Quality vs. Quantity

In recent posts I've discussed how our intake of scripture doesn't automatically correspond to a growing faith. One of my examples was church members who have sat through over 4,000 bible studies but have not evidenced a changed life.

Leaving aside whether I would actually know if a person's life has changed or been transformed, I want to clarify that in my example, I am not referring to the preacher or the deliverer of content. I am not implying that if someone has sat through 4,000 bible changes and has not been changed that it is somehow the preacher's fault. It may be, and each preacher needs to ask whether they are putting in the proper time for study and preparation and attempting to creatively engage the listening congregation with the biblical material.

What I mean is, you will be your only barometer for whether your scripture intake is contributing to your growing faith or whether you are merely listening as an aspect of attending a bible study so you can check it off your list.

Specifically, to grow in your faith during a bible study, you must focus on the quality of your reception of the word, rather than the quantity of studies that you take in.

Here's the difference: you may listen intently, absorb the word, and create an action point from each bible study you participate in. This is focusing on quality: you are participating, contributing, and growing in your faith. Even though you are still doing things as a result of your study (and thus susceptible to a checklist approach), your main focus is to be obedient to God as he reveals things to you through his word. It doesn't matter how many studies you sit through because in each one, if approached with this attitude, you will find something to help you grow, regardless of whether the preacher/teacher is outstanding or is merely mediocre.

But if your understanding of being a good Christian requires you to attend bible studies because that's what Christians do, you are less likely to grow. Your emphasis will be on the quantity of lessons you hear, rather than the quality of your reception of those lessons.

Focus on the quality of your scripture intake (make quality) rather than the quantity of it in order to grow in Christ.