Transformative Power of Engaging with the Bible
Summary
The journey of faith is deeply intertwined with the sacred text, the Bible, which has been a transformative force throughout history. Reflecting on the unique survival and influence of Israel, we recognize that it wasn't their power or wealth that set them apart, but their dedication to the Tanakh, the Old Testament. This book introduced revolutionary ideas about a single, holy, and just God, and a narrative of human existence that is linear and purposeful, rather than cyclical. These concepts have profoundly shaped the world and continue to influence our worldview today.
The Bible is not merely a historical artifact but a living document that points us to Jesus Christ, the ultimate Word of God. It is essential to engage with the Bible not just for knowledge but for transformation. The Pharisees, despite their extensive knowledge of the scriptures, missed the essence of Jesus. This serves as a cautionary tale that knowing the Bible is not enough; it must lead us to a deeper relationship with Christ.
To truly let the Bible transform us, we must reflect on its teachings, apply them to our lives, and pray for understanding and change. This process involves allowing the Word to cleanse us, much like water cleanses fabric, removing impurities from our thoughts and actions. The Bible challenges us to confront our reflexive thoughts and behaviors, urging us to love our neighbors and pray for our leaders, even when it is uncomfortable.
Engaging with the Bible should be a communal activity, as studying in groups allows us to learn from and encourage one another. The Bible is meant to be lived out, not just read. It is a catalyst for spiritual growth, and our engagement with it should be passionate and persistent, much like the blind man who learned to read Braille with his tongue out of a deep desire to know God's Word.
Key Takeaways:
- The Bible, or Tanakh, introduced radical ideas about a single, holy God and a purposeful human existence, shaping the worldview of Israel and the world. This book is not just historical but a living document pointing us to Jesus Christ, the ultimate Word of God. [19:36]
- Knowing the Bible is not enough; it must lead to a deeper relationship with Christ. The Pharisees knew the scriptures but missed Jesus, highlighting the importance of letting the Bible transform us, not just inform us. [27:49]
- Reflecting on the Bible involves allowing it to cleanse us, removing impurities from our thoughts and actions. This process challenges us to confront our reflexive thoughts and behaviors, urging us to love our neighbors and pray for our leaders. [30:04]
- Engaging with the Bible should be a communal activity, as studying in groups allows us to learn from and encourage one another. The Bible is meant to be lived out, not just read, and is a catalyst for spiritual growth. [39:53]
- Our engagement with the Bible should be passionate and persistent, driven by a deep desire to know God's Word. This commitment can lead to profound transformation, as we allow the scriptures to penetrate our hearts and minds. [41:36]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[17:16] - Celebrating Ryan's Birthday
[18:41] - The Unique Survival of Israel
[19:36] - The Power of the Tanakh
[20:15] - Radical Ideas of the Tanakh
[21:01] - The People of the Book
[21:40] - The Importance of the Tanakh
[22:29] - Modern Day Tanakh Test
[23:38] - Reverence for the Scriptures
[24:34] - Jesus and the Book
[25:23] - The Bible's Global Impact
[26:19] - The Bible's Influence in America
[26:56] - Misconceptions About the Bible
[27:49] - The Bible and Eternal Life
[28:25] - Reflect, Apply, Pray
[29:12] - Reflecting on Ephesians 5
[30:04] - The Cleansing Power of the Word
[31:15] - Applying the Word in Daily Life
[32:03] - Loving Your Neighbor
[33:28] - The Word's Transformative Power
[34:40] - The Challenge of Change
[35:28] - The Cleansing of Baptism and the Word
[36:34] - Praying the Scriptures
[37:20] - Conviction Through the Word
[38:26] - The Nourishment of Scripture
[38:57] - Engaging with the Bible in Community
[39:53] - The Power of Group Study
[40:35] - Listening to the Word
[41:36] - A Deep Desire for the Word
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 5:25-27 - "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
2. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "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."
3. Romans 7:15, 24-25 - "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do... What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
#### Observation Questions
1. What are some radical ideas introduced by the Tanakh that were highlighted in the sermon? [20:15]
2. How did the Pharisees' knowledge of the scriptures fail them according to the sermon? [27:49]
3. What metaphor is used in Ephesians 5 to describe the cleansing power of the Word? [30:04]
4. How does the sermon describe the communal aspect of engaging with the Bible? [39:53]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of a single, holy, and just God in the Tanakh challenge the worldview of its time, and how does it continue to influence us today? [19:36]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Bible should transform us rather than just inform us? [27:49]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the ongoing cleansing process of the Word in our lives, and what does this imply about our spiritual journey? [30:04]
4. What role does community play in our engagement with the Bible, according to the sermon, and why is it important? [39:53]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current relationship with the Bible. Are you engaging with it for knowledge or transformation? How can you shift towards a more transformative engagement? [27:49]
2. The sermon mentions the importance of allowing the Word to cleanse our thoughts and actions. Identify one area in your life where you need this cleansing and discuss how you can invite the Word into that area. [30:04]
3. How can you incorporate the practice of reflecting, applying, and praying (R-A-P) with the Bible into your daily routine? What changes might you need to make to prioritize this practice? [29:12]
4. Consider the communal aspect of Bible study mentioned in the sermon. Are you currently part of a group that studies the Bible together? If not, what steps can you take to join or form one? [39:53]
5. The sermon challenges us to love our neighbors and pray for our leaders, even when it's uncomfortable. Identify a specific person or leader you find difficult to love or pray for, and discuss practical ways to overcome this challenge. [32:03]
6. The sermon highlights the importance of a deep desire for the Word. Reflect on your own desire for the Bible. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a stronger desire for God's Word in your life? [41:36]
7. How can you ensure that your engagement with the Bible leads to a deeper relationship with Christ, rather than just accumulating knowledge? Discuss specific actions you can take to focus on this goal. [27:49]
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of the Tanakh
The Bible, particularly the Tanakh, introduced groundbreaking concepts of a single, holy, and just God, and a purposeful human existence. These ideas have not only shaped the worldview of Israel but have also had a profound impact on the world at large. The Bible is not just a historical document; it is a living text that points us to Jesus Christ, the ultimate Word of God. Engaging with the Bible is essential for transformation, not just for acquiring knowledge. The Bible's teachings challenge us to see our lives as part of a larger, divine narrative, encouraging us to live with purpose and intention. [19:36]
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, ESV)
Reflection: How can you allow the Bible's teachings to shape your understanding of your life's purpose today?
Day 2: Beyond Knowledge to Relationship
Knowing the Bible is not enough; it must lead to a deeper relationship with Christ. The Pharisees, despite their extensive knowledge of the scriptures, missed the essence of Jesus. This serves as a cautionary tale that the Bible should transform us, not just inform us. It is crucial to engage with the Bible in a way that deepens our relationship with Christ, allowing His teachings to penetrate our hearts and guide our actions. [27:49]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you move beyond simply reading the Bible to actively living out its teachings in your daily life?
Day 3: The Cleansing Power of Scripture
Reflecting on the Bible involves allowing it to cleanse us, removing impurities from our thoughts and actions. This process challenges us to confront our reflexive thoughts and behaviors, urging us to love our neighbors and pray for our leaders, even when it is uncomfortable. The Bible acts as a mirror, revealing areas in our lives that need change and encouraging us to align our actions with God's will. [30:04]
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one thought or behavior you need to cleanse from your life today, and how can you use Scripture to guide this transformation?
Day 4: The Importance of Community in Bible Study
Engaging with the Bible should be a communal activity, as studying in groups allows us to learn from and encourage one another. The Bible is meant to be lived out, not just read, and is a catalyst for spiritual growth. By studying the Bible together, we can gain new insights, support each other in our spiritual journeys, and hold each other accountable to live out the teachings of Scripture. [39:53]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in a community of believers to study the Bible and encourage one another in faith?
Day 5: A Passionate Pursuit of God's Word
Our engagement with the Bible should be passionate and persistent, driven by a deep desire to know God's Word. This commitment can lead to profound transformation, as we allow the scriptures to penetrate our hearts and minds. Like the blind man who learned to read Braille with his tongue out of a deep desire to know God's Word, we too should pursue the Bible with fervor and dedication. [41:36]
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:6, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take today to cultivate a deeper passion and commitment to studying God's Word?
Quotes
1) "In the Bible, there's a lot of strange names like Philistines, Amalekites, Hittites, Amorites, Jebusites, Moabites, Canaanites, Israelites, and then the Termites, you know, that old joke. But those are some nations and groups of people from the Old Testament, and they were all about the same size. None of them were really large. Have you ever wondered why there's no Moabites or Amalekites living these days? And have you ever noticed there's hardly any Philistines at work or living in your neighborhood? The only one that's still around are those Israelites, the Jews. And why did Israel survive and not the others? Not only did Israel survive, but in the subtitle of his book, The Gift of the Jews, Thomas Cahill asked this question, how did a tribe of desert nomads change the way the world thought and felt? And they not only survived, they changed the world. What is it that distinguished Israel from all those other peoples who no longer exist?" [19:36] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "That book was unlike any other book that existed before because it contained ideas that had never hit the world before. The Tanakh says, instead of there being all these little tribal gods everywhere, there was one God, and that God is holy and just and loving and good, and He created all things and plans on redeeming all things. That was radical. That was brand new stuff. And that book, unlike the other mythologies and religions, was a book that was created by the people around Israel, said that human existence is not just an endless cycle over and over and over again, but it is actually a story. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. And there's going to be an end to this story, so there's something to look forward to. That was radical thinking back then." [21:01] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "People have died for this book, they've lived for this book, some have gone to foreign continents to get to know the culture and to know the tribes, and they've spent years devoting their whole lives to studying language so they can give people the book. It's going on all over the world right now. And every year, 20 million copies of the book are bought in the United States. Nothing's a close second. It is the number one hit. The average home in our country has three of these books. A lot of people cheer the Bible, they buy the Bible, they give the Bible, they own the Bible, but most don't read the Bible. Polls show that people admire the Bible, but they don't read it, and they really don't know it." [26:19] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Now, let me give you a little caution. There were some people in Jesus' day who read the book and accumulated Bible knowledge and memorized it. The Pharisees read the book, but they missed Jesus completely. And today, some of the meanest, most unchristian attitudes come from people who know the book. Jesus said, you search the scriptures because in them you think you have eternal life. See, here's the danger. The Bible does not give us eternal life. The written word points us to the living word. This book is not the ultimate word of God. Jesus Christ is. Now, we need to read it. We need to know this book. It is inspired by God, and it is vital in our walk with God." [27:49] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "The purpose of the book is to know Jesus and let him change our lives and give direction for our lives. Paul writes this scripture, and some of you have memorized this. He says, This book is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, correction, training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God might be proficient, equipped for every good work. This book is so that we can become a different kind of people, be God's people. God uses this book to change us. So I want to show you very quickly how the Bible might make a difference in your life. I'm going to give you an acrostic of three letters, R-A-P. R is reflect. Read the passage, and not just read it, but reflect on it. Spend time with it, think about it, meditate, chew on it like a cow chews the cud, just chewing on it." [29:12] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "We all need to be renewed. We all need to be washed. And we're all a little bit dirty. So let Scripture into your mind. Let it penetrate. It's not about information. It's about transformation. You don't have to be a Bible scholar. God's goal is not for you to get all the way through the Scriptures. God's goal is for the Scriptures to get all the way through you. So I come to God and I say, okay, God, I want to live this stuff. I want to reflect on it. I'm going to apply it, which leads to the P, which is, of course, pray. Pray as you read and reflect. And you can pray something like this. Lord, you know that I cannot transform my thought patterns on my own." [36:34] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "A major study was done and found that Bible engagement is the number one catalyst of spiritual growth. There's not even a close second. I heard of a blind man in London who taught himself how to read Braille with his lips. And he'd been in a fire and so scarred his lips that he couldn't read them anymore. And so he tried to read. Well, he was crying out, Lord, I can't read your word. And then his tongue accidentally touched the Braille bumps. And his tongue could feel them. And he touched the bumps again with his tongue. And then he just left. Clicked the whole page. And he learned how to read the Bible with his tongue. And he's been through the entire Bible four times with his tongue. Do you have a desire for the word like that?" [41:36] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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