A Practical Conversation about Reading the Bible
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
D Group Kick-off
Wednesday Nights are back
Kids Color War
Today is Blake’s 10 year anniversary!
Prayer Request
Prayer Request
A Testimony to Begin
A Testimony to Begin
Someone share with me about the difference in your life from the time you did not have a regular rhythm of studying the Bible from where you are now?
One of the things I want to do this morning is have an open and honest conversation about reading the Bible.
I am not going to bring you through a hermeneutic lesson or anything like that- just a general conversation.
The Struggle
The Struggle
Why is it difficult to create a rhythm of daily reading in the scriptures?
What struggles do you face when approaching Bible reading?
Lack of a plan
Reading the Bible in a year
F260
Book Study
Bible App
Make sure any plan you have is centered around God’s word
Overextending
Shooting for the moon doesn’t land you among the stars, it puts you lost in space.
Bible reading is a discipline. Sitting down and beginning with an attempted 5 chapters a day will end in disappointment.
Meditation is important!
It is better to read one chapter a day and meditate (reflection on revelation) on it than to read 5 and not think about them!
Doing it alone
There is power in the discipline of Bible reading- but there is support in the cooperation of Bible reading with others.
Read with friends
Make appointed moments to recap and break down with others
Join a D-Group for accountability
Accountability is not keeping track of your failures- it is the encouragement toward growth based on the revealed truths of scripture.
I’ll find time
Set a time, guard it with your life.
If you don’t control your schedule your schedule will control you!
We read God’s word as a means of merit, not a means of grace.
God’s love for you doesn’t rise and fall on your devotion times.
You are His child.
However, if you are truly His sheep, you will listen for His voice…
Does anyone resonate with any of these? Which ones and why?
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Do we approach God’s word in this way?
Approach God’s word for strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Why do you need God’s word?
Why do you need God’s word?
4 But he answered, “It is written,
“ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Make you wise for salvation.
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
If you don’t know what you believe, study it. Cultural Christianity clings to a rotating wheel of 10-20 popular verses- dig deeper.
Grow your relationship with God.
If I talked to Caroline sparingly once or twice a week, would we have a good relationship?
Help you fight temptation.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
The Bible illuminates our sensitivity and and awareness of sin and also how to fight it.
The more we know God, the more we see our sin.
It provides revival, wisdom, and joy.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
It nourishes your soul
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Hand Out Spurgeon’s Breakdown
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
How can you start today?