When Men Study God’s Word Together
Something happens when men study God’s Word together! That was the thought that gripped my heart when I saw more than 50 men gather at Friendship last Monday night. They were present for an informational meeting about the first-ever weeknight men’s Bible study in our church. We know that there is power in united prayer. Something indeed happens when men or women pray together. Entire books have been written about that. But what can we expect when believers are serious and intentional about studying the Bible together?
The short answer would be – they become “skillful in the word of righteousness.” This thought can be inferred from Heb. 5:13 which declares “For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe [immature].” The Church in the West is plagued with anemic Christians who have only a superficial acquaintance with God’s Word, although that Book is sharper than any two-edged sword and is like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces!
1. When heads of households study God’s Word in-depth, they become the spiritual high priests of their home, speaking into the lives of each family member. I thank God for a father who did that. He and mother claimed Josh. 24:15 before any of their eight children were born. When Charles Vradenburgh died in 2003, I saw for the first time that scripture reference engraved on his wedding band 50 years earlier. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I don’t think that I would be in the ministry today, if it were not for a Word-filled father.
2. When men interact with each other around the study of God’s Word, they sharpen each other, as “iron sharpeneth iron” (Prov. 27:17). In Mal. 3:16 we read, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often to one another: and the LORD hearkened and heard it…” God is certainly listening when men discuss His Word and share confirming testimonies.
3. When men behold Christ in the Word, they are changed into greater Christ-likeness. David said in Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of thy words giveth light.” Paul picked up on that theme of “light” from the Word in 2 Cor. 3:18. “But we all with open [unveiled] face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
It’s not too late to get in on this study of God’s Word as guided by Jim Berg in his excellent book on sanctification, Changed into His Image. The first session was September 10 at 7 p.m. Sign up at Member Services this Sunday or contact the church office for more information about resources.
Written by Pastor Vradenburgh, Senior Pastor