Explaining the Bible to others helps to improve your memory and understanding of it!

[Scribe]

They start to look a little intoxicated.

Wait a minute... Do we need to test you?

 

[Deuteronomy]

Explaining the Bible to others helps to improve your memory and understanding of it! I know and have heard that preachers benefit in this way, in the planning of their sermons. But it's true for anyone. And when you keep God's Word mostly just in your own mind - but don't express or share it with others - you will tend to learn less than otherwise - as a result.

Hi MyrtleTrees, I completely agree with you!

Another thing that sharing God and the Bible with others does (when doing so in a responsible manner like you are) is to cause you to want to go back to the Bible to know more/study more than you would have ever been inclined to do if you knew that it was just for your benefit alone.

I remember John MacArthur saying that he put in over 5,000 hours of study on the Book of Matthew alone (in sermon prep and for his 4 commentaries on the Book), but he said that he wouldn't have been able to put in more than just a few hours of study time if he didn't know that he had an outlet to share everything that he was learning.

God bless you!

~Deut
p.s. - I would say that your grandchildren are very blessed to have you as their grandmother (and it sounds like you are very blessed to have them too ).
.

 

[SoulWeaver]

And when you keep God's Word mostly just in your own mind - but don't express or share it with others - you will tend to learn less than otherwise - as a result.

I don't agree with this statement... why would it mean we learned less if we didn't talk about it later? The more I spend in the Bible in silence keeping it in my own mind, the more I learn. But maybe it depends upon the person. I have a chattery mind and for me silence with the Scripture is beneficial.
I learn the most by just humming Psalms, or just sitting with God and letting Him bring up the Scripture. 💣BAM! 💥

 

[SoulWeaver]

True. Also in order to explain Bible truth and Gospel truth, one needs to be able to not only understand it, but to present it at a level which is understandable even to children. Which is not as easy as it sounds.

One the greatest deficiencies in bibles supposedly meant for children is that many fail to use language which is at the level of children between 4 and 12 years of age.

That's because theology took over Christianity. That's not the language of the small ones but of the learned ones.
Jesus taught in a very simple way. The nature around us is the biggest Bible there is because it all declares the glory of God.
Jesus constantly taught by pointing at observable created things: "look at the birds!" "look at the lillies!" "look at the fig tree!" and used familiar elements in the many parables He gave.
I mean anywhere we look God made it... sun goes up every morning ---> everything even the stars obey God... etc. There's plenty to teach.

 

[oyster67]

I don't agree with this statement... why would it mean we learned less if we didn't talk about it later? The more I spend in the Bible in silence keeping it in my own mind, the more I learn. But maybe it depends upon the person. I have a chattery mind and for me silence with the Scripture is beneficial.
I learn the most by just humming Psalms, or just sitting with God and letting Him bring up the Scripture. 💣BAM! 💥

Good point. We need both. Time alone with God is precious to me also. I know what you mean about how He brings up the Scripture for us. It is wonderful indeed.

 

[MyrtleTrees]

I don't agree with this statement... why would it mean we learned less if we didn't talk about it later? The more I spend in the Bible in silence keeping it in my own mind, the more I learn. But maybe it depends upon the person. I have a chattery mind and for me silence with the Scripture is beneficial.
I learn the most by just humming Psalms, or just sitting with God and letting Him bring up the Scripture. 💣BAM! 💥

Well, I suppose it may be different for some Christians than for others in that matter. It's true being alone with God is also very helpful and without doing enough of that - one will be slower in learning Bible truths, too. I do both kinds. But never do I just spend time only alone with God in a day, as I prefer to also discuss spiritual things with others. And I find I learn additional amount through sharing with others too. In your case, maybe you're better off spending time alone with God first always, before discussing spiritual things with God. I know the prophets and also John the Baptist had to spend much time alone with God, before it was God's time for them to start sharing spiritually with others. I myself, am the sort to either think about God or study and read the Bible and share it with others, just about all day - except for when I have to do other necessary things in daily living - chores, etc.

 

[Guojing]

Hi MyrtleTrees, I completely agree with you!

Another thing that sharing God and the Bible with others does (when doing so in a responsible manner like you are) is to cause you to want to go back to the Bible to know more/study more than you would have ever been inclined to do if you knew that it was just for your benefit alone.

I remember John MacArthur saying that he put in over 5,000 hours of study on the Book of Matthew alone (in sermon prep and for his 4 commentaries on the Book), but he said that he wouldn't have been able to put in more than just a few hours of study time if he didn't know that he had an outlet to share everything that he was learning.

God bless you!

~Deut
p.s. - I would say that your grandchildren are very blessed to have you as their grandmother (and it sounds like you are very blessed to have them too ).
.

Yeah, thanks to all the constant discussion here over our various doctrines, I find that Scripture verses come more naturally to me now.
That is one thing that is within your control.

 

[MyrtleTrees]

Hi MyrtleTrees, I completely agree with you!

Another thing that sharing God and the Bible with others does (when doing so in a responsible manner like you are) is to cause you to want to go back to the Bible to know more/study more than you would have ever been inclined to do if you knew that it was just for your benefit alone.

I remember John MacArthur saying that he put in over 5,000 hours of study on the Book of Matthew alone (in sermon prep and for his 4 commentaries on the Book), but he said that he wouldn't have been able to put in more than just a few hours of study time if he didn't know that he had an outlet to share everything that he was learning.

God bless you!

~Deut
p.s. - I would say that your grandchildren are very blessed to have you as their grandmother (and it sounds like you are very blessed to have them too ).
.

Yes, as you said was true of John MacArthur - all the personal Bible study required for his writing his commentaries on Matthew (were necessary and helpful in the process), and also for the sermons he preached on about the book of Matthew! And as you say, when interacting with other Christians in Bible discussion - it is helpful to look up verses on whatever subject is talked about - each time, throughout the process. That way, it helps ensure that one is as correct as is possible, and it also helps to refresh his memory on it - plus he may learn additional things too - since that's always a possibility - the more we read and study God's Word!

 

[MyrtleTrees]

Yes, as you said was true of John MacArthur - all the personal Bible study required for his writing his commentaries on Matthew (were necessary and helpful in the process), and also for the sermons he preached on about the book of Matthew! And as you say, when interacting with other Christians in Bible discussion - it is helpful to look up verses on whatever subject is talked about - each time, throughout the process. That way, it helps ensure that one is as correct as is possible, and it also helps to refresh his memory on it - plus he may learn additional things too - since that's always a possibility - the more we read and study God's Word!

Thanks for the compliment! You're right! I think I and my grand children are both a blessing to each other! And it is a blessing - after children are married and gone from home - to still have ways to be useful for God in our later part of life! No one likes to be useless, I'm sure!

 

[MyrtleTrees]

he that watereth:
Strongs:
'to be drunk: to be intoxicated:, etc...
look it up for yourself...

I looked it up - you're right! Amazing - I hadn't seen that before! So it may mean to make drunk, or to water, it said. I knew it had to at least mean to "water" as being of benefit to others. But yes, as the book of Acts shows, the drunkeness that God approves of - is the spiritual kind! A very invigorating kind!

Eph 5:18

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
KJV

 

[MyrtleTrees]

True, we help ourselves when we try to bring truth to others. Accepted or rejected by those we give a ready answer to, we still gain knowlege and confirmation from just reading God's word. Something to learn all the time.....always a faith builder.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Yes! I know you had to have learned this by experience - as I also have!

 

[GraceAndTruth]

I don't believe there is only one best way to read and study the bible. Sometimes just reading anything in scripture.....through one of the shorter books is a way to start the day (can't read a long one when you have to get the family show on the road) .....or even a psalm or some proverbs; or maybe sometime later in the day when we get a 'quite time'. Bible STUDY is another way that must be pursued to grow in knowledge, both by oneself and in a group. A group that challenges you to THINK is the best kind.....they send us back to our bibles to test our doctrines. Keep the mind open so as to be teachable. we never know all there is to know in scripture......sometimes a verse you have read a hundred times will unexpectedly show a doctrinal idea not seen before.
Our bible is God's word to HIS people, it is God's word to our hearts.

 

[pottersclay]

That's because theology took over Christianity. That's not the language of the small ones but of the learned ones.
Jesus taught in a very simple way. The nature around us is the biggest Bible there is because it all declares the glory of God.
Jesus constantly taught by pointing at observable created things: "look at the birds!" "look at the lillies!" "look at the fig tree!" and used familiar elements in the many parables He gave.
I mean anywhere we look God made it... sun goes up every morning ---> everything even the stars obey God... etc. There's plenty to teach.

Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee.
God's word is given to us so that we may share with others. Truly there are times to sit at his feet as we are instructed to do so.
We are called to be the light during his absence. We are the vessels that are filled with his wisdom and knowledge but unless it is poured out how then shall it be filled.
We can become stagnant such as the dead sea. The word of the Lord is like running rivers of living waters that flow and we are planted on its banks.
Many today keep silent the word of the Lord in fear of persecution or oppression or even of confrontation realizing that the word in its self has power as a 2 edged sword to cut to the marrow of the bone.
Such fear should question what love you have for the Lord.
There is no greater joy than for someone whom you have shared with give a testamony of blessings received. And no greater honor than to be included in God's plan of redemption.