I firmly believe that the primary role of teaching is to understand experience and frame it within a biblical context. Far to many Christians have lots of bible knowledge but it is so far removed from an intimate, experiential, relationship with Jesus that it actually robs the student of faith. I believe this is why the Word says that knowledge puffs up.
Here is how it is supposed to work.
A person encounters Jesus. He is immediately discipled in the Word to gain an understanding of who this Jesus is and what He is supposed to do in response to the encounter. The more we encounter Jesus, the more we desire to gain understanding of Him and this drives us to search and understand His Word but not the Word only. And here is where most churches are failing.
2 Peter 1:5 (Listen)For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
It does not say add to your hunger knowledge and your knowledge faith. First faith, then virtue, then knowledge. The American church is exploding with churches that serve up a Hungry-Man size serving of knowledge every Sunday with no faith or virtue.
I began to think about this last night when a group of young men asked me to begin to disciple them in the Word. They have experienced the supernatural. They have been responding to the Holy Spirit’s conviction in character issues and now they want a firm foundation in the Word.
This is what I believe to be biblical Christianity.
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Abso-flippin-lutely!
Thanks for bringing it up.
We’re mostly suffering the opposite I’m afraid
And there seems to be a fear amongst some that we’re trying to throw out loving Scripture for something more “experiential”. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Our current, limited, intellectual grasp of Scripture at any one time should light an unquenchable fuse for an explosion of Holy Spirit encounter and experience, not a perimeter! And that should leave us then thirsting like a dying man for yet more Holy Spirit revelation of Scripture to light another fuse … and another … and another …
IMHO anyhow
Our current, limited, intellectual grasp of Scripture at any one time should light an unquenchable fuse for an explosion of Holy Spirit encounter and experience, not a perimeter!
Wow! Great line.
Since when did experience and knowledge become mutually exclusive terms? It seems that in many circles if you want to actually experience the presence of the Lord, then you are somehow against having a knowledge of the Word.
I don’t think you can truly understand the Word unless you experience what it is talking about.
http://rahabsplace.wordpress.com
The Word tells us what the Holy Spirit wants to do in and through our lives. In this regard, what good does it do to be a hearer only, and not a doer of the word?