15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that has nothing to be ashamed of, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV
Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. MSG
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. NLT
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. NASB 2 Tim. 2:15
If we all had to have our beds, lockers, or houses checked.....oh my it would be a totally different world. But the since I get when I read 2Timothy 2:15 is for us, the believers to take our studying of the WORD of GOD serious, if for nothing else to show our Father our devotion to learning about Him, His will for us, and His WORD. Hence the picture above.....I read into the text that we are essentially to BE ALL WE CAN BE FOR GOD! None of us will be perfect, but it's always about putting our best foot forward in learning the WORD. But unfortunately what I see, what many of us see, is that we are a lazy people. For instance according to recent publishing for college students they are expected to spend 3hrs of studying for every credit hour. The average H.S. student is expected to spend roughly 4-6hr a night studying. Now I know few to none of us, or our kids study to this max, but we can all agree that some study more than others. To be even more realistic some don't have to spend as much time, as they retain more, while others don't study as much as they should.
So what is one to do......The WORD is true, and doesn't lie.....so are we....believers to actually study the WORD of GOD? Are we really expected to know scripture? YES and YES! I grew up being told that the BIBLE is our BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH, and if I'm honest....if I truly had spent more time studying earlier in life, it very well may have saved me from many of the mistakes that I made. Wisdom is knowledge applied....and if you don't have knowledge of the WORD you can't apply it to everyday living so in turn you find yourself making the same mistakes (financially, relationally, professionally) expecting different results, which we all know is insanity.
So PASTOR RAY, what do you suggest we do: I thought you'd never ask..
1) Since you, we are roughly in church for about 1-2hrs, while 20-40min of that is given to presenting the message, that you'd devote at least 30-1hr reading/studying the verse for yourself.
2) This is assuming (cause we should be doing this) review any notes you have taken, see if there's something you missed. If you can go online to listen to the message again, or have a CD, utilize those tools to help in your studying.
3) Challenge your pastor/church leadership, if there is something you don't understand call them, and ask them to explain it, in most cases they would love for someone to ask them to further impart spiritual knowledge.
4) Get into a small group, a Bible Study at your local church....in ACTS 2:44-47 it was in these small groups that people grew in faith, and wisdom, and as a result the church grew. We were designed for community, and without it, we are only an island to ourselves.
I'm sorry but there is nothing much more shameful than a said believer showing up to work on Monday, and being asked " What was the message about.....?" Only to have them tell you....they don't know, they can't remember.....because this is not showing yourself approved. This is showing them you are not a student of the WORD, and you could've actually not even gone to church and produced the same answer. It's time for us to wake up, Christian brothers and sisters....and in our hands should be the tools necessary on Sunday morning to take notes, jot down ideas that spin from the our full engagement into the WORSHIP EXPERIENCE on SUNDAY. I currently see a few folks taking notes, others grabbing CDs after service......but only GOD knows are you taking growing in knowledge/wisdom serious enough that you are changing how you love and live in a post-modern world.
You know what was mind blowing, and impressive....? Watching the movie The Book of Eli, and seeing how one man dedicated his life to getting the WORD of GOD in him so much, that he memorized. When I think of 2Timothy 2:15....I can't help but think of the example that man had of being able to recite the WORD cover to cover. It would be incredible if we all could do that, me included....but for now....can you at least begin taking notes, studying, get into a group, and being ready to give an honorable, and intelligent answer when someone asks you...."What was the message about...?" LGLP247
So what is one to do......The WORD is true, and doesn't lie.....so are we....believers to actually study the WORD of GOD? Are we really expected to know scripture? YES and YES! I grew up being told that the BIBLE is our BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH, and if I'm honest....if I truly had spent more time studying earlier in life, it very well may have saved me from many of the mistakes that I made. Wisdom is knowledge applied....and if you don't have knowledge of the WORD you can't apply it to everyday living so in turn you find yourself making the same mistakes (financially, relationally, professionally) expecting different results, which we all know is insanity.
So PASTOR RAY, what do you suggest we do: I thought you'd never ask..
1) Since you, we are roughly in church for about 1-2hrs, while 20-40min of that is given to presenting the message, that you'd devote at least 30-1hr reading/studying the verse for yourself.
2) This is assuming (cause we should be doing this) review any notes you have taken, see if there's something you missed. If you can go online to listen to the message again, or have a CD, utilize those tools to help in your studying.
3) Challenge your pastor/church leadership, if there is something you don't understand call them, and ask them to explain it, in most cases they would love for someone to ask them to further impart spiritual knowledge.
4) Get into a small group, a Bible Study at your local church....in ACTS 2:44-47 it was in these small groups that people grew in faith, and wisdom, and as a result the church grew. We were designed for community, and without it, we are only an island to ourselves.I'm sorry but there is nothing much more shameful than a said believer showing up to work on Monday, and being asked " What was the message about.....?" Only to have them tell you....they don't know, they can't remember.....because this is not showing yourself approved. This is showing them you are not a student of the WORD, and you could've actually not even gone to church and produced the same answer. It's time for us to wake up, Christian brothers and sisters....and in our hands should be the tools necessary on Sunday morning to take notes, jot down ideas that spin from the our full engagement into the WORSHIP EXPERIENCE on SUNDAY. I currently see a few folks taking notes, others grabbing CDs after service......but only GOD knows are you taking growing in knowledge/wisdom serious enough that you are changing how you love and live in a post-modern world.
You know what was mind blowing, and impressive....? Watching the movie The Book of Eli, and seeing how one man dedicated his life to getting the WORD of GOD in him so much, that he memorized. When I think of 2Timothy 2:15....I can't help but think of the example that man had of being able to recite the WORD cover to cover. It would be incredible if we all could do that, me included....but for now....can you at least begin taking notes, studying, get into a group, and being ready to give an honorable, and intelligent answer when someone asks you...."What was the message about...?" LGLP247
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