From the book Move by Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson,..."If your local ice cream shop could sell only one flavor, it would sell vanilla. This isn't just because vanilla ice cream is the most popular flavor, although that is true. It's because vanilla ice cream is hugley popular; in fact, it's twice as popular as the second favorite flavor, which is chocolate. In turn, chocolate is twice as popular as any other ice cream flavor available. So your ice cream shop would choose vanilla. Hands down. No contest."
"Church pastors have an equally compelling option. If they could do only one thing to help people at all levels of sprititual maturity grow in their relationship with Christ, their choice would be equally clear. They would inspire, encourage, and equip their people to read the Bible - specifically, to reflect on scripture for meaning in their lives. Reflection on Scripture is the spiritual equivalent of vanilla ice cream because its influence on spiritual growth far exceeds the potential impact of other catalysts."
I have found in my own life and in the lives of many people who I have discipled over the years that this is true. When we engage the bible by reading it regularly, reflecting on it, and applying it to our lives, transformation begins to take place unlike in any other practice we can do.
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I'm currently working with an online small group going through Saddleback Church's 40 days in the word by Rick Warren. There are weekly videotalks by Warren on methods of meditating on the Word and there are daily video talks by a variety of pastors from around the country. It's all free (though I bought the notebook because I like it on paper).
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