The Intellectual

INTELLECTUALS...Loving God with the Mind

DESCRIPTION

“Intellectuals…are likely to be studying…doctrines like Calvinism, infant baptism, ordination of women, and predestination. These Christians live in the world of concepts.“When intellectuals’ minds are awakened, when they understand something new about God or His ways with His children, then their adoration is unleashed. (They) may feel closest to God when they first understand something new about Him. (20)…an intellectual can spend long seasons contemplating a challenging verse or concept.” (194)“Intellectuals remind us of the high calling of loving God with our mind. …The Bible is emphatic that our mind is one of the key elements that we can use to love God.” (194)“The Levites were released from other duties so they could function in the one duty of studying and teaching – loving God with the mind.” (196)
“The sermon…does not follow or precede worship – it is worship.” (196)“Scripture tells us our first search, our primary calling, is to get wisdom and understanding.” (197)“There comes a point when we stop teaching and start arguing. It’s a fine line, but we need to make sure we don’t cross it.” (209)

WELL KNOWN INTELLECTUALS

Dr. J. I. Packer; Dr. R. C. Sproul; C. S. Lewis; Dorothy Sayers, Charles Williams, J.R.R. Tolkein; Elizabeth Elliot; Calvin; Plantinga; Eugene Peterson; Colson; Gary Thomas; Bonhoeffer.SCRIPTURES TO PONDERDeut. 33:10; I Ki. 4:29-34; Psa. 49; Pr. 1:5-7; 2:3-4; 4:7; Mt. 22:37; I Cor. 13: 2-3; I Tim. 1:3-7; 6;4,5; II Tim. 2:23-25; Titus 3:9-11; Luke 2: 46-47, 52; James 3:1

SONGS TO ENHANCE WORSHIP

Be Thou My Vision
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
He Was Wounded For Our Transgressions
Holy, Holy, Holy
How Firm a Foundation
I Will Delight in the Law of the Lord
Teach Me Your Way

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

1. Study the basic disciplines of theological training

2. Invest in biblical study: reading through Scripture; meticulous study of portions of Scripture;

3. Read books that help understand what Scripture says - books on theology; books on church history.

4. Do a year-long in-depth study of one topic

5. Listen to theology tapes/CDs while driving.

6. Study the seven basic topics in systematic theology: God, humankind, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Church, eschatology, and revelation.

7. Study Christian ethics

8. Gain understanding of both internal and external apologetics.9. Study the creeds

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. How thankful are you for your intellectual capacity? How do you express this and to whom?

2. In what ways have you applied your intellectual understanding of the Gospel to the service of others? In what other ways could you do so?

3. What are some of the most exciting discoveries you have made about God recently? How . have they influenced your worship times?

4. What most annoys you about other styles of worship? Ask God for His perspective on this? What does He say to you?

5.How do you react to the statement, “worship is God revealing Himself to You, not You discovering God”?

RESOURCES

Clouse, Robert, Richard V. Pierard, and Edwin M. Yamauchi (1993).

Two Kingdoms: The Church and Culture Through the Ages. Chicago: Moody Press.Latourette, Kenneth Scott (1975).

History of Christianity. San Fransisco; Harper.Lewis,

C. S. Mere Christianity. (1978). MacMillan Publishing Company.

McDowell, Josh. Evidence that Demands a Verdict.