I like to learn. However I’ve not all the time beloved to learn. In actual fact, there was some extent in my life the place if somebody tried to persuade me to like (and even to like) studying books, I’d have disregarded it as a persona desire: “I’m glad you’re keen on studying, however I’m into different issues like listening to music and taking part in drums.”
I used to be mistaken to assume that there are solely two varieties of individuals: those that learn, and those that don’t learn. Why? As a result of we’re all studying one thing every single day—whether or not or not it’s social media posts, recipes, directions, textual content messages, emails, and so forth—we don’t go a day with out some sort of studying. Whether or not you want studying or not, let me encourage you: If you’re studying this weblog put up, you are studying!
So the query just isn’t whether or not we will likely be readers, as a result of we learn all kinds of issues every single day. The query of this text is, “Why and the way ought to I begin a behavior of studying Christian books?” I nonetheless love listening to music and taking part in drums. Nonetheless, I personally wanted to know the function behind studying books, significantly Christian books.
My intention on this article, then, is to supply encouragement from my very own private experiences and struggles with studying Christian books. In so doing, I hope to offer a framework that has helped me take into consideration why and the way I ought to learn.
Why not to learn? Destructive motivations
Trying again, I had constructive and detrimental motivations for beginning a behavior of studying Christian books. However maybe it’s finest to start by figuring out what ought to not be one’s major purpose for studying Christian books: disgrace, shackles, and showmanship. Such unhelpful motivations stemmed from a way of strain or efficiency.
Disgrace, shackles, and showmanship
In my early twenties, I moved from Michigan to Virginia to pursue music with a good friend who attended Liberty College. I began hanging out at native espresso outlets with individuals pursuing theological levels. As theological conversations ensued, I’d get requested, “What books are you studying?” or “What are your favourite books?”
Disgrace, disgrace, disgrace.
I didn’t learn books, not to mention Christian books. However I began studying them as a result of I didn’t need to really feel ashamed for not studying like everybody else at a college campus.
As soon as I began studying Christian books, I felt I had to learn and end them. Why? In order that I might then boast to others that I, too, had learn these theological books. What motivated me to begin studying Christian books at the moment? Disgrace, shackles, and showmanship.
Years later, a good friend inspired me to take a look at Goodreads as a result of I needed to trace what I used to be studying, what I had learn, and what I needed to learn. Good!
However whereas my unique intention (a constructive motivation) was to make use of a useful resource to trace my studying record, it additionally led to disgrace, shackles, and showmanship. Why?
- Disgrace in what books I had not learn that others on Goodreads had
- Shackles in how I felt compelled to complete no matter e book I mentioned I had began
- Showmanship in displaying a badge of honor that I completed my yearly studying problem
Disgrace, shackles, and showmanship led me to develop studying habits pushed by a concern of not realizing as a lot as others.
The center of the matter
Some may learn these detrimental motivations and conclude, “Properly, if that is what motivates you to learn, then don’t learn! Nobody is making you learn books, proper?”
However contemplate if we handled our Bible studying this manner? Ought to we learn Scripture solely after we really feel prefer it, or solely when we’ve got good intentions? No. Learn Scripture even when you don’t really feel prefer it, for if we solely learn after we really feel prefer it, we’d by no means learn it in any respect.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus will get to the center of the matter. Whereas Jesus condemns actions that stem from outward performances (Matt 6:1–18), he doesn’t say, “Don’t do this stuff in any respect in case you are doing them for the flawed causes” (cf. Matt 23:23). As a substitute, Jesus requires whole-hearted devotion to God, the place our thoughts and coronary heart match our outward actions (Matt 5–7, 15:18–19, 22–37–38). In different phrases, whereas individuals can not see what’s going on in my coronary heart, God sees (Luke 16:15; Acts 15:8).
I’m reminded of Jesus’s rebuke of those that prided themselves in merely possessing the Scriptures (John 5:39). Comparatively, it’s one factor to learn Christian books for the sake of studying (or to gather books to have extra books); it’s fairly one other to learn for elevated understanding and progress (Jer 9:23–24).
So my encouragement to you as you begin a behavior of studying Christian books is to contemplate: Am I motivated to learn resulting from strain or efficiency, for outward appearances, or as a approach to be formed by others who may help me in turning into extra like Jesus?
Why learn? Constructive motivations
My constructive expertise in making a behavior of studying Christian books got here once I found a function past studying: Studying shapes individuals.
Whether or not we realize it or not, we’re being formed by and turning into like no matter will get our consideration. By first recognizing that different issues in my life had been already shaping me (Rom 12:2), I got here to acknowledge studying was too—in addition to not studying!
Whereas no try at studying is with out temptations, I’ve since discovered a greater method, mindset, and motivation: formation, formulation, and fructification.
1. Formation
Studying is formative. We’re formed by studying and considering (Phil 4:8–9; cf. Ps 1:1–3); as Ronni Kurtz states, “What Paul understood, and what we should perceive, is that no matter we give our consideration to will type us as a individuals.” Studying should form you into somebody who seeks after reality (humility) slightly than presumes to know (delight) (Prov 18:2, 13; Jas 1:19).
2. Formulation
Studying serves to formulate ideas, concepts, and convictions. As an illustration, I’d be kidding myself to assume I can come to Scripture and interpret it with out additionally looking for out what others have mentioned earlier than. So studying helps me formulate theological convictions and beliefs by listening to what others need to say about God, theology, and the Christian life.
Studying slows us all the way down to assume and ponder theological truths, slightly than shortly digesting bite-sized data in our digital age, which frequently prevents deep considering (or considering in any respect).
3. Fructification
Lastly, studying ought to “bear fruit.” Studying for the sake of data just isn’t the tip objective; as a substitute, learn to sharpen your thoughts for the aim of loving God and others (1 Cor 8:1, 13:1–2; 1 Tim 1:5).
Commenting on 1 Corinthians 8:1, Thomas Schreiner elaborates on the right use and perspective of data; he says,
Data shouldn’t turn into an instrument to advance oneself, however ought to be a car for serving to others … True information is adorned with humility and accompanied by love, and if these qualities are missing, one’s information has not been utilized.
Briefly, we learn Christian books to develop in Christlikeness.
- Formation: the course of of studying shapes how we expect and course of data
- Formulation: the function of studying helps us in creating concepts and convictions
- Fructification: the product of studying brings forth transformation, which bears fruit
Sensible methods
If beginning a brand new behavior takes about two months to develop, then forming a brand new studying behavior would require harnessing the proper sort of motivation and outlook (see above). So enable me to shut with two sensible methods I’ve maintained this attitude whereas beginning (and sustaining) a studying behavior.
1. Create a (sensible) plan
First, I plan to learn only one chapter at a time slightly than the entire e book.
As an illustration, assuming the common chapter is 25 pages, if I set a objective of 5–10 pages per studying session, then I can learn one chapter per week. If the common e book incorporates 10–12 chapters, then studying a e book in a few weeks now feels much less daunting.
Very particularly, I’ll jot down the full variety of pages within the e book, in addition to the variety of pages in every chapter. For instance, if a e book I’m studying has 193 pages and the primary chapter is 13 pages, I do know that after studying the primary chapter, I’ll have 180 pages left. This technique may not be just right for you, however it motivates me to get a little bit carried out at a time and serves as a psychological and visible roadmap when studying Christian books.
In Logos, you possibly can create customized Studying Plans and set them to your personal tempo. I do that for my seminary lessons that assign weekly readings. It’s one other approach for me to maintain a psychological and visible roadmap for studying Christian books.
2. Use a format you’ll really use
Admittedly, I could be a moody reader: Generally I like studying bodily books and writing in them; different occasions, I desire listening to audiobooks. And at totally different occasions, I learn digitally so I can enlarge the font to focus in nearer.
Fortunately, I should not have to decide on just one format for studying (nor do you!). Relatively than recommending one format that’s finest for everyone, discover no matter format serves you finest, then use that. No disgrace, shackles, or showmanship right here!
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Conclusion
As a substitute of beginning a brand new behavior of studying Christian books for detrimental causes, begin and maintain a brand new studying behavior with constructive motivations that can produce constructive outcomes. Learn Christian books to determine, to formulate, and to be fashioned into Christlikeness.
Discover no matter format works for you and begin studying Christian books that can form, develop, and develop your coronary heart and thoughts in godliness and elevated love for God and others—all for the glory of Christ.
Steven Stanley’s prompt sources on studying
- The Pleasures of Studying in an Age of Distraction, Alan Jacobs
Steven Stanley’s advisable books to your new studying behavior
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