I’ve never been a reader. I hated it.
In grade school, my twin brother was always in the first reading group. I was lucky if I was in the second. While I did graduate from college, studying was always a struggle due in part to my undeveloped reading skills.
But I didn’t care, because I wanted to work with my hands.
When I was twenty-one, I accepted God’s offer of “salvation,” and, like so many others who had done so, continued to live as I saw fit. I had no concern for my destiny since I already had a ticket to Heaven. I’d heard this every time I went to church, that is, as often as it was convenient to do so.
It was as if I had a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card in my back pocket.
But a number of years ago, something inconvenient happened, or at least that’s the way I originally perceived it. I became hungry for God’s word, but I couldn’t seem to get full. A switch had been turned on in me and I wanted to read or hear about anything that anybody had to say about God, the Bible and Jesus Christ. I couldn’t understand why since I thought that I already knew everything I needed to know on these subjects.
My unexplained religious zeal led me to regular attendance in men’s congregational Bible studies and close fellowship with others sharing common interests. I was amazed to find that adult men actually got together and discussed what the Scriptures said—and enjoyed it. I learned many truths from others who had studied much longer than me.
But some of my questions remained unanswered.
I became increasingly bewildered that some passages of Scripture seemed quite significant in their contexts but were never examined to any detail, much less discussed. I also discovered that there were always doctrinal boundaries that were never to be crossed or challenged.
I wondered…if the integrity of sound doctrine was never tested, could it really be said to exist?
Was this a practical approach to understanding something so important? I instinctively knew that there was a more realistic method to apply to the study process, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
The concept seemed too simple the day a friend explained the inductive study process to me
First and foremost, eliminate (at least temporarily) any doctrinal biases or premises which are held in the mind. Another way of saying this is to employ Scriptural exegesis. That is to say, bring nothing INTO the interpretive process, only interpret based on what can be taken OUT FROM the text. Then do what should come naturally:
1. Make observations about who was writing to whom and when.
2. Notice where something’s written from, and for what reason.
3. Look for key phrases, contrasts and comparisons. [see: Common threads are common]
4. Note expressions of time and verb tenses. [Past, Present, Future, etc.]
5. Try to list any basic themes or lists present in the text.
Only then should any attempt be made to interpret the passage, always considering the context.
This process is not just a Biblical one. It’s an effective learning tool for anyone wanting to accurately understand text. It transforms the reader into a level of confidence and understanding that cannot be otherwise achieved.
The key to the inductive process is the presence of other committed members of the Body of Christ in weekly study meetings. I’ve come to understand passages of Scripture that used to make no sense to me at all, due in part to the effective participation of other men.
The story of God’s redemptive plan for men and women to share Christ’s inheritance in the His kingdom is very visible to me now. But if I want to inherit with Christ, I have to endure in His sufferings.
That’s something I learned through inductive study.
Words mean things.
Posted: February 20, 2015 by cjournalme Leave a Comment
You Are What You Eat
“I don’t have the time...”
When a friend suggested to me that I begin to memorize and recite a selected verse of Scripture every week, this was my spontaneous mental response. I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
I was being forced out of my comfort zone and accountability was on the horizon.
But something told me it was the thing to do. Actually, it was more than that. I knew I had to do it. There was also something that appealed to my sense of urgency, and this time I couldn’t wait until it felt right. I didn’t understand why committing any part of God’s word to memory was so important.
But I did it anyway. And it didn’t take long to for me to realize what a valuable tool Scripture memorization was. The more verses I retained, the more peripheral other thoughts became.
I felt like I was feeding the right dog.
I was becoming better equipped to be a witness to the good news of Christ’s redemptive work and the hope of reigning with Him when He appears. I was gaining confidence that I wouldn’t have to “shrink away from Him at His coming.” (1 Jn. 2:28)
In his second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul conveys the absolute power of the Inspired word of God in gaining the edge over the power of the flesh:
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…” (vs.. 10:3-5)
Paul’s knowledge of God was the result of a personal revelation from Christ. My knowledge of Him must come primarily from reading and retaining. If I want to be able to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” I’d best have a well-functioning search engine in my head.
As a tradesman, I intuitively sensed the need for keeping all my tools sharp, knowing that good performance is based in part on the condition in which they’re kept. And performance is always recompensed, both temporally and in the age to come.
Perhaps the most convincing text supporting Scripture memory comes from the Psalmist David:
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you. ” (Ps. 119:11)
He addresses what the real problem was…and acknowledges the only real solution.
Last Updated: August 12, 2025 by cjournalme Leave a Comment
Inductive Study? Sounds Like a Plan.
I’ve never been a reader. I hated it.
In grade school, my twin brother was always in the first reading group. I was lucky if I was in the second. While I did graduate from college, studying was always a struggle due in part to my undeveloped reading skills.
But I didn’t care, because I wanted to work with my hands.
When I was twenty-one, I accepted God’s offer of “salvation,” and, like so many others who had done so, continued to live as I saw fit. I had no concern for my destiny since I already had a ticket to Heaven. I’d heard this every time I went to church, that is, as often as it was convenient to do so.
It was as if I had a “Get Out Of Jail Free” card in my back pocket.
But a number of years ago, something inconvenient happened, or at least that’s the way I originally perceived it. I became hungry for God’s word, but I couldn’t seem to get full. A switch had been turned on in me and I wanted to read or hear about anything that anybody had to say about God, the Bible and Jesus Christ. I couldn’t understand why since I thought that I already knew everything I needed to know on these subjects.
My unexplained religious zeal led me to regular attendance in men’s congregational Bible studies and close fellowship with others sharing common interests. I was amazed to find that adult men actually got together and discussed what the Scriptures said—and enjoyed it. I learned many truths from others who had studied much longer than me.
But some of my questions remained unanswered.
I became increasingly bewildered that some passages of Scripture seemed quite significant in their contexts but were never examined to any detail, much less discussed. I also discovered that there were always doctrinal boundaries that were never to be crossed or challenged.
I wondered…if the integrity of sound doctrine was never tested, could it really be said to exist?
Was this a practical approach to understanding something so important? I instinctively knew that there was a more realistic method to apply to the study process, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
The concept seemed too simple the day a friend explained the inductive study process to me
First and foremost, eliminate (at least temporarily) any doctrinal biases or premises which are held in the mind. Another way of saying this is to employ Scriptural exegesis. That is to say, bring nothing INTO the interpretive process, only interpret based on what can be taken OUT FROM the text. Then do what should come naturally:
1. Make observations about who was writing to whom and when.
2. Notice where something’s written from, and for what reason.
3. Look for key phrases, contrasts and comparisons. [see: Common threads are common]
4. Note expressions of time and verb tenses. [Past, Present, Future, etc.]
5. Try to list any basic themes or lists present in the text.
Only then should any attempt be made to interpret the passage, always considering the context.
This process is not just a Biblical one. It’s an effective learning tool for anyone wanting to accurately understand text. It transforms the reader into a level of confidence and understanding that cannot be otherwise achieved.
The key to the inductive process is the presence of other committed members of the Body of Christ in weekly study meetings. I’ve come to understand passages of Scripture that used to make no sense to me at all, due in part to the effective participation of other men.
The story of God’s redemptive plan for men and women to share Christ’s inheritance in the His kingdom is very visible to me now. But if I want to inherit with Christ, I have to endure in His sufferings.
That’s something I learned through inductive study.
Words mean things.
Last Updated: May 26, 2025 by cjournalme Leave a Comment
What Does it Cost?
What does it cost me to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
I’ve never had anyone ask me. That’s strange, because cost reckoning is always a critical factor in the decision process.
The road to becoming a disciple was initially a confusing one for me. For example, what did it mean to be one? Did I even know any? Weren’t these the guys that hung around with Jesus?
While I was inherently aware that gain comes with a price, it seemed difficult to square with something called the free gift of salvation. Sure, I’d been saved— rescued from the slave market of sin by God’s favor.
But it had cost me nothing. On the other hand, I instinctively knew that there was an expectation from the Rescuer.
So I kept reading.
[What does it mean to be “saved?” see: Different Fruit Same Good News]
And I eventually concluded that there’s nothing In the New Testament more convincing than Jesus’ words spoken to the crowds who were following Him around. But were they disciples?…or just spectators? Was it possible that most of them showed up from time to time, hoping to take home some insightful tip to improve their lives, all the while determined to keep their present lifestyles intact?
What He said to them recorded in Luke 14:25-35 tells the reader everything he needs to know about who they were and why they were there:
“Being My disciple will cost you everything. Count the cost.”
Bad news? Maybe for some, but the wise man understands the value of a pearl and will do whatever it takes to secure it, regardless of the consequences.
He always rises to the challenge.
“Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” [Luke 14:34-35]
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