The Spiritual and the Academic
James 1:22
Introduction
- Story of two window cleaners facing occupational hazards
- Highlighting the dangers of various jobs
- Comparison of different professions and their inherent risks,
- introducing the concept of spiritual hazards for seminary students
Problem Statement
- Observation from student evaluations about spiritual coldness despite frequent contact with scriptures
- Example of a student who experienced spiritual coldness during seminary
Root Cause
- Questioning why spiritual fervor decreases despite studying scriptures
- Suggests the issue lies in the approach to scripture
- The fallacy of approaching scriptures only intellectually rather than with both head and heart
Scriptural Examples
- Examples from scripture emphasizing obedience:
- Pharisees
- Jesus’ teachings
- Moses in Deuteronomy
- James 1:22
- Ezra 7:10
- Warning against moving from studying to teaching without obedience
- Emphasizing the need for personal application
Solutions and Suggestions
- Recognize the Supernatural Element in Learning
- Emphasis on the need for both academic and spiritual pursuits, integrating the Word and the Holy Spirit
- Importance of faculty living out the truth and teaching with conviction
- Practical examples from Paul’s letters
- 1 Thessalonians
- Philippians
- The necessity of making classroom experiences spiritually engaging
- Relate the Word to Personal Needs
- Encouragement to identify personal areas of need and apply scripture to those areas
- Importance of faculty and students asking “So what?” to connect learning to life application
- Remove Obstacles to the Holy Spirit
- The role of sin in causing spiritual coldness
- The need for readiness and receptiveness to the Holy Spirit
- Encouragement to pray for openness and eagerness to apply God's truth
- Respond to the Truth with Action
- Encouragement to put truth into practice and work on specific habits or projects for spiritual growth
- Reference to Francis Schaeffer’s emphasis on obeying scripture and living out inerrancy
Conclusion
- Final exhortation to avoid intellectual-only study and strive for spiritual transformation through the Word
- Vision for renewed spiritual vitality, excitement about the Word, and spiritual impact on the world
- Quotation from Johann Bingle: “Apply yourself wholly to the text, and apply the text wholly to yourself.”
Closing Prayer
- Prayer for applying scripture in a way that honors and glorifies Jesus Christ
*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.