Bible Studies
Our Spirituality, Our Top Priority
Series: Additional Studies Spirituality is defined in various ways in our society. When I use the term “spirituality” I am talking about our relationship to the true and living God, the God who has revealed Himself through nature (Psa. 19:1ff), through the giving of good gifts like rain and fruitful seasons (Acts 14:17), through the revelation given by His servants the prophets (Psa. 19:7ff), and through His son Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2, 2:1-4). It is our relationship with God that is our top priority. And that relationship is cultivated through His communication with us. This series of lessons focuses attention on practical aspects of the cultivation of this relationship. It will move through three areas: our personal reading and study of the revelation of God; our communication of the message to our family in family devotional activities; and then into the public arena as we address the subjects of public Bible classes and other public assemblies of the people of God. As with any relationship our relationship with God must be cultivated or it tends to grow more distant and cold. To whatever degree we allow this to happen our faith diminishes, our love becomes lukewarm and we fall away from the intimacy and closeness that God would like for us to have. The whole of Scripture focuses on establishing and keeping this relationship alive and growing. If it is not alive and growing it will first stagnate, then diminish and begin to die.Discussion:
I. The book of Deut. is Moses’ address to the nation of Israel preceding his death. As any prophet would like to do he would secure the future of his hearers by reminding them of the necessity of maintaining their spirituality as their top priority. Thus the book of Deut. is replete with warnings and admonitions about listening to, not forgetting, heeding, and communicating the word of God. Time has a way of wearing people down, challenges over time cause us to become distracted from our ultimate objective, but we must maintain our spirituality all the way through our life and give a legacy of faith to our children and our grandchildren. This week we are discussing ways we can do that. There is no better place to begin than in Deut.A. A listing of these texts.
1. 4:1ff
2. 5:31-33.
3. 6:1-15, 24, esp. 4-5.
4. 8:11-14.
5. 11:11-14.
6. 12:28.
7. 13:1-11.
8. 18:9-22.
9. 26:16-19.
B. Reflections and observations about them.
II. These same emphases are present throughout the text of Scripture.A. These same emphases in Joshua.
1. 1:7-9.
2. 23:1ff.
3. 24:14-28.
B. In times where there were departures from God Israel was admonished with attention to the revelation.
1. During the days of King Josiah (2 Chron. 34-35).
a. His reign began seeking God in his youth (34:3).
b. He repaired the temple (8ff).
c. When the book of the law was found he read it and tore his clothes in repentance (14ff). How many of us would never have read it? Aaron is going to talk with us in the next lesson about the value of reading and personal study.
d. He made a covenant with the Lord to walk in His commandments (31ff). Baptism marks the beginning of our making a covenant with the Lord. The Lord’s Supper memorializes the covenant we have with the Lord (cf. Matt. 26:28; 1 Cor. 11:25). We are sharers in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16b-17).
e. He caused others to do so too (32-33).
f. He realized the value of traditions that God had given for the people (35:1ff).
1) The Passover. A tradition for teaching and remembering (cf. Ex. 12:26-27).
2) Cf. the Lord’s Supper; first day assembling; giving; personal study; family devotionals; gospel meetings; lectureships; camp; family vacations to places where the congregation was supporting preachers, etc.
g. “Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the Lord God of their fathers.” Leadership! Note that it was not just about his personal salvation, but about stimulating others to love and good deeds too.
2. After the return from the captivity during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.
a. Rebuilt the temple (Ezra 6:13ff).
b. Observed the Passover (Ezra 6:19ff).
c. Gathered leading men to go up with him (Ezra 7:27ff).
1) Priests.
2) Levites.
3) Teachers.
d. Prayed (Ezra 8:21-23).
e. Nehemiah.
1) Prayed (2:1ff).
2) Read the law to the people (8:1ff).
3) Made a covenant (9:38-10:1ff).
C. Indeed this was the call of John the Baptist and Jesus.
1. The severity of John’s message is suggestive of the priority that it needed to occupy in people’s lives (Matt. 3:7-12).
2. Jesus’ priority was evident in various ways.
a. “We have left everything” (Matt. 20:16-30).
b. Parable of the hidden treasure and the parable of the costly pearly (Matt. 13:44-45).
D. N.T. prophets reiterated the same priority in their day.
1. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
2. “I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.” (2 Tim. 1:5).
3. “The things that you have heard in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).
III. How can we keep our spirituality, our relationship with God, alive and vital? What mechanisms has God given to promote the cultivation of our relationship with Him? We must consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24).A. God has given us various specifics designed to cultivate our relationship with Him.
1. He communicates with us through the mechanism of His word (Heb. 1:1-2; 2:1-4; Acts 2:42).
2. He has given us leaders in the church (Eph. 4:11ff;) and in the family (Eph. 6:4). Qualification in the family leads to qualification in the church (1 Tim. 3:2, 4-5; Titus 1:6, 9).
3. He has given us one another (Heb. 10:24-25). We are to teach and admonish one another--in song (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), by example (1 Pet. 5:3), and really in any way possible (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
4. Overseers have a particular responsibility in teaching.
B. Some things are very specifically required by God like assembling and observing the Lord’s Supper Memorial and laying by in store--some are expedient; ex. times of assembling, curriculum (what is going to be taught when), who will teach what. Probably more effective to have a specific plan rather than a haphazard approach.
C. In family and personal study and the development of personal and family traditions good judgment needs to be used to accomplish the objectives.
1. If we approach from doing the bare minimum, only what is absolutely required, we are missing the point.
2. Do what you can to accomplish the objective. Don’t just put in time.
3. Careful not to think of the expedients as unimportant. They are just as important as the requirements. They are not to be neglected.
D. In order to accomplish such you must buy into the purpose of God. His business is seeking and saving the lost. Is that what is important to you? If so, you give your time, money and energy to it at a personal, family and public level. I fear that too many are “in it for themselves.” Not understanding that they are already saved they are working to try to be saved. Their orientation is “what are the requirements?” “What is the least I can do?” They do not understand. When one comprehends that they are already saved they are touched by God’s gift to the point that they understand and “buy in” to what He has done and want others to experience it. Thus, they busy themselves trying to help others understand it. The rich man in torment understood. Note how evangelistic he has become (Lk. 16:27-28). Those who do not understand withhold their energy, efforts, power. Those who do understand give all to the kingdom.
Conclusion:
1. This understanding comes through educating Christians. We are disciples—learners who adhere to the teaching of Christ. 2. Spirituality, is our top priority. 3. This week study abouta. The value of reading and personal study – Aaron Genton.
b. Family devotionals—Jonathan Alford (young children); Dennis Hale (mid-age children); Heath Stone (older children).
c. Effective bible classes—Tim Wallace.
d. Purposeful assembling—Derek Todd.
4. These are just some of the considerations we need to make in cultivating spirituality as our top priority. 5. Make a covenant with the Lord to make the changes that you feel you need to make, but first “buy in” to the objective of God in seeking and saving the lost as the matter of top priority.
