News Detail
Mark My Word
by John Bishop, Director of Spiritual Formation
As a new Christian, I had a passion, like so many new believers to know God’s word. I was reading, studying, and sitting under good teachers in my local church. One guy in particular, Doug, had really earned my respect. He had a way of teaching the Bible that made it come alive. So, when he offered a special “training” on how to study the Bible, I signed up at once.
I had very high expectations for this “training.” Doug had been a pastor for years, had several degrees, was a gifted and entertaining communicator, and he was offering a special training on how to study the Bible that I had been invited to attend. I felt honored, and excited and thought, “This is going to be fantastic!”
We arrived at the study and after some snacks and perfunctory chit-chat, we sat down to get started. Doug handed out a sheet of paper, presumably his notes. I was at the end of the circle as the papers were being passed around and by the time it finally arrived, I grabbed it like a greedy child taking a sucker. Then, I was shocked! Here is what was typed on the sheet:
How to study the Bible:
READ, READ, READ
THINK, THINK, THINK
DO, DO, DO
That was it!
It was the least engaging teaching I’d heard from Doug to that date. I was so disappointed. I’m not sure what I expected him to do. Maybe I’d thought he would supply profound insight to assuage my doubts. Maybe I thought he would reveal a secret key to understanding the Bible or summarize its stories and histories in a way that I could digest it more easily. Instead, he spent an hour telling us to read the Bible, think about what it says, and apply it to our lives. At one point he said, “Mark my words, the only way to truly know God is to mark His word.”
Wow! So cheesy!
Wow! So cheesy!
Despite my disappointment in his presentation, I can look back on that experience nearly 20 years later and see the profound wisdom in his approach. I had wanted Doug to reveal the treasure map hidden in Revelation, or an instruction manual for fixing people I didn’t like. I wanted to be able to use the Bible as a proof text to win arguments or as a get-out-of-jail-free card. But Doug knew that the Bible could not be reduced like that. He respectfully represented it in all its complexity and honesty as the Word of God. And he made it very clear that the only way to know God, truly, is through knowing His word.
Subtly, Doug was not teaching us about the Bible but was inviting us into a deeper relationship with God.
This year, as we think about how to serve our students, I think we need to remember that God has given us His Word. And if we, and our children who look up to us, can say from Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you,” we will have done no small thing.
Last week, the faculty talked about the foundational importance of building our lives on the Scripture. This week we are going to emphasize the importance of knowing it. In chapel we will invite students to memorize Scripture. We would love for you to take part in this exercise too. Frankly, if you do, it is much more likely they will too.
You can start right now by committing our theme verse for the year to memory:
“Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” Proverbs 30:5
You can check your memory by reciting it to the first person you see after reading this. Maybe challenge them to learn it too.
Westminster Christian School, located in Palmetto Bay, Florida, is a private, college-preparatory school for children from preschool through twelfth grade.