{"id":2117,"date":"2010-02-18T08:00:38","date_gmt":"2010-02-18T12:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=2117"},"modified":"2023-01-17T12:59:28","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T17:59:28","slug":"bible-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/bible-engagement.htm","title":{"rendered":"If the Bible is God’s Word, Then What?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"PerceptionA\u00a0previous post<\/a>\u00a0listed results from a Barna report<\/a> on how young people today view the Bible differently from other generations.\u00a0 The fifth point was that they have . . . LESS ENGAGEMENT.<\/p>\n

If the Bible is God’s Word, then we should want to be reading and studying\u00a0the Bible<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If the Bible is not God’s Word, then it doesn’t need to be a priority in our lives.<\/p>\n

Failing to engage\u00a0oneself with God’s Word betrays people’s true heart toward it.\u00a0 Either they don’t believe it to be true or to be from God or they don’t understand its eternal benefit.\u00a0 Previous posts looked at its sacredness<\/a>, accuracy<\/a>, uniqueness<\/a>, and origins<\/a>. Let’s therefore consider some of the benefits:<\/p>\n

revives our souls (Ps. 19:7)
\nmakes us wise\u00a0 (Ps. 19:7)
\ngives us joy (Ps. 19:8)
\nhelps us see clearly (Ps. 19:8)
\nprevents us from sinning\u00a0 (Ps. 119:11)
\nequips us for good works (2 Tim. 3:16-17)<\/span><\/p>\n

The reason Scripture is so powerful and life-changing is because of its source.\u00a0 God-breathed words impart energy, strength, wisdom, joy, light, comfort, peace, grace, and so much more into our lives because HE is all these things.\u00a0 It’s about Him!<\/p>\n

Consistent Bible Engagement Won’t Happen Without the Right Motivation Growing Out of a Belief that it is God’s Word<\/h2>\n

Have we been communicating the right message of the Bible?<\/p>\n

The Bible is about God and His desire to have a relationship with man.\u00a0 Too often in preaching and teaching we make it about the stories or concepts.\u00a0 We need to get beyond precepts to the Person.<\/p>\n

Have we been communicating the right reason for them to engage?<\/p>\n

Give a good reason to study:\u00a0 not merely something they “should” do … to fulfill a duty, a spiritual discipline; \u00a0not merely to learn about the Bible\u00a0 … to gain knowledge; \u00a0but a means of connecting with the living God who loves them and wants their best\u00a0 … to nurture a\u00a0relationship.<\/p>\n

Have we been communicating the right outcome of engaging in God’s Word?<\/p>\n

Will it merely lead to head knowledge or is there more to it?\u00a0 Have we been showing the life impacting results of God’s Word?\u00a0 It changes lives.\u00a0 Here’s a workbook to help teachers work toward this goal:\u00a0 Teaching for Changed Lives<\/a><\/p>\n

The last point on the Barna Report is that young people do have a Bible appetite so let’s give them a reason to dig in.<\/p>\n

Resources to help communicate how to study the Bible.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a previous post I listed results from a Barna report on how young people today view the Bible differently from other generations. The fifth point was that they have . . . LESS ENGAGEMENT. If then Bible is God’s Word, then . . . Continue reading If the Bible is God’s Word, Then What?<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56,61,59],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-edification-from-word","category-role-of-gods-word","category-studying-bible-walk-with-god"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t