business is a modern thing that developed out of Catholic--Protestant and then inter-Protestant controversy. It isn’t New Testament! And all this reluctance to bring it up in case it offends someone isn’t New Testament because in there everyone just blurts it out.

Those who say the debate arose out of Pauline teaching about grace as opposed to “works righteousness” seem to forget that the apostle who opposed some form of works righteousness was himself baptized to have his sins washed away as he took the name of Christ on him. They seem to forget also that he wrote his most compelling words about grace to “the Ephesians” even though he founded the Ephesian church by baptizing some believers a second time. (I recognize their problem was a problem about basic gospel truth and not merely their baptism. But he did immerse them a second time once he had taught them essential truth and he baptized them “into” the name of Christ--see Acts 19:1-7.)

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.

From Mark Copeland.... Sound Doctrine For Older Women ( Titus 2:3-4)

                         "THE EPISTLE TO TITUS"

                 Sound Doctrine For Older Women (2:3-4)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our text, Paul describes "things which are proper for sound
   doctrine" - Tit 2:1
   a. Doctrine that is spiritually healthy, wholesome
   b. In this case, exhortations related to godly conduct

2. We saw that he wanted Titus to tell the older men to be...
   a. Sober, reverent, temperate - 2Ti 2:2
   b. Sound in faith, in love, in patience - 2Ti 2:2

[Now Paul directs his comments to...]

I. CONDUCT BECOMING OLDER WOMEN

   A. REVERENT IN BEHAVIOR...
      1. Reverent (hieroprepes)
         a. As becomes holiness - Strong
         b. Meaning to act like a sacred person - The Complete WordStudy
            Dictionary (TCWD)
      2. In behavior (katastema)
         a. Demeanor, deportment, bearing - Thayer
         b. Manner of life - TCWD
      -- In dress, in speech, in conduct, they are to reflect their holy
         calling

   B. NOT SLANDERERS, NOT GIVEN TO MUCH WINE...
      1. Not slanderers (diabolos)
         a. A false accuser, used for the devil - TCWD
         b. One who falsely accuses and divides people without any
            reason - ibid.
      2. Not given to much wine (douloo polos oinos)
         a. Not enslaved by much wine, not habitual drunkards or
            tipplers - Clarke
         b. Both among the Greeks and Romans old women were generally
            reputed to be fond of much wine - ibid.
      -- They are to guard against what comes out of their mouths, and
         what goes into it

   C. TEACHERS OF GOOD THINGS...
      1. Teachers of good things (kalodidaskolos)
      2. Teaching that which is good, a teacher of goodness - Thayer
      3. Influencing for good the younger women by precept and example
         - JFB
      4. What they were to teach includes what is described for younger
         women - Tit 2:4-5
      -- The Lord intends for older women to be teachers

   D. ADMONISHING YOUNGER WOMEN...
      1. Admonishing (sophronizo)
      2. To hold one to his (her) duty; to exhort earnestly - Thayer
      3. To correct, teach - TCWD
      -- Older women have a duty to teach and correct the younger women

[Just as older men often think their age is an excuse to slack off in
regards to the service of Christ and His church, sometimes the older
women do also.  Yet God can still use their service.  Consider some...]

II. EXAMPLES TO INSPIRE OLDER WOMEN

   A. SARAH...
      1. Over 65 years old when she left Ur with Abraham - Gen 12:4-5
      2. A beautiful woman in her old age - Gen 12:11,14; 20:2
      3. A woman of faith - He 11:11
      4. Adorned with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet
         spirit - 1Pe 3:3-4
      5. Who trusted in God, and was submissive to her husband - 1 Pe 3:5-6
      -- A woman whose physical beauty was surpassed by her inner beauty

   B. ANNA...
      1. A woman over 100 years old - Lk 2:36
      2. Who served God with fastings and prayers night and day - Lk 2:37
      3. Who did not hesitate to thank God, and tell others the good
         news of God! - Lk 2:38
      -- A woman who used her widowhood to serve God and others

   C. TABITHA (DORCAS)...
      1. Whom Peter restored to life - Ac 9:36-42
      2. Full of good works and charitable deeds - Ac 9:36
      3. Made tunics and garments, likely for the widows who showed them
         - Ac 9:39
      -- Another example of a woman who used her life to serve others

   D. PETER'S WIFE...
      1. Whose mother was healed by Jesus - Mt 8:14-15
      2. Who accompanied her husband on his travels - 1Co 9:5
      3. Who herself was martyred, according to Clement of Alexandria
      -- A woman who left home and family to follow Christ and
         ultimately die for Him

   E. MODERN DAY EXAMPLES...
      1. Older women who continue to teach children and younger women
      2. Older women who have traveled to foreign lands to teach others
      2. Older women who attend despite their frail health and painful
         infirmities
      4. Women who would rather wear out than rust out
      -- Who will God use today?  Aged women who refuse to stop working
         for the Lord!

CONCLUSION

1. Again, it is not enough to be considered "sound" (healthy) just
   because...
   a. We stood for the truth in the past
   b. We served in the church for many years in the past

2. It is not enough to just have older men who are...
   a. Sober, reverent, and temperate
   b. Healthy in faith, love, and patience
   c. Willing to serve as elders if qualified

3. We need older women who are...
   a. Reverent in behavior
   b. Not slanderers, not given to much wine
   c. Teachers of good things
   c. Willing to exhort and admonish the younger women

Are the older women also willing to bear fruit in their old age...? -
cf. Ps 92:12-15

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Do the right thing!!!

As I recall, this picture was taken in chapel at Northeast School of Biblical Studies about May, 1977.   I was still under thirty years of age and somewhat naive.  If I only knew then, what I know today, I wonder what I would have done differently? One thing is for sure, I would have been more open, more approachable, and a little less sure of myself.  But, one thing I did right; I always tried to do the "right thing".  My example for this concept is found in Paul's letter to Philemon...

Philemon

10 I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,   11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.  12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,  13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.  14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.  15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever,  16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Actually, doing the right thing is a practical application of a Biblical standard; in the case above, Paul is doing that which brotherly love would dictate he do.   Very good act to follow!!!  When do you apply this concept... well, every day, of course.  The thing is... not to just preach it, but to practice it.  Eventually, you will get it right.  As for me- I am still learning!!!

From Steve Singleton... Which Bible translation is best?

Which Bible translation is best?

By Steve Singleton

The short answer would be, it depends on what you are trying to do. Are you wanting to read rapidly to get an overview of the Bible? Then a modern-speech translation would be a must. Are you wanting to make a careful study of a difficult passage? Then you should choose one of the more literal versions. Are you seeking to be inspired by the poetic beauty and refined literary style of Scripture? The King James Version would suit you best for that purpose.

Readers of Bible translations in English are blessed beyond reckoning with the multitude of Bible translations available to us. Seasoned Bible students know the value of consulting several translations when studying a passage. Nevertheless, one of the main purposes of a Bible translation ought to be to help the reader shift the focus from the translation itself to 

the message”and an undistorted message at that”you need a translation that strikes a balance between accuracy and readability.

Another blessing of our times is that the wording of several of the most recent translations is converging: they are virtually identical in verse after verse! This is because they have general agreement on both the underlying Hebrew and Greek text to translate and on the translation principles they apply to that text. This is true with regard to the New International Version, the New Revised Standard Version, and the newly revised New American Standard Version. Check out the many Bible translations in DeeperStudy Bookstore.

Want to go deeper? The following are useful resources for pursuing your study of Bible translations and translation principles:

Recommended for purchase:

Check out the Bible translations section in our DeeperStudy Bookstore. We have discussions of many of the translations available and have worked hard to provide the best edition at the best value for each.

David Dewey. A User’s Guide to Bible Translations: Making the Most of Different Versions. (2005).

Online resources: DeeperStudy’s Study-links section provides links to the on-line editions of many Bible translations in English and in other languages.

The Bible Translator, a journal for translators around the world and for the rest of us interested in the principles of translation.

Many thanks to brother Steve Singleton for allowing me to post from his website, deeperstudy.com.

From Ben Fronczek... The Precious Word of God

The Precious Word of God

By Ben Fronczek

In our society it so easy to take what we have for granted. I see kids getting so many toys, piles of toys for Christmas when they already have boxes and shelves if not a room full of toys. One more toy is just one more. I saw kids at XMAS opening their presents so fast, looking at what they got for a couple of seconds then throwing it aside so that they could open another.. As adults in America we aren’t much different. Look at the choices of food we have in the grocery store, the abundance of clothes and things that we have available to us. Some of us have so much ‘stuff’ we can’t even fit it in our homes and some have to rent storage units just to store all their stuff. We even have a smorgasbord of Christian churches we can choose from. If you don’t like one, you can pick another. In many ways we are very blessed but also very spoiled

I recently finished a book written by Wayne Cordeiro called, THE DIVINE MENTOR.  Within it he tells a true story which I would like to share with you. It goes as follows:

A few years ago I made a teaching trip to China. Twenty leaders of the house church movement from a nearby province came together for leadership training. I was told to be ready to stand up at 8:00 A.M. and teach until 6:00 P.M. – thankfully, with a short break for lunch.  We’d repeat the regiment for three days. It was fatiguing, demanding, and one of the most moving experiences of my life.                    

They endured a 13 hour train ride. Meeting at a predetermined location, they arrived alone or in twos so as not to arouse suspicion. Gathering together in a small, stifling room, they sat cross-legged on a wooden floor. Most were humble farmers. Every face was weathered with deep lines that held stories of profound trial and supernatural perseverance.

Sometimes when you speak to a large group, you hope that 20 to 25 percent (on a good day) will actually absorb what you’re saying. In this group, it was every person in the room!

The huge smiles on all the faces brightened their simple clothing. They were hungry and eager to hear from the narrators of the Bible. Their eagerness would extract the best from me. They were soaking in everything as though they would never be in such a meeting again…. Which was certainly a possibility. When they raised their hands to worship, I saw at least one man with scars from the shackles that had been his companions in prison.

Shortly after we began, to get us more acquainted, I asked them to say a little about who they were. One reported with joy that he’d just been released from serving his fifth 3 year term in jail.

His crime?  Faith in an unseen Messiah. “How many others of you have spent time in prison for your faith?” I asked. 18 of the 20 raised their hands.  “If government authorities discovered this non-registered religious meeting, what would happen?”

They answered, “Each would be given a 3 year prison sentence, and I would be deported within 24 hours.”   “Aren’t you afraid?” I inquired.   “No.” they said with a quiet confidence. “We are not afraid, and if you teach us for another day, we will stay.”

I commended them for their faith, all the while wondering why they weren’t teaching me instead of the other way around.

Since I knew that each of these veteran saints oversaw large numbers of house churches, I continued my ‘let’s–get–acquainted’ session by asking, “How many people do you oversee in all the house churches, combined?”

After a moment of quiet calculation, one spoke up.. “22 million.”            I couldn’t believe I’d heard what I just heard. “22 million?” I stammered.      “Yes,” he nodded. “22 million.”

After a few moments, I caught my breath and launched into teaching. We brought 16 Bibles to pass out, leaving a few of the leaders to share with one another. I had them turn to 2 Peter 1. As we were about to read it out loud, one elderly woman handed her Bible to another leader. I thought that a bit strange, since Bibles were so scarce, but I didn’t call attention to the matter.

After we began to read, I understood why she had willingly given up her Bible. She quoted the whole chapter from memory!  During a short break, I asked her how she memorized so much scripture.  ”I have much more memorized,” she replied through one of the interpreters.   

“But how did you memorize so much,” I asked, “when there are so few Bibles available?”      “In prison,”  she said.

Pushing back, I went on, “But if you had a Bible, wouldn’t they confiscate it right away?”   “Yes,” she answered.  “So people brought me scriptures written on pieces of paper.”

“And what if the guard found you with those?” I pressed.  “Wouldn’t they take those away as well?”   “Yes. That’s why I memorized the scriptures as quickly as I could. You see, they can take away the paper, but they cannot take away what I have already hidden in my heart.”

By the end of the two days, I had fallen in love with this part of God’s family. Realizing my own inadequacy to help them in their daunting task of reaching China, I asked them in our final session together; “How can I pray for you?”

“Pray that we may become like you,” was their immediate request.    One of my new found friends continued: “We do not have freedom of religion. We have only a few registered churches, and when the pews are filled, they turn the others away. But in your country, you can gather whenever you like.”  He concluded by saying again, “Pray that we can one day be like you.”

I shook my head sadly. “I can’t do that. I can’t pray for you in that way.”  “But why?” they asked incredulously.

With a sigh, I explained. “You came here after riding 13 hours on a train . In America, if church is more than thirty minutes away, people won’t go. It’s too far.   You have been sitting on a wooden floor without air conditioning for three day. Where I come from, if people can’t sit on cushioned chairs and be in comfort of air conditioning, they find better things to do.   You don’t have adequate Bibles, so you memorize Scriptures from pieces of paper.  In America Christian homes have multiple Bibles per family, but we don’t always read them.  No,”   I said. “I will not pray that you become like us. But I will pray …  that we become like you!”

After telling this story in his book, the author goes on to share some observation and insights. He goes on to write,

‘Why did these Chinese leaders take such a huge risk, gathering as a group to study God’s word? Why did they value the Bible’s wisdom so much that they placed their very lives in jeopardy in order to listen to the Lord’s voice? Because they know by experience the Word’s power and truth….. The leaders understand that the Bible is like no other book in the world. They recognize its matchless authority as well as its supernatural ability through the Spirit to speak truth directly into our hearts so that we are enabled, literally, to become more like Christ. No other book compares with the Word of God!’ (The Divine Mentor pages 165-168)

Today I cannot over emphasize the importance of what is in this book. But unfortunately too often we take what we have readily available to us for granted.

As we begin this new year I want to encourage you to pick up your Bible and look at it, and treat it like it’s your most precious possession; like a great treasure, more important than any other material possession that you own…Why? Because quite frankly that’s what it is. That’s how those Chinese people treat the word of God… as something precious, and beyond value.

This book has been given to us by God. It has been divinely protected through the ages like no other book. God has protected it and it has come down to you & me for a reason; not just to put it on a shelf, or set out on a stand like some kind of decoration, but rather I believe He wants us to read it.

Even though there are many, I want to at least share with you a few reasons why you should make a practice to pick this book up and read it every day.

#1) It is where you can get to know your God, our Father. 

It’s one to know about someone, its quite another to really know someone.  Within the pages of the Bible you can get a good idea of who He is, what He likes, what He dislikes, even what He wants and expects of you. Within the pages of the Bible you hear God’s voice, Him speaking to you. His words cut right through the religious confusion of this world and lays the truth right out.

You can come to know the difference between what truly is, and what isn’t as far as God is concerned by reading this book.  In the past Bank tellers were trained to detect counterfeit $100 bills by putting them in a room where they were shown the real thing. They went to classes where they were taught the almost indistinguishable, almost imperceptible patterns in the real article. The tellers would smell the genuine bills, run their fingers across the fibers and ink. Then when the trainers thought the tellers were ready they tested them. They’d put the tellers in front of a conveyor belt loaded with genuine bills. The supervisor would periodically insert a counterfeit bill on the belt to test them. The tellers would immediately recognize that something was wrong with those particular bills.   How did they recognize the counterfeit bills so quickly? Was it because they studied the fakes? No, rather it was because they took a lot of time studying and examining the real thing.

There is a lot of spiritual and religious confusion in the world today. You will not have to worry about it if you spend enough time in God’s divinely preserved word. You will recognize the counterfeit teaching if you spend enough time with the real article.

#2) You are influenced by those you spend time with.

Proverb 13:20 says,  

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

God has provided a host of divine mentor for you and me to spend time with. You can learn from their victories as well as from their failing. People like Joseph, Daniel, Abigail, Mary, Ruth, Joshua, Ester, David, Elijah, Solomon, Peter, John … especially from Jesus Himself.  You can save yourself from all kinds of trouble and heart ache if you learn from these people. You can even find short cuts to success and happiness if you learn from them as well.

God wants to mentor us through these people.

This will in-turn help us to make better decisions in our life.

#3)  The words within are divine and are alive and will lead to an abundant and fruitful life.

They not only show the way to salvation, they also help complete us.

Jeremiah wrote,  

“Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart…”

In Psalm 1 David wrote,  

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. ² But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. ³ They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (NLT)

God’s word will refresh you when you feel weak. His word will encourage you when you feel down or when trails come your way. God’s word will also reprimand you when you start getting off track and start doing things that are bad for you. God’s word will also teach you how to live and be happy and find peace in your life.  Jesus said that God will also prune you so that you will be even more productive than you already are. God will do that as you read His word and you become convicted about certain things. God’s word will prepare you for all kinds of situations and temptations.

In Closing:

I challenge you to pick a special time each day and begin reading God’s word. Do it with something else you like to do. I enjoy reading God’s word with a good cup of coffee in a quiet place in the morning, so that’s when I read. Also start writing your thought down; make a journal entry about what you read and how you can apply it. If you are like me I forget a lot of good thoughts I have after I read something good. Keeping a journal of these thoughts are a good way to help you remember them.

God’s word will change your life to the better, I promise! So read your Bible everyday!

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566