Saturday Dec 21, 2024
Spiritual Disciplines – Biblical Meditation
24_12_21 -Ep.343 - Run With Horses Podcast - Spiritual Disciplines – Biblical Meditation
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Susan’s New book – Parenting Manual
https://a.co/d/8L7GWIo
Norman’s New book – Pursuing Godliness Together - It’s a practical, quick read!
https://a.co/d/c7Y7F04
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**(28:00)**
Today we consider the spiritual discipline of biblical meditation!
**(27:00 – 23:00)**
Small Groups:
Small groups are an essential part of the life of a healthy Baptist church. These gatherings provide a place to live out the “one another” commands of the New Testament. Through small groups, we build relationships that help us grow spiritually, serve together, and use our gifts to strengthen the church one relationship at a time.
**(23:00 – 0:00)* * PART 1
What Are Spiritual Disciplines?
Define spiritual disciplines as practices rooted in Scripture that help believers grow in their relationship with God.
Key verse: “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” (1 Timothy 4:7)
Meditation as a Spiritual Discipline
Section 1: Biblical Meditation
A. Introduction to Biblical Meditation
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Define meditation from a Biblical perspective:
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Focused, intentional contemplation of God's Word and works.
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A spiritual exercise focused on Scripture, involving contemplation and prayer
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Rooted in Scripture, with the goal of knowing God and aligning one's heart with His will.
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Differentiate Biblical meditation from Eastern meditation:
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C. Differences Between Eastern Meditation and Biblical Meditation (10 minutes)
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Focus:
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Eastern meditation often centers on self-awareness and inner peace, while biblical meditation focuses on God and His Word(Biblical Meditation vs. Eastern Meditation | Abide, n.d.).
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Eastern meditation emphasizes emptying the mind and achieving detachment. Biblical meditation emphasizes filling the mind with God's truth and cultivating intimacy with Him (Philippians 4:8).
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Posture:
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Eastern practices may emphasize physical posture (e.g., sitting cross-legged), whereas biblical meditation prioritizes the posture of the heart(Biblical Meditation vs. Eastern Meditation | Abide, n.d.).
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Worldview:
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Eastern meditation may promote the idea of achieving spiritual freedom or "nirvana," while biblical meditation acknowledges dependence on God and His grace(Biblical Meditation vs. Eastern Meditation | Abide, n.d.).
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B. Key Bible References (NKJV)
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Joshua 1:8
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Psalm 1:1–2
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Psalm 119:15–16
C. Biblical Examples of Meditation
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David
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Psalms filled with meditations on God's law, character, and works (e.g., Psalm 19:14).
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Isaac
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Genesis 24:63:
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Jesus
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Frequent times of solitude and prayer, often grounded in God's Word (Luke 5:16).
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D. The Purpose and Fruit of Biblical Meditation
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Deepening understanding of God’s Word.
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Transforming the heart and mind (Romans 12:2).
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Encouraging obedience and spiritual growth.
**(00:00) END PART 1**
**(27:00 – 5:00) BEGIN PART 2**
Section 2: Practical Help for Practicing Biblical Meditation
A. Establishing a Biblical Framework for Meditation
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Set aside focused time daily (morning or evening). Create a quiet space free from distractions.
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Begin with prayer for understanding and insight (Psalm 119:18).
B. Techniques for Practicing Meditation
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Select a Passage or Verse
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Choose a specific Scripture to meditate on, e.g., Psalms, Proverbs, or teachings of Jesus.
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Select verses or passages that resonate personally. What is God doing in your life now?
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Read and Reflect
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Read slowly and repeatedly, emphasizing different words or phrases.
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Ask Questions of the Text
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What does this reveal about God?
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What does this mean for my life today?
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Memorize and Internalize
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Commit verses to memory for ongoing meditation throughout the day.
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Techniques for Effective Meditation (10 minutes)
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Lectio Divina: Explain this ancient practice of slow, contemplative reading of Scripture. It is traditionally associated with monastic communities. The practice emphasizes a slow, meditative reading of the Bible, aiming not just to study Scripture but to experience it personally and prayerfully.
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The Four Steps of Lectio Divina:
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A. Lectio (Reading):
B. Meditatio (Meditation):
C. Oratio (Prayer):
D.Contemplatio (Contemplation):
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Journaling: Encourage keeping a meditation journal to record thoughts and insights
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Incorporating Prayer: Discuss how to integrate prayer into meditation, asking God for understanding and application of His Word
C. Overcoming Distractions
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Find a quiet, distraction-free location.
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Write down stray thoughts to address later.
D. Using Tools to Enhance Meditation
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Journaling: Record insights and applications.
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Music: Listen to hymns or Scripture-based songs.
E. Incorporating Meditation into Daily Life
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Meditate while walking, driving, or doing simple tasks.
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Reflect on sermons, Bible studies, or daily readings.
**(5:00 – 1:00)**
Doctrine of the Month - Salvation
*The Need for Salvation
* The Provision of Salvation
*The Response to Salvation
**(1:00)**
- “Thank you for listening today!
-If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running.
**(00:00)**
Meditation -
Psalm 1:2: 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 63:6: When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Philippians 4:8: 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Prayer -
Mark 1:35: Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Luke 6:12: Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Matthew 6:5-13: Model Prayer
Fasting-
Matthew 4:1-2: 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
Matthew 6:16-18: 16“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Study -
Luke 4:4, 8, 12: 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:‘He shall give His angels charge over you,To keep you,’11 and,‘In their hands they shall bear you up,Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
Luke 24:27: 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Simplicity - It helps us set money, possessions, worldly accomplishments, and other material things in their proper perspective so that God is restored to the throne of our lives. Simplicity requires us to let go of practices, time commitments, thoughts, and relationships that contaminate body and spirit so that we can better reflect the image of Christ. The foundation of Christian simplicity is to seek first the Kingdom of God and trust that everything else will fall in its proper place.
Matt 6:33: – 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Solitude - The point of solitude is to refrain from talking so we are placed in a posture to listen. The more we do this, the better we become at discerning God’s voice from our own. It requires us to trust that God will show up—but, we must not give up!
Luke 5:16: "So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed."
Lamentations 3:25-26: 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly.
For the salvation of the Lord. Set at least a few minutes alone with God daily.
Submission - Submission calls us to give up our plan for the good of others and the fulfillment of God’s will. It is through self-sacrifice that we find joy and through carrying out God’s will that our lives have meaning and purpose.
James 4:7: 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Hebrews 13:17: - 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Service - Service requires us to relinquish our rights for what we think we deserve to demonstrate God’s sacrificial love. Our willingness to set our own desires aside to meet the needs of others stems from a deep relationship with God.
Mark 10:45: 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
John 13:12-17: 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.