Biblical Meditation requires the affections of the whole disciple of Christ. Join Pastor Scott and Pastor Jeff as they answer questions from the congregation regarding the fruit of personal Meditation. _____________________________ Resources from the Episode Growth Group Guides: March 19, 2023 Study Guide // https://drive.google.com/open?id=1s2PXjESPNYCQ8jObHAFKOncre5XX1VfY&authuser=jen.haynes-watkins%40parkwoodonline.org&usp=drive_fs Find them online at https://pwresources.wpengine.com/study-guides/ Articles: Unanswered Prayer // Dr. Cindy Guthrie Ryan https://truth-talk.org/wordpress/index.php/2020/10/15/unanswered-prayer-dr-cindy-guthrie-ryan/ _____________________________ Show Notes: Pastor Jeff began by discussing the importance of meditation and how it is an integral part of a Christian life. He explained that meditation is not just about sitting and thinking, but rather it is about actively engaging with the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture. He then answered a question about how one's spouse fits into the routine of prayer and meditation. He explained that it is important to be intentional and purposeful in carving out time to pray and meditate with one's spouse, as this can be a great source of encouragement, accountability, and spiritual growth. He also encouraged couples to find creative ways to share the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture with each other, such as reading a psalm together or discussing the beauty of God's creation and how it reveals something about Him. Ultimately, Pastor Jeff concluded that prayer and meditation with one's spouse is a wonderful way to strengthen one's relationship with God and with each other. The speakers discussed how couples can engage in biblical meditation within their marriages. One key element to this is open communication between spouses. They should talk about what they are studying and thinking about spiritually, and pursue answers together. Another key element is finding common ground and worshiping together. Instead of criticizing what happens at worship, couples should take the spiritual truths and realities and talk about them. This will lead to further questions and meditation in each other. The goal of the church is to bring people together to study the Bible together. The conversation discussed the Growth Group material which is designed for both group discussions and individual study. The material encourages people to meditate on Scripture and provides reflective questions to aid in that meditation. An example of this was Psalm 63:7 and the question, “How is David’s satisfaction in the Lord evident in Psalm 63:7?” The conversation emphasized that this is a meditative question and people should think deeply about the verse, rather than expecting a quick answer. The conversation then shifted to question three which was “How has God helped you since you became a Christian?” This question encourages people to reflect on their own personal journey with God. Scott and Jeff discussed the importance of reflecting on what God has done in the past, and how it can be a fruitful time for growth among individuals, couples, and even a group setting. They encouraged people to look up the sermon they are studying in order to get more out of their time spent in the Word. It is important to mine the text deeper and look for what you believe and what you can do with that knowledge. They both expressed the excitement that comes with studying the Bible and the new things that can be learned. Finally, the answered the question of how to start studying the Bible, encouraging brothers and sisters to just jump in. 00:00 - Beginning 00:20 - What would you consider proper forms of meditation? 03:47 - How can we have biblical meditation in the context of marriage? 10:27 - How do I get started studying the Bible? 12:26 - Encouragement from various Psalms... 14:39 - Are all sins the same? 18:39 - What do we do when the Lord answers with a No?