Showing posts with label Bible reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible reading. Show all posts

Monday, 23 September 2013

Ours is a thinking religion

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3: 20-21 (NIV)

"We should also contemplate God's power. The beginning of the doxology (v20) is in essence an invitation to consider how great God's power is. Again we see how much Christianity is focused on the mind. Ours is a thinking religion. Its goal is not abstract reasoning or academic pursuits separated form practical doing, but an informed mind that shapes life. The message of Ephesians requires heart, mind and hands. Christians need time for reflection, for remembering, for searching into matters too deep for knowledge. The suggestion not to bother with subjects too grand for comprehension is ill-advised. In being stretched by what is beyond us we grow. Inquiry after the unknowable God provides the wisdom and knowledge we need for life.
"Christians need a regular schedule of reading, thinking, discussing and praying that informs them about faith and life and helps them grow a soul. Most of us think we are too busy for such time-consuming exercises, but the inner being is not strengthened by osmosis. Our busy schedules are often filled with secondary - if not needless - concerns. Some activities may need to be laid aside, but the contemplative part of faith is not one of them."
Klyne Snodgrass, Ephesians (NIVAC: Zondervan, 1996), p.190. 

Thursday, 9 February 2012

What is the Bible really about? Me... or Jesus?


At our (admittedly quite lengthy) introductory Bible overview seminar last week, we showed this clip from the ministry of Dr Tim Keller.  Have a look - and then a good long think.  It might help clarify some matters ...  

Saturday, 7 January 2012

A weariness of God?

Having enthusiastically launched our 'Read the Bible in a year' scheme in church last Sunday morning, I confess that my own daily Bible reading and prayer this past week has been somewhat less than consistent. So much for the motivating and sustaining power of good intentions.  Here are some heart searching thoughts from Puritan John Owen as he gets to the bottom of what's really going on...
"All neglect of private duties [by which he means personal Bible reading and prayer] is principled by a weariness of God.... God alone being the fountain and spring of spiritual life, if there be a weariness of him and withdrawing from him, it is impossible but that there will a decay in the life ensue. Indeed, what men are in these duties (I mean as to faith and love in them), that they are, and no more. Here lies the root of their obedience; and if this fail, all fruit will quickly fail." John Owen, Works 6:300
HT: Eric Ortlund, who offers some further helpful reflections here.
And thinking some more about the weakness of the human heart to carry through with what it says it wants to resolve to do, see Tullian's piece here.