Scripture Meditation

Printable PDF

PRAYING TOGETHER

Share your needs, and pray for one another.

SERVING TOGETHER

Identify a service project to participate in together.

LEADER NOTES

Introduction to the Way of Apprenticeship​:

• Definition of Apprenticeship - ​Apprenticeship is embodied loving trust in Jesus, empowered by His Spirit, transforming us into His image.

1. What are the implications of the words “embodied loving trust?” ​ - This is the ​WHAT​ of apprenticeship. “​Fully embodied”​ reminds us that apprenticeship is a whole-life way of being and seeing in the world ... it includes your blood, sweat, and tears ... your hands, feet, head, and heart ... your words, thoughts, and emotions. Fully embodies implies that Jesus is Lord of all our being and doing. ​“Loving​ trust” ​indicates that an apprentice acknowledges that Jesus is Lord of all our being and doing, and he is the one who tells us about reality. Jesus defines in his Word what is the good life--what is good, beautiful, and true. He teaches us how to live in wisdom, and how to be truly human as God designed us to be. And it is “​loving​ ​trust”​ , not cold obedience. It is working out our love for him.

2. What is meant by “empowered by the Spirit?” -​ This is the “​HOW​” of apprenticeship. It is through the miracle of the indwelling Spirit that enables the acting out of our love and trust in Jesus. A Christian, by definition, is one who has the Spirit of Jesus dwelling in them. We are called to “walk by the Spirit” and to “be led by the Spirit” (Gal. 5).

3. What is the significance of “transformed into His image?” ​ - This is the ​WHY​ of apprenticeship. The goal is to become like Jesus, to be transformed into His image. Being transformed into the image of Jesus glorifies God, and is the way we become truly human as we were designed to be--like Jesus.

Paradigm or Model of Apprenticeship

UNION​ → ​ABIDING & OBEYING​ → I​MAGING

1. UNION - ​Every Christian is a miracle. An apprentice is one who has been united to the Master. United to Jesus. Union with Christ is one of the deepest, most profound truths of the Christian life. The life of Jesus leads to the death of Jesus, and then to the resurrection of Jesus, and to the ascension of Jesus ... and ultimately to the incredible truth that JESUS GIVES US HIS SPIRIT! This occurred historically in Acts 2 where the Holy Spirit was poured out on believers there indicating their REGENERATION, NEW BIRTH, ADOPTION, and given NEW HEARTS. This is how the Triune God immerses us into the life of God. ThisisdescribedinGal.2:20-21wherePauldescribesitasChristBEINGINUS,andweBEINGIN CHRIST. Paul teaches that an apprentice of Jesus is called by him, and united to Him by His Spirit so that Jesus life is within us by HIS SPIRIT

2. ABIDING & OBEYING - Apprentices ABIDE ​with the Master and OBEY what the master says. ​With Union with Christ as the life-giving reality through His Spirit, we turn to our daily being. Being with the Master is at the core of being an apprentice. An apprentice painter spends her days with the master, watching, observing, talking, asking questions, learning, absorbing the way of the master. There is a true relationship established around the key of BEING WITH or ABIDING. But it is not just BEING WITH, but there is DOING as well. The apprentice doesn’t just watch, but takes up the palette and brush and puts paint on canvas. Someone who just hangs out with the master but doesn't PRACTICE or DO what the master says is NOT an apprentice. They are just an audience, a consumer, a spectator, part of the crowd.

3. IMAGING - The end result of apprenticeship is to be transformed into the image of Christ.

Seven Practices of Apprenticeship

These practices are NOT aimed at earning God’s love or acceptance (that is already done by our having been UNITED to Christ), but rather at learning to be like Christ in our LOVING.

1. Scripture meditation

2. Unceasing prayer

3. Life together

4. Unhurried presence

5. Joyful generosity

6. Compassionate gentleness

7. Faithful witness

Apprenticeship Practice #1 - Scripture Meditation

• What two paths are presented in Psalm 1? What defines which path you are on? ​ ​The path of “blessing” (v. 1) vs. the path of “perishing” (last word of the Psalm). The key difference is “who do you listen to?” and “who do you trust?” Those on the path to perishing “walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, and sit in the seat of scoffers.” Those who are blessed are those “whose delight is in the law (instruction) of the Lord, and on that law, they meditate day and night.”

• What is the difference between “meditating” vs. “reading” scripture? ​“Meditation” is an eating, a delighting in, an unhurried, effort engaged intensive and focused reading of God’s Word. It is NOT in a hurry to give an easy answer and move on to something new. According to Pastor Heath, the word used for meditation in Psalm 1 involves “gnawing” on the scripture like a dog gnawing a bone. Or “savoring” the Words of God like one would savor a wonderfully seasoned and tender steak. It’s a slow, thoughtful, digging process that seeks to get all the buried treasure that is hidden beneath the surface of God’s Word.

• Do you think of SCRIPTURE MEDITATION as more being or doing?​ Pastor Heath makes the point that SCRIPTURE MEDITATION is not simply DOING something or checking off a box, Instead, it is a WAY OF BEING, a way of being with and abiding in Jesus. It is a practice of DELIGHTING IN JESUS, not just gathering data about him. It is unhurriedly sitting at the feet of Jesus under the teaching of Scripture, learning the ways and words and thoughts of Jesus.