- What do you think about this quote? What is Foster implying?
"The apostle Paul tells us that we are transformed throught the renewal of
the mind (Romans 12:2). The mind is renewed by applying it to those things
that will transform it. 'Finally, bretheren, whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever
is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of
praise, think about these things' (Philipians 4:8). The Discipline of study
is the primary vehicle to bring us to "think about these things."
- Foster uses John 8:32, "You will know the truth, and the truth will
make you free," to back up this statement--"Many Christians remain in
bondage to fears and anxieties simply because they do not avail themselves
of the Discipline of study." What do you think he means and do you think he
is right (even part of the time)?
- Restate this definition--
"Study is a specific kind of experience in which through careful attention
to reality the mind is enabled to move in a certain direction."
- "The process that occurs in study should be distinguished from
meditation." How would you do it?
- Does this hold true in your experience--"Study involves four steps.
The first is repetition....Concentration is the second step in
study...Comprehension then is the third step in the Discipline of
study...one further step is needed: reflection"?
- "Jesus often speaks of ears that do not hear and eyes that do not see.
When we ponder the meaning of what we study, we come to hear and see in a
new way."
Regarding the idea of a "retreat" for study:
- Galatians 1:15-2:2
15But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was
pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the
Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see
those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and
later returned to Damascus.
18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with
Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other
apostles--only James, the Lord's brother. 20I assure you before God that
what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I
was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They
only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching
the faith he once tried to destroy." 24And they praised God because of me.
1Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas.
I took Titus along also
. 2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I
preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to
be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
Deut: 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as
symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your
children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along
the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
I Chron. 28:9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father,
and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the
Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.
If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will
reject you forever.
Idea of studying life events:
- Neh. 51 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their
Jewish brothers. 2 Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are
numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain."
3 Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our
homes to get grain during the famine."
4 Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the king's
tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and
blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we
have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters
have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our
vineyards belong to others."
6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I
pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told
them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called
together a large meeting to deal with them
How does this work with thinking about "whatever is lovely"?
- Ecc. 7: 25 So I turned my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
and the madness of folly.
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