Yesterday, John and I went to a Christian bookstore together for the first time in awhile. I go there fairly regularly and, as a creature of habit, there are specific sections that I just naturally avoid as they don’t interest me. John doesn’t go as frequently as I do so he decided to stroll around. He couldn’t believe the resources available for pastor’s and lay leaders. He remembers the day when an expanded concordance was groovy. Nowadays, all one needs to do with the right software, is type in the keyword and hey presto, not only does the software do all the work but it also generates a sermon! How easy is that? We live in an age where we have access to much more information than we need. We also need understanding and wisdom to follow that knowledge.

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A few years ago, in my home-schooling experience, I learned how important it is to search for information for oneself. Predigested information rarely touches a person’s heart and mind, compelling them search further with the hope of finding a truth or impacting their life. However, as a person comes into contact with ideas and concepts, searches and studies to find the truths within, this process is his responsibility. It is in this process of responsibility, that the knowledge being learned is connecting with other ideas being learned and it is slowly being transformed into understanding and eventually, hopefully, wisdom. (Of course, predigested information can plant a seed in a listener’s heart, driving them to pursue truth further)

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Knowledge is not a dirty word. There’s nothing wrong with knowledge- it’s necessary and good and worthwhile. However, the Bible tells us that…

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
1 Corinthians 8:1b-2

 

So, what does all this have to do with leading our children into a lifetime habit of Bible study? We don’t need all the latest software or the latest book that gives us all the information. Sometimes it is good but most times it is predigested. Someone else has done the work…read and studied. No doubt they have benefited from their study but simply reading or listening to someone else’s nugget without doing any work for ourselves, will not yield the quality and life impacting gem we need. It’s easier but we need to think of process, not just outcome…we need to think of quality, not quantity.

 

How familiar with the Holy Bible are you? Have you learned any truths simply by being in God’s word with a few simple Bible study tools? I’d love to hear from you.

In His Grace,