Helping ordinary people learn to study the Bible
According to Dave Kraft, “How You Approach Scripture as a Leader is Critically Important.” He writes of his experience with OIA Bible study (though he labels the first step as “Information” instead of “Observation”) and of how easy it is for such study to influence merely our thinking.
But character matters, too. In fact, if you are not learning from the Bible, you are not in a position to be teaching it.
Wisdom comes in the ears, through the heart, and out the fingertips. This week, we explore the second step in the chain.
Let them not escape from your sight;
Keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
And healing to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
For from it flow the springs of life (Prov. 4:21-23).
Bill Ward (2009), Creative Commons
We find the second part of the formula in verses 21-23. When we plug in to God’s wisdom, and it enters our lives through the ears, we need to connect it to the motherboard. If we bypass the processor and run everything right off RAM, it has no longevity. The moment we power the computer down, we lose our data. We must keep the words within our hearts (Prov. 4:21) and keep our hearts with all vigilance (Prov. 4:23).
For the non-technical folk out there, what I just wrote means that when we hear wisdom, it won’t produce change in us until it affects who we are. “The heart” is one of the chief biblical images for our inner selves: thoughts, beliefs, emotions, character, desires, dreams, fears, and conscience.[1] “Heart” in the Old Testament might be what you got if you combined all the following modern-day terms: mind, will, heart, and conscience.
The Bible says that the heart is the command center from which we manage our lives. When we keep the wise words of life in our hearts (Prov. 4:21), they get passed on to the rest of the flesh (Prov. 4:22) because from the heart flow the springs of life (Prov. 4:23).
Any attempt to change that does not pass through the heart is therefore shallow and temporary. I can learn skills by rote, but I haven’t really changed if they haven’t changed who I am.
For example, if I study for a test, pass it, and quickly forget the material, I haven’t really learned it (it hasn’t hit my heart). If a child wrongs another child, is forced by an adult to apologize and does so sarcastically, we wouldn’t label it remorse. When a man tells his wife he loves her, but covertly keeps a mistress, we have reason to question whether his love is true. If a needy person requests charity from a church, the leaders are right to help relieve the immediate burden while also exploring whether the person could make different choices to avoid having the same need again.
The main point is that wisdom gets us unstuck and changes us by changing who we are.
[1] The other common image is “kidneys” as in Job 16:13, Psalm 139:13, Rev 2:23, etc.
If you memorize only one passage from all of Proverbs, it should be Prov 4:20-27. This passage outlines the process of change. It shows us how to get unstuck. It describes how wisdom works in us.
Ages ago, I defined wisdom as a continual striving to know and do what the Bible says. We’ve considered at length what it looks like for us to travel this path of wisdom; now we learn how wisdom travels its path in us.
Mark this formula:
Wisdom isn’t so much about what you do as it is about who you are. Miss this fact, and you’ll jump to chapters 10-31 and read each proverb moralistically (contrary to the expectation set up in Prov. 1-9). So Prov. 10:1 becomes about keeping your parents happy. Prov. 11:22 appears to mean that beauty is only skin deep. And Prov. 25:21-22 encourages you to be nice to people and wait out your revenge.
Mark Tighe (2009), Creative Commons
Such approaches are not completely wrong. But when we understand the process of change—and especially the need for wisdom to land in our hearts before taking off into our actions—we see the wise instruction of Prov. 10-31 for what it is: the description of redeemed and transformed people. Not a list of behaviors that win approval from God or men.
To illustrate: We have a problem with water in our basement. We fixed a downspout. We re-routed a gutter. We installed a removal/drain system. We’ve guided the water’s behavior in the right direction. And we’ve reduced the flood to a puddle, but we haven’t yet solved the problem.
We need to dig. We’ll have to remove the deck so we can re-grade the soil beneath it. We need to get to the foundation so we can brace it against the buckling pressure.
That’s how wisdom works. It comes from outside and gets under your skin and into your heart. It penetrates the depths of your character and beliefs. Then it works its way out into your actions. It comes in the ears, through the heart, and out the fingertips.
Over the next 3 weeks, we’ll walk through Prov. 4:20-27 and explore each piece of the formula in greater depth.
Bill Ward (2009), Creative Commons
It’s possible to apply the Bible vigorously to your head and hands and still not end up in the right place. Just look at how many (ungodly) theologians and legalists abound in our day, and you’ll see what I mean.
So we must not miss the third sphere of application: the Heart.
In calling us to change, God’s ultimate purpose is to conform us to the image of Jesus (Rom 8:29). That’s a fancy way of saying he wants us to be like him.
It’s not enough to believe the truth. Unless you put it into practice, you remain only “not far from [but not yet in] the Kingdom of God” (Mark 12:32-34, ESV).
It’s not enough to do good things. Unless you become a new person, your obedience remains filthy and worthless. “For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Gal 6:15).
Therefore, as you seek to apply the Bible to your life, you ought always ask the question: “what kind of person does God want me to be?”
You can tackle this question in a few different ways:
Let’s practice once again with Luke 2:21. We’ve stated the main point as: “God sent Jesus to be born so he might save the lowly and rule them graciously. This brings him highest glory.” In light of that point, what sort of people ought we, who have hoped in Christ, to be?
Some inward Heart applications might be:
Some outward Heart applications might be:
What other Heart applications from Luke 2 can you think of?
Last week, I wrote about the two directions we can take with our application. This week, I’d like to propose another way of thinking about application: the 3 spheres. Over the next few weeks, I’ll explain each of these 3 spheres in greater detail. Then I’ll pull it all together into a single model that will give you practical steps to follow when seeking to apply any passage of Scripture.
The 3 spheres for application are Head, Hands, and Heart. These spheres represent 3 different aspects of your life where you can obey the Lord and be conformed to the image of Jesus.
Tinou Bao (2006), Creative Commons
The Head represents everything you think and believe. This sphere involves thinking God’s thoughts after him and believing his truth. It involves identifying lies you believe so you can replace them with the truth.
>>You rebel against God when you believe what is not true (Rom 1:25).
>>When you know the truth of God’s Knowable Word, it will set you free from your slavery to deception (John 8:31-32).
>>”Faith” is what you demonstrate when you lay aside your deception and hold on to what is true, even if it’s not immediately visible (Heb 11:1).
John Lambert Pearson (2007), Creative Commons
The Hands represent everything you do. This sphere involves imitating the Lord and his ambassadors, learning new skills so you can be more effective at building God’s Kingdom, and laying aside your old patterns of selfish behavior.
Bill Ward (2009), Creative Commons
The Heart represents who you are. This sphere involves becoming a new person who desires the Lord above all and shows godly wisdom and selfless character.
>>Changing your behavior without changing your heart is an abomination (Isaiah 29:13-14).
>>Knowing the right thing to do (“Head” application) and doing it (“Hands” application), without being born again to new hopes and desires in Christ won’t count for anything (Gal 6:15-16).
>>A Christ-like heart with love for God and men is much more valuable than good religion and proper behavior (Mark 12:32-34).
All 3 spheres matter. Much of the trick of application is figuring out how to land in all three areas without imbalance.
Which of the three spheres do you find easiest or most difficult? Why?
On Monday and Tuesday, we examined Solomon’s third purpose for writing the book of Proverbs and sought to apply it. How did I get to those specific applications?
Whenever we study a passage of the Bible, I find it helpful to think in the three categories of Head, Hands, and Heart. Each of these categories represents a way in which I can respond to a text.
Head applications identify ways I need to believe what is true. They help me to identify false beliefs so I can repent of them and choose to adopt God’s perspective. Examples are “God is more powerful than my enemies,” “Jesus is God and became a man to die for my sins,” or “God wants his people to be part of a church.”
Hands applications identify ways I can act upon what is true. They help me to identify ungodly behaviors so I can repent of them and live in obedience to God’s will. Examples are “I shouldn’t gossip about or attack my enemies,” “I can take steps to get to know my neighbors better and reach out to them,” or “I should join a good church and get involved in the community there.”
Heart application identify ways I must become more like Jesus. They help me to identify wicked or foolish desires so I can repent of them and develop more Christ-like character. Examples are “I must love my enemies as Christ did for me,” “I can trust other people because Jesus knows what it’s like to be misunderstood,” or “I must stop trusting in myself and instead find ways to serve others.”
The first three purposes of Proverbs correspond to these three areas. Solomon wants us to know wisdom (head), do it (hands), and always improve at both knowing and doing (heart).
When you read and study the Bible, are you growing in all three areas?
Don’t fall into the trap of overly theological (head), ethical (hands), or pietistic (heart) reading of Scripture. Keep a good balance of all three, and see how much God will do in your life through his Knowable Word!
And don’t feel like you have rely on yourself alone to grow as a Christian. Join a Bible study, or get more involved at your church! Others can help you in all three areas in ways you never expected.
