5 Ways to Consume the Bible(the Word of God)!
The Bible is how I hear from God. Its called the Word of God because it is how God speaks. Its not like other books. Its like sitting at the feet of my wise old uncle or my kind grand father. I hear action stories, poetry, personal advice, legal advice, and predictions about the future. God can use any part of the Bible to speak directly to my problems. Have you seen where the Bible is referred to as food? Job said he treasured the Word of God more that his daily bread. Jeremiah said that he found God's words and ate them. Jesus said that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of God's mouth. I like to think of the Bible as nourishment for my soul. I need to consume the Bible if I am going to grow as a disciple of Christ. I have found several methods for consuming the Bible. I use The Navigators Word Hand illustration to help me organize these methods. I have made a couple of variations. I can consume the Bible by hearing it. In a church service or a Sunday school class. Or I can listen to a Christian station on the radio while I am driving to work. Sometimes I catch a preacher on t.v. while flipping channels. I might stop and listen to some Biblical truth. Hearing is probably the most popular and most familiar method of Biblical intake for most people. Its also the least effective. Hearing is like water skiing. Its a lot of fun, but I don't go very deep.
Practical discipleship tips for hearing the Word of God
The second method I use is reading. I read the Bible like any other book, but I am expecting to hear the voice of God. Reading gives me a broad perspective on the thoughts of God. I can read a lot of God's thoughts in a short period of time. When I get stuck, God can get me out of it while I am reading. Sometimes God shows me things in my life I didn't even know were there. If hearing is like water skiing, then reading is like snorkeling. I go a little deeper and see whats under the surface.
Practical discipleship tips for reading the Word of God
The third method I use is Bible study. Bible study is examining the Bible for myself. Reading a popular Christian book and discussing it, is not Bible study. Reading a book about the Bible and discussing it, is not Bible study. Listening to a teacher lecture, is not Bible study. Bible study is me doing some original and personal investigation into what the Bible says. It is more than reading. It requires some time figuring out what the Bible says. It requires some time figuring out what the Bible means. Hearing is water skiing, reading is snorkeling, and study is like scuba diving. I go much deeper and I look at things more closely. I just can't cover as much territory. Practical discipleship tips for studying the Word of God
The fourth method is memorizing. Memorization means an exact word-for-word recall of a Bible passage. Memorized passages are available for the Holy Spirit to use in my life. Day or night. They are also available for me to use when helping other people. Scripture memory has been the single most important spiritual resource for fulfillment in my life for the last 30 years. Without scripture memory I would not be who I am today. I doubt I would be walking with God, let alone trying to help others. The verses I have memorized are the foundation for the Bible studies I create, the workshops I deliver, and the messages I give. They provide direction for the men and women I mentor. If I had to pick only one method of consuming the Bible, it would be scripture memory. Fortunately, I don't have to make that choice.
Practical discipleship tips for memorizing the Word of God
The fifth method is meditation. Meditation is on the thumb because it works with each of the other four methods. If I use my thumb with any other finger, I can hold something. If I use my thumb with all of the other fingers, I can get a good grip on something. If I use the four methods with meditation, I can get a good grip on the Bible. Meditation is hard for me. It requires concentration. I can only concentrate so long. I once heard meditation referred to as “chewing the cud.” It is like a cow that grazes on as much grass as they can during the cool hours of the morning and evening. Then during the heat of the day, they lay in the shade and “chew their cud.” The cud is undigested grass that has been regurgitated and is being chewed again. Meditation is regurgitating the Word of God that I have heard, read, studied or memorized and think about what it means for my life. Practical discipleship tips for meditating on the Word of God
The power of the Bible comes from when I apply it to my life. John 14:21 says that “whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” When I apply what I learn from God, I am obeying. When I am obeying, I am loving God. And who doesn't want to show God love?
Practical discipleship tips for applying the Word of God
Posted: May 30, 2008
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