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
Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Back to Basics III
Bible Basics
Why Study the Bible
Because it is the Word of God!! Also**
1.It helps settle us Eph 4:14
2.It will help save us from false teaching 1 Tim. 4:13-16
3.It will help us reflect God in our lives 2 Tim. 2:12
4.It will help us equip ourselves for the life God has planned for us 2 Tim 3:13-17.
5.We will understand the history of Israel 1 Cor. 10:1-5
6.We will understand the restoration of Israel Ro. 11:25
7.We will understand spiritual gifts 1 Cor. 12;1
8.We will understand the return of Christ 1 Thes. 4:13-17
9.We will understand the destruction of the earth 2 Pet.3:1,10
Also
10.Know about salvation and the God who gives us salvation.
11.Guidelines for our daily Christian living.
**Adapted from (If you have not ever read anything by Willmington - you are missing out!!)
Willmington, Harold L. Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists. Tyndale House. 1987.
Why Study the Bible
Because it is the Word of God!! Also**
1.It helps settle us Eph 4:14
2.It will help save us from false teaching 1 Tim. 4:13-16
3.It will help us reflect God in our lives 2 Tim. 2:12
4.It will help us equip ourselves for the life God has planned for us 2 Tim 3:13-17.
5.We will understand the history of Israel 1 Cor. 10:1-5
6.We will understand the restoration of Israel Ro. 11:25
7.We will understand spiritual gifts 1 Cor. 12;1
8.We will understand the return of Christ 1 Thes. 4:13-17
9.We will understand the destruction of the earth 2 Pet.3:1,10
Also
10.Know about salvation and the God who gives us salvation.
11.Guidelines for our daily Christian living.
**Adapted from (If you have not ever read anything by Willmington - you are missing out!!)
Willmington, Harold L. Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists. Tyndale House. 1987.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Back to Basics II
Bible Study is a Do-It-Yourself Project
Do-it-yourself!
Yes, we get together for Bible Study, and for hearing messages from Scripture spoken to us by our leaders, but in many ways Bible Study is a Do-It-Yourself project. The average Christian spends an insignificant amount of time actually studying Scripture (in comparison to time spent watching TV, participating in sports events, etc…). I said in my last blog, most people who attend a Bible Study show up to listen, with very little in-depth study being done at home by themselves.
Bible study is just that – study, and is not for ‘sissies.’ Bible study is hard work and is a do-it-yourself activity!
Many will say that they are not smart enough to understand Scripture, but take no initiative to find out how to study Scripture. Those feeling are old holdovers taught to us centuries ago by Church Fathers – that only they were able to read and understand Scripture. You can do-it-yourself.
God has given us His Word to read. Men and women have died to protect the Word. God arranged for hand written scrolls to be found in the caves at Quamran in Israel so that we can know for sure that what we are reading is authentic. The invention of the printing press assures that believes can each have a copy. Yet most of us sitting in pews every week don’t consider studying the words of God important. When we do open the pages it is just casual reading – not study. Call it what it is for most of us “Bible Reading” not “Bible Study.”
At three different churches I have surveyed thirty senior adult women who have been ‘life-long’ Christians, and asked them to fill out a questionnaire that asks: how long have your been a Christian, do you consider yourselves ‘baby’ or ‘mature’ Christians, and, how many times have you read the entire Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. The results are disappointing; most are in their 60-70’s and have been Christians since childhood. The majority still consider themselves “babies” in the faith, and only one or two (of 30) answer that they have read the entire Bible. (My guess is that men will answer the same way.)
Another thing - Bible Study is not….
Bible Study is not reading your ‘daily devotional.’ Spending five minutes a day reading one verse, and then reading comments by someone else is not study. Reading devotionals is just reading what someone else thinks about one or two verses. These devotional studies are wonderful for encouragement and to elicit some introspection about the daily life of the reader, but it is not Bible Study.
I have several daily devotionals that I read: Upper Room, Daily Bread, Billy Graham and Joyce Meyer…but these are not Bible Studies! Read Scripture - do-it-yourself, don’t read someone else’s comments.
But honestly – why bother reading Scripture? Most Christians really don’t. I want to help women study the Scripture, and teach women that they can, and should, do-it-themselves.
My next few blogs will be about “why” study Scripture.
Do-it-yourself!
Yes, we get together for Bible Study, and for hearing messages from Scripture spoken to us by our leaders, but in many ways Bible Study is a Do-It-Yourself project. The average Christian spends an insignificant amount of time actually studying Scripture (in comparison to time spent watching TV, participating in sports events, etc…). I said in my last blog, most people who attend a Bible Study show up to listen, with very little in-depth study being done at home by themselves.
Bible study is just that – study, and is not for ‘sissies.’ Bible study is hard work and is a do-it-yourself activity!
Many will say that they are not smart enough to understand Scripture, but take no initiative to find out how to study Scripture. Those feeling are old holdovers taught to us centuries ago by Church Fathers – that only they were able to read and understand Scripture. You can do-it-yourself.
God has given us His Word to read. Men and women have died to protect the Word. God arranged for hand written scrolls to be found in the caves at Quamran in Israel so that we can know for sure that what we are reading is authentic. The invention of the printing press assures that believes can each have a copy. Yet most of us sitting in pews every week don’t consider studying the words of God important. When we do open the pages it is just casual reading – not study. Call it what it is for most of us “Bible Reading” not “Bible Study.”
At three different churches I have surveyed thirty senior adult women who have been ‘life-long’ Christians, and asked them to fill out a questionnaire that asks: how long have your been a Christian, do you consider yourselves ‘baby’ or ‘mature’ Christians, and, how many times have you read the entire Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. The results are disappointing; most are in their 60-70’s and have been Christians since childhood. The majority still consider themselves “babies” in the faith, and only one or two (of 30) answer that they have read the entire Bible. (My guess is that men will answer the same way.)
Another thing - Bible Study is not….
Bible Study is not reading your ‘daily devotional.’ Spending five minutes a day reading one verse, and then reading comments by someone else is not study. Reading devotionals is just reading what someone else thinks about one or two verses. These devotional studies are wonderful for encouragement and to elicit some introspection about the daily life of the reader, but it is not Bible Study.
I have several daily devotionals that I read: Upper Room, Daily Bread, Billy Graham and Joyce Meyer…but these are not Bible Studies! Read Scripture - do-it-yourself, don’t read someone else’s comments.
But honestly – why bother reading Scripture? Most Christians really don’t. I want to help women study the Scripture, and teach women that they can, and should, do-it-themselves.
My next few blogs will be about “why” study Scripture.
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