Soul Training

SOUL TRAININGReading the Gospel of JohnIn The Divine Conspiracy Dallas Willard writes, “The key, then, to loving God4 is to see Jesus, to hold him before the mind with as much fullness and clarity as possible. It is to adore him.” The best way to do this is by reading the Gospels. In the four Gospels we encounter Jesus, seeing Jesus in striking ways. I am always amazed at how real Jesus appears. The brilliance of these written records is in their ability to bring Jesus into vivid view.This week I want you to find a few hours to read the entire Gospel of John. It is not often that we read an entire book of the Bible. Usually we read small portions or a short devotion based on a single verse. By reading the whole book we experience the complete story, beginning, middle and end. Some may wonder, Why the Gospel of John, and not one of the others? John is a unique Gospel. It begins with a prologue that tells us about the Logos, the Word or the Son of God, who was “made flesh, and dwelt among us.” John gives us a glimpse into Jesus with a series of unique stories, but most important, John’s Gospel clearly depicts Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly Father.I suggest breaking up the Gospel into four sections and reading five to seven chapters at a single sitting. I know one group took turns reading the book aloud. Watch out for the temptation to turn this into a Bible study by constantly consulting the study notes (if you have a study Bible). If you have pressing questions that arise during the reading (“Why did Jesus turn water into wine?”), you might want to write them down and search for answers at another time. For now I would like you to simply read the Gospel as if you were reading a story with a beginning, middle and end. For most people this will be a challenging exercise, but it is very rewarding.FOR REFLECTIONWhether you are going through this material alone or with others, the following questions might be helpful as you reflect on your experience. Either way, it might be a good idea to answer these questions in your journal. If you are meeting with a group, bring your journal with you to help you remember your insights as you share your experiences.1. Were you able to practice the exercise this week? If so, describe how you felt about it.2. What, if anything, did you learn about God or yourself through the exercise?3. What was your favorite passage, story or verse in the Gospel of John?

Soul Training

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