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Spiritual Disciplines: Bible Study & Meditation
Many Christians have superficial relationships with God and scripture, leading to spiritual stagnation. The document outlines the importance of spiritual disciplines, categorizing them into disciplines of abstinence and activity, and provides practical suggestions for incorporating Bible study, meditation, and prayer into daily life. It emphasizes that true training for godliness involves arranging one's life around these practices to foster deeper connections with faith.
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Spiritual Disciplines: Bible Study & Meditation
- 2. Too many Christiansmaintain only superficial relationships with God, Scripture, and each other.
- 3. This leads tofrustration at best; apostasy at worst.Two categories of spiritual disciplines:
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- 5. Disciplines of ActivityDisciplinesof Abstinence:
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- 8. Chastity (1 Cor.7:5)
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- 14. Service“Discipline without directionis drudgery.”Donald S. WhitneySpiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, p. 15
- 15. The goal ofspiritual disciplines is to be a “disciplined” person; that is, a “disciple.”
- 16. Put other ways:Romans8:29 – conformed
- 17. Galatians 4:19 –Christ formed
- 18. Hebrews 12:14 –holiness
- 19. 1 Peter 1:15-16– be holy
- 20. 2 Corinthians 7:1– holiness So how do we get there?“…exercise yourself rather to godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things…”1 Timothy 4:7-8
- 21. Remember: There isa difference between “trying” and “training.”To train, “You must arrange your life around certain practices that will enable you to do what you cannot do now by willpower alone.”John Ortberg
- 22. This class willexplore some of the spiritual disciplines and offer practical “how to” suggestions for incorporating them into your own life.
- 23. BIBLE STUDY2009 BarnaGroup study:12% of Americans would like to increase their Bible knowledge
- 24. 1% would liketo increase their Bible reading BIBLE STUDYStages of Bible study: HearingLuke 11:28
- 25. Romans 10:17BIBLE STUDYStagesof Bible study: Reading2008 Pew Research study:35% of American adults read Scripture weekly
- 26. 45% seldom ornever read itBIBLE STUDYStages of Bible study: Reading“Have you not read...?” (Matt. 19:4; 22:31)
- 27. Rev. 1:3; 1Tim. 4:13BIBLE STUDYStages of Bible study: ReadingSuggestions:
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- 30. Take notesBIBLE STUDYStagesof Bible study: StudyingEzra 7:10; Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 4:13
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- 32. Utilize Bible studybooks
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- 35. Gospel AdvocateBIBLE STUDYStagesof Bible study: StudyingSecure standard resources:CONCORDANCE
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- 45. BIBLE STUDYStages ofBible study: StudyingRemember how serious it is.
- 46. Remember that theBible was meant to be understood.
- 47. Remember that theBible is intended to affect your conduct.BIBLE STUDYStages of Bible study: StudyingDistinguish between the different types of literature in the Bible.
- 48. Respect the immediateand remote context.
- 49. Remember “the sum”of God’s word is truth (Psa. 119:160).BIBLE STUDYStages of Bible study: StudyingMake time for study.
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- 51. Sit at atable/desk with Bible, note-taking material, and resources.BIBLE STUDYStages of Bible study: StudyingRead a verse, sentence, or paragraph.
- 52. Ask relevant questions:who is speaking? To whom? What is being spoken about? Key words?BIBLE STUDYStages of Bible study: StudyingAre there other verses that might help?
- 53. Write down initialinsights: lessons, things not understood, etc.BIBLE STUDYStages of Bible study: StudyingPut the passage into your own words.
- 54. Look for applicationareas:
- 55. A sin toconfess?
- 56. A promise toclaim?
- 57. An attitude tochange?BIBLE STUDYStages of Bible study: StudyingLook for application areas:
- 58. A command toobey?
- 59. An example tofollow?
- 60. Praise to begiven?
- 61. Evil to avoid?BIBLESTUDYStages of Bible study: StudyingLook for application areas:
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- 63. Blessing for whichto be grateful?
- 64. Pray the text.BIBLESTUDYApplication: Psalm 1Kind of Literature: Poetry
- 65. Who is speaking?Unknown
- 66. Who is addressed?Jews under OT
- 67. What is thesubject?
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- 69. Characteristics of ungodly(4-5)BIBLE STUDYApplication: Psalm 1What does writer say about topic?
- 70. Blessed man doesn’tlive like the ungodly.
- 71. Blessed man enjoysword of God & thinks about it often.
- 72. Blessed man willreap benefits.BIBLE STUDYApplication: Psalm 1Ungodly are not like the blessed.
- 73. Ungodly will beseparated from the blessed.BIBLE STUDYApplication: Psalm 1Key words: blessed, scornful, meditates, chaff
- 74. Lessons that cometo mind:
- 75. God wants meto be happy.
- 76. God has toldme how to be happy.BIBLE STUDYApplication: Psalm 1There are things I should avoid.
- 77. I should developa love for the word of God.
- 78. I should spendtime each day studying & meditating on God and His word.BIBLE STUDYApplication: Psalm 1There are great benefits to living a godly life: spiritual health, bearing fruit, endurance.BIBLE STUDYApplication: Psalm 1Knowing what will happen to the ungodly, I don’t want to be among their number.
- 79. If I’m arighteous person, I can know that God knows me.MEDITATIONDefinition: “Deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer.”Donald S. Whitney
- 80. MEDITATIONPsalm 1:2 –on the law of GodPsalm 119:15 – on God’s preceptsPsalm 119:148 – on God’s promisesPsalm 143:5 – on God’s worksPsalm 145:5 – on God’s majestyPhilippians 4:8 – on true, noble…
- 81. MEDITATIONBlessings of Meditation:Success(Joshua 1:8)
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