►Spiritual Disciplines:
SIMPLIFIED VERSION!!!
BIBLE STUDY REFERENCES & CONCLUSIONS
HOME GROUP QUESTIONS
PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO BLOG IN RESPONSE
IT WILL HELP US TO KNOW WHAT TO TEACH
Bible Meditation:
►Recommended book:
'Celebration of Discipline' by Richard Foster, which draws on all Christian traditions.
BUT I would recommend caution in the Chapter on Meditation, which unfortunately
happens to be the first chapter. It draws on a mystical Catholic background – nothing especially wrong with that, as he remains very Biblically focussed, but then he outlines some example meditative exercises that use the imagination and imagery in such a way that if you have experienced meditation outside of the Christian tradition, and haven't been a Christian very long, then it could have unhelpful echoes of 'spiritual' experiences which were not Holy Spirit led, and could lead you back towards those practices in a negative way.
So, while recommending the book as a whole, I'm going to avoid that chapter,
and look simply at Biblical definitions.
►Biblical meaning of meditation:
The word 'meditation' has become so attached to an activity linked to Eastern, New Age, mystical experiences, that in order to focus on what should be meant by meditation, we have to call it 'Biblical meditation,'
In fact, meditation has VERY old roots within the Christian Biblical tradition, as well as in different Christian traditions.
Here are 10 references to meditation, and observations based on them:
NB: Hebrew 2 words:
1: Think, ponder;
2: Ruminate, Chew, Digest.
1: ►Genesis 24: 63
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming.
Alone, separate from distractions – except camels, deliberate.
2: ►Joshua 1: 8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.
Meditate on God's Law/God's Word/Scripture, and it translates into action and 'success.' (NB: Be careful how you define 'success' or 'prosperous.' God doesn't mean the size of your bank account.)
3: ►Psalm 1: 2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,and on his law he meditates day and night.
It should be a delight, not a chore. It is a pattern, a rhythm, that takes in day and night.
4: ►Psalm 63: 6
When I remember you upon my bed,and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
A good activity both deliberately as final thoughts before sleeping, and during insomnia, which can be frustrating and stressful, or could be God's invitation to draw closer.
5: ►Psalm 77: 1-12
...... "Let me remember my song in the night;
let me meditate in my heart."
Then my spirit made a diligent search ......
...... 11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
A good response to problems or trouble.
Based on remembering, recalling, God, His Word, His actions, and His Creation.
It takes a decision, it doesn't necessarily come naturally.
It involves pondering, slow deliberate recollection, thinking, and drawing conclusions.
It involves the imagination, bringing events back to mind.
Somewhere in between (the connection) Bible Study and Prayer.
6: ►Psalm 119: 15
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
Deliberate decision not to be distracted, but to focus on God's character and actions.
7: ►Psalm 119: 23
Even though princes sit plotting against me,your servant will meditate on your statutes.
A good response to opposition of God's purposes in your life.
8: ►Psalm 119: 27
Make me understand the way of your precepts,and I will meditate on your wondrous
works.
Meditation helps you to understand God's ways.
9: ►Psalm119: 48
I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,and I will meditate on your statutes.
►Psalm 119: 78
Let the insolent be put to shame,because they have wronged me with falsehood;as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
►Psalm 119: 148
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,that I may meditate on your promise.
A good activity as first thoughts when waking, to have a Godly mindset for the day.
cf. TV/Radio/Facebook/Noise!!! = me.
10: ►Psalm 143: 5
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done;I ponder the work of your hands.
►Psalm 145: 5
On the glorious splendour of your majesty,and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
Recalling God's activity in your life.
Recalling God's activity in History.
►Full list of the 17 (slightly repetitive!) lessons from those passages:
1. Deliberate, Alone, separate from distractions (except camels)
2. You can Meditate on God's Law/God's Word/Scripture, and it translates into action and 'success.' (NB: Be careful how you define 'success' or 'prosperous.' God doesn't mean the size of your bank account.)
3. It should be a delight, not a chore. It is a pattern, a rhythm, that takes in day and
night.
4. A good activity both deliberately as final thoughts before sleeping, and during insomnia, which can be frustrating and stressful, or could be God's invitation to draw closer.
5. A good response to problems or trouble.
6. Based on remembering, recalling, God, His Word, His actions, and His Creation.
7. It takes a decision, it doesn't necessarily come naturally.
8. It involves pondering, slow deliberate recollection, thinking, and drawing conclusions.
9. It involves the imagination, bringing events back to mind.
10. Somewhere in between (the connection) Bible Study and Prayer.
11. Deliberate decision not to be distracted, but to focus on God's character and actions.
12. A good response to opposition of God's purposes in your life.
13. Meditation helps you to understand God's ways.
14. A good activity as first thoughts when waking, to have a Godly mindset for the day.
15. Recalling God's activity in your life.
16. Recalling God's activity in History.
17. Thinking and marvelling at Creation.
Home Group Questions:
Read Psalm 77: (1-12 at least!)
1: Ask the Group for Honest feedback:
How easy do you find Bible Study/Meditation/Prayer as a daily discipline?
(On the run is OK, but only on the basis of set aside time as well.)
What's the pattern you follow – time, place, how long, how often, methods, tools.
How well do you really stick to this?
2: Teaching needs?
In the list of Spiritual Disciplines, what areas do you feel the need for teaching?
It would be good to get feedback via the series Blog:
http://jezsblazeblog.blogspot.com/
3: What's the most helpful lesson, advice, book, etc you've ever had that has helped you in your spiritual disciplines?
This would also be good to get feedback via the series Blog:
http://jezsblazeblog.blogspot.com/
4: Word search 'meditate' in a good translation:
Use a Concordance or word list at the back of someone's Bible.
Hope this is helpful and gets more useful as we (especially me) learn how to use it!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Now please post comments, advice, recommended books, etc
ReplyDeleteand requests for issues that you would like teaching on
HERE!!!
One book I'd thoroughly recommend for help with making sense of the Bible is "How to read the Bible for all it's worth" by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart. Although written by two respected evangelical academics it is not at all heavy and is very easy and indeed intriguing to read. It deals with the various "genres" or types of literature in the Bible and how to interpret them so as to not come to false conclusions and wrong understandings. A book for every Christian to read if they want to understand the Bible and make the most of their Bible reading.
ReplyDeleteThe Carters' homegroup had a good discussion on this last night. I said I'd give a bit of feedback on behalf of the group because I was leading the session, But lots of things came out which I think other people will post comments on as well.
ReplyDeleteRequests/Needs -
Opportunities to discuss what we've been reading in the Bible.
A 'Book Club' approach with a Bible book-of-the-month and a get-together to share insights, answer questions set by the elders (?) etc ... Possible use of homegroup for in-depth Bible study once or twice a term.
Don't want to hog this but just to add one other point. I would want to emphasize the need to engage mentally with Scripture, and not just to read it. It's so easy for reading to have the nature of "in one ear and out the other". As Jez said there are loads of different ways to study Scripture. I'd say: Just do it! Study anything, and it will do you good.
ReplyDeleteJust seeing if I've finally got this thing to work!
ReplyDeleteHooray!
ReplyDeletefor a quick appraisal and oversight of a book or passage I use 'The Lion Handbook to the Bible' edited and produced by David and Pat Alexander with many top notch consulting editors. It's a good 'start'.
ReplyDelete