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Scripture by Heart
Ebook
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- Length: 166 pages
- Published: February 28, 2010
- Imprint: IVP Formatio
- ISBN: 9780830879038
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Available at all major retailers!
Why memorize the Bible?In our information-saturated society, with so many details to take in, the idea of memorizing Scripture can seem overwhelming--like one more task on a checklist. But pastor Joshua Choonmin Kang has discovered what happens when we do spend time memorizing God's Word: we grasp a larger, truer picture of God. We more closely and more often imitate Christ. We worship God "in Spirit and in truth." We're better able to fulfill God's mission.However, Pastor Kang also knows that memorizing Scripture isn't easy. The process itself, like the transformation it brings, doesn't happen overnight. Scripture by Heart is therefore his help for your growth in this important practice. He offers here
- 30 short devotional readings that motivate you to memorize God's Word
- spiritual practices interspersed throughout that teach you how to memorize
- specific help for persevering when you feel stuck or overwhelmed
- a step-by-step approach that roots Scripture in your mind and heart
There is no substitute for God's Word and no shortcut to having it dwell in us. But there is help here for the journey. Pastor Kang's words and wisdom can guide you into a new relationship with the living Word, and the God it reveals.
"Joshua Choonmin Kang helps us to appreciate and appropriate the power for transformation into Christlikeness that comes from knowing the Scriptures 'by heart.' He gives us encouraging words about the many good effects of memorization, and excellent instruction upon how to go about memorizing the Scriptures. If you will absorb his teachings and do what he says—adapting it to your personal circumstances and making it a persistent part of your day-to-day life—then you will experience the renewal of your mind and undergo the transformation of your life which everyone knows should come from following Jesus closely. Grace will see to it. The Word of God which is 'living and powerful' (Hebrews 4:12) will form you in the likeness of Christ."
from the foreword by Dallas Willard
CONTENTS
Foreword by Dallas Willard
Introduction
1 Bearing Fruit Through Meditation
2 Tasting the Sweetness of the Word
Practice: Take Small Steps
3 Understanding the Bible as a Whole
4 Forming a Biblical Value System
Practice: Don't Back Out
5 Sharpening the Mind
6 Acquiring Wisdom
Practice: Sharpen Your Focus
7 Dipping into Wisdom
8 Cultivating the Affections of Our Hearts
Practice: Find the Right Environment
9 Overcoming Anxiety
10 Enjoying Peace
Practice: Divide and Conquer
11 Strengthening the Heart
12 Improving the Power of Learning
Practice: Get It Right the First Time
13 Developing Concentration
14 Strengthening the Will
Practice: Use Index Cards
15 Cultivating Ourselves
16 Parenting Wisely
Practice: Arrange by Topic
17 Nurturing Disciples
18 Maturing as a Teacher
Practice: Make a Habit of It
19 Dialoguing Well
20 Offering Spiritual Counsel
Practice: Determine Topic, Reference, Word
21 Becoming an Evangelist
22 Living in Faith
Practice: Planning Our Memory Schedule
23 Overcoming Temptation
24 Finding Victory in Spiritual Warfare
Practice: Understanding What We Memorize
25 Prevailing Prayer
26 Preparing for Spiritual Difficulty
Practice: Meditationfor Transformation
27 Transforming Trials
Practice: Memorize with an Eye on Use
28 Receiving Divine Guidance
Practice: Memorize for Recollection
29 Becoming God's Instrument
Practice: Aim for Mastery
30 Fulfilling Your Mission
Practice: When Memorization Bogs Down
Conclusion: Meditating on Psalm 1
Appendix: Favorite Passages for Memorization
