Discipleship Week 3

“HEAR”

Hebrews 4:12 “12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Matthew 4:4 “4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’””

ILLUSTRATION:

DON’T ANSWER this out loud… but think of someone who you don’t like to spend time with.

BUT you have to spend time with them fairly often, let’s say once a month.

When you are with that person, what are you thinking about?

You can answer that…

Are you thinking about how much you enjoy spending time with that person or are you thinking about something?

How do we think about time when we are with those people?

On the other side of this, have you ever done something and you didn’t want it to end?

You wanted to just stay in that moment forever?

Surface level, think a roller coaster (if you like those).

you wait in line for an hour possibly, you finally get on...

You ride for 2 minutes or less and then it’s over…

It’s like ah man… I wish it could have lasted another minute! It was too short.

Anyone have any other examples there?

Now what is different about the way we spend our time in these scenarios?

When we are spending time with someone or doing something we don’t want to do, what do we want from time?

When we spend time with someone we want to be with or doing something we want to do, how do we think of time?

Spending time with those we love, doing things we love, leads us to spend unhurried, undistracted time.

And unhurried, undistracted time is always well spent.

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TRANSITON:

In our relationship with Jesus, this is the goal.

Unhurried, undistracted time.

Make that your goal, but also make it more than a goal.

Relationships are not about meeting goals, it’s about spending our time well.

When I’m with Allison doing something fun, I don’t care about the time.

Now if the kids are with us and there’s a nap involved, yeah I am a little too focused on time sometimes.

But man, the best days, the best time spent, is when time is no factor at all.

We know this.

But we for some reason throw all that out in our relationship with Christ.

So How do I do that with Jesus?

Privately… which we will discuss in a moment.

With people.

I know Johnie and I were talking this week about the college and young adults.

On Sundays they meet to discuss a book together that they are all reading privately.

However, sometimes the discussion falls flat or there is no discussion at all.

Honestly, sometimes I feel that here too.

I think there’s a lot to blame for it in our culture.

But here’s what I hope you know about church when you come here.

We are all on a journey of life.

We all need each other.

We all need to discuss with one another what God is teaching us.

We need to encourage one another.

I pray church for you increasingly becomes a place you don’t go to out of obligation or because your forced too, but it’s a place where you enjoy going and connecting with other people who love Jesus and are walking with you on your faith journey.

All of this factors into discipleship and is a key part of it.

Discipleship is made up of believers who know Jesus personally, but desire to grow in their faith with other people.

You can’t grow with other people without being willing to share your lives with them.

And you can’t grow with other people without seeking Jesus yourself, personally.

SO going back to seeking Jesus personally, How do I do that?

I want to give you some practical ways to do that tonight then give us some time to practice.

Discipleship involves HEARING from God.

But How do I spend time with Jesus?

I get distracted, I get bored, I don’t have time, I don’t know where to begin.

Stop making excuses.

This is something we know that we need in life, so dial down the excuses and just own the fact that spending time with God is not a priority in your life, but you want to make it a priority.

That’s ok. And that’s not a bad thing.

Being honest with yourself and owning the truth helps you move forward in a positive way.

Making excuses and being dishonest with the truth yourself will only leave you frustrated, drained, and likely to give up.

Matthew 4:4 “4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’””

I believe this is literal. We know that we can’t live without food and water.

But do we know that we can’t survive either without filling our soul’s with food as well?

What does it mean to Hear from God?

In order to hear from God,

we have to actually give him our time.

2. Give Jesus unhurried time.

HEAR

Get a journal, get a journaling bible, start on a note on your phone…

Whatever works for you.

read the word and write down your thoughts using this method.

H - Highlight

E - Explain

A - Apply

R - Respond

Highlight - write down verses, highlight them, ask, “What stood out to you the most about that verse?”

Explain - write out what’s going on in the verse in your own words. write down any details you see or truth statements.

A few good resources here:

enduringword.com

blueletterbible.com

gotquestions.org

Apply - We don’t just want facts about scripture in our minds. We aren’t studying for a test. We need to know what to do with this stuff we are reading.

What does this mean today?

What is God saying to me?

What would my life look like if I apply this verse to my life?

How am I not applying this verse in my life?

Don’t rush, sit here a while. GO to God in prayer here.

Respond - We want to people people who obey God and do what He says.

Remember all those times in the OT when we see the Israelites literally do the opposite of what God says?

We always think “Man, they were dumb. I’m not like that...”

Except we are sometimes though…

The point is not to obey out of obligation… the point is, I want to do what God says, because I have seen continually in scripture His grace and mercy.

I pray and talk to God to ask for His help explaining, applying, and obeying His word.

So let’s look at an example of how to do this.

Read Philippians 4:10-13

Philippians 4:10–13 NIV

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

We all know that last verse pretty well.

So we might highlight it. (HIGHLIGHT)

Boom.

How do I explain it? (EXPLAIN)

Paul says in vs. 11 “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances...”

Wow that’s something I need in my life! How can Paul be content? Well, because he has seen through suffering and in need that Jesus is all he needs.

Jesus has helped Him and sustained Him in all the difficultiesd and sufferings he has faced. In every situation, He is content.

How do I APPLY this? (APPLY)

I know that I will also experience ups and downs in life. Is my contentment found in Jesus? Only Jesus gives this kind of strength so I need to remember that today and go to Him. Jesus, please remind me to be satisfied in you.

How do I respond? (RESPOND)

“Jesus please help me as I strive to be content in You. Through Your strength, I can make it through any situation I must face.”

Can I just ask you something, imagine the treasure a journal would be for you if you had years of daily time spent with Jesus recorded like this?

For myself, I don’t have this guys, but I wish I did.

I have Bibles that are messy and highlighted and have notes and all kind of stuff.

But I think even for myself, I would be good to adopt this practice.

SO I’m in this with you.

So let’s try this together tonight for the last 10 minutes.

Sample text to practice together:

Spend unhurried time.

use the HEAR method.

Let’s try this out.

Matthew 5:13–16 NIV

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Highlight

Explain

Apply

Respond.