IMPROVING MY BIBLE IQ (part 2)

The following are some suggested steps anyone can follow to improve their Bible IQ.  In a previous post (Improving My Bible IQ part 1) I explained how important Bible study is to developing a more intimate understanding of God.

Step 1 - Decide to study the Bible. 
The first step in every action is a decision to act.  In other words, Bible study doesn’t just happen by accident, it is intentional! 

Impress these words of Mine on your hearts and souls, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads. Deuteronomy 11:18 (HCSB)

Step 2 -  Deal with attitudes that might interfere with learning.
Jesus told a parable about a sower, the seed, and four types of soil (Luke chapter 8).  In that story the soils represent four different attitudes we can have toward God’s Word (the seed).  Attitude is a never-ending struggle.  I must confess there are days when I begin my study with the thought “let me get this done so I can move on.”  Every day I have to deal with all kinds of negative attitudes before my mind and heart is ready to read the Bible.  The key to winning this battle is prayer. 

Step 3 - Join a small group Bible study.
I cannot say enough about the importance of small group Bible study (aka Sunday School) to a believer. Here are just a few of the MANY REASONS why small group Bible study is so important. Jesus taught in small groups as did many of the apostles.  There is a reason for this, small groups (groups of twelve or less) have a level of intimacy.  Also within a small group there is shared interest and mutual support.  Finally, small group studies have a learning dynamic not available in learning groups of thirty or more. There is a large amount of literature on this topic, email me for a list of recommended texts. 

When He was alone with the Twelve, those who were around Him asked Him about the parables. Mark 4:10 (HCSB)

Step 4 - Take sermon notes.
Taking sermon notes produces positive results.  Many churches today provide an outline or a “fill in the blank” guide.  These are good places to start.  But, even if the pastor provides a “hand out” I recommend taking one’s own notes.  This allows space for the listener to write thoughts and questions that popup during the course of the sermon.  It also requires a higher level of attentiveness resulting in a greater retention.  With the invention of Ipad, Kendel, and other “tablets,” it is very easy to keep notes and organize them for future review. 

As a matter of fact, I still have on my book shelf the notebooks containing every sermon I ever heard between 1995 and 2002 (in 2002 I began keeping electronic copies). I have referred back to some of those sermons from time to time and received a blessing from those notes.  Every sermon is a commentary, just that some are better than others. (See Acts chapter 7)

When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”  “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:30-31 (HCSB)       

Step 5 - Devote time daily to Bible study

A key factor in daily Bible study involves time.  Be consistent, try to study at the same time every day. Answer the question, “When is the best time for me to study?”  When I was in Army Basic Training, the answer was, “During my breaks.” For some moms, the best time is during the children’s nap time.  As a school teacher, it was easier for me to get up earlier and do it in the morning before I left home for work (this is still my practice as a pastor)

And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes,
Deuteronomy 17:19 (NASB)

Step 6 - Focus on quality not quantity.
It is good to read through the Bible in a year.  Every believer should do that at some point.  But I think it is better to spend a year reading and studying the Gospels.  I have a study method that I call the Jacob principle.  In Genesis Jacob wrestles with the Lord until daybreak.  Jacob says, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” (Gen. 32:24-28) 

The Jacob principle works this way.  Before I sit down to study, I pray, “Lord, I’m going to read this passage over and over (i.e. I will not let go) until you bless me with comprehension.  Then commit to reading that passage daily until it happens. 

The first time I practiced this style of study is when I was taking a doctoral seminar on the Gospel of Mark.  In preparation for the class, I decided to read a chapter of Mark every day until I finished the book.  Each day at the beginning of my study time I would say, “Lord, I’m going to read this Gospel over and over until you bless me.”  After I finished reading Mark the first time I thought, “Ok, that was nice, but I don’t feel like I’ve learned anything new.” So, I started over.  It was during the third time through the Gospel that the Scripture literally began to explode in my brain!  I think God was testing me to see if I was truly committed to reading His word.

Years later in preparing to teach 1 Peter, I applied the Jacob principle again and God blessed me in the same way.  In fact, I have practiced this for every difficult passage I’ve ever had to preach / teach and every time God has blessed my faithfulness. Sometimes it is the second reading, sometimes the fourth or fifth, but He is always faithful to reveal His Words to me.

For the record, I’ve been advocating this method of study for several years and every person who has followed it has experienced similar results.  Now this is nothing new, it is simply putting Scripture to practice.  Now that is a novel thought!

How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path of sinners, or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. Psalm 1:1-2 (HCSB)

Step 7 - Make it a practice to memorize scripture

"Guard my words as your most precious possession.  Write them down, and also keep them deep within your heart."   Pr. 7:2-3

Memorizing scripture can help me resist temptation.  It can help me identify false teaching.  It provides comfort and strength when I a troubled and discouraged.  Also it helps me to witness to unbelievers.

Right now someone is reading this and thinking something like, “I can’t memorize things.”  I used to be one of those people. For those who believe that they cannot memorize anything, here are two verses to read, meditate, and memorize:

I can do all things through Him [Christ] who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NASB)

Next, memorize this verse.

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10 (NASB)

Here are a few suggestions that may help to memorize a verse or piece of scripture:
1.  Pick a verse that speaks to you.        
2.  Study the verse, it’s context and meaning.
3.  Read the verse aloud many times.  Record it!       
4.  Break the verse into natural phrases.
5. Say the reference before and after the verse.
6.  Write out the verse on a flash card and carry it with you.    (Also use your smart phone)
7. Display your verses in prominent places, like your computer screen saver, background, or home screen.
8.  Put the verse to music.  Write a song or learn a song already written about that verse.    
9.  Get a partner so you can check each other.

IMPROVING MY BIBLE IQ (part 1)

On this site, I’ve posted a couple of articles about the lack of biblical literacy among Christians   (See last week’s post as well as my post about “Bible Knowledge At All Time Low" ). Well a person is either part of the problem or part of the solution.  I choose to be the latter.

My goal is not to create a theological debate.  It is to encourage believers to become committed to reading and studying the Bible.  The New Testament writers, as well as Jesus himself, spent some time warning us about false prophets and teachers. I am convinced that those who succumb to false teaching are lacking in Bible knowledge resulting in biblical illiteracy.

There are many ways Believers can fight personal biblical illiteracy. In this post and the next, I intend to recommend a course of action for improving one’s Bible IQ.  All of these recommendations have been successful with either myself or with others.  A good place to begin is with my story.

Even though I had been raised in the church and was frequently a candidate for “perfect attendance” in Sunday School, at 28 years of age I found myself suffering from a lack of Bible knowledge.  I was not serving in any church at the time (in fact I was going through a time of rebellion against God). 

After renewing my focus on Him, God began to convict me about my need for Bible study.  The first thing I learned is: “I don’t know as much as I think about The Bible or God.” 

I began slowly and simply to study The Scriptures.  I began with a “Men’s Devotional Bible.” I tried to begin every day reading the daily devotional and all of the supporting scriptures.  I didn't realize it at the time, but I was growing in spirit and in Bible knowledge.

During Army basic training and MP school, I carried my Gideon’s Bible and a copy of “Open Windows” (now called “Daily Bread”) everywhere I went.  I kept those books wrapped together in a plastic freezer bag and stuffed into my BDU cargo pocket. Whenever I had a break (usually after lunch), I’d move over somewhere alone and read the devotion and it’s scripture.  To this day I have a page from that devotion book stuck in my study Bible.  Later I learned of the positive effect this had on my fellow soldiers and even on one Drill Sergeant.

Each year since my revival, I have chosen a different yearly devotional book to guide my study. Some of my favorites have been used multiple times. Over the years I have used Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost For His Highest, C. H. Spurgeon’s Morning By Morning, several different devotionals by A.W. Tozer, Dallas Willard, and others. Most of these are available now on a smart phone, but I’m kinda “old school” in this area preferring paper and ink over bits and bytes.    

The important thing is to choose a study plan and stick with it.  The number of good plans far outweigh those that are not so good.  I am convinced that God is most honored by our perseverance and our obedience to read and study HIS Word!

KNOW THE WORD

We shouldn't let the fact that we can’t know everything about the Bible deter us from learning as much as we can about God’s Word!  By the same token, we shouldn't allow the thought that we can never know everything about God keep us from developing an intimate relationship with Him.

Theology teaches us about God.  Who He is, His attributes, His values, and His nature.  However, it is through personal interaction with God, primarily through His Word combined with prayer, that we get to know God.  That is to say, knowing about God is not the same as knowing God.

Granted, the Bible does speak of a “saving knowledge” (see Hebrews 10:26), however, it’s not the knowledge that saves rather it is hearing the message of available forgiveness.  A. W. Tozer addressed this very thought when he wrote:

The uncomprehending mind is unaffected by truth. The intellect of the hearer may grasp saving knowledge while yet the heart makes no moral response to it. (Born after Midnight, p.62)

The modern church, for the past 100 years, has communicated that the goal of the church is to convert unbelievers to believers.  Our efforts should not terminate with another’s salvation, instead we are to guide the unbeliever through salvation to holiness! Don’t get me wrong, salvation is important. But it’s the first step.  I am convinced that it’s our sanctification, that is to say, our holiness that is God’s goal for us.

We are indeed saved by grace and not by our intellect (or sight).  It is not how much we know, but rather it is who we know that counts.  However, our salvation is the beginning of our relationship with God.  We need to “mature in Christ” and that requires Bible study.

God provided the Scriptures as a way of displaying His nature and character to us.  He interacts with us through the Bible to guide us to understand Him (to some degree) and know how to please Him.

We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Colossians 1:28 (HCSB)

Peter writes, “Be Holy . . .” (1 Pe. 1:16) and in doing so  quotes from three different texts in Leviticus (Lev. 11:44;  Lev 19:2;  Lev 20:7) all of which command us to do that very thing.  So holiness should be our goal and that will not be achieved without the work of the Holy Spirit accomplished through Bible study.

Holiness is often confused with perfection or sinlessness. To be holy is to be “set apart for God.”  To be sanctified.  Our path to holiness involves developing an intimate relationship with God.  Growing in our understanding of His nature and character.  The primary way of doing this is through Bible study.

There is among church attendees an epidemic of  biblical illiteracy.  The results of this biblical illiteracy is a shallow relationship with God.  This shallowness is displayed through apathy, marginal participation, diminished giving among believers.
 
Dr. Albert Mohler, Jr., the President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, wrote:

Christians who lack biblical knowledge are the products of churches that marginalize biblical knowledge. Bible teaching now often accounts for only a diminishing fraction of the local congregation's time and attention. (“The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It's Our Problem” www.christianity.com/print/1270946)

If we, as obedient followers of Christ, are to fulfill “The Great Commission” (Mt. 28:19-20), if we are to “make disciples”, then we have to know God’s Word.  More importantly, we need to know God!  Knowing about God isn't enough, we need to know Him like a child knows it’s father, like a loving wife knows her loving husband.  That is the only way we can function as obedient children of a loving Father.

AND the only way we can do that is by reading, studying, meditating on The Bible.

After all it’s not rocket science.

Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance  but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct;  for it is written, "Be holy, because I am holy."  1 Peter 1:13-16 (HCSB)

CRIME AND INJUSTICE

How long, Lord, must I call for help and You do not listen, or cry out to You about violence and You do not save? Why do You force me to look at injustice? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted. Habakkuk 1:2-4 (HCSB)

I find it amazing that the same complaints Habakkuk expressed in 620 BC can be truthfully expressed in the United States today. **  For us to find an acceptable resolution to these complaints, we have to acknowledge that the problem begins with each individual person.  

The Old Testament book of Habakkuk (wedged in between Nahum and Zephaniah), like Jonah, is a story about God molding the character of an individual.  The text begins with ranting, raving, and complaining, then concludes with a statement of renewed faith in a sovereign God.

We read Habakkuk’s complaint (verses above) and then, beginning in verse five, God replies basically saying, “Habakkuk, I’m about to do something that you wouldn’t even if I personally tell you what I’m going to do.  I’m gonna send the Chaldeans to discipline Israel.” (Hab.1:5-11 paraphrased)

By the end of the text, Habakkuk with renewed confidence declares, “I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. . . . I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3:16,18 (NIV)

OK, so what does that mean to us?  Habakkuk was frustrated as he looked at the world around him, specifically Israel, and saw that things are not as they are supposed to be.  We are indeed in the same situation today!  Things are not as they are supposed to be. 

We proclaim our freedom but we really want entitlement! We protest for justice, but we really just want to have our own way! 

Our problems are not the crime and injustice so common in our society.  It is not the incompetence that exists in our elected officials. Our problems are not the slanted and one-sided reporting epidemic in the media.  Our problems begin with us, each of us. 

 Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4 (NASB)

What I’m saying is that change, real change, “THE CHANGE WE NEED” must begin with you and me.  Real change must occur in the heart and mind of each individual citizen. That kind of change can only occur by God’s power. When I decide to submit to God’s plan for life and  God’s rules for living, I will then experience the heart change needed to affect change. 

Submission begins with humility.  Admitting that I don’t have the answer or the power to implement the answer even if I had it.  When we reach that place, we naturally turn to God.  But just turning to God doesn’t provide change, we need tune-in to HIM as well.



This is what happened to Habakkuk, his heart was changed. He went from a moaning, grieving, sniveling, complaining man, to a man of gratitude, living in confidence and faith.  Habakkuk tuned-in to God and discovered real peace. 







It’s not too late.   Let us begin right now to tune into God and then “watch to see what He [God] will say to me.”  Habakkuk 2:1 (HCSB)

**Personal note: originally I listed several specific examples of “wrongdoing, oppression, and violence” not to mention other examples of strife and escalating conflict.  But I decided that my examples were inflammatory and that is not the goal of this article or of this blog.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO START!

The second week of this year is not too late to have a new start for this year! The calendar year is still young and we can still commit to a new or renewed determination to grow in Christ!

 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.2 Peter 3:18 (HCSB)

Here are four things we can focus upon if we are desiring to mature as followers of Jesus Christ.

1. Grow in faith.
Most people I meet express that growing in faith is the most difficult thing for them to do in their life.  The truth is we can grow our faith the same way we would get to Carnegie Hall.  How does one get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, Practice, Practice!  In short, we increase our faith by practicing faithful behaviors.

First, establish a daily time to spend in communion with God by reading His Word and reflecting on what it says.  Then be faithful with attending corporate worship service.  Then join and faithfully attend a Bible study.  Be sure to tithe from your time, talents, and possessions. Start with these things and watch what God will begin through your faithfulness!

2. Grow in love.
To grow in love, we should discipline ourselves to inspect every word before we speak it, manage every action before we do it, and evaluate every situation before we ignore it.  In every situation ask, “What is the most loving thing to do?”  Another way to grow in love is to question, “Am I pointing someone towards Christ or away from Christ, through my behavior?”

3.  Grow in humility.
Grow down in humility, by growing up in prayer.  Humility is seeing myself two ways: first, being honest about seeing myself as what I would be like without Christ; second, seeing myself as what I am with Christ.  Once I understand those two things it will be easier to become humble since I will begin understand that I am nothing without Christ. The more humble I become, the more dependent I will be upon God to provide the things I need to accomplish HIS will. Also the more devoted I will become to prayer and interaction with God.  Brother Lawrence spoke regarding the simplicity of developing a prayer life when he said,

    He [God] does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.
    -- Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 (HCSB)

4. Grow in knowledge.
Seek to know more about Jesus.  Study on the things that he said and the things that he did while on Earth.  Don’t be afraid to ask, “Why did Jesus say what he said and why did he say it that way?”  Observe his actions and flesh out ways to imitate Jesus day by day. 

Final note: We may never see how much we have grown, but those around us will.

LIVING LIKE TODAY IS YOUR LAST DAY

It appears that all of the hoopla and buffoonery surrounding the ending of the Earth is gonna go the same way as the last scare (12/31/1999).  I’ve been working this week on two other posts, but this morning I was motivated to comment upon this end of the world stuff. 

The truth is we should take the “end of the world” seriously!  Obviously, the date is bogus, however, the Bible tells us that the day will come when the world will indeed end.  Even scientist have predicted a time when our Sun will consume this planet (they all agree it won’t be anytime soon).

Many movies write quotable lines for the dying words spoken by one of the heroes. Things like the dying statement spoken by George Gipp, “Win one for the Gipper.” or Captain Miller’s last words in Saving Private Ryan, “James, earn this...earn it.”  One of my favorites is from Star Trek, The Wrath of Kahn, Spock as he is dying says to Kirk, “You have and always will be my friend.” We want our last words, if possible, to be worthy of remembering. 

Our world is filled with tragic events which underscore how sudden death might come about. Hirotsugu Kawaguchi, a 52 year old Japanese father of three, wrote his last words in several notes to his children aboard a Japan Air Lines flight 123, as it was crashing.

Be good to each other and work hard, Help your mother.
I'm very sad but I’m sure I won’t make it . . . .
To think that our dinner last night was the last time . . . .
I am grateful for the truly happy life I have enjoyed until now.
PLEASE LORD HELP ME!(Source: http://users.belgacom.net/gc674645/grave/lastword.htm, accessed 12/21/2012)

Jesus also reserved his most powerful statement to be given as his last words on earth.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (HCSB)

It is kinda sad that we didn’t take the Mayans seriously.  I’m convinced that the world would be a better place if we lived each day as it were our last.  There are several songs that address this topic also one is sung by Tim McGraw.  In it he expresses the change that took place in his life when he began to live life as if it is indeed temporary.

Well, I finally read the Good Book,
And I took a good long hard look,
At what I'd do if I could do it all again

Tim McGraw - “Live Like You Were Dying”

People need to know God’s Word (“the Good Book”).  The only way that will happen is for those of us who are Believers to know God’s word and spread it to the world around us.  The fact is we don’t know the day or the time of our death or of the end of the world.  However, we do know that it will be sudden and we need to expect it soon.  The time is short. Lets not waste it by creating moments that we may regret.  Lets take advantage of the time we have to create memories that we will cherish.  Memories of obedience to Christ’s command to “make disciples."

Yeah, we gotta start lookin' at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got, then we gotta start thinkin'
If every second counts on a clock that's tickin'
Gotta live like we're dying

We only got 86 400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell 'em that we love 'em
while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying

Kris Allen - “Live Like We're Dying”

The challenge for each of us is “What would you do if you knew today was going to be your last day on Earth?” 

PSALM 55 AT 55

John Denver wrote, “I've been lately thinking about my life's time. All the things I've done and how it's been.” (Poems, Prayers, & Promises, 1971) The funny thing about these lyrics is that he wrote them at the age of 27.  I’m sure at 27 John thought he had lived a long life.  Another singer from the 70's declared, “Once was the thought inside my head, by the time I reached 30 I’d be dead.”

God, listen to my prayer and do not ignore my plea for help. Pay attention to me and answer me. I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint, because of the enemy’s voice, because of the pressure of the wicked. For they bring down disaster on me and harass me in anger. My heart shudders within me; terrors of death sweep over me. Fear and trembling grip me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. How far away I would flee; I would stay in the wilderness. Psalm 55:1-6

Psalm 55 opens with a call to God for help.  The writer begins by begging Elohim (Hebrew for God Almighty) just to listen to his plea.  I can not help but sense the helplessness and the feeling of abandonment obviously felt by the psalmist.  These depth of the author’s despair is evident as he expresses his wish to just “fly away”, in an effort to escape from the massive trouble which engulfs him.

In the movie Forest Gump, young Jenny's father is chasing her through the fields to beat her. Jenny and Forest are holding hands and kneeling together while hiding in the field. Jenny begins to pray, “Dear God, make me a bird. So I could fly far. Far, far away from here.”

When we have troubles in our lives, often the easiest thing to do is to run away. This is especially true when the trouble(s) in our life is overwhelming.  We may see the only choice available is to “fly away” to abandon the Titanic.  However, there are times when the best solution is to stand our ground and defend the Alamo.  It is hard to discern which is the appropriate action.

But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Psalm 55:16

A major problem we have is we try to handle life on our own power.  A problem arises in our life and we address it with all our might.  After we have tried everything we know to try, the problem not only still exists, but now looms larger.  We then, as a last resort, turn to prayer hoping God will bail us out.

When we bring problems to God, He will communicate to us when to fight, when to flee, and when to wait.  The question before each of us is, “If I believe that there is a God and if I believe He answers prayer, then why don’t I pray first and react second?”

I complain and groan morning, noon, and night, and He hears my voice.  Though many are against me, He will redeem me from my battle unharmed. God, the One enthroned from long ago, will hear, and will humiliate them.  Psalm 55:17-19

We need to take note that at the beginning of his lament, the psalmist begs for God to listen to his prayer.  However, after listing his complaints, the writer shares his assurance that not only does the Lord hear, but He will also rescue him.  The phrase, “Though many are against me” implies there is no trouble too tough, no problem too powerful, in short, nothing too big, for God!

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Psalm 55:22

There were many times in my own life, when I've faced physical harm, even death, in those times, God chose to protect me.  Additionally, there were other times when I've felt rejected, dejected, abandoned, and afraid, yet as I remember those times, I can now see how God was there with me.

This week I will complete 55 years of living and walking on God’s good Earth.  Like John, I too have spent some time thinking on my life. Looking at my past I have some regret, some pride, but mostly lots of gratitude.  Like Mr. Denver, I can say  “It’s been a good life all in all.”

My life has been one of trials, turmoil, and troubles, as well as blessings, pleasure, promises, and praise.  Those experiences allow me to echo, “cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you.”

But You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You. Psalm 55:23

Like Forest Gump, “ I may not be a smart man” at lest I don’t claim to be smart.  However, after a life of undeserved blessings, undeserved forgiveness, and undeserved protection, I too declare to God, “I will trust in You.”

BIBLE KNOWLEDGE AT ALL-TIME LOW

I spend a lot of time emphasizing the importance of Christians knowing and living by God’s Word.  one reason I am so passionate about Bible study is because the Bible is our instruction book for life. In fact, EVERY relational problem that occurs in any church directly results from ignorance of God’s Word.

Recently I read several articles which presented various survey results that demonstrated a high level of biblical illiteracy among Christians in the United States. These results underscore the need for 100% of church attendees to be involved in a group Bible study.  Here is a summery of those articles followed by my "take-a-way".

In 2009, the National Biblical Literacy Survey demonstrated that biblical knowledge in people younger than 45 years old is in decline.  Of the more than 900 people from faith and non-faith backgrounds surveyed, fewer than one in 20 could name all of the Ten Commandments.  Additionally, 62%  did not know the parable of the Prodigal Son and 60% could not name anything about the story of the Good Samaritan. That is not the worst of it! the survey also showed that young people think of the Bible as "old fashioned" and "not relevant" to their lives. 

Here are two particularly disturbing results that document the lack of Bible knowledge among church attendees.

•  The most widely known Bible verse among church attending adults and teens is “God helps those who help themselves” (not in the Bible and actually conflicts with Scripture).

•  Less than one out of every ten believers possess a biblical worldview as the basis for his or her decision-making or behavior.(Barna Research Online, "Discipleship Insights Revealed in New Book”)

According to Gary Burge, professor of New Testament at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, biblical illiteracy is at a crisis in America’s churches.  Burge references research conducted at Wheaton College in which the biblical and theological literacy of incoming freshmen was monitored. These students, who represent almost every Protestant denomination in the United States from every state in the country, have provided some disturbing data. 

•  One-third could not put the following in order: Abraham, the Old Testament prophets, the death of Christ, and Pentecost.

•  Half could not sequence the following: Moses in Egypt, Isaac’s birth, Saul’s death, and Judah’s exile.

•  One-third could not identify Matthew as an apostle from a list of New Testament names.

•  When asked to locate the biblical book where a specific story is found: half did not know that the Christmas story was in Matthew and half did not know that the Passover story was in Exodus. 

MY TAKE-A-WAY
The answer to this growing problem of biblical illiteracy is three fold. 

Step one, Know the Word: Pastors and other church leaders must spend time every day, reading, studying, and memorizing the Bible. Additionally, leaders must encourage church attenders to develop the same habit of a daily devotion to Bible study.

In personal study, we need to place a higher value in the quality of reading than on the quantity of text read.  It is nice to read through the Bible in a year.  However, it is better to take a year to study the Gospels, Paul’s letters, the minor prophets, or any other Bible book.

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NLT)

Step two, Teach the Word: The Bible holds the answers to a great life here on earth and a greater life in eternity.  The stories are exciting reading and are filled with examples of behaviors to imitate and to avoid.  We need to teach God’s word not as we might teach some boring text, but as it really is, alive, valuable, and exciting.  

The sad truth is people will never grow and mature by listening to a weekly 30 minute sermon.  Real life change occurs through a Bible study group. A place where learners can be discipled through the Scriptures. Churches in the U.S. are going to have to enthusiastically encourage attendees to become a part of a Bible study group, if biblical illiteracy is to be reduced.

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NIV)

Step three, Live the Word: The greatest criticism of Christians as a whole and the church in particular is hypocrisy.  That is we don’t do the things we tell others to do.  If the 21st century church is to be effective in our culture, we are going have to live what we say we believe.  This is the hardest part of the three steps, but it is the part that will result in the greatest blessing.  Lets commit today to “BE THE CHURCH” to our world.

This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Joshua 1:8 (HCSB)

THE PROBLEM WITH WEEDS

I hate weeds. They are ugly and stubborn.  Worse of all, weeds always seem to grow in places where they are lest wanted and the most visible.  For example, my weeds prefer to grow in my brick walk way and  the middle drive way.  They prefer to show up in places where they are glaringly obvious rather than among the other grass and plants where they might blend in. 

I wish I could get them to grow along the edge of my yard, along the lake or next to the vacant lot next door, there I can ignore them and can attribute them to the other properties.  But no!  My weeds want to grow where they are the most obnoxious and the most embarrassing to me.  I believe that my weeds hide until the most opportune moment, then they suddenly make themselves visible and apparant to even the most blind visitor.

Another problem with weeds is I can’t just pull them up or cut them off.  I’ve discovered that to really get rid of a weed I’ve got to get down in the dirt and get to the roots.  Some weeds are so bad that if only a small piece of root is left the plant will grow back from that little piece.  Not only that, but when I do dig them up and get all of the root it leaves a mark, kinda of a temporary scar of sorts.  Often, when I’m not careful, a different type of weed will take root and grow in the very spot where I just removed the original weed. I really hate that.

Hurricanes and tropical storms influence weeds too.  Just as soon as I begin to win my war with weeds a tropical storm or hurricane will blow across my property.  About two weeks later, up pops new weeds.  These are weeds like I’ve never seen before.  They are not common to this area and it takes a new and different type of treatment to get rid of them. 

Finally I have to treat the new weeds like I do with the old ones, get on my hands and knees and pull them out of the ground, one by one.  It is exhausting, dirty, miserable work.  But it is the only way to be sure I get the weeds and their roots out of my lawn.

Right now there are two groups of people reading this article. The first group is asking themselves, “Why are you talking about lawn maintenance?”  The second group is thinking, “OK, I see where you are going, so get on with it!”  So, OK, I will...

Our spiritual lives are much like our lawns. It takes work to keep them in good shape.  Just like our yards, no matter how much we try, the weeds seem to constantly pop up at the most inopportune times and in the most inappropriate places. No matter how much we try to keep the weeds out, they keep showing up.  It takes lots of work to get rid of the weeds we already have.  So much work that we just can’t seem to succeed.

God, however, has provided us with HIS own version of “weed and feed” for our spiritual lives.  The Christian community calls God’s weed removal plan “discipleship.”

Discipleship is “the process of following someone in such a way as to imitate” them.  In this case it is applied to following or imitating Jesus.  Jesus gave three strong commands in the New Testament.  First, He commanded us to love God fully.  Then He commanded us to love people as we love ourselves.  His third command was given right before He returned to Heaven, it is to make disciples.

To “make disciples” we must first become disciples.  Being a disciple involves developing the proper relationship with Jesus. Developing our relationship with Jesus involves spending time alone with him (quiet time), reading and studying the Bible, giving of ourselves, and meeting regularly with fellow believers for accountability. 

These things happen best in a small group Bible study. Each of us become like the people that we associate with and call friends.  Doesn’t it make sense that the best way to develop into a fully devoted follower of Jesus (i.e. a disciple), is to spend time with others who are pursuing the same goal?  Small group Bible studies are just that, a group of believers desiring to become disciples.