- Where is Biblical Meditation in the Bible?
- What exactly is Biblical Meditation?
- Why is Biblical Meditation so neglected?
- Why is Biblical Meditation so important?
Summary: This sermon is designed for two main purposes. First, it is meant to be a general introduction to the new sermon series entitled Gospel Meditations: Fuel for Becoming Who You Are in Christ. Second, and more specifically, this sermon is designed to help us to better understand biblical meditation, which is perhaps the most foundational discipline in the Christian life. But where is such an idea found in the Bible? What is biblical meditation, anyway? And why is it so neglected if it is so important? These questions and more will be considered in this introductory sermon.
Main Point: Biblical meditation is the prayerful pondering of spiritual realities to the point that the mind is being renewed, the heart is being stirred, and the behavior is becoming more Christ-like.
Main Point: Biblical meditation is the prayerful pondering of spiritual realities to the point that the mind is being renewed, the heart is being stirred, and the behavior is becoming more Christ-like.
- To meditate is to sink the roots of one’s mind into the spring of God’s word in order to draw the nourishment and energy necessary to grow and bear fruit.
- To meditate is to hover next to the flower of God’s word until one's mind and heart are full of its sweet nectar.
- To meditate is to so patiently brood over God’s word that new life hatches in the heart.
Discussion Questions:
- A balanced definition of biblical meditation is made up of three parts. What are they?
- What is deliberate meditation?
- What is occasional meditation? Can you think of any biblical examples?
- How might occasional meditation be a sweet encouragement to the working man or woman?
- How do deliberate and occasional meditation relate to one another?
- What reasons might explain why biblical meditation is so often neglected?
- Why is biblical meditation so important? Or, what happy benefits result from it?
- How might our corporate worship times be enhanced if more people gave themselves to the practice biblical meditation?
- How will practicing biblical meditation fuel the culture of discipleship being formed at FBC?
Application Questions:
- How much of my energy do I devote to biblical meditation?
- What typically hinders me from making biblical meditation more of a habit in my life and how should I respond to such challenges?
- What happy effects might the diligent practice of biblical meditation have on my daily life?
- Confess to God any lack of delight in His word that has lead to slothfulness in mind and heart
- Thank God for filling the world with His glory so that you can fill you soul with it each day
- Praise God that the day is coming when your mind will always be filled with pure and noble thoughts, your heart with intense and holy feelings, and your life with perfect obedience.
- Ask God to increase your desire to devote more and more energies to biblical meditation.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help you think hard and often about true and beautiful things (Phil. 4:8)
