A Framework for Biblical Meditation (Joshua 1:1-9)

Outline: Biblical Meditation

1. Where is Biblical Meditation in the Bible?
2. What exactly is Biblical Meditation?
3. Why is Biblical Meditation so neglected?
4. 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.

• 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? 

Prayer Points:

• 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)

Building Your Life on the Rock (Matt. 7:24-29)

Outline: Matthew 7:24-29

1. Wise people will build their lives on Jesus' words
2. Foolish people will build their lives on something other than Jesus' words 

Summary: To conclude His sermon, Jesus reminds us that there are really only two types of people in the world: those who build their lives on His words and those who do not.  After telling us that people who do not do the will of His Father will not get to be with Him in His eternal kingdom (7:21-23), Jesus illustrates the same point by using the analogy of two builders.  A wise builder did the hard work of digging a foundation so that he could build his house on the rock and was therefore able to endure the storm. A foolish builder, however, did the easy work of avoiding a foundation altogether and was therefore swept away when the storm came.

Main Point: One will either stand or fall based on whether or not one hears and obeys Jesus' words

Discussion Questions:

• In what specific ways has God challenged you through the Sermon on the Mount?
• Discuss: "Jesus didn't preach this sermon in order to be admired and applauded but obeyed."
• Describe the labor involved in building upon the rock vs. building upon the sand?
• If the rock represents Jesus' words, what does the sand represent?
• What do rain, floods, and winds represent? Can you find any helpful clues from the context? 
• How will obedient people fare when trials and judgment come their way?
• How will disobedient people fare when trials and judgment come their way?
• Is obedience necessary in the Christian life? Explain. 
• How does gospel-grace relate to gospel-obedience?

Application Questions:

• Am I astonished at the authority of Jesus' teachings? 
• In what ways am I taking to heart and obeying Jesus teachings? 
• In what ways am I ignoring or failing to obediently live out Jesus teaching?
• What would I be doing differently if I was truly taking Jesus' teachings to heart?

Prayer Points:

• Confess ways you've ignored or failed to obey the teachings of Jesus
• Thank Jesus for leading you to the Father's heart through His preaching and teaching and the ways that Has spoken to your heart throughout this sermon series 
• Praise God for the ways He's helping you walk in Spirit-empowered obedience
• Ask the Holy Spirit to to help you more faithfully and radically obey Jesus' words