A friend of mine studied classical Greek in college… a secular college. He wasn’t a Christian at the time. I know Pastor’s who tried to avoid studying classical Greek in college – I was one of them but failed to evade a class in Greek and Hebrew. When my friend did finally start his personal relationship with God, he started reading the New Testament… in Greek. He began attending a mens small group with a few friends and they worked their way through a number of passages of Scripture. He had a thirst for knowledge.
Because of his understanding of the Greek language, he could study and understand what the New Testament authors were communicating. It wasn’t his understanding of the Greek that made John a disciple, it was that he took the principles of Scripture and applied them to his life. Over time, he began to change the way he lived. His value system shifted and his behaviors began to line up with Scripture.
Studying without doing only provides intellectual stimulation and knowledge gain.
In your small group, make sure that the discussion doesn’t just provide intellectual stimulation and knowledge, be sure to press the application button – hint: it is not the easy button! I’ve taught groups leaders for years that you can make all kinds of mistakes leading a small group… the only time you will have failed: if you don’t regularly get your group talking about how they can apply a scriptural principle in their life in the coming week.
Don’t just be hearers (studiers) of the Word, be doers of the Word, then you will be His disciple.
Bible study by itself, will not produce spirituality. In fact, it will produce carnality if it is not applied and practiced.
– Gene Getz
I should also add: doing without studying your Bible doesn’t make you a disciple either. Both are in the equation.
