{"id":558,"date":"2023-05-02T19:25:34","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T19:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/calvinlangton.com\/?p=558"},"modified":"2023-05-02T19:25:34","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T19:25:34","slug":"bible-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/calvinlangton.com\/?p=558","title":{"rendered":"BIBLE STUDY"},"content":{"rendered":"

BIBLE STUDY<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>A small church was without a pastor. They called the Seminary and were sent one of their recent graduates. He shows up on Sunday and preaches a fantastic sermon, It is obvious he is a gifted communicator. The church leaders confer and tell him they want him as their pastor. He agrees. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The next Sunday he again preaches a fantastic sermon. On the third Sunday he again preaches a fantastic sermon. The only problem was that it was the same as the one before. The leaders scratched their heads and said, \u201cWell he is young\u201d and let it slide. The next Sunday he again preached the same sermon. Three weeks in a row with the same sermon was more than the Church leaders could handle so after the service they asked him what was going on, and why was he preaching the same sermon over and over.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His reply was, \u201cWhen you start acting on the first one and doing something about it I will preach a different one\u201d. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It would seem that many Christians feel that the goal of the Christian life is Bible Knowledge.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>They pride themselves on daily Bible readings, Bible memory and attending Bible Studies. They often describe how they enjoy getting together. Singing together. Sharing life experiences and praying.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Now all these things are good. Bible Study. Worship. Prayer. All of these are things that I encourage. My question is, Is that the goal of the Christian life?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I think that we sometimes confuse the means with the end. Bible Study groups should be more than groups of like-minded people who enjoy one another company, getting together for an enjoyable discussion, eating snacks, and possibly even a little gossip or politics and reinforcement of opinions. Those are all good things. Often things that are needed, but the end result of Bible Study, worship and prayer should be action. What we often call ministry.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>Jesus called his Disciples. Gathered them and taught them. Then he sent them out to do the things he had been doing. The test was out in the world. He sent them out into the world and challenged them to show that the Kingdom, the New World Order had arrived. It was not theoretical but applied. Would it work in the here and now?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>That seemed to be Jesus’ method of discipleship. His followers stayed with him as he demonstrated what to do and taught them the foundational things. Then he sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom, to heal and to stop the agents of evil from doing harm. (The very things that Jesus had been doing).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

They went out in the real world to do that. They then returned and reported on how it had gone.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>Often, they were amazed at what had happened when they had put Jesus\u2019 teachings to the test.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The test then was not on knowledge but on application. It was like a mother bird pushing her babies out of the nest. Are The babies afraid? Of course. But they need to get out of the nest to discover who they really are. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>I<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I<\/span><\/span><\/span>f we are following Jesus, we will go far beyond the confines of the church, our Bible Study, and fellow Believers. When we follow Jesus, we will find ourselves living a Kingdom life in a non-believing culture. Our job is not to complain about the culture or even to condemn it.\u00a0 \u00a0We are sent to change it <\/span><\/span><\/span>by our example. We are to be living exhibits of Kingdom Life.<\/span><\/span><\/span> That is scary and can only be done through the power of Jesus with us, the Holy Spirit.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Go to the Bible Study and worship.\u00a0 But take what you learn to those who do not attend. They are the ones who need it the most. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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BIBLE STUDY \u00a0A small church was without a pastor. They called the Seminary and were sent one of their recent graduates. He shows up on Sunday and preaches a fantastic sermon, It is obvious he is a gifted communicator. The church leaders confer and tell him they want him as their pastor. He agrees. 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