Page 88 - Principles for Discipling Others-Student textbook

How can any thoughtful person keep his heart from warming up to Christ, and to the Book that tells
about Him? Everybody ought to love the Bible. Everybody!

Individual direct contact with God’s Word is the principal means of Christian growth. All leaders of
spiritual power in Christian history have been devoted Readers of the Bible. The Bible is the book we
live by. Bible Reading is the means by which we hear, and keep fresh in our minds, the ideas, that mold
our lives. Our lives are the product of our thoughts. To live right, we need to think right.

Thoughts have power over our lives by being often in our minds. We must read the Bible frequently and
regularly, so that God’s thoughts may be frequently and regularly in our minds, that His thoughts may
become our thoughts; that our ideas may become conformed to God’s ideas; so that we may be
transformed into God’s own image, and be made fit for eternal companionship with our Creator.

We may, indeed, absorb Christian Truth.
Bible Reading is a Basic Christian habit.
It is an act of religious devotion.
The Bible is the best devotional book.
Accept the Bible just as it is.
Read the Bible with an open mind.
Read the Bible thoughtfully.
Keep a pencil at hand.
Read the Bible habitually, and systematically.
It’s good to set aside a certain time each to read the Bible.
Memorize the names of the Bible books.
Memorize favorite verses.

HOW and WHY TO MEMORIZE BIBLE VERSES

*Warning: The following is not for casual spiritual growth Christians! It can be challenging….spiritually
stimulating…and addictive. Or, on the other hand, others may find it to be intimidating and/or
discouraging. So, like any good healthy new habit, “read the label” and “begin with small bites.” May
God revolutionize your spiritual life!

Lorne Sanny* of the Navigators in his powerful booklet The Art of Witnessing speaks of the young
Christian learning to use the Word of God in witnessing. He reminds us that the Bible is both the “seed”
of the sower and the “bread” of the eater. It shows the way of salvation and is the only effective
weapon against Satan in our spiritual conflict. When memorized it provides defense when under attack
and words to say to the lost person that the God’s Spirit can recall to your mind just when you don’t
know what to say next. He will not only fill our hearts with something to say, but He will permit us to
speak with confidence!

One of the quickest and most effective ways to gain a working knowledge of the Bible is to commit
Scripture verses to memory. Remember…it is not our arguments that God has promised to bless, but His
Word. By memorizing Scripture portions we will have something on our heart which we will want to
share with someone else.

Memorizing Scripture is commanded! When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment, He
replied by quoting Deut. 6:5. The next verse said “And these words, which I command thee this day,

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