Scripture

Focus Statement

Reading and meditating on Scripture lay the foundation for Christian life.

Me

The Bible is called the LIVING BOOK for a reason...

Every time I read a passage it speaks to me differently than it has before...

And throughout my life the Word has grown to be living within me…

There are times when I have fallen away from reading the Bible.

The truth is, we all fall away from healthy practices...

And when my faith and spirit start to dry up, I know what I need to do…because of HOW ALIVE I feel when I am in tune with my heavenly Father.

One passage that has spoken differently to me at different times is Matthew 14:24-32.

Let me read that passage for you quickly:

Matthew 14:24-32 (NLT)

24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

When I was in 3rd grade, passages like this one empowered me.

They made me feel that I was NOT alone and that Jesus had my back…t

hat all things were possible through him…and that all I NEEDED TO DO was HAVE FAITH.

One time, when I was being bullied, I remembered this passage among others.

A group of kids were ganging up on me to beat me up…which was not an uncommon occurance...

And with ABSOLUTE FAITH in Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit...

I pointed at them and shouted, “In the name of JESUS CHRIST, leave me alone.”

Of course, the kids laughed at me…but as they did so, they walked backward away from me!

Yet, this year that verse has spoken to me in a different way…because I am in a different place.

This pandemic has been a REAL challenge…and I often feel I am out on the water...

I have long since taken the leap of faith into ordained ministry and…many years and trials have since come my way since I was a 3rd grader.

I have found myself beaten by a storm that seems to be all around me...

And as much as I am trying to stay on top of the water…I have sometimes felt like I am SINKING.

Yet, in those moments Jesus words have called out to me:

“You have so little faith! Why do you doubt me?”

Jesus, in this passage, is NOW reminding me that HE is in control…HE is the one who commands the storm…NOT ME.

I just need to have that SAME faith I did when I was a 3rd grader!

Things to Consider

We all have things in our lives that shift in meaning over time,

or things towards which our attitudes change (e.g., Did you like coffee when you were six? Do you like it now?)

Tastes, skills and relationships change and develop over time with experience and practice.

But we have to spend time with something on a consistent basis for its true potential to develop in our lives...

Our relationship with God needs time and attention through scripture,

just as our relationship with others needs time and attention through communication, care, etc.).

But how often do we REALLY pick up the Bible and read?

How often do we REALLY take the time to GET TO KNOW God?

What does Scripture say?

In Psalm 1:2 the Scripture says that the righteous “delight in the Law of the Lord”.

What do you think that means? What does it mean to DELIGHT in the LAW of the LORD?

We think of all the “thou shalt nots”, and associate the Law and the Scripture as a whole of a book of judgment…of condemnation...

A sort of instruction manual to avoid God’s punishment.

In fact, I have heard the Bible used as an acronym: B.I.B.L.E or Beginners Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

But Scripture’s purpose is not condemnation;

it is not simply a list of do’s and don’ts.

When we think of the Bible as only one thing (for example, do’s/don’ts),

we minimize its value for the whole of our lives.

Scripture is life-giving and life-sustaining.

It is not a quick-fix or fad diet;

studying scripture is a lifestyle change.

There is beauty and grace in the midst of it,

even when it’s really difficult.

In Verse 3 gives the image of trees planted by streams of water...

Saying that those who DELIGHT in Scripture are like trees planted along the river bank.

We can think of scripture as the stream and the soil that we plant ourselves by and in.

With time and consistency, scripture helps us to realign our lives, to be rooted and to grow.

Imagine a tree that was always being uprooted and moved from place to place

or that was only ever given small amounts of water.

It would never take root and it would never grow.

It would never “yield fruit” (of a faithful life, a strong relationship with God).

When we meditate on Scripture, we can learn to find our story within it.

All of our triumphs and screw-ups are in the Bible...

it is not just an ancient, irrelevant text.

Because God has chosen to be present to us through Scripture,

the discipline of reading, studying and meditating on scripture is a life-sustaining one.

What does this mean for YOU?

One of the things that may seem confusing to you is how to go about reading the Bible...

Do you just start from Genesis and read straight through to Revelation?

Do you just randomly open the Bible up and read?

There is no right way or wrong way to read the Bible, and the more you do it, the more you will establish your pattern.

A good way to start is to pick up a devotional.

Or download the YouVersion Bible app…or Biblegateway.com

Which has reading plans and devotions.

Let us pause to watch this video on one such meditative way to read Scripture:

[Show Video]

LECTIO DIVINA VIDEO: https://youtu.be/RZ_Vm-E31B0

You may find other ways that are more helpful for you.

Disciplines don’t always initially feel like they’re achieving that “wow” experience we’re hoping for.

Stick with it - it’s not about achieving “results” right away.

It’s about building and shaping a life through commitment.

As I said before, there is no one “right” way;

the important thing is to do it regularly and remain committed.

That said, reading and meditating on scripture,

just as with any spiritual discipline,

isn’t about feeling guilty when you don’t do it or don’t keep up with it right away!

There’s always a new day.

What does this mean for US?

What would it look like if we all engaged in this discipline together?

We have regular classes where we engage in Bible and Book studies...

That are of great value to those who take it.

What would it look like for you to join one of those classes.

Yet, i also believe that the church can do more to teach, promote and encourage personal Bible Study.

So stay tuned in the near future for such training to develop.

And other classes training folks how to LEAD Bible Studies.

Imagine what a whole forest of trees planted by the stream of Scripture would look like.

Christ is calling us to that very scene…it is within our grasp to make it a reality...

and I pray you will join me in rooting yourselves in Scripture. Amen? Amen!