Study

The Discipline of Study

Pastor Richard Hovey

"Prayerful, careful, meditative, self-evaluating study is a vital means of forming ourselves ever closer to the truth" (Evan B. Howard, A Guide to Christian Spiritual Formation).

Study is the "intentional process of engaging the mind with the written and spoken Word of God and the world God has created in such a way that the mind takes on an order conforming to the order upon which it concentrates."

Defining Study

"Study is a specific kind of experience in which through careful attention to reality the mind is able to move in a certain direction. Remember, the mind will always take on an order conforming to the order upon which it concentrates" (Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline).

"The bible is divine revelation. God's own word to us. It reveals who God is, who we are and why we are here. Through bible study we gain insights into God, human nature and creation. Studying the Scripture can equip, guide and reveal how to live in life-giving ways that deepen our friendship with God and others" (Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook).

"In the spiritual discipline of study we engage ourselves, above all, with the written and spoken word of God. . . In study we also strive to see the Word of God at work in the lives of others, in the church, in history, and in nature. . . We not only read and hear and inquire . . but we prayerfully and steadily focus upon it" (Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines).

Practicing the Discipline of Study

Pick a passage of Scripture to read and use the suggestions for study given by Richard Foster: repetition (read the passage several times, perhaps twice a day for a week); concentration (as you reread the passage, begin to concentrate more on the words you are reading); comprehension (as you read and reread, intentionally concentrating on the words you are reading, watch for moments when you gain new insight into the passage); reflection (ask what the significance is of what you've learned for your own life). You may want to use a few different Bible translations to read from.
Pick a book of the Bible to read (perhaps one of the Gospels of Epistles). Read slowly, only a chapter a week (reading it more than once), and to go along with your reading of a book of the Bible, read a commentary on this Bible book and/or listen to a sermon series on it.
As your read the Bible, here are a few other things you can do to enhance your study of what you are reading: write down observations or questions that you have as you read; look up any cross-references your Bible may suggest; do a word study on key words, seeing how they are used elsewhere in Scripture; create your own outline of the passage you are reading.
Beyond the Bible, you can also take time to study other books (there are some great classics of Christian literature which would be worth reading and rereading, including: The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis, Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis and many more). If you would like a fuller list, check out 25 Books Every Christian Should Read (Renovaré)

Bible Reading Plan/App

Another recommendation I would give to go along with the discipline of study is regular Bible readings. There are a number of apps and plans out there to choose from, but here are just a couple of recommendations:

Bible Gateway has a number of plans on their website to choose from, including: Old & New Testament (a passage form each Testament each day), Chronological (working through the accounts in the Bible in the order they occurred), Bible in 90 Days (an intensive reading program), New Testament in a Year and many more.
Read Scripture is a great app which will guide you in reading through the Bible as well, either daily or at your own pace. This app also includes short videos which provide an overview of sections of the Bible.

Resources

General Books on Reading the Bible

How to Read the Bible for all its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart (2003)
Life with God: Reading the Bible for Spiritual Transformation by Richard Foster (2008)
Understanding Scripture: An Overview of the Bible's Origin, Reliability, and Meaning edited by Grudem, Collins, and Schreiner (2012)
Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind by Tremper Longman III (1997)

Articles on the Discipline of Study

Understanding Study by Richard Foster

Pursuing Spiritual Growth (with insights on study) with Francis Chan and Chip Ingram

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