Bible Enjoyed
Seminar outline from Formation Trainees Conference Sept 2009
Introduction
A seminar for stirring up appetite, not for more technical study aids
Key questions:
What is the Bible? God’s very word written down, his voice being heard
Why are we reading it? Discovering treasure and wonder for amazement. The goal is the glory of God, when hearts are set on fire for him and his truth, as we are made wise to salvation; discerning and spiritually clean and sharpened; Ps 119 references and others
What leads to us enjoying it? Worshipping over the Bible, reading it with an eye to adoration
Exercise: what kills enjoyment of the Bible? What stops it coming to us fresh and wonderful?
Possible feedback: Don’t understand; don’t know the plot; feels distant; made to feel complicated and unapproachable; read it for the wrong reason; lack of conviction about what the Bible is leading to giving up too easily; don’t like what it says
Teaching:
What is the Word and what does the Word do: reveals God, produces faith, given and empowered by the Holy Spirit, brings gospel transformation Romans 10:17; 2 Cor 3:17f, love abounding in knowledge and depth of insight
Exploding 2 myths
- Bible reading is for transformation and discipleship, not for education
- Applying it and living it – not just knowing it - is the whole aim of reading the Bible
Group Reflection:
How to avoid the trap of it staying closed and daily enjoy it
how to worship over the Bible
how to exult when the thing I am reading is difficult or incomprehensible
how to pray over the Bible
exposing our hearts to God and exulting in God – exposing and exulting are two key themes for approaching the Bible correctly
Lies that want to prevent you from enjoying God in the word
Don’t take time because:
- You don’t see God there
- Reluctance to read isn’t my fault, it isn’t sin
- It isn’t worth it, it doesn’t deliver: faith comes from hearing; the Holy spirit is given by believing what you heard; we are born again by the living and abiding word
- Truth doesn’t set free
- Truth doesn’t bring hope
- Worldly joy is superior to joy in God
- God doesn’t answer prayer. God answers prayer for those in whom the word dwells (John 15:7)
- It doesn’t give wisdom (In Christ are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, therefore let the word of Christ dwell in you richly)
Why are those lies there? Lies come from the devil, the father of lies, who wants to tell you things that sound more attractive, to take you away from the Word which is the source of life and joy to you. If he can persuade you that it si just a bit too difficult, just a bit too time consuming, just of not quite immediate enough benefit to keep at it, then he has made a bridge head into your life for all the rest of his lies to stream ashore into your life. Therefore we won’t have joy in God and we won’t be enjoying victory over sin
Key questions to ask the Bible:
1. What did this passage say to it's original hearers?
2. What did this passage mean to its original hearers?
3. What was this passage written in order to achieve?
4. How does this part of God's word intend to draw forth faith from my heart?
5. Am I going to pursue God for himself, and be yet keener to get into God's purposes for the world as a result of my reading? Why or why not?
6. Am I casting myself on him as my all-sufficient Lord and King as a result of my reading? Have I only read it, or asked God to make my heart happy in him as a result of my reading? What good songs could I sing to him and about him that are raised by this reading?
7. Am I doing or enjoying the goal that the passage was written to achieve (3. above)? If not, why not?
Exercise: take Romans 5:1-11 Do questions 3-7 above
Conclusion:
how does exposing and exulting, establishing right expectations of why we are doing it, praying over the Bible, asking God to draw forth faith in our hearts, lead to Bible enjoyment and stop the killing of Bible enjoyment?