Did you know that the most popular flavor of ice cream is Vanilla? It is and there is a lesson we can draw from this fact that can make all the difference in our relationship with God.
Vanilla Ice Cream
Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson, in their book Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth, point out that if your local ice cream establishment could only sell one flavor it would most certainly be vanilla. Why? They say it isn’t just because it is the most popular. They say it is because “it is hugely popular; in fact, it’s twice as popular as the second favorite flavor, which is chocolate.”[1]
Church leaders are always looking for ways to spur their members onto spiritual growth. And they are looking for that one thing that would have the most impact and make the most difference. They are looking for the vanilla ice cream of spiritual growth.
Do you know what they found is that vanilla of spiritual growth? Their research revealed, hands down, that reading and reflecting on how the Scriptures applied to their lives was the single most effective activity to growing in their walk with God.
They write, “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.”[2]
It’s that simple, my friend. Reading and reflecting on God’s Word on a regular or daily basis makes all the difference. Are you doing that?
If not, let me encourage you to start today!
Question: What are some ways you try to incorporate Bible Study into your day? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
I subscribe to a daily bible verse service. They deliver it to my email inbox every morning.
That is a great idea!
I recently renewed a habit of listening to an audio New Testament in my car during my commutes to and from work. It’s a different experience than reading the same texts. I don’t tend to catch as many details (unless I pause it occasionally to ponder a particular segment), but I sometimes visualize the scene more creatively and, because I tend to ‘cover more ground’ in the time I invest, I get a better sense of the proximity and relationships between key passages.
Thank you for encouraging immersion in God’s Word. Most believers know it’s a primary need, but so easily pushed out of the way by the pace of life.
By the way, Dr. Faulls, I really like your ‘plug’ for the Hawkins/Parkinson book. I will definitely be recommending it to our pastors and praying for opportunities to help them and our leadership to apply it in our church.
Blessings!
Rod Eastman (LUO EVAN500-B01)
Any way you saturate your mind with God’s Word is always good. Thanks for sharing!
I began reading Greg Faull’s books recently and got very interested, not wanting to drop it. One level led me to other.
One afternoon at the office, my Director caught me reading the book at the peak of a very busy period. While all others were skipping up and down, dealing with highly urgent security document matters,, I was calm reading Greg’s “What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth”, The calm in me drew my Director’s attention, which nearly landed me in trouble.
I would like to subscribe to more publications where possible.