Five Fifteen Articles

The five fifteen concept:

The five fifteen bible study is not a new twist on the Bible, nor is it another method in an endless sea of studies and helps. The five fifteen study is simply studying the Word of God by the Word of God. This way of study has evolved in my life because of my need for God to change my life. We all need to change, even if we don’t think we do. The five fifteen method is just how I have grown to learn scripture as my life has grown. The five fifteen study also includes studies that are centered in the thought frame of spiritual growth that causes us to grow in Christ, and not in ourselves.

Before I get any further I would like to turn the clock back so to speak and explain a little bit of the history my growth in Christ, so that the thoughts expressed in this study will develop into a more meaningful journey for you. I have found that if we can relate to someone and their circumstances then we are able to under- stand more when dealing with the lessons contained within the circumstances.

I had a hard time with being a Christian when I first received Christ. I was a dedicated musician, and as most musicians go I was very selfish. A close friend shared Christ with me and I knew he was right. The gut feeling I had pressed me to do something about the conviction I felt so I did something about it, so I went to church with him. I made the decision and became a Christian. It was great to know that I was saved, but now a new set of strong thoughts confronted me. What do I do about my music ( I was a hardrock/heavy metal drummer ) and what do I do about my lifestyle?

I was making the first of many mistakes that Christians tend to make: I was believing that God was a moral God and he desires to me to be moral and will look at me through my morality. The fault with this thinking ( and the church pushes this to much ) is that through will power morality can be accomplished, but will power is futile in achieving holiness, which is what God desires.

At this point I had succeeded in my moral journey and had stopped cussing , quit drinking, and even joined a Christian band. My life was empty and my strength to live like this was gone. What wasI doing wrong? I went to church and served God with my drums. Where is this life and why can’t Isurvive as a Christian?

To make a long story short ( and to save you the boredom ) I wasn’t a student of the Word. My church did not press the importance of the deeper life in God’s Word. Five minute devotionals were the norm and serious study was left for the pastors and teachers (truthfully I believe that the congregation was the main supporter of this view, not the Pastor). Had I sought God through His Word and used the tools for growth contained in His Word I would have found life and I more abundantly ( John 10:10 ).

God is faithful in behalf of His children. After some time God sent a family to live beside my wife and I in the duplex we lived in. Within a few weeks after their moving in I was marveled at their walk with God and the absence of my walk. I asked for help and they took the time to get us started on the life of discipleship and growth. The simple truths that they shared has become the catalyst for these truths that has changed my walk with God.

These truths coupled with 14 years of growth have evolved into the studies that are contained in these web pages. I am not trying to promote anything new. I just desire to illuminate the truth in the Word of God and pass it on for others so we can growth to maturity in Christ and that many will be saved in the result.

Without getting into doctrine and denominational preferences the following truths are without apology and vitally important to growth in Christ:

· You must be born again. ( John 3:3 - John 3:16 - Romans 10:9-10 - Romans 10:13) Without knowing Jesus as your saviour spiritual growth is fruitless and futile. Ask Jesus to save you and make you a born again Christian. Most importantly, make Jesus Lord of your life and live every day for Him.
· The Holy Spirit will show us the Word and will help us in our quest for growth ( John 14:15-21 - John 14:23-31 -John 15:26 -John 16:5-16 ) God has been faithful to provide the ultimate teacher for us. He’s always there, always ready, knows the Word inside and out, and desires only to teach us the truth. How do we have the Holy Spirit teach us? Simple, just ask and keep your spiritual ears and eyes open and stay close to the Word.
· You must make the time to seek God and he will be faithful ( James 4:8 ) Time is valuable. Very valuable. Today’s society demand two things of you, either your time or money. Another plague of today’s society is the 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) world in which we live in. Many people work around the clock in shifts work and sometimes weekend and evening jobs. No matter where you are in this non-stop world, give God your free time. He will give most of it back and will bless it, the rest he will use to build you up and restore everything that needs restored. God is faithful and desires to provide you with life and life more abundantly ( John 10:10).
· You must be filled with the Spirit ( Ephesians 5:18-20 ) We must drop denominational boundaries here. Scripture here says one thing, don’t be drunk on wine but be filled with the Spirit. It is a good thing to be filled with God’s Spirit. No matter if you come from a conservative background or from a charismatic background, seek God’s Spirit in fullness in your life. He is your strength inside, and in today’s world of lost time and chaos you will need strength in order to live for God.
· You must be willing to examine yourselves. ( II Corinthians 13:5 ) Self examination is the key that will unlock the door to further spiritual growth in your life. Take the time to look at every aspect of your life. Make a mental checklist of your life and check off how you’re doing in your study, prayer, family life, church attendance, giving, job performance, missions, fellowship with other believers, spare time, thought life, etc... If any area comes up short of the mark, seek God and He will be faithful to help you in every area of your life.
· You must be willing to have the Lord examine you. ( Psalm 11:4-5 - Psalm 17 - Psalm 26 ) Trust Jesus as your judge. His judgments are righteous and true with only your best in his concern. He will guide you in all wisdom (Proverbs 3). Ask the Lord to judge your life and to have him repair the faulty areas now, before you build on faulty foundations and weak footings. We all need the Lords’s judgment and searching now. Our work is on this side of heaven and our rewards in glory are for our faithfulness here. It takes bravery and wisdom for us to seek the correction and reproof of God here but it is always worth it.
· You must remember that God is on your side! The following verses speak for themselves and provide tremendous encouragement for every believer. (Jeremiah 33:3 - Ephesians 3:20-21 )

Study does not come easy or for most it doesn’t come naturally either. But God requires it in order to fully know His Word. God is faithful. He has designed His Book so that every man and woman can read and know it. God has also be so good to us in that He has provided many tools contained within his word so that we can learn from it’s untapped resources. The Bible was designed for every man, woman, and child no matter what creed, color and or language.