The Disservice we do when 

we don’t tell it like it is

 

Can we talk just a bit about a worrying concern in regard to the upcoming generations and possibly something you have faced too?

Do you agree with me that all too often our world is handed a very shallow version of Christianity? Maybe you were brought up in a church culture that promoted youth groups, Sunday school classes, worship nights, camps, conferences, Bible studies and the like, which, by the way, are all good things. Maybe there were altar calls and emotional decisions made under pressure and you wanted and desired to ‘feel close to God’ but for some reason there wasn’t any depth.

There was very little actual discipleship. Maybe you weren’t taught how to study the Bible or defend the faith or how to stand firm on what you believed or even articulate what you believed.

And now, as the world around you gets darker and more hostile towards the Christian faith, you realise that the Christianity you were brought up with was very shallow.

Maybe you weren’t taught much theology. Don’t be afraid of that word. In a nutshell, it just means the study of the nature of God and his truth.

Maybe you weren’t taught how to study the Bible for yourself, instead relying on the Pastors and teachers in your church to do the hard work and spoon feed you. Possibly you weren’t taught well how to persevere under pressure or how to exercise discernment.

You were taught of God’s love and how to respond emotionally to the invitation, the lights, the music. You were taught that Jesus is the way and he can make your life better. You were taught that he was the source of your fulfilment. There was a lot of feelings, but not a lot of strong, deep-rooted faith.

And then adulthood hit. And life got hard. Marriage was difficult. Child raising was on another level. Prayers went unanswered for months or years. Anxiety was at all-time high. Your faith started costing something. And suddenly, the Christianity built mostly on feelings was no longer enough.

Emotional Christianity works fine when life is easy and things are going well. But what happens when your world comes crashing down? What happens when life gets hard and the struggles pull you to pieces? What happens when unexpected suffering arrives and the waves crash heavy overhead?

A faith built mostly on feelings will eventually collapse. It cannot be sustained. It won’t survive the storms.

I say this with humility and without any sense of pride as one who has it all under control. Because I do not. And I did not. That’s not to say that I wasn’t brought up with the right values and the right tools. It’s just that I have spent years realising that I didn’t know much. And that’s my fault. For a long time, I didn’t see the need to be discipling myself in the Word of God. I didn’t see the need for in depth study.

And I think this is why so many are ‘deconstructing’ their faith now. Not because they didn’t love God, but because there wasn’t much of a foundation underneath the emotional Christianity they experienced. They are deconstructing a faith that had very little theological foundation to begin with. They were handed a shallow version of Christianity based on feelings and emotional experiences and not biblical discipleship.  

I wonder if many Christians feel betrayed. They were told that being a Christian would make their life better, and they would be fulfilled, whole, successful, happy. And then life hit. Real life. The nitty gritty hard things.

The Word of God and Jesus himself never promised a bed of roses. He never promised an easy life. He told us to remain steadfast. Endure hardship. Overcome temptation. Stand firm. Persevere. Expect tribulations and trials.

But our modern church culture wants to keep those things hidden behind a curtain and instead portrays a very different sort of Christianity. It’s exciting. It promises wealth. Happiness.

God is love. God forgives. God cares. God will prosper you. God cares for you.

And yes, all of these things are true and backed up by Scripture. But we are doing the new Christians a disservice by not teaching them the hard truths and by not being diligent in our discipleship of them.

We are neglecting to teach them how to study the Word of God for themselves and the need to ‘try the spirits’ (1 John 4:1) to keep from falling prey to false teachers or to “search the scriptures daily” as did the Bereans in order to make sure what Paul and Silas were teaching was legit. (Acts 17:11)

I, for one, don’t want my children or grandchildren raised on emotionalism or feel-good Christianity. I want them grounded in the Word. I want them to know what they believe and why they believe it. I want their faith to be firmly rooted in Scripture. I want them to know truth. To learn from it. To practice biblical discernment. I want them to love God deeply and not crumble when life gets too hard. I want them to stand firm and hold fast even when it costs them something.

I want them to have a love for God and for his Word. I want them to be always searching and learning more of what the Bible teaches. I want them to be able to interpret verses, in context, and expound on them to others, humbly accepting correction if they have something wrong. I want them to have a desire for the whole counsel of God. Not just the easy, feel-good parts or the promises that bring comfort. I want them to feel uncomfortable with hard truth. I want them to let the Word of God pierce them (Hebrews 4:12) just as it does me the more, I read and study it.

Ask yourself this question. “What kind of faith are you passing down to your children? What kind of Christianity are you teaching in your Sunday School classes? Your youth groups? Your Bible studies?”

Perhaps some of today’s generation are beginning to search for something more solid. Maybe they are done with the lights, the fog machines, the hype. But what do we have to offer?

Only ritualism and traditions? Or do we have an authentic, Bible based, God-fearing, but loving Christianity?

Are we training our men and women to search out the Scriptures? Are we truly discipling them?

There is a growing problem in our world today amongst Christians. Bible illiteracy. Bible illiteracy is widespread. Bible literacy is not dependant on church attendance – sitting in church each week doesn’t guarantee you will go home with a better understanding of the Bible or who God is.

Bible literacy involves a deeper awareness of the meaning of what’s in the Bible. It’s the ability to rightly read and understand the Bible by using the proper tools of study.

Bible literacy involves a person’s ability to read the Bible with enough understanding to explain its basic meaning and comprehend what is meant.

Bible Study goes even deeper than Bible literacy - it is more rigorous and detail-focused. It is research focused interpretation (known as exegesis- the careful analytical study of scripture). It involves more than reading for meaning. Bible study focuses on the world behind the text such as the biblical culture and context, the archaeology and geography that support the Bible.  The social issues and events at the time the writers wrote the text.

Bible study looks into the heart of the text through word studies and language meaning etc. But Bible study doesn’t need to be complex. (More on this is this post - Bible Study)

Studying the Bible naturally leads to increase in Bible literacy.

I think this is where we are failing our new converts. We are not properly teaching them how to read and study their Bibles. And it’s a shame. It leads to shallow Christianity. And shallow Christianity doesn’t hold up under pressure.

Discipleship is hard. And if you are someone who is working with a new Chrisitan, you’ll know it’s no walk in the park. But it is so worth it. We need to be raising a new generation of strong, faith-filled, deeply rooted, discerning, obedient, tested and tried and come forth as gold, Christians!

Let’s forgo the shallow Christianity and replace it something real! Don’t hide the truth. Let the truth speak for itself. Teach the truth. All the truth.

John 8:32 KJV - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.              

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, it’s hard. But it’s worth it!

 

Have you ever seen a Redwood tree? Or a photo of one? What a majestic sight they are! They are some of the largest and tallest trees in the world. Their seeds are as small as a tomato seed and yet they can grow to around 100metres tall. That’s as high as a 35-story skyscraper!

They can have a lifespan of over 2000 years, and their diameters can reach up to 8metres across!

But interestingly, they only have a very shallow root system, reaching only 5 or 6ft deep.

So how are they able to live so long and grow so tall without toppling? How have they survived earthquakes, landslides, floods, strong winds, and other trees falling against them?

Connection, that’s how.

They intertwine with the roots of other redwoods for added stability. Their roots can extend up to 30metres away from the trunk of the tree. So, they reach out, not down.

When we look at a giant Redwood, all we see is the height and size of the tree but there is an intricate network of intertwined roots underneath.

This intertwining creates a strong support system that helps the trees withstand powerful winds and storms. These roots form a complex web beneath the forest floor.

The process of root intertwining, or “root grafting,” goes beyond just providing structural support. Through their interconnected root systems, neighbouring trees share essential resources like water and nutrients.

This mutual sharing of resources ensures the growth and survival of every tree in the redwood forest. If a neighbouring tree is struggling or injured, the surrounding trees can provide extra support and nourishment through root grafting. It’s like a natural safety net that helps maintain the health of the entire forest ecosystem.

When one tree has an abundance of resources, it can share them with its neighbours that may be in need.

So, redwoods do not survive alone…EVER. They form “tribes” or communities. Sometimes they grow so close to each other that they merge at the base into one tree. Each tree supports and protects the other.

What does this remind you of?

What a great picture of our need for one another in the Body of Christ.

WE NEED EACH OTHER!  

 

Well, what a blessed few days I have just had! Last week, I was blessed to attend and speak at a Ladies Conference where women from Katherine and Darwin gathered to fellowship, learn, study, connect and grow in our Christian walk.

The theme for this year’s conference was “Unity and Community”, building connection and growing and serving together as a Christian community in order to reach a lost world.

I wanted to try and summarize my hour-long lesson into a blog post for those who could not attend and also as a refresher for those who came. Unfortunately, the audio of the lesson didn’t work and as some have asked for it, I will do my best to formulate a very condensed version and hopefully not lose the context and content of what was said. You won’t be able to experience the visual object lessons, and the emotions expressed, the atmosphere of the room and the connection we felt, but I pray you will be encouraged as we all were with what we learned from our days together.

I will break the lesson up over a few days, so the bites are not so large, and you can take some time to chew them over.

 Grab a cup of tea, get rid of the distractions and settle in.

 

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt lonely? Everyone has felt loneliness at some point in their life and possibly even right now. Please know this. You are not alone in your loneliness.

We are more “connected” (online) than ever before, but studies have shown that we are lonelier than ever.

When was the last time you had a long, deep conversation, face to face, with a friend?

One of the key reasons for loneliness is that we give up too easily. Friendships take time.

Remember when friends were easy to come by as children? If they happened to live in the same neighbourhood, they instantly fell into the friend category. Proximity created friendship. It was as simple as knocking on the door and asking them to come out and play. We didn’t wait or hesitate or overthink. It’s a lot harder to navigate friendships as adults.  

I want to answer these 3 questions:

What? What’s the big deal about community?

Why? Why do we need each other? Why do we need community? Why is it important to God?

How? How do we find our people? How do we build community? What are some practical steps to building live-giving friendships?

So, what is community? In a nutshell it is this: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society, sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common. A unified body of individuals

Simply put, the Christian community is composed of those who love Jesus and fellowship with each other and serve one another.

If you don’t already know this, hear me now. We need each other. King Solomon puts it like this:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 KJV - Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

We have assigned this passage to romantic relationships. It does apply to marriage, but it was more than likely written in the context of friendship. Healthy, Godly community is supposed to be just as supportive as a healthy, Godly marriage.

Right from the beginning God designed us for connection. (Genesis 2:18). We were built for community. God is a community in himself. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, living in perfect harmony for all of eternity, past and present and future.

It’s God’s idea for us to live in community with others. He is a relational God who designed us in his image. Built within us is a pattern for experiencing intimate relationship with God and then expressing that love to others.

Relationships are one of the greatest gifts we have on this earth, but they are also one of the most difficult parts of being alive. Would you agree?

We need invested friends. People who have the potential to make us better. We need friendships that go beyond a Sunday morning greeting, a brief hug, a handshake and a comment about the weather. We need people who will hold us accountable and are devoted to growing in their spiritual walk and will encourage us in our walk. And we need to be that friend to others.

All too often, we don’t tell it like it is. We put on a brave face and lie about life. We want people to think we’re stronger than we are. But sadly, we’re only robbing ourselves.

God gave us the gift of community. We need to make use of it.

When we don’t share truthfully, we miss out on carrying each other’s burdens, but we also miss out on rejoicing with each other. (Romans 12:15)

There are a lot of reasons we go to church, but one of them is to build a thriving, loving, Godly community.

Building a community takes time and effort. It requires us to step out of our comfort zones, prioritize relationships, and be intentional with our time. Making time for it can feel like just one more thing to manage. But it’s so important. We are stronger together.

Building community and unity is not just about needing others, it’s about living the way God designed for us to live: TOGETHER!  Isolation may feel easier for the moment, but it’s not sustainable or fulfilling.

One of my favourite authors said this: “We spend hours alone in our crowded, noisy, screen-lit worlds, we invest only sporadic time with acquaintances, and then we expect close friends to somehow appear in our busy lives. We’ve replaced intrusive, real conversations with small talk and substituted soul-baring, deep, connected living with texts and a night out together occasionally.”

It’s sad that over the past few years especially, we have decided that we can exist on our own. We’ve replaced physically meeting with each other on a regular basis with online church and zoom calls and work from home and self-serve checkouts and online shopping etc.

When we try to navigate life on our own, we miss out on the joy God gives us in relationships. We were never meant to carry our burdens alone. We were never meant to celebrate our joys and successes alone. No matter how much you may think you can master it all on your own, and no matter how independent you are, you need others. And others need you!

Remember, investing in relationship and building community is not simply about pursuing our own happiness. It’s so we can be effective for eternity. It’s so that others will come to know Christ because of our love for them. Our love and connection speak volumes to a lonely world. (John 13:34,35)

Let me remind you though, that unity is NOT uniformity! It doesn’t mean dressing the same. Acting the same. Worshipping the same. Believing the same. Yes, we need to agree on the core doctrines of the Bible if we want to have true fellowship, but unity is not uniformity. One size doesn’t fit all.

Unity is about finding common ground and working together.

Uniformity is about forcing everyone to be the same.

Unity has to do with oneness. Being one in purpose. Being in harmony.

There are many passages in the Bible that mention “one mind”. Philippians 1:27; Philippians 2:2; 1 Peter 3:8 just to name a few. (Take some time to unpack the verse in 1 Peter and you’ll find some interesting gems in understanding what the words mean. Hint: harmonious; tender-hearted; compassionate; friendly; kind.)

Community and unity are related to fellowship. If you’d like to read more on the subject of fellowship as we find it hidden within a word in Hebrews 13:15,16, then go and check out my blog post via this link: Fellowship connection

Can I remind you that it is so important to be grounded in the life of a local church. It’s where discipleship takes place, compassion, friendship, encouragement, accountability, exhortation, prayer, mentoring, shepherding, teaching, discipline.

We belong together. We need each other. We are not perfect. We are a community of fallen and redeemed sinners who come together to do life together and to help each other in the name of Jesus. 

Let me give you an example of why we need each other and why who we connect ourselves to matters.

Mark 2:1-5 KJV - And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Did you notice that it was the friends’ faith. NOT the sick man’s faith? You can’t tell me that your friends don’t matter! What kind of support system do you have? Are they there for you when you need them? Are you there for them when they need you? And what kind of faith do they have?

If you contrast this with the man found in John 5 who sat by the pool of Bethesda, hoping for a miracle, you’ll see that he had no man. He had no one. He had no community.

Are you getting the point that we need each other? Do you understand that it is important to God that we build strong friendships and authentic Godly communities with our fellow believers?

Christianity is not a faith that’s meant to be lived out alone.

In the next blog post, I want to give you some reasons in the form of 4 points as to why community is so important.

In the meantime, take some time to dig into the Word and look for yourself. How many times is unity mentioned? How often do we see the phrase one mind? Look for examples of God’s people supporting each other and working together.

God bless and see you soon xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Study doesn’t have to be complex

 

Have you ever had a desire to study more of the Bible but struggled with the wrong thinking that you needed a theological degree or academic prowess in order to do so?

Can I let you in on a little secret? Studying the Bible doesn’t need to be complex!

In starting out, all you need is a time and place to meet with God, your Bible, a notebook and a pen (and highlighters if that’s your thing). And that’s it!

Notice I didn’t say, commentaries. Concordances. Study books. Bible dictionaries. Theological discussion podcasts, articles and notes?

While these are very helpful, and as you grow in your walk and your desire to learn more of God’s Word, you will find these beneficial, but you don’t need them to begin digging deeper into the Bible.

You just need a teachable spirit, a willing heart, a desire to learn and a humbleness to be taught from the Bible what God has to say to you.

As I’ve said before, the purpose of Bible study is to learn more about God and to grow in our spiritual walk.

God’s word is for Teaching. Reproving. Correcting. Instructing.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

When we learn more about God through the study of his Word, we will learn more about ourselves. And when we learn more about ourselves, through the lens of the Bible, we can allow it to change us and mold us into Christ’s image. Becoming more like him through his purifying work.

The Bible is a book about God. It’s not all about us. Don’t get me wrong, there is so much that it teaches us about how to live our lives, but we can only learn that if we understand who God is.

When we study the Bible and look at a passage, we need to ask ourselves, “what does this passage teach me about God?” before we ask it to teach us anything about ourselves.

We become what we behold. We are to imitate Christ. We can’t do that if we don’t know him. And we can’t know him unless we learn about him. And we can’t learn about him if we are not in the Word of God, studying it, meditating on it, memorizing it, applying it and letting God reveal himself to us through it.  

So, how do we study God’s Word in simplicity and understanding? I recently did gave a Ladies Bible Study entitled Bible Study 101. In this lesson, I outlined many ideas that have helped me.

And so, I’d like to share with you just a few of the practical tips that have helped me in my time of study. Lord willing, I can share more in a future post.  

The first and most important step is prayer.

Prayer is essential for Bible study. Prayer helps us to approach the Word of God with a humble and teachable spirit. We acknowledge our need for the Holy Spirit’s guidance to help us interpret and apply. We take time to intercede for others and make request for ourselves. I like to pray before I get out of bed each morning. When the alarm goes off, I lay there and pray for a few minutes. I ask God to order and bless my day and I pray for other things on my heart.

Second – Once you’ve decided on a passage or a chapter or a verse, read over the passage, slowly. Take it all in. Look at the context. You may have to read the chapter or verses before the passage to see the big picture.

If you are a more auditory learner, then read the passage aloud or follow along in your Bible while listening with an audio Bible. (Bible apps are great for this)

Third - Once you’ve read, get out your pen and notebook, and take some notes. Note taking has been proven to improve retention.

Answer the questions Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

The family lineage. The events. The locations. The time of writing. The motivation for the characters.

Look at key words or themes or key verses. Write these down or highlight them.

Maybe write out a verse that stood out to you.

Think about what you can learn from the passage, what you learnt about God’s character and whether there is a personal application in it specifically for you at your season of life.

Fourth - Take time to pray again and ask the Lord to keep his Word in your heart throughout the day, allowing you to meditate on his truth.

And lastly, something I think is super important, is to share it.  

Share what you learn with others. I think this is key. Share what you’re learning to help others and to help you to retain it. It has been proven that when you share something you have learnt, you will retain that information for longer than if you simply kept it to yourself.

When you teach it, or share it, you have to reorganize it in your mind to make it clear to understand, and that helps you remember it and reinforces the thought and applications. Sharing what you’re learning not only benefits others, but it will help you keep it in your heart.

If you’ve ever wondered why my blog is titled Learn. Live. Love. Share. It’s because of my aim. My goal. I want to learn from the Word of God. I want to apply it and live it. I want to love it so much that I can’t keep it quiet, and I want to share it!

And it is my desire, to encourage you to dig into the Word of God and grow in your spiritual walk so that you too will be willing to share with others the truths, the blessings, the precious promises you find in the Bible.

The study of God’s Word needs to be intentional, thoughtful and disciplined.

If I can get practical here, we need to be intentional about our study. We need to choose a place to meet with God and we need to make the choice to do it as often as we can.

Can I just say here that if all you can manage on a particular day is listening to a passage or reading a short passage with no note taking or in-depth study, then that’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up over it. What’s important is your heart, your attitude towards God’s Word and your desire and sincerity.

God’s Word is alive and has power even when we don’t have time to go deep. Just ask God to give you some time during the week to study deeper and then use the opportunity he gives you when it arises. Be on high alert, looking for it.

Be intentional.

But also, be thoughtful. Ask questions as you study. Be curious about what you read. Don’t be content to just read and check a box. Think about what you’re reading. Think about why it was put in Scripture. Think about what application it may have for you. Think about why certain words or phrases were used.

Be thoughtful.

And don’t forget to be disciplined. Don’t wait to read and study until you feel like it. Be disciplined and faithful. Often, we come to the Word of God, wanting to check it off our list of to-dos for the day, only to find that God speaks to us and meets with us, even when we had a wrong motive.

There are many things in life we have to discipline ourselves to do, and unfortunately, we sometimes come to God’s Word out of duty instead of out of love. But God will bless and as you study and read, you will find that your desire grows and you begin to enjoy your quiet time alone with him so much that you can’t go a day without meeting with God, because your love for him and his Word grows.

Be disciplined.

As you study more, you may find that in your desire to go deeper, you need to get your hands on some resources that will help you better understand the Word of God.

We have been blessed to be able to access so many ‘helps’ in our study of God’s Word. Commentaries, Strongs concordance, Bible Dictionaries, Apps, Devotionals. But just be aware that they are written by humans, and they will have theological biases and different perspectives. They will most likely disagree. Be careful and be discerning as to what resources you use. Ask a trusted older brother or sister in the Lord to help you in your choice.

And can I give you a word of encouragement? We are all in different seasons of life and just because your quiet time doesn’t look like someone else’s, it doesn’t mean you are failing. The purpose of Bible study is to know God better. God will continue to show up to meet you, whenever and wherever that is.

Ask yourself, “what is sustainable for me in this season?” then build on it as time goes by. Be flexible and be willing to constantly tweak your time with the Lord to suit where you are in life at this particular season.

Find a way to prioritise time with God in a way that fits into your life. Seasons change and quiet times along with them.

Don’t give up on your study time if it looks different than you expect.

God promises to reward those that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Bible study will take time and it will take hard work. It will take thought. It will take focus. Don’t assume that it will be easy and don’t assume that it will come naturally.

But do believe that it will be worth it.

Bible study is essential for your spiritual growth. Bible study requires consistent reading, prayer and understanding. It involves observation, interpretation and application.

You will discover more about God and how you can better serve him and others. Bible study will help you distinguish truth from error, overcome trials, deepen your relationship with God, and become a better witness for him.

Start simple.

Get out your Bible. Grab a pen. Grab a notebook and pray that God will give you a teachable spirit and a heart that desires him and his truth more than anything.

You will find him if you seek him.

Jeremiah 29:13 KJV - And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

You will only be transformed by the Word of God by the amount of time you spend in it. If you never study it, you can’t be transformed by it.

Soak yourself in God’s Word and let him do a purifying work in your heart and soul and mind, cleaning you from the inside out, making you more like Christ.

Read it. Study it. Love it. Live it. Share it.