Don't Miss Your Biggest Step in Spiritual Growth

Thte Bible is Powerful for Growth

There is nothing like reading the Bible.

I met with a couple of preachers today and we swapped stories of Bible reading "adventures" we have had. Most people would not consider Bible reading to be adventuresome but in a time when so many people have never read the Bible, we tend to overlook the power that is found there.

One of the men told of an elderly gentleman who did not like anyone talking to him about God or church. He was bitter and difficult to get along with. But the preacher asked if he would mind just reading a few passages. The gentleman said that he could not see well enough to read, so the preacher offered to read to him. The idea was that he would simply read without preaching or giving opinions about it. The man agreed. The preacher read to him 5-6 days a week for several weeks. They read through John together. Then they began to read Acts.

When Acts 2 was read the preacher asked, "What do you think of that chapter and all that went on there?" After a small discussion the elderly gentleman was baptized. All of this came not from a sermon or a series of lectures but from simply reading the Word of God.

I heard other stories with similar endings.

God said it, so it should not surprise us. "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).

It turns out that God knows something about human nature. And why shouldn't He? It seems that the way the Bible was written, the words used, the repetition, the illustrations, all of it works together as a powerful influence on a person.

I've seen this in my own life. The more I read and memorize the more I hunger for the Word. I've seen it in the lives of others as well.

We have an event once a month called "Biblepalooza" in which we get together with no other goal than to read the Bible. There are no opinions offered. There are no lectures or comments. The only things that come from our mouths is the chapter number we are reading and God's Word. We don't just read a few chapters and call it a day. We read for HOURS at a time.

Some people think we are crazy. Who reads the Bible for 7 hours straight? We do it regularly. And those who participate LOVE it. Those times together are sobering. The readings produce a reverence for God's Word and leaves us wanting more.

I want to encourage you to read the Bible. This is your biggest step in spiritual growth.

Don't just read a chapter or two. READ. Read as if life is found in those pages - because it is. Read long and read regularly. You will be glad you did.

7 Benefits of Memory Work

There are many benefits of regular memorization.

I want to encourage you to begin or renew a focus on memorization. It may be difficult for you to do. (It is difficult for me too.) Some people think it is impossible for them to do it. But most of us are wrong about that. We can do it. And there are good reasons to do it. Consider a few of these few good reasons.

1. It improves your overall mental ability. A sharp brain is one that is used. It is like a muscle, and the rule for muscles is “Use it or lose it.” Memorization will help you even in the latter years of life.
2. It gives you clarity. When you memorize passages you see them with much more clarity. You notice things in the verse you never saw before.
3. It gives you perspective. When you memorize passages from different contexts and places you begin to notice connections you missed previously. It could be that you notice certain words used in different ways. It might be a particular phrase you notice, or even the style of the writers that you notice. You will be amazed at the subtle yet powerfully moving associations you will make.
4. You will grow in your awe of God’s Word. You will see the complete masterfulness of the holy text. It will leave a lasting impression upon you and draw you closer to God as a result.
5. It “cleans your mind”. You will be putting purity into your mind. As a result you will flush out bad thoughts and ideas and find that you are thinking about spiritual things much more often as you repeat your memory work throughout the day.
6. You will find connections between the Word and the world around you. You will see the world more clearly from God’s perspective. Applications of the text will leap at you from different contexts of life. For example, you will be in a situation and a verse will  come to mind and you will notice that the Word of God has something to say about that situation.
7. You will be more prepared to answer questions from others. There is nothing wrong with telling people you do not know the answer to a question. We all do that from time to time because no one knows everything. But when you can not only have an answer but quote a verse to show that answer, you will certainly make a powerful impact on the one asking the question.

I hope these reasons convince you to start memory work! Even if you memorize one verse a week, you are better off if you do. For more tips and encouragement in memorization, visit our group on Facebook called “Bible Memorization”.

Do you have any tips and tricks for memory work? Can you think of other benefits of memory work? Let's discuss them below!

Bringing Life To The Living

Jesus came to a planet of living beings and brought life.

Since His coming, we have seen attacks against Christianity and the Bible. These will continue because people in darkness hate the light. But the light is life. Jesus shows us what life is about. He shows us how to live!

It should be obvious that the Bible does not reveal the complete knowledge of God within its pages. How could any book contain such knowledge? However, He has expressed to us what we need to know.

In 1 Corinthians 2:7-16, Paul wrote about the role of the Holy Spirit in giving us the Word of God. The Spirit revealed the wisdom of God that had previously been hidden. This was the plan of God for the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10:10.

The Bible reveals what was once hidden. God is able to communicate so that we can understand Him. With effort, we can understand the Bible. It was written for us to understand life and to access the promises and the power of God for our salvation.

Of course, there are misinterpretations and alleged contradictions, but these are unnecessary. Thorough learning and continued study can reveal truth. And as for contradictions, they have never been successfully proven. Since the words were first recorded people have attempted to set them aside by various means. There have been hundreds of accusations made against the Bible. All of them have been overturned by study and analysis of the Bible.

Second Timothy 3:16-17 teaches us that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God. The word "inspiration" literally means "God-breathed [out]". It is the expression of God Himself. Thus it is profitable for "doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness."

For us, the above means that the Bible is complete. Second Peter 1:3 tells us that we have been given "all things that pertain to life and godliness" through the knowledge Jesus has. This knowledge was passed to us through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles (1 Corinthians 2). We have no need to look anywhere else to find how to live a life pleasing to and blessed by God.

The Bible is the means to our salvation. Jude 3 teaches us the importance of the faith--that it is worth fighting for (figuratively). Paul wrote in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. So what the Bible provides is not just "good advice" to consider. It provides the very information we need to be saved from destruction and punishment from God. It tells us how to find the blessings of God's promises.

There is no replacement for the Bible. It is the expression of God. It is authoritative, complete, and unblemished.

With our noses in the book, our feet on the path, and our eyes watching carefully for dangers, we will be granted the promise of Jesus: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Jesus came to a planet of living people and brought life.

YOU Can Help Change Things!

How do we react when evil people do evil things? As I think about the killing spree in Aurora I can't help but wonder how people are reacting. Fear? Depression? Apathy?

No doubt some are using it to score political points. Some are trying to use it to preach against the evils of guns and/or gun control laws. Others seem to be ignoring it altogether. Facebook is full of calls for prayer, and also full of indications that life is continuing as it always has.

My concern is about the response. We cannot control what people do. As long as we are alive, we always control how we respond. So how should a Christian respond? Assuming you do not know the individual who went on the rampage, I want to offer some thoughts about processing this tragedy. There are some certainties in this terrible situation--things that we can KNOW that we would do well to remember.

Evil Exists Through Freedom of Choice

Bad people are going to do bad things. That does not excuse anyone, but it is a reminder that  sometimes people make very bad decisions. There is no point in blaming anyone but the man who pulled the trigger so many times. It's neither Romney's nor Obama's fault. It's not the economy, video games, nor failed gun control laws. It is certainly not God's fault, but there is little doubt but that He will be blamed.

Through His eternal wisdom, God blessed us with the freedom to make decisions.  In matters of choice, God cannot be blamed for the poor choices humans make. But Satan is the master manipulator. He will convince people they have no choice but sin, just like he convinced the shooter. Therefore, with freedom comes the opportunity for evil. Evil always involves a decision.


That's not to say I am against freedom. To be free to choose is a great privilege! For evil to exist there must be decisions, but the same is true for goodness to exist. Goodness is a choice.

This is a Spiritual Discussion

The reason we do good or evil has everything to do with what we believe. Our beliefs determine our actions. It will always be this way.

Some will undoubtedly suggest that accidents happen, and I would not disagree with that. But (generally speaking) good and evil do not come by accident. That is why what happened in Aurora, Colorado should be discussed at a spiritual level.

We will probably never know all the reasons for a massacre like that. Evil people cannot always be understood. Those who do such terrible things likely do not have a firm enough grasp on reality to adequately describe anything relating to their real motives. Motives are tricky things. Often we are fooled by them. We look at ourselves and think our actions are based on the purest of motives when later we discover that we were not as pure as we thought. A person who can pull the trigger on hundreds of people for no apparent reason other than thinking he was playing out some role in his mind likely will never be able to grasp his true motivations. But outside his own personal growth and development, his motives are irrelevant.

What is important to discuss, however, is the power of ideas and beliefs. They determine everything about us and determine our future.

What things should we believe? Where do our ideas originate? Is there a standard for thought so that we can ensure the greatest chance of preventing such terrible deeds in the future?

The Bible, properly understood and applied, is able to give us a wonderful foundation for life. Its words form the foundation of all that is good in the world. Its teachings will give people a tremendous amount of good ideas to draw from. That tormented soul who mercilessly killed all those people got his ideas about reality from some place, but not from a proper understanding of the Bible. 

It's time we started opening up that Good Book, reading, and understanding it. If we want to help prevent such terrible things in the future, we must call on people to properly understand and apply the Scriptures. In spite of the liberal and atheistic attacks against the Bible, it is the best thing for our country and our world! The more society conforms to the teachings of Jesus and His apostles, the more society's members will shun terrible choices.

Let the people push for change, but let that change be to allow the Bible back into the mainstream. Let us rise and teach others the Bible, one person at a time, until all have heard. Many will believe, but we've got to tell them what it says! God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Let's not keep it a secret any longer! 

This is how to change things: Change the way the people think. Change the way they think by introducing new ideas into their minds. Those ideas must be God's if we have any hope for improving anything in this world. The world around us is full of ignorance. Everyone owns a Bible. Very few read it. We will have to get out there and read it to them!

What are some ways YOU can teach people about the Bible who do not know much about it?