Transformative

This morning I was reminded again of the transforming power of the Word of God.  We are in the seventh week of a ten week workshop on leading your kids in the Word.  If you have read any of this blog you will know that one of the core principles is that you have to be in the Word for yourself if you have any hope of leading others.

The assignment this week was to do a verse analysis on John 15:5 and a word study on “abide.”  As we were sharing on John 15:5 one of the men segued into what he had learned through the “abide” study.  It was really fun to watch.  He was animated and excited about what he had learned.  He described in detail the various ways that he had discovered that the different authors of the New Testament had used the word.  He then summarized his learning by offering a place that John used the word as densely as he had in John 15, 1 John 2.  

As I listened to him I was reminded that when we give a person some simple tools with which to observe more carefully the text.  When that person engaged with the text, the promise Christ made in John 16:13, the Holy Spirit shows up and leads us into transforming understanding of His Word.  It is an amazing process to witness.