Deep and Wide
Bryan Fojtasek
Part of Sermon Notes
March 22, 2020

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March Message Series: Bible It

Recap: Truth is under attack in our world. Now more than ever, we need to pursue truth as a core value.

  1. God pays close attention to our commitment to truth.
  2. The Bible is inspired by God and supported by history.
  3. God expects us to feast on his word every day.

Today’s Big Idea: If You Want to Experience the Power of God’s Word, Study it Deep and Wide.

Wine Tasting or Competitive Eating?

The Bible is like a fine wine or artisan coffee that should be slowly sipped and savored.

The Bible is also like a huge buffet… your can never truly get enough!

Deep: Thoughtful Meditation on God’s Word

Joshua was instructed to make deep reflection on God’s Word a priority. By going deep in our study, we uncover new layers of truth that help us build a strong foundation.

“7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:7-9 (NIV)

  1. Obey—From a Hebrew word that can mean guard, watch, observe, take care of, protect and preserve, or keep. Not just obey as a cut-and-dry command, but a sense of honoring, valuing, keeping close and cultivating.

“The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.” —Genesis 2:15 (NLT)


2. Always on Your Lips—Literally “shall not depart your mouth.” Carries the sense of letting a food sit on your palette as you savor its flavor. A slow, thoughtful, and intentional experience.

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” —Psalm 103:105 (NIV)


3. Meditate—Imagine, contemplate, thinking deeply, muse.

“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.” —Psalm 143:5 (NIV)

Lectio Divina: A Deep Reading of Scripture

  1. Read—Slowly and carefully
  2. Meditate—Thinking deeply about words and phrases that stand out
  3. Pray—A long, thoughtful conversation with God about what you’re reading and hearing
  4. Contemplate—Resting in God’s presence
  5. Action—What is God inviting me to do, think, or believe differently?

What is the Heart of Lectio Divina?

“Lectio Divina is an opportunity to slow down and experience God’s Word deeply. An opportunity to savor the words of Scripture, to sit at God’s table, to be nourished, fed and refreshed. An invitation to be fully present with our holy God.” —Cindee Snider Re

The Big Idea: A Deep Reading of Scripture Gives us a Firm Foundation to build on.

Wide: Seeing the Big Picture of Scripture

At key moments in the history of Israel, the entire nation gathered together to read the entire book of the Law and remember the story of their people.

Public Readings of the Law:

  1. Deuteronomy 31:9-13
  2. Joshua 8:30-35—Joshua inscribes the entire law on stones, reads it to the people.
  3. Nehemiah 8:2-3
  4. Nehemiah 9:3

Telling the Story of God’s People:

  1. Joshua 24
  2. Nehemiah 9
  3. Psalm 106
  4. Acts 7
  5. Hebrews 11

The Big Idea: A wide reading of Scripture gives us a healthy perspective.

The Goal: Transformed Life

Whether Deep or Wide the goal of reading Scripture is a transformed life.

  1. Joshua 1:8, “…so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”
  2. Joshua 24:24, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”

Application

1. Build on a Firm Foundation

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” —Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

2. Develop the Right Perspective

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” —Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)

Response

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Questions? Contact Bryan: (609) 356-3147 or bfojtasek@westsidelife.org.

Reflection / Life Group Questions

Today’s Theme: Getting the Most from God’s Word

  1. What were some of the unexpected blessings you experienced this past week? What were some of the most frustrating moments?

  2. How is your stress level and what is one thing you’re really needing in your mental, physical, or spiritual life right now?

  3. This morning, Bryan described two ways of reading the Bible: Deep and Wide. What is the basic idea behind each one? In your personal study of the Bible, do you tend to prefer to read a few passages in great depth, or a lot of scripture to get the big picture?

  4. In Joshua 1:7-9, God commands Joshua to not be afraid. But it turns out that Joshua had a lot to be afraid of in his near future. What resources did God provide Joshua to help him be courageous in the face of real danger?

  5. In Joshua 8:30-35, Joshua wrote out the entire book of the Law on stones and then read it to the people of Israel. What lessons can we learn from Joshua’s love of Scripture?

  6. Have one volunteer read Hebrews 4:12-13 and another volunteer read Ephesians 6:17. What is the common word used to describe the Word of God in these two passages, and why do you think God chose that particular word to describe the Bible?

  7. Swords, knives and scalpels can be extremely useful in the right context, but extremely dangerous in the right hands. What advice does 2 Timothy 2:15 give us about wielding the word of God? How does a *deep and wide8 reading of scripture help us follow that teaching?

  8. In addition to reading the Law of Moses word for word to the nation of Israel, Joshua also retold their story in Joshua 24. Why do you think the stories of the Bible are such a powerful way of communicating truth and showing us the heart of God?

  9. What are some of the stories of the Bible that have shaped your view of God, helped you frame difficult circumstances in a healthier way, or given you the right perspective when life has gotten hard?

  10. Bryan said that no matter how we choose to read the Bible, the goal is a transformed life. Why do you think people can sometimes know the right thing to do, but stop short of ever actually putting it into practice?

  11. What are some of the goals or actions you feel God calling you to take after our time together in God’s Word?

End your time in prayer