<< Previous | Index | Next >>"SPIRITUAL WELLNESS" How Well Do You Read? INTRODUCTION 1. This lesson is the second in a series entitled "Spiritual Wellness"... a. In which we examine our spiritual wellness in regards to serving God b. Our spiritual checkup began with checking our hearing c. It continues with checking our reading 2. On several occasions we find Jesus saying, "Have you not read...?" a. In defense of His disciples - Mt 12:3,5 b. Answering questions regarding divorce - Mt 19:4 c. Defending children who praised Him in the temple - Mt 21:16 d. Regarding the prophecy of His becoming the chief cornerstone - Mt 21:42 e. Responding to the Sadducees about the resurrection of the dead - Mt 22:31-32 3. The question "Have you not read?" suggests a major failing... a. That plagued the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees b. That likely affects people today, including Christians [The problem: many do not read the Word of God as they should, and that affects our "Spiritual Wellness". So let's raise the question, "How Well Do You Read?", considering first that there are...] I. DIFFERENT TYPES OF READERS A. THOSE WHO NEVER READ... 1. Who have never read the Bible, the Word of God 2. This includes most people in the world, and sadly, some Christians -- It is bad enough for people to Biblically illiterate, but for Christians? B. THOSE WHO READ SPARINGLY... 1. Who may possess a Bible, but read only a passage here and there 2. This includes most people who have Bibles -- The Bible may be the #1 bestseller, but it is often the least read book in the world! C. THOSE WHO READ SELECTIVELY... 1. Who read only certain parts of the Bible 2. For example, the Psalms or the Gospels -- Such people read only to soothe their conscience or calm their troubled heart D. THOSE WHO READ DEFENSIVELY... 1. Who read to prove others wrong 2. Looking for anything that supports what they already believe -- One should not read to prove one's positions, but to improve one's position before God E. THOSE WHO READ REGULARLY... 1. Who read to learn, to understand, to obey God's Word 2. The Ethiopian and the Bereans seem to have been such readers - Ac 8:27-34; 17:10-12 -- Shouldn't we be as dedicated to reading the Word of God as they? [Why is it important to be readers like the Ethiopian and the Bereans? There are several reasons...] II. IMPORTANCE OF GOOD READING A. TO BE BLESSED... 1. The blessed man is one who meditates on the Word - Ps 1:1-3 2. The one who reads God's word is blessed by his reading - Re 1:3 -- All spiritual blessings begin by reading the Word of God B. TO BE CHALLENGED... 1. By that which is living and powerful, a discerner of thoughts and hearts - He 4:12 2. By words that are spirit and life - Jn 6:63 3. By that which effectively works in those who believe - 1Th 2:13 4. By that which can cause one to be born again - 1Pe 1:23 -- All spiritual life and growth depends upon reading the Word of God C. TO GAIN UNDERSTANDING... 1. In the fear of the Lord, the beginning of wisdom - Deu 31:10-13; Pr 1:1-7 2. In the mystery of Christ - Ep 3:3-5 3. In the salvation of Christ - 2Ti 3:14-15 4. In the will of God - 2Ti 3:16-17 -- Wisdom, truth, grace, guidance, they all come from reading God's Word! D. TO GROW IN HOPE... 1. Through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures - Ro 15:4 2. Because we learn about the grace yet to come - 1Pe 1:13 -- Reading the Bible sustains hope in this life for the life to come [These are just a few of the many benefits of God's Word, and the importance of being good readers! How then can we improve our ability to read? Here are some ...] III. STEPS TO BETTER READING A. READ REGULARLY... 1. As Paul instructed Timothy - 1Ti 4:13 2. Read God's Word everyday, whether it be a chapter or few verses at a time -- Read the Bible as it was written: book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse B. READ DEVOTIONALLY... 1. Begin and end with prayer - e.g., Psa 119:18,10 2. Read for your personal benefit (not to prove others wrong) -- Bible reading should be an important part of your daily devotions C. READ WITH INTENT... 1. To learn, to do, to teach - cf. Ezr 7:10 2. To be a doer of the Word, not a hearer only - Jm 1:21-25 -- We should read to learn what God wants us to do, how to live D. READ AND MARK... 1. Use highlighters or fine pens to mark key phrases and passages 2. I find this often helps me to focus on the text as I read -- Use whatever helps you to give close attention to the Word E. READ ALOUD... 1. This is another way to maintain focus when your attention drifts 2. It also reveals one's comprehension of the text a. "...one of the most basic tests of comprehension is to ask someone to read aloud from a book." - Verlyn Klinkenborg, "Some Thoughts On The Lost Art Of Reading Aloud" b. "It reveals far more than whether the reader understands the words. It reveals how far into the words - and the pattern of the words - the reader really sees." - ibid. 3. You increase your opportunity for retention by 100% - Jeff Gregory, World Languages Lab Coordinator a. "When you read silently you use just two parts of your body (you guessed it - your brain and your eyes). b. "But when you read out loud you use four parts of your body (brain, eyes, ears, and voice.) This doubles your retention possibility." c. "You not only think about the language and see it written, but your hear it and say it." -- A simple suggestion, one with great potential for comprehension and retention! CONCLUSION 1. The Word of God and the words of Jesus are indeed precious gifts... a. A lamp to our feet and a light to our path - Ps 119:105 b. The words of eternal life - Jn 6:68 2. Yet might Jesus one day say to us, "Have you never read...?" a. About the gospel plan of salvation? - Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16 b. About the need to remain faithful? - Re 2:10 May we take the charge given to Joshua and diligently apply it ourselves to all of the Word of God... "This Book...shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." - Jos 1:8 Next in our "Spiritual Wellness" checkup, we shall ask "How Well Do You Pray?"...<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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