Comments on: It’s time to stop spoon-feeding sixty year-olds http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/10/23/its-time-to-stop-spoon-feeding-sixty-year-olds/ Thoughts on faith and culture from the community of NewLife Christian Fellowship, Glastonbury, CT Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:05:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: A seeker http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/10/23/its-time-to-stop-spoon-feeding-sixty-year-olds/comment-page-1/#comment-3367 A seeker Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:27:19 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/10/23/its-time-to-stop-spoon-feeding-sixty-year-olds/#comment-3367 <p>Psalm 13:1-3 explains what motivates me: The periods of time when God seems to be distant, and the sorrows of life and personal brokenness, create a thirst for Him. A longing for light in the darkness. "Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death." Reading God's word is just like getting to know someone better. The whole Bible is a continuing revelation of who God is. But we choose how far we want to go in getting to know Him, don't we?<br /> Mainly, I like to study a book of the Bible at a time, with a commentary or two, and just read a few verses a day. I ask myself, "Why is this passage in the Bible?" I pray, I write down thoughts, I look up similar passages. It seems like people don't have the time to do this.</p> Psalm 13:1-3 explains what motivates me: The periods of time when God seems to be distant, and the sorrows of life and personal brokenness, create a thirst for Him. A longing for light in the darkness. “Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.” Reading God’s word is just like getting to know someone better. The whole Bible is a continuing revelation of who God is. But we choose how far we want to go in getting to know Him, don’t we?
Mainly, I like to study a book of the Bible at a time, with a commentary or two, and just read a few verses a day. I ask myself, “Why is this passage in the Bible?” I pray, I write down thoughts, I look up similar passages. It seems like people don’t have the time to do this.

]]> By: Tim http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/10/23/its-time-to-stop-spoon-feeding-sixty-year-olds/comment-page-1/#comment-3366 Tim Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:26:24 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/10/23/its-time-to-stop-spoon-feeding-sixty-year-olds/#comment-3366 <p>Food for thought:</p> <p>What motivates you to dig into scriptures? What excites you as you open up God's word?<br /> Do the people share this?</p> <p>What tools do you use to find the treasures that exist there? How do you "mine" the gold?<br /> Do the people know that much is to be gained by digging deep? Meditating? Personalizing the scripture?</p> Food for thought:

What motivates you to dig into scriptures? What excites you as you open up God’s word?
Do the people share this?

What tools do you use to find the treasures that exist there? How do you “mine” the gold?
Do the people know that much is to be gained by digging deep? Meditating? Personalizing the scripture?

]]> By: A seeker http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/10/23/its-time-to-stop-spoon-feeding-sixty-year-olds/comment-page-1/#comment-3365 A seeker Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:25:10 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/10/23/its-time-to-stop-spoon-feeding-sixty-year-olds/#comment-3365 <p>Really interesting topic. I guess it's time for me to be thankful for those who taught me to memorize Bible verses 30 years ago, and those who taught me to read the Bible and ask what it means 20 years ago, and those who taught me to study the Bible as intently as I would study in any college classes 10 years ago. I could go on and on, I think, and it's great to reflect on this topic, on moving forward and knowing we always can go deeper, on our own, as you said. We need an intimate and ever-deepening relationship with Jesus. And as you said, at the same time we are not supposed to go it alone, but in a commmunity... So, may I urge spiritual leaders everywhere (if you happen to be reading this blog), never, ever give up preaching the Word of God in all its fulness! The messages of the Bible never grow old for us! It's really okay to go over and over the gospel, because salvation is an unfolding story from Genesis to Revelation and it's our joy! The Spirit-led preaching of God's Word is still great food for our souls. The messages from the pulpit don't need to be revved up just because we've "heard it all before," because the Spirit continually teaches us to know God better through the written Word. And may I also urge anyone who has given up on church altogether to go it alone because of all the flaws in the people there--the people in our churches are also helping us develop the qualities mentioned in the Scripture above (2 Peter 1:3-8) because we learn to love them not based on their actions, but on the outflow of the love of God that's been given to us. Lastly, may I urge those who are feeling stalled in their Christian faith to meditate on Psalm 42:1-2. Pray for that in your lives!</p> Really interesting topic. I guess it’s time for me to be thankful for those who taught me to memorize Bible verses 30 years ago, and those who taught me to read the Bible and ask what it means 20 years ago, and those who taught me to study the Bible as intently as I would study in any college classes 10 years ago. I could go on and on, I think, and it’s great to reflect on this topic, on moving forward and knowing we always can go deeper, on our own, as you said. We need an intimate and ever-deepening relationship with Jesus. And as you said, at the same time we are not supposed to go it alone, but in a commmunity… So, may I urge spiritual leaders everywhere (if you happen to be reading this blog), never, ever give up preaching the Word of God in all its fulness! The messages of the Bible never grow old for us! It’s really okay to go over and over the gospel, because salvation is an unfolding story from Genesis to Revelation and it’s our joy! The Spirit-led preaching of God’s Word is still great food for our souls. The messages from the pulpit don’t need to be revved up just because we’ve “heard it all before,” because the Spirit continually teaches us to know God better through the written Word. And may I also urge anyone who has given up on church altogether to go it alone because of all the flaws in the people there–the people in our churches are also helping us develop the qualities mentioned in the Scripture above (2 Peter 1:3-8) because we learn to love them not based on their actions, but on the outflow of the love of God that’s been given to us. Lastly, may I urge those who are feeling stalled in their Christian faith to meditate on Psalm 42:1-2. Pray for that in your lives!

]]> By: Mat http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/10/23/its-time-to-stop-spoon-feeding-sixty-year-olds/comment-page-1/#comment-3364 Mat Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:24:03 +0000 http://www.newlife-glastonbury.org/blog/2007/10/23/its-time-to-stop-spoon-feeding-sixty-year-olds/#comment-3364 <p>great post Eric on what Christians need to do and committing to continual spiritual transformation. I think that many Christian leaders like the power that comes with dependency, and are afraid of empowering others who might be more gifted than they are.<br /> Your story brings me back ;) Warm UConn memories!</p> great post Eric on what Christians need to do and committing to continual spiritual transformation. I think that many Christian leaders like the power that comes with dependency, and are afraid of empowering others who might be more gifted than they are.
Your story brings me back ;) Warm UConn memories!

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