Embracing 'Me Time' Through Scripture and Communion
Summary
In my sermon, I began by addressing the importance of "me time" in the context of our faith journey. I emphasized that true "me time" is not about escaping life's challenges but about engaging in consistent practices that strengthen us for life's hardships. I introduced the topic of Bible study as an essential component of "me time," highlighting the Apostle Paul's words in 2 Timothy 3 about the profitability of Scripture for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.
I then shared insights from theologians like Howard Hendricks, who stressed the importance of studying the Bible for growth, maturity, and equipping. Rex Andrews warned of the foolishness of neglecting the Bible, and D.L. Moody pointed out that a useful Christian is always a student of the Bible. I lamented the statistics from Pew Research showing a lack of engagement with Scripture among Christians, which I believe contributes to the stagnation of personal and church growth.
I discussed the problem of treating the Bible as a mere homework assignment, a mindset that stems from our educational system and persists into adulthood. I argued that this approach misses the point of Scripture and its transformative power. To illustrate this, I shared a personal story about the love letters my wife, Maggie, and I exchanged during our time apart, drawing a parallel to the Bible as God's love letter to us. These letters from Maggie showed her love, expressed her feelings, and kept our relationship strong despite the distance—just as the Bible does for our relationship with God.
I read a letter composed of over 130 Scripture references, crafted by Bill Galer, to demonstrate God's love for us. This letter, which I referred to as God's love letter, detailed God's creation of us in His image, His knowledge of us, His commandments, and the separation caused by sin. It spoke of God's judgment, the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom, and the perfect love of God that casts out fear. The letter continued with the narrative of Jesus' sacrifice, our new identity in Christ, and the promise of eternal life.
As I concluded the sermon, I invited the congregation to reflect on their approach to Scripture and to come forward for communion with a right heart, seeing it as an intimate act of receiving God's love. I encouraged everyone to treat the Bible not as an obligation but as a cherished communication from God, an investment in our spiritual lives that yields immeasurable returns.
Key Takeaways:
1. True "me time" is about engaging in practices that prepare us for life's challenges, including the study of Scripture. The Bible is not an escape but a source of strength and guidance for the journey of faith. It is through the Word that we are equipped for every good work, as Paul writes in 2 Timothy. [02:10]
2. The Bible is God's method of communication with us, and neglecting it is to ignore the wisdom and guidance of the Creator. Theologians like Howard Hendricks and Rex Andrews emphasize the Bible's role in our spiritual growth, maturity, and equipping for God's purposes. [03:34]
3. Treating the Bible as a homework assignment misses its transformative power. The Bible is a love letter from God, meant to be cherished and engaged with deeply. It is through Scripture that we understand God's love and are drawn closer to Him. [07:12]
4. The Bible's message is one of love, forgiveness, and hope. As I shared the letter composed of Scripture references, it became clear that God's narrative is one of relentless love and redemption, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. [20:56]
5. Communion is an opportunity to reflect on and receive God's love, as demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice. As we partake in this sacrament, we are reminded of the depth of God's love and the importance of approaching Him with a repentant and open heart. [35:39]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV): "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2. Psalm 119:105 (NIV): "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
3. 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NIV): "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, what are the four purposes of Scripture? How do these purposes equip us for every good work? [02:10]
2. What does Psalm 119:105 suggest about the role of God's word in our daily lives?
3. In the sermon, what personal story did the pastor share to illustrate the importance of viewing the Bible as a love letter? [10:46]
4. What are the key elements of the letter composed of over 130 Scripture references that the pastor read? [17:30]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does viewing the Bible as a love letter from God change the way we approach reading it? [15:52]
2. Why do you think the pastor emphasized the importance of consistent Bible study as part of "me time"? [01:24]
3. What might be the consequences of treating Bible reading as a mere homework assignment, according to the sermon? [07:12]
4. How does the act of communion serve as a reminder of God's love and sacrifice, based on 1 Corinthians 11:23-29? [35:39]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current approach to Bible reading. Do you see it as a love letter from God or as a task to complete? How can you shift your perspective if needed? [15:52]
2. The pastor mentioned that only 45% of Christians read the Bible once a week. How often do you engage with Scripture, and what steps can you take to increase your engagement? [05:48]
3. Think about a time when you felt distant from God. How might consistent Bible study have helped you during that period? [01:24]
4. The pastor shared a story about exchanging letters with his wife during their time apart. How can you create a similar sense of connection with God through regular Bible reading? [10:46]
5. Communion is a time to reflect and receive God's love. How can you prepare your heart for communion in a way that deepens your relationship with God? [35:39]
6. Identify one specific way you can incorporate Bible study into your daily routine. What practical steps will you take to make this a consistent practice?
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to view the Bible as a love letter and engage with it more deeply? [15:52]
Devotional
Day 1: Engaging Scripture for Life's Journey
Engaging with Scripture is not about finding an escape from our daily struggles but rather about fortifying ourselves to face them. When we dedicate time to study the Bible, we are not running away from our problems but equipping ourselves with the wisdom and guidance necessary to navigate through them. The Word of God is a source of strength, offering teachings that prepare us for every good work. Just as an athlete trains for a competition, believers must immerse themselves in Scripture to be ready for the spiritual challenges that life presents. This practice of "me time" with the Bible is an investment in one's spiritual resilience and growth. [02:10]
"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." - Romans 15:4 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate a dedicated time for Bible study into your daily routine to better prepare for life's challenges?
Day 2: The Bible as Divine Communication
The Bible is not merely a book; it is God's method of speaking to us, offering wisdom and guidance for our lives. Ignoring Scripture is akin to ignoring a direct conversation with the Creator. Theologians emphasize the role of the Bible in our spiritual growth, maturity, and equipping for God's purposes. When we engage with the Word, we are not just reading text; we are receiving messages from God that are essential for our spiritual development and for understanding His will for our lives. [03:34]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." - Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the Bible as a personal communication from God to you?
Day 3: Scripture as Transformative Love
The Bible should not be approached as a mere homework assignment but as a transformative love letter from God. It is meant to be cherished and engaged with deeply, just as one would savor a letter from a loved one. Through Scripture, we come to understand the depth of God's love for us and are drawn closer to Him. The Bible's stories, teachings, and promises are God's way of revealing His heart to us, inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. [07:12]
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." - Colossians 3:16 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you approach your Bible reading with the mindset of receiving a love letter from God, allowing it to transform your relationship with Him?
Day 4: The Narrative of God's Relentless Love
The message of the Bible is a grand narrative of love, forgiveness, and hope. It tells the story of God's relentless pursuit of a relationship with humanity, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This narrative is not just a historical account but a personal story of redemption for each believer. By understanding this narrative, we can see our own lives within the context of God's love and His plan for salvation. [20:56]
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 (ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you live out the reality of God's relentless love and forgiveness in your interactions with others today?
Day 5: Communion as Intimate Reception of Love
Communion is a sacred time to reflect on and receive the depth of God's love as demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice. This sacrament is not just a ritual but an intimate act that reminds us of the price paid for our redemption. As we partake in communion, we should approach it with a repentant and open heart, ready to receive and be transformed by God's love. [35:39]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Reflection: How can participating in communion serve as a reminder of your new identity in Christ and the love that God has for you?
Quotes
"so it's very important that we start off that uh we say me time is not a distraction from the hardship of life and faith but true metime is about the consistent practices that strengthen us and prepare us for the hardship of life and faith and so it's so important to recognize that as we walk through this life that we're going to have challenges uh we're we're going to have challenges not only in life but in our faith as well and so how do we get through this journey that we are on" [01:24]
"the Bible is God's love letter to you just like the reasons Maggie wrote letters to me God wrote the Bible for you the Bible shows us how much God loves us because he took the time to have this written he took 1500 years worth of time to have this written so that you would know that he loves you the Bible shows us how God feels about us and how he wants to be the biggest part of our Lives" [14:21]
"it's a love letter and it was uniquely written for you that's what we miss Pastor are you saying that it wasn't written for I'm saying it was written for all of us but in the way that only God can design it was also written specifically for you as you read scripture that love letter will transform you because it is the Living Word it will work inside of you God will draw you close to him he will reveal the" [16:39]
"this morning we're going to take communion together and I want you to think of this as something different you just read or heard a letter read to you a love letter from God and how he views you that should shape how you come to this table Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians s 11 he says for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread" [35:39]
"do we treat scripture like this do we love it do we long to to learn from God do we long to be with him do we seek him out are we saying this is his word his way of communicating with me so that I can be with him for all eternity these Bibles average Bible is $50 $60 it's the greatest investment outside of your salvation you can ever make and only cost you 50 or 60 bucks because when you read it you'll get millions in return" [38:07]
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