Read the Bible for Life by George Guthrie - Chapter 13 - Cameron Jungels 4-21-2013

Read the Bible for Life by George Guthrie (Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sun PM/April 21, 2013)

“Reading the Bible for Personal Devotion” Chapter 13

1 Peter 2:2

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Opening Thoughts

Ø Biblical illiteracy hurts our personal devotional life.

Ø Our personal walk with the Lord and our times of prayer will be greatly enhanced by being saturated with God’s Word.

Key Question:

Why is it so hard to maintain a consistent devotional life of Bible reading and prayer?

Delighting in God’s Word

o Problem: merely reading to accomplish a task.

o Solution: meditating on Scripture.

Ø How to Meditate on Scripture

o Mediate=thinking deeply about the meaning and application of Scripture.

o Meditation is not merely a suggestion, but lifted up in the Bible as the normal part of a believer’s devotional life.

Psalm 77:12

I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.

Psalm 119:15

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

Ø How to Meditate on Scripture

o Slow down and linger over the meaning of passages, verses, phrases, and words.

o Probe the passage by asking key questions: what, who, where, when, how, and why?

Ø What if you are too busy?

o Don’t skip meditation.

o Read shorter passages.

o Select key verses or passages.

o Schedule “slow down” times.

o Use creative times.

o Remember: It’s not a to-do-list task.

Ø Balancing Meditation and “Big Picture” Bible Reading

o Both “cover much ground” reading and “slow down” meditation are important.

o Have a plan to read through the Bible.

o Use a plan that includes variety.

Integrating Mediation and Prayer

• Thoughtful biblical meditation leads to fuller and more enjoyable prayer life.
• Pray through passages of Scripture (eyes open).

From Drudgery to Delight

o Pray through a passage of Scripture with yourself and others in mind.

o Psalms are a good place to start (also NT letters).

Ø Bible-saturated Prayer

o Brings variety to stale, repetitive prayers.

o Awakens imagination.

o Provides new themes and vocabulary for prayer.

o Anchors our prayers to biblical truth.

o Brings our prayers in line with God’s will.

o Reminds us of relationship with God: God speaks to us through his Word; we speak to God through prayer.

Bible

Prayer

Closing Thoughts

Ø Consistent Bible reading, meditation, and prayer is doable.

Ø It is also enjoyable, when we view it as part of a relationship with God who is our true source of joy.

Psalm 119:16

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.