Lesson 7 Essential foundation for life & ministry

 (Photo above of bible published during Luther's life with personal notes written in margin — Photo by author)
 (Text below part of presentation to musicians, artists and worship leaders in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 2017)

Lesson 7.  Prayer and bible study comprise an essential foundation for our life and ministry.  
The impact of Luther’s ministry can be traced to his belief in the importance of bible study and prayer.  Luther was a passionate preacher and theologian who understood the importance of the study of the Word of God. One of the great rediscoveries of Martin Luther was that the Word of God comes to us in the form of a Book. Luther grasped this powerful fact: God preserves the experience of salvation and holiness from generation to generation by means of a Book of revelation, not by bishops in Rome. Luther had a passionate desire to please God.  He understood that the Bible was God’s inspired word and supplied all the answers to life’s questions.  Luther elevated the Biblical text far above all commentators or church fathers and had an overriding passion for the superiority of the Biblical text by itself. In 1533 he wrote, 
"For a number of years I have now annually read through the Bible twice. If the Bible were a large, mighty tree and all its words were little branches I have tapped at all the branches, eager to know what was there and what it had to offer". 

Luther was diligent in the study of God’s Word.  It was not optional for him but a compelling task. He saw great danger in thinking that ministers can get to the point that they don't need to study any more.
"Let ministers daily pursue their studies with diligence and constantly busy themselves with them ... Let them steadily keep on reading, teaching, studying, pondering, and meditating. Nor let them cease until they have discovered and are sure that they have taught the devil to death and have become more learned than God himself and all His saints”
This of course means never.  

Furthermore, he believed that the way to study the Bible was to saturate it with prayer.
You should completely despair of your own sense and reason, for by these you will not attain the goal ... Rather kneel down in your private little room and with sincere humility and earnestness pray God through His dear Son, graciously to grant you His Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide you and give you understanding.

The impact of our ministry will always be directly proportional to the emphasis that we place on bible study and prayer.