Monday, September 29, 2008
Trip to Israel
If you would like to see a blog about my 2008 trip to Israel - see www.biblestudywomen.blogspot.com.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Is There a Spiritual Gift of Bible Study? - II
Let me add a parenthesis here. Some of you might be saying….”it is the teachers fault.” Believe me, I have thought this and blamed myself also. But deep in my heart I know that this is not true. I say, without pride or self-centeredness that I am a great teacher. I literally spend hour after hour preparing for a simple class. I present information, in not only a clear and concise manner, but in an interesting and often entertaining way.
Comment number one: I believe these women who do not read and study Scripture are all born again believers. I believe this with a my heart.
Comment number two: I believe there probably is a spiritual gift of Bible Study. I have it while others do not.
I do not have the gift of hospitality or decorating. I do not have the gift of music, nor of organization. I do not have the gift of mercy (just ask anyone who knows me very well.)
I do have the gift of teaching and, even if I could not teach I would be in the Word of God on a consistent basis. I believe that I have the spiritual gift of Bible Study.
Now for all those who do not have the spiritual gift of Bible Study – as with all gifts, just because we do not have the gift does not mean we cannot/should not operate our lives without that gift. Just because I do not have the gift of hospitality does not mean that I cannot open my home and be hospitable. Just because I do not have the gift of music does not mean that I do not worship God with music. Just because I do not have the gift of mercy does not mean that I do not visit the shut-ins.
Now the reverse is true. Can we get into trouble with our gifts? Can we use our gifts in such a way that does not give glory to God or edify the church? Absolutely. Someone with the gift of mercy or hospitality can become a doormat or be taken advantage of in such a way that would not glorify God. Someone with the gift of music could focus on all things musical and not get involved in any other activities of the church that would glorify God.
And I have to be careful. Just because I have the gift of Bible Study does not mean that I should be judgmental of those who do not have the gift. As Paul said, “desire all the gifts, but above all desire the gift of love” (a paraphrase.) Scripture indicates that all the gifts are good, and that we should desire the gifts. I should desire to me more merciful, more hospitable, more musical, and those who do not have the spiritual gift of Bible Study should desire that in their life.
So I believe that my pastor was probably right when he said there are more spiritual gifts than are listed in Scripture. I believe I have the spiritual gift of Bible Study.
I would love to know what you think – contact me at jpsant@netzero.net
Comment number one: I believe these women who do not read and study Scripture are all born again believers. I believe this with a my heart.
Comment number two: I believe there probably is a spiritual gift of Bible Study. I have it while others do not.
I do not have the gift of hospitality or decorating. I do not have the gift of music, nor of organization. I do not have the gift of mercy (just ask anyone who knows me very well.)
I do have the gift of teaching and, even if I could not teach I would be in the Word of God on a consistent basis. I believe that I have the spiritual gift of Bible Study.
Now for all those who do not have the spiritual gift of Bible Study – as with all gifts, just because we do not have the gift does not mean we cannot/should not operate our lives without that gift. Just because I do not have the gift of hospitality does not mean that I cannot open my home and be hospitable. Just because I do not have the gift of music does not mean that I do not worship God with music. Just because I do not have the gift of mercy does not mean that I do not visit the shut-ins.
Now the reverse is true. Can we get into trouble with our gifts? Can we use our gifts in such a way that does not give glory to God or edify the church? Absolutely. Someone with the gift of mercy or hospitality can become a doormat or be taken advantage of in such a way that would not glorify God. Someone with the gift of music could focus on all things musical and not get involved in any other activities of the church that would glorify God.
And I have to be careful. Just because I have the gift of Bible Study does not mean that I should be judgmental of those who do not have the gift. As Paul said, “desire all the gifts, but above all desire the gift of love” (a paraphrase.) Scripture indicates that all the gifts are good, and that we should desire the gifts. I should desire to me more merciful, more hospitable, more musical, and those who do not have the spiritual gift of Bible Study should desire that in their life.
So I believe that my pastor was probably right when he said there are more spiritual gifts than are listed in Scripture. I believe I have the spiritual gift of Bible Study.
I would love to know what you think – contact me at jpsant@netzero.net
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Is There the Spiritual Gift of "Bible Study?" I
Several weeks ago I had a conversation with a pastor about the topic of spiritual gifts. He made a comment that did not come to my mind again until just recently. The pastor said, “I believe that there must be spiritual gifts that God gives us as believers, to continue His plan and program here on earth, that are not listed in Scripture.”
I thought about that comment this week as I examined my own life. I have been a Christian for 20 years. I was 42 years old when I was born again. My life changed immediately. God gave me the gift of teaching. Within a month of my conversion I was leading a ladies Bible Study, not because I wanted to lead, but I needed to be in a group study, and no one else would lead it. I have lead a Bible Study almost continually for the last 20 years (believe me, my knowledge and technique have greatly improved since that day in 1987.)
I know that God has given me the gift of teaching. It is supernatural – I love the research, the reading, the studying, but most of all I love leading women into the pages of Scripture. And, most supernaturally of all – I am good at it!
Upon self examination I also have come to the conclusion that there probably are spiritual gifts that we do not recognize as such. I believe that one of the gifts is the desire to be in God’s Word. The “gift” of Bible Study.
All gifts are to edify the church and to bring glory to God. For the person who loves to study the Bible (maybe not teach or preach the Bible) the study of Scripture does glorify God and build up the church.
Why would I say that Bible Study is a “spiritual gift?” A spiritual gift is a supernatural, special action, a special lifestyle – not all Christians have it. I believe that there must be a spiritual gift of “Bible Study.”
If we are Christians, love God, serve God, and are obedient, why is it that so many Christians are not in the Word of God on a regular basis? I say this not to be critical – on the contrary, I say this to explain why so many Christians do not study the Word.
I am no spiritual giant. I am just a woman who loves the Lord and loves to be in the study of the Word. Paul even said, he could not help but preach the word. I cannot help but be in the Word. It is a supernatural need. There must be a spiritual gift of “Bible Study.”
My days of criticizing women who do not study Scripture are over. I have come to this decision after years of being not only disappointed, but so very surprised, when it is brought to my attention that women have no interest in the Word of God. What do I base this on?
Over the 20 years that I have been a Christian I have been a member of seven churches, eleven pastors, and have taught numerous Bible Studies, and Sunday School classes. In those 20 years I have only found two “pockets” of women who have loved to study Scripture – women who were willing, and looked forward to, opening up the Bible during the week to seek out answers, and then to come back into the group and discussed what they had found. What a joy these ladies have brought into my life.
I have always had women who come to my Bible Study and Sunday School classes, but more often than not, they want to just show up and listen, not to go home and study for themselves.
My dear sweet ladies at Chilhoweehills Baptist Church in Knoxville TN, and the dear sweet ladies at Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon CA are the two groups that gave me encouragement when I was discouraged by the level of commitment among women when it came to Bible Study. I believe that God blessed me during these two points in my life with women who also had the “spiritual gift of Bible Study.”
Thank You God for giving me these ladies as an encouragement.
(Coming next – Part II Spiritual Gift of Bible Study)
I thought about that comment this week as I examined my own life. I have been a Christian for 20 years. I was 42 years old when I was born again. My life changed immediately. God gave me the gift of teaching. Within a month of my conversion I was leading a ladies Bible Study, not because I wanted to lead, but I needed to be in a group study, and no one else would lead it. I have lead a Bible Study almost continually for the last 20 years (believe me, my knowledge and technique have greatly improved since that day in 1987.)
I know that God has given me the gift of teaching. It is supernatural – I love the research, the reading, the studying, but most of all I love leading women into the pages of Scripture. And, most supernaturally of all – I am good at it!
Upon self examination I also have come to the conclusion that there probably are spiritual gifts that we do not recognize as such. I believe that one of the gifts is the desire to be in God’s Word. The “gift” of Bible Study.
All gifts are to edify the church and to bring glory to God. For the person who loves to study the Bible (maybe not teach or preach the Bible) the study of Scripture does glorify God and build up the church.
Why would I say that Bible Study is a “spiritual gift?” A spiritual gift is a supernatural, special action, a special lifestyle – not all Christians have it. I believe that there must be a spiritual gift of “Bible Study.”
If we are Christians, love God, serve God, and are obedient, why is it that so many Christians are not in the Word of God on a regular basis? I say this not to be critical – on the contrary, I say this to explain why so many Christians do not study the Word.
I am no spiritual giant. I am just a woman who loves the Lord and loves to be in the study of the Word. Paul even said, he could not help but preach the word. I cannot help but be in the Word. It is a supernatural need. There must be a spiritual gift of “Bible Study.”
My days of criticizing women who do not study Scripture are over. I have come to this decision after years of being not only disappointed, but so very surprised, when it is brought to my attention that women have no interest in the Word of God. What do I base this on?
Over the 20 years that I have been a Christian I have been a member of seven churches, eleven pastors, and have taught numerous Bible Studies, and Sunday School classes. In those 20 years I have only found two “pockets” of women who have loved to study Scripture – women who were willing, and looked forward to, opening up the Bible during the week to seek out answers, and then to come back into the group and discussed what they had found. What a joy these ladies have brought into my life.
I have always had women who come to my Bible Study and Sunday School classes, but more often than not, they want to just show up and listen, not to go home and study for themselves.
My dear sweet ladies at Chilhoweehills Baptist Church in Knoxville TN, and the dear sweet ladies at Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon CA are the two groups that gave me encouragement when I was discouraged by the level of commitment among women when it came to Bible Study. I believe that God blessed me during these two points in my life with women who also had the “spiritual gift of Bible Study.”
Thank You God for giving me these ladies as an encouragement.
(Coming next – Part II Spiritual Gift of Bible Study)
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