Four Powerful Tools: Study

Four Powerful Tools  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Richard Foster’s book “Celebration of Discipline” outlines a number of disciplines (practices) for the Christian. This series will use Foster’s outline of the four internal disciplines to give believers the tools they need to grow in their journey with Christ.

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Introduction

Richard Foster’s book “Celebration of Discipline” has been a “must read” for me
Covers disciplines that propel the Christian forward
4 internal disciplines are going to serve as an outline for the next four weeks
If practiced, they will transform your life

Study

reading & studying are not the same
anyone can read a book on quantum physics, but comprehending and applying what the book says requires more than mere reading
Is there Scriptural basis for studying?
Deuteronomy 11:18–23 ESV
“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. For if you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do, loving the Lord your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you.
Joshua 1:8 ESV
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 119:11 ESV
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Proverbs 3:1–2 ESV
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
John 5:39 ESV
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
John 8:31–32 ESV
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Acts 17:11 ESV
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Romans 15:4 ESV
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
2 Timothy 2:15 ESV
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Revelation 1:3 ESV
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Four aspects of study:

Repetition

repeated exposure
just to learn a new word it takes anywhere from 6-20 exposures
Deuteronomy 6:6–9 ESV
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Concentration

focus, intensity, intentionality
Acts 17:10–12 ESV
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

Comprehension

the “aha” of deep understanding
Acts 8:26-40, an Ethiopian eunuch was reading from Isaiah aloud when Philip heard him. Philip came alongside, explained the meaning, and the eunuch became a believer and was baptized

Reflection

consideration of the study’s significance
James 1:22–25 ESV
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Conclusion

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