In the Groove-Through the Word

For the past 2 weeks we have talked about being “in the groove” or “in-step” with the Holy Spirit.

Last week we saw how prayer can help us get in-step and stay in-step with the Holy Spirit.

This week, let’s think about how the Holy Spirit uses the Bible, God’s Holy Word to keep us in-step.

The Holy Spirit “Breathed” the Word

It makes perfect sense that the Holy Spirit would use the Word, when we understand that the Holy Spirit breathed the Word.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB95) All Scripture is inspired by God [literally:God-breathed] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man [or woman!] of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Multiple scriptures that tell us the Holy Spirit inspired (breathed the Word):

2 Peter 1:20–21 (NASB95) But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

2 Samuel 23:1–2 (NASB95) Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, The man who was raised on high declares, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel, 2 “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.

Acts 1:16 (NASB95) “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

Hebrews 3:7–11 (NASB95) Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, 8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, 9 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. 10 “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’; 11 AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’ ”

(A quotation of Psalm 95:7-11)

Hebrews 10:15–17 (NASB95) And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, 16 “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,” He then says, 17 “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

(A quotation of Jeremiah 31:33)

The Holy Spirit SAID it and IS SAYING it

Acts 28:25–27 (NASB95) And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying, ‘GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, “YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.” ’

(A quotation of Isaiah 6:9)

Ephesians 6:17 (NASB95)… the sword of the Spirit… is the word of God.

John 14:26 (NASB95) “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

John 16:13 (NASB95) “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

[the Word of God]

As we just read, it is the Holy Spirit who reveals the Word.

We also see this in ...

1 Corinthians 2:10–13 (NASB95) For to us God revealed them [the things God has prepared for those who love Him] through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

The Living Word

The Bible is not only God’s revelation breathed out upon us by the Holy Spirit.

We need the Holy Spirit to understand and apply the Word…

… the LIVING Word of God:

Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95) For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Bible is not just a book of ancient accounts, but a living word that provides guidance, correction, and training for our daily lives.

By engaging with Scripture regularly …

And one of the ways we can do that is by study, even journaling the Word

When we thoroughly and deeply engage with God’s Word, we allow it to illuminate our path and equip us for every good work.

The Scriptures need to shape the way we approach every decision, every challenges, and every relationship.

We need to engage with our world through a Biblical lens — a Biblical worldview.

We should feel A deep sense of awe and gratitude for the power and wisdom found in God's Word.

Because of that we should commit to a specific plan of Bible study or reflection.

A central truth of this sermon series is that the God of the universe wants to connect with us in a real and personal way.

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, God gives us His Holy Spirit to live within us—to convict, empower, and guide us.

This week, we’re focusing on the vital role the Bible — the living Word of God — plays in the life of a believer.

The story is told of a pastor whose 8th grade son asked for a Bible for Christmas.

The pastor was happy to do so and asked the son what kind of Bible he was wanting.

The son said that he wanted one like his dad’s, one with notes and things because he wanted to use it so much that it would one day be falling apart like the dad’s.

The pastor was unsure how to take his request.

He wondered if should be embarrassed that his son thinks his Bible is tattered and frayed?

But the pastor decided, “No. I think it was actually a compliment.”

He realized that his son saw that his Bible does not sit on a shelf somewhere. It is used.

Used so much that the cover is falling off and pages are highlighted and marked.

There is, of course the old saying that a person with a Bible that is falling apart probably has a life that isn’t.

May that be true of us.

The pastor got his son a Bible, praying that one day it will look just like his.

For centuries, believers in the Church have regarded the Bible as God's authoritative word for their lives.

Written by 40 authors over 1,600 years, in different countries with different cultures, the Bible has withstood the test of time.

Even today it remains the runaway best-selling book in history and a defining document for millions, providing timeless guidance, hope, and truth to all who read it.

Sandra picked up a book the other day that she highly recommends

So, in addition to spending daily time in prayer, reading the Bible keeps us living in rhythm with the Holy Spirit.

THE BIBLE GUIDES US STEP BY STEP

The Bible does that by guiding us step-by-step

As Psalm 119:105 (NASB95): [Lord], Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

This verse perfectly illustrates the guidance and clarity that God’s Word provides.

The psalmist uses two powerful images, lamp and light, to communicate the importance of Scripture in navigating life.

A lamp provides immediate, focused enlightenment.

In ancient times, lamps were small and gave just enough light for a person to see the next step in the darkness.

God’s Word provides us with direction for the immediate decisions of life.

It doesn’t necessarily reveal the entire journey ahead of us, but it does offer enough light for each step, teaching us to walk in rhythm and obedience.

Taking the next right step, no matter the circumstance or situation, puts us in the right position for what God has for us next.

We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but if we will obey God today, we am better prepared for whatever it is.

And then, it makes sense that Jesus would be referred to as the light of the world in John 8:12.

Through Him, as the Word made flesh, we receive ultimate guidance and direction.

The “light” of the Word gives us a larger, brighter, more general illumination.

By walking in His light, the light of Jesus, we avoid stumbling and we find our way to eternal life today and forever… step by step.

1 John 1:7 (NASB95) … if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

We need to put our trust in the singular tool God has given us.

When I was finishing my undergraduate degree 25 years ago, we studied the leadership lessons of British explorer Ernest Shackleton in his 1914 Antarctic expedition aboard a ship called the Endurance.

His account is considered one of history’s greatest tales of survival and leadership.

After their ship became trapped and crushed by ice, Shackleton and his crew faced the impossible challenge of surviving in the harshest environment on Earth.

What followed was a journey of courage, determination, and reliance on navigation tools—particularly a compass—to guide them to safety.

Shackleton knew their survival depended on reaching civilization, and he took five men on a perilous 800-mile journey across the treacherous South Atlantic in a small lifeboat.

With no GPS or modern technology, they relied on celestial navigation and a simple compass to guide their way.

In that ocean, devoid of landmarks, the compass was their lifeline.

It provided direction in the middle of chaos, allowing them to stay on course despite storms, waves, and unrelenting uncertainty.

Shackleton’s ability to trust the compass, despite not being able to see their final destination, ultimately led to the rescue of his entire crew.

The Bible is the believer’s compass for life.

Just as Shackleton’s compass gave him direction in the unknown, God’s Word offers guidance in the uncertainties of our lives.

It points us toward God’s truth when we’re tempted to stray, keeps us steady in the storms of doubt, and assures us that we are heading in the right direction, even when culture would want to tell us otherwise.

Like Shackleton’s trust in his compass, we may not always see the end of our journey, but Scripture is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

THE BIBLE CHANGES US

God has given us His Word, not just to guide us, but to change us.

When we read the Bible, the Bible reads us.

The Apostle Paul speaks to this truth in 2 Timothy.

Paul is writing to a young church leader named Timothy about how to lead well.

Part of his instruction is a reminder of the role the Bible plays in keeping us in the groove with God.

Remember reading

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB95) All Scripture is inspired by God [God breathed] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Again, Paul’s words remind us that all Scripture is “God-breathed,”

That all scripture in God-breathed means it is divinely inspired by God and carries His authority and power.

This truth underscores that the Bible is not just an ordinary book, or just an ancient text, but a living, active tool that God uses to shape our lives today.

When we engage with Scripture, we are receiving God's influence directly, because His Word is perfect and trustworthy.

2 Timothy tells us that the Bible is profitable for teaching,

meaning it provides us with the knowledge we need to understand God’s will and His ways.

It is also useful for rebuking, showing us when we are out of rhythm with God and calling us to correction.

Through Scripture, we are instructed in the right way, helping us align our lives with God’s design.

The Bible is for training in righteousness, equipping us to live in ways that reflect God’s holiness, justice, and love.

As we apply these truths in our daily lives, by reading, journaling, and acting on what we learn, we allow God’s Word to mold our hearts and make us more like Him.

When we engage with Scripture, whether we’re reading it, journaling it, or reflecting on it in a group, we’re allowing it to mold our hearts and align our lives with God.

We’re letting it shape us, correct us, and train us in righteousness.

The Bible doesn’t just inform us, it transforms us.

It’s a tool that God uses to change us and make us more like Himself.

So, let’s not just read it; let’s let it read us.

Let’s allow it to shape our hearts, our actions, and our lives, so we can stay in the groove with God.

THE BIBLE PREPARES US

Not only does the living Word of God change us, it prepares us

It prepares us for the good works God has planned for us by transforming our hearts and minds. (cf. Romans 12:1-2)

Romans 12:2 (NASB95) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 4:23–24 (NASB95) and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

How does the Bible renew our thinking?

As we read and apply Scripture, it equips us to live out our faith in practical ways, whether through serving others, showing kindness, or standing up for what is right.

It teaches us how to love, forgive, and act with integrity, making us more like Christ in every area of life.

Through the Bible, God equips us with the wisdom, strength, and courage we need to fulfill His calling for our lives, empowering us to be His hands and feet in the world.

In-step with the Holy Spirit Through the Word of God

As the Worship Team returns to the platform…

Let’s wrap up

By being reminded that the Bible is more than just a book—it’s the living Word of God, designed to guide, change, and prepare us for the good works He has planned.

Through the anointing of the Holy Spirit we engage with Scripture.

Not just filling our minds with knowledge; we’re allowing God’s Word to shape us, correct us, and equip us to live out our faith in practical ways.

Whether it’s a decision we face, a struggle we endure, or an opportunity to serve, the Bible is there to illuminate our path and empower us to act in ways that honor God.

Let’s commit to getting deeper into God’s Word.

Out at Murphy Highway I placed a feather flag that encourages us to “Go Deeper.”

We can, we WILL do that as we engage with te Holy Spirit through the Word of God.

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth as He reminds us of what He said.

So, let’s allow it to guide us, change us, and prepare us for whatever He has for us.

Could we stand?

The Word tells us of God’s love and His plan of salvation… repentance and surrender.

Have you responded to the love of God revealed in the Word?

If not, can I encourage you to that today?

Right now?

Sing …

Closing prayer.

Pray over food.

Pray that we will stay in the groove with God, and let His Word lead us to live out His purpose in every step we take.

Let’s take the next step in our spiritual growth by committing to a Bible reading plan.