In returning and rest you shall be saved;

When Heaven Invades Earth: A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles (Bill Johnson):

Fear of deception has opened the door for a tragic movement among believers.  [....] This is the picture that many paint:  In one corner we have balanced looking people who value the Bible as the Word of God, and in the other we have emotionally unbalanced people who seek after esoteric, spiritual experiences with God.  Is that an accurate picture?  Jesus made a frightening statement regarding those who hold to Bible study Vs. experience:

"You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have life; and these are they which testify of Me." 

If our study of the Bible doesn't lead us to a deeper relationship (an encounter), with God, then it simply is adding to our tendency towards spiritual pride.

(Photo Credit:  le vent le cri)

If so, how?
Do you follow any plan?
Is your reading structured? methodical? totally random?
Do you read using a printed Bible? Computer? iPhone? iPad?
How do you keep reading?

All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.~Romans 5:20-21 (The Message)

There's nothing more radical, nothing more revolutionary, nothing more subversive against injustice and oppression than the Bible. If you want to keep people subjugated, the last thing you place in their hands is a Bible.

..... Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. 

I'll show you how to take a real rest. 

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. 

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. 

I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 

Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

(Matthew 11:28-30 The Message)

N. T. Wright is the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England.  He is a leading theologian that I am reading and learning to appreciate more and more.  In the above interview he offers the following piece of advice:

I want you to know your bibles, inside-out, upside-down, in the original languages, as thoroughly as you possibly can.

I want you to get on your knees and learn how to prayer, and not just five minutes here and there, but serious prayer for a lost world, for lost people…

I want you to learn how to love people…

If you are going to be a Christian leader …… The Bible, Prayer, and Loving people

 

So there you have it, wise words from a wise man.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

I am a visual learner.  I need to READ things to learn.  Hands-on learning, for me, conjures images of grease-covered hands tinkering with engines.  No thanks. 

However, for those of you who learn better aurally, I have lately been using this site to engage with scripture in a way that is new and refreshing.  The Daily Audio Bible lets you cover the whole bible in a year through their daily Podcast.  I am finding the daily readings very refreshing as I can engage with scripture in a way that is totally different to how I normally "read" the bible.

These guys are also breaking new ground in terms of the way in which they are forming an online  community around the daily reading of the scriptures, worship and prayer.  Sort-of like a virtual prayer room.  Awesome!

This is what they say about themselves:

Daily interaction with the Scriptures is the heart of all we do.  A deep and abiding friendship with Jesus informed by the rich texture of the Bible is the reason the Daily Audio Bible exists.  We believe that it is fundamental to every believer's healthy spiritual life that we be people seeking the counsel of the Bible every single day, that we be people who walk with God intimately and conversationally and that we live in community with one another.

Check them out - dive into the daily audio bible and let me know how it goes for you.

 

Peace out.

Thomas Nelson is releasing a new bible on 11th August 2009.  It is called The Expanded Bible and carries in-line comments and translation notes. Looks set to provide you with a unique bible study experience. Download your copy by clicking here Via: Ministry Best Practices