this is today

Beware you are not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.
— John Wesley

Notwithstanding the above quote from John Wesley, things have been quiet around here because for the past month I’ve been back into the books. I am almost half way through studying a Masters degree and whilst it is challenging, I find it really fulfilling.

So, some reasons why I think there is great value in studying:

1. Studying builds or rounds out your belief system. Knowing what you believe and why you believe it is critical to where you are headed in life. To actively and deliberately build that out enables you to maximise your fruitfulness in life and ministry.

2. Studying exposes you to new areas of thought that otherwise you would never explore. There is great benefit and stretching your mental muscles and expanding your understanding into new areas, and seeing how it relates to the areas of life you currently work in or have knowledge of. Mark Batterson is master of this, as he takes facts from neurology, social science & the like and weaves it into his writing and messages.

3. Studying challenges and expands the personal capacity of the leader. Studying takes mental discipline, puts pressure on your time, and requires grit and determination to successfully complete.

4. Studying within a structure requires commitment and commitment produces consistency. I’d rather reap a harvest from consistent sowing, than from sowing out of those rare moments when genius and inspiration strike. So too with the regiment of structured study.

5. Studying introduces you to great people! I’ve met and continue to be blessed by the friendship and interaction with some amazing people. Go on get out there and study!