ST MICHAEL’S. AUTUMN SERMON SERIES 4. ABSORBING THE SCRIPTURES
(This series, intended for sermons, groups, cells & individual study, is entitled “Following in the Steps of the Master” – see separate leaflet with all 10 titles to place this in its sequence.)
28th OCTOBER 2007. READINGS: PSALM 1: 1 – 6 LUKE 4: 1 – 13
KEY VERSE FOR MEMORY: PSALM 119: 105
RECOMMENDED BOOK : THE LIFE YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED (Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People) by John Ortberg (Zondervan Press for Willow Creek)
INTRODUCTION
Today – 28th October – is ‘Bible Sunday’ and so we turn out attention to the Bible, its foundational place in the Christian Faith, and how we may use it best to understand our faith, and apply it daily in our lives. The Key Verse from Psalm 119: 105 states:
‘Your Word is a Lamp to my feet, and a Light to my path’
1. THE PLACE OF THE BIBLE IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
It tells us everything we know about God, especially as He has revealed himself in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
It places us in the tradition of revelation, worship and faith that stretches from Genesis to Revelation
It is God’s guide for our lives, helping us make true judgments in everything from moral to practical decisions.
Crucially, Christ shows us himself as we read and pray, so that we experience his presence, his glory and his will for our lives, leading us to place our whole trust in him.
2. THE PLACE OF THE BIBLE IN THE LIFE OF JESUS
It is clear from the New Testament that Jesus had absorbed the Scriptures of the Old Testament from childhood, and was able to draw on them for strength and guidance at all critical times of his life. See the Gospel for today. Consider also his use of references to the Old Testament when debating with his opponents, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, and on the Cross.
If Jesus needed a thorough grasp of the Scriptures for leading a life within the will of God, how much more do we?
He would have ‘absorbed the scriptures’ from earliest childhood, learning them in the original language of the Old Testament – Hebrew. Most of us have not had that advantage. The Bible is taught less and less in school, there is little committed to memory, and many now are ignorant of the basic facts and stories of the Gospels, and the meaning of Christian festivals.
This means we need to make a very special effort – not to become experts – but to develop a simple strategy for absorbing key parts of the Bible into our daily rhythm of life and prayer.
This requires the use of notes and guides, which are available in the form of books, daily notes, audio tapes, through the Internet, and resources which have not been available to previous generations. We are very fortunate to have such resources readily available, and have to find out which are most suitable for us personally.
3. THE PLACE OF THE BIBLE IN OUR OWN DAILY LIVES
The title for today is ‘Absorbing the Scriptures’. The Dictionary tells us that to absorb is to ‘incorporate as part of oneself’. In medical terms, not just sticking on a plaster, but swallowing a healing medicine which will be integrated into our whole system.
Easy to use read only favourite passages, find proof texts, and look for particular verses for guidance. But we need to find a way to absorb the principles, the heart of scripture so that it governs our attitudes, our thoughts, our actions. John Ortberg: “The goal is not for us to get through the Scriptures. The goal is to get the Scriptures through us.”
Romans 12:2 : Paul writes: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
John Ortberg suggests 5 points to use when using the Bible on a daily basis:
Ask God to meet you in Scripture
Read the Bible in a repentant spirit
Meditate on a fairly brief passage or narrative
Take one thought or verse with you through the day
Allow this thought to become part of your memory
We are bombarded every day with WORDS. Radio, Television, Advertisements, People. Allow GOD’S WORD to permeate your mind and soul and it will become ‘a lamp to your feet and a light to your path’.
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Questions for Meditation/Discussion
1. What picture does Psalm 1 give of the person who has absorbed the Word of God? Do you wish to be like this?
2. What instances can you find in the Gospels where Jesus draws on his knowledge of the Scriptures to guide or strengthen him at critical times?
3. Consider/Discuss how you might evolve a daily pattern for Bible reading and Prayer.
4. What version of the Bible do you find most helpful, and why?
5. If you haven’t started a daily pattern yet, when do you intend to start?
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