Will You Invest Your Time Well This Summer?

Just like an investor, we must seek to wisely use our God given resources including time and energy. So, how will you invest your summer?

There are many good ways you might use your summer:

1. Work to save money
2. Take summer classes 
3. Serve others (servant evangelism, serving other Christians, serving parents).
4. Fellowship with other Christians
5. Get to Know God and his Truth Better: study the word and learn from others who studied a lot

Many of these (#3-5) are really non-negotiables because they are commanded of all believers. And it is the last point I'd like to focus on in the rest of this post. I'd like to encourage you to plan to grow in your knowledge of God and his truth. If you do not plan to do it, it will not magically happen.

First, I encourage you to pick a book of the Bible to study this summer. By study, I do not mean to merely read over it (though that is included). I mean to dig into it and seek to get more than just a surface level understanding. Maybe you are thinking, "Great...but how do I do that?". Here is another post that has a handout I have put together on how to study the Bible. Start with a small book (one of Paul's letters maybe).

Second, I encourage you to read through at least one good, Christian book to feed your mind and soul this summer. Learning at the feet of those who have spent much time and spiritual energy studying God's Word is a profitable use of time. To ignore this fact is pride. That being said, I would caution you against picking up the latest "best seller" at the Christian bookstore. Reading a book is an investment of time and energy, and you will only read through so many in your lifetime. So, pick wisely. One reason we do the "summer reading" in the church library is to help you pick a book that we, as shepherds of this church, believe will be a wise use of your time and energy. Here is a link to the list of books for this summer.

So, how will you invest your time this summer? I pray you invest it in many God glorifying ways (enjoying his creation, deepening friendships, serving others). I pray you will make it a priority to grow in your ability to study Scripture and to benefit from a good Christian book.

Don't Waste Your Summer: Read Good Books

Here is the 2013 Summer Reading list (these books are available in the church library):

Theology

The Man Christ Jesus by Ware
The Pleasures of God by Piper

The Holiness of God by Sproul

Biography
The Legacy of Sovereign Joy: God's grace in the lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin

The Mighty Weakness of John Knox by Lawson

Christian Living
Holiness by JC Ryle

What is a Healthy Church Member by Anyabwile

The Disciplines of Grace by Bridges

WomenPracticing Hospitality by Ennis and Tatlock

Men

The Shepherd Leader at Home by Witmer

Studying the Bible

Here is a resource to help you develop the skill of studying the Bible. Studying the Bible involves reading, but goes more in-depth.  Use the following 3 step approach to help you.

1.      Observation This is simply to ask the basic questions about what is in the text (who, what, where, when, why, how). 

                                                  i.      What type of writing is it (genre)?: Narrative (Acts), Law (Leviticus), Poetry 
                            (Psalms), Wisdom (Proverbs), Prophecy, Gospel (like narrative, but focuses on
                            Jesus and his ministry on earth), Epistle (letter).  This affects how it is suppose to
                            be read. 
                                                ii.      What is being said? Are there promises made or commands or warnings
                             given.Are there comparisons being made (ex. Light/darkness; truth/falsehood).
                                              iii.      Who- If it is an epistle, note who is writing and to whom they are speaking in
                               the passage you are reading.  If it is a narrative or Gospel, note who is speaking
                                and who their audience is.
                                               iv.      When did the events take place (also note if it is New or Old Testament).  Within
                              the passage, what is the order of events described (look for words like: after
                              this, immediately, until).
                                                 v.      Where did the action take place? 
                                               vi.      Are there any repeated words or themes (ex. Rejoice/joy appears many times in
                              Philippians).
                                           vii.      Look for important connecting words like “therefore” (usually telling you to
                             look back and see the reasons for the statement about to follow), “in order that”
                             (the purpose or result of what was just said), “for” or “because”(which signifies
                             that what is about to be said supports the previous statement) “if…then” (a
                             conditional statement), “but” or “and not” (contrasts), “like” or “as”
                             (comparisons).

2.      Interpretation This is actually trying to understand what the author meant.  What were the original readers suppose to understand by what was written?

                                                  i.      Think about how the type of writing (genre) affects they way it should be
                              interpreted (ex. poetry should be handled differently than law).

                                                ii.      Note the context, what is happening before and after the passage.  Within a
                              book, each passage is connected to the others around it.  The context helps you
                              understand what is being said.  (example, Luke 4:7 “worship me and all will be
                              yours.”  This is not a promise to Christians. The context shows that this is Satan
                              tempting Jesus.).                       iii.    Are there any other Scriptures that come to mind which provide insight
                              (cross references, related themes, etc.)?

                                              iv.      Look up any words you don’t know or that are repeated in a Bible dictionary
                             (http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries/).

                                               v.      Try paraphrasing important verses- this will force you to really understand it
                             and put it in your own words.

                                              vi.    Look at a commentary to help you understand verses you don’t understand
                             (maybe even get a study Bible like the, ESV SB or MacArthur SB).

3.      Application The blessing of God’s Word is in the doing of it.  Application involves understanding how it applied to the original readers (mostly done in the interpretation section above) and how it transfers and applies to you today.

                                                  i.      Ask:

1. Is there an underlying principle that can transfer from the biblical time period to me today?
2. Is there a command to obey?
3. Is there a sin to forsake?
4. Is there a promise to believe?
5. Is there a truth to hold on to?
6. Is there an example to follow or avoid?

                                                ii.      Pray and ask God to help you apply what you have learned

"God help us if we don’t learn from Gosnell’s crimes"

In light of the Gosnell conviction on three counts of first degree murder, for killing' born alive' babies, Denny Burk discusses the significance and what we should learn. Here is an excerpt:

The Gosnell trial exposes the abortion license for what it is. It forces Americans to look square in the face at what they usually cover up in euphemism and indifference. Gosnell killed human beings. He regularly killed them inside the womb, and he regularly killed them outside the womb. Gosnell forces us to ask the questions that the pro-abortion activists desperately try to keep us from asking. Why was it legal to kill the one and not the other? Why is it normal and right to kill a baby in the birth canal but appalling and repugnant to kill that same baby moments later outside the womb? Gosnell exposes the farce that a baby’s location should determine his right to life.

"The Goodness of God and the Reality of Evil"

The tragedy in Oklahoma is heart rending. As we pray for those left in its wake, we would also do well to reflect on the problem of evil. Here is an article by Dr. Mohler reflecting on God's sovereignty, goodness, and the reality of evil. The whole article is worth reading, but here are the concluding paragraphs:

We dare not speak on God’s behalf to explain why He allowed these particular acts of evil to happen at this time to these persons and in this manner. Yet, at the same time, we dare not be silent when we should testify to the God of righteousness and love and justice who rules over all in omnipotence. Humility requires that we affirm all that the Bible teaches, and go no further. There is much we do not understand. As Charles Spurgeon explained, when we cannot trace God’s hand, we must simply trust His heart.

And so, we weep with those who weep, and we reach out with acts of care and compassion. We pray for those who are grieving and have experienced such loss. We cry for the children lost in this storm, even as we are so thankful for brave people who did their best to save lives as the winds raged. And, we pray: Even so, Lord come quickly.

"Sneering at Parents, Hiding Behind “Science — The Emergency Contraception Controversy"

Here is an insightful article by Dr. Al Mohler on the recent upheaval about "plan B" emergency contraceptives. Not too long ago, a New York Judge ruled that girls as young as 10 should have unrestricted access to this powerful, antiabortion drug without doctor or parental approval. Yes, girls who cannot even get an ear pierced or be given an antibiotic without parental approval should be allowed access to emergency contraception drugs according to this judge.

"Preparing Students for Graduation"

Kevin DeYoung is pastor of a church near Michigan State University. He wrote an article listing what he wants those graduating and moving away from his church to have gained from their time there.

He wants them to have a good grasp on: the storyline of the Bible, major areas of theology, and what a healthy church looks like.

He also pointed out the importance of seeing growth in attitude. Here were three attitudes he pointed out:

• Eager to serve – Does the student show up at church expecting the red carpet or looking to help others?
• Eager to commit – I love new people who visit our church, decide on our church, and then throw themselves in to being a part of our church.
• Eager to learn – This may be the most important point (after the gospel) in this entire post. No matter the other deficiencies, pastors can work with young Christians who are hungry for good preaching, open to correction, and above all, teachable.

I pray your time at Grace Church is instilling these attitudes in you for the good of this local body of believers and for the good of whatever church God may one day take you to.