Growth Through Study

Opening Story

When I first got married, my husband couldn’t cook at all. I was lucky if he cooked a frozen pizza without losing track of time and burning it. I however had learned from my grandmother as a kid. Fast forward 13 years and he’s now a professional ACF Certified Chef and I rarely have too cook. This was quite the transformation. You see, when we were first married, we were (like most) quite poor. We didn’t have dates and we never went out to eat. But we spent time together cooking. We have frequently hosted and housed individuals, groups of friends, and missionaries - sometimes for days and up to years. This means lots of cooking. At one point, we regularly had 8 to 15 college kids staying every other weekend with us. Jarrod and I were looking for easier ways to cook so first we got him a smoker… well that was the beginning… I had lost him to the world of man grunts, meat, and fire. After he’d experimented and been successful with the smoker, he needed a new tool - a Blackstone. So we made that investment. We were, afterall, feeding armies on the regular. Through this process, Jarrod discovered that he loved cooking and truly had a knack for flavor combinations. He spent countless hours pouring over recipes, watching youtube videos and experimenting with food. Eventually, he decided that it was time to return to school and he has spent the last two years being taught an even deeper understanding of his craft.

My name is Nicci Elliott and the title of this talk is Growth through Study.

Study is the application of the mind with the goal of acquiring knowledge. In this application, it’s particularly regarding the Scriptures. Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction.”

Frequently when you mention study, even amongst Christians, you’re met with “deer in the headlights” or “UGH” But just like Jarrod realized he loved to cook and WANTED to learn all he could about it, we likewise should DESIRE to learn all we can about God. Study draws us closer to him. It’s purpose is far more than gathring or memorizing information. The purpose is to TRANSFORM us in God’s image.

Many Christians are impeded in their walk by simple ignorance of Truth. Not knowing the truth of who God is causes us to not be able to respond to questions, and even unintentionally sin in our daily life.

Last night through life of Piety, we learned that we are to give our HEARTS to god. today we are learning that we need to give our MINDS to God. In a future talk, we’ll learn how to vive our HANDS AND FEET.

STOOL - 2ND LEG

Study is a constant part of our life: Examples

drive

new job

wife

mother

we seek to know and understand those around us and the things that need done so we can accomplish what needs done successfully

TIME - PRIORITY

How much time do we spend giving ourselves to things that do not build and grow us? Tv/Phone

Study is a spiritual Discipline (Richard Foster’s Celebrations of Discipline)

1 Peter 1:10–12“Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.”

Christian study involves two parts

INFORMED

TRANSFORMED

Fields of Study

The Good news - KNOW THE GOSPEL. (start there - particularly John)

Scripture - This should be your primary source. Everything else you study should be set against it.

Yourself

Others

Spiritual Classics - (Long tested resources, study lives and wisdoms Pilgrims Progress, Chronicles of Narnia, CS Lewis

Church History - 2000 years of charismatic christianity, Books about past moves of God, revivals, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, george whitfield, amy semple mcphearson, maria woodworth etter,

World - current events - important to understand what’s going on so we can pray and respond. God calls us to ministry in the midst of it.

EXCUSES FOR NOT STUDYING

I just don’t have time

I don’t know what to study

I don’t like to read

I don’t understnad the Bible (JOIN THE CLUB - WE ALL START THERE)

Theology confuses me… simply study of God

DEVELOP PERSONAL STUDY STYLE

make it a priority

carve out time

find the right place

choose a balanced diet

keep a journal

find a way to share

PERSONAL PREFERENCES - HOW DO I STUDY

BOOK TABLE!!!

Conclusion

- cannot stop growing. opposit of growth is death and decay

grown in maturity on the regular

all life brings change but as life changes and challenges arise, God’s word has the answer.

BE INTENTIONAL.

Psalm 111:2 “The Lord’s works are great, studied by all who delight in them.”