DiscipleShift Part 6: Spiritual Disciplines - Getting the Bible in You
DiscipleShift • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 3 viewsThis week, as we look at specific spiritual disciplines, we must start with a foundation of getting into God's Word and getting God's Word into us!
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
As we begin looking at specific disciplines over the next several weeks, it’s important for us to build a solid foundation of spiritual disciplines.
There are a lot of people who have built disciplines and habits when it comes to their spiritual health, but that doesn’t mean that they are healthy disciplines and habits.
Sometimes, we have poor habits or bad habits that leave us is poor condition or bad health. The worst, is when we think we are in good health but we are really just getting by with what we know and we really not spiritually healthy because we don’t know what healthy is!
The purpose of spiritual disciplines are for us to get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit shape and form our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Without the Holy Spirit being in charge we are inactive, self-centered, and aimless. But, as we looked at two weeks ago, when we are disciplined then we become active in our spiritual growth, Christ-centered, and live with purpose and intentionality.
As we begin looking at specific applications this week, we are going to start with Getting the Bible into You!
Many have a habit of getting into the Word, but we must make sure the Word gets into us!
Early 2000s Gatorade slogan, “Is it in you?”
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
1) Hear God’s Word
1) Hear God’s Word
But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
There is abundant blessing in hearing God’s Word and KEEPING it!
The purpose of Getting the Bible in You is so that we may live by it!
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
One of the very first spiritual disciplines to establish in our lives, is to routinely and consistently place ourselves in a position to hear the Word of God!
Not a church service where a verse or two is mentioned a few times so can add some Christian flavor to a motivational speech...
Not an emotionally stirring pep talk with a verse or a portion of a verse taken out of context...
The Word spoken and expounded on where the emphasis is from the Word itself and not the influences of the speaker...
I say this, because it is important for us to understand that the Word of God cannot convey a message to us that is contrary to its original audience. We will have differing application, but we cannot have differing meaning and understanding.
Ways we can hear the Word.
We can hear the Word by regularly being in a place that it is read and it is taught (This Church).
Listening to established and trusted Preachers and Teachers on the Radio or Podcasts (Be careful).
Watching established and trusted Preachers and Teachers on TV (Be careful).
2) Read God’s Word
2) Read God’s Word
He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
Have you not read this Scripture: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
It is important for us to read the Word of God for ourselves. It is not enough just to hear the Word, we need to read the Word.
When we read, we engage more of our brain processes. We can internalize the Word better when we are reading it, not just listening to it.
Suggestions for Reading God’s Word:
Set an established time!
Psalm 143:8 “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”
Studies show that those who start their day with the Word are far more likely to build and stick with the discipline of reading the Word than those who decide just to do it at night before bed.
Pick a reading plan!
There are thousands of reading plans out there. Pick one (don’t just try and shop around). Look through them initially, but when you pick one…stick with it.
If you don’t want a specific plan, then just start in one place and read until a word or phrase sticks out to you and then meditate on that part. The next day, pick up where you left off and just keep going.
You don’t have to read the whole Bible in a year, unless you just want to. But you need to read through the whole Bible! Being consistent, throughout your life, if you live the average life span, you will have read through the Bible a multitude of times!
Stay determined!
Starting new habits are tough and breaking habits are easy.
Don’t give up if you miss a day but don’t miss a day by giving up.
3) Study God’s Word
3) Study God’s Word
As you read the Word of God, eventually, don’t just read it to check a box or mark it off a list. At some point, you need to spend time studying God’s Word for yourself!
You can help do this by getting involved with a Sunday School Class or Small Group and studying ahead of time.
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
Studying God’s Word helps us to see the truth about life and circumstances.
Start by asking the question: What does the Bible say about…?
Use Bible Study resources such as a concordance, topical Bible, commentary, or your pastor!
Be careful if you decide to use Google… There is a vast difference but a fine line between what someone thinks about what the Bible says and what the Bible says.
Be like the Jews at Berea…examine the Scriptures to see if these things are so.
4) Memorize God’s Word
4) Memorize God’s Word
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you.
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Having the Word in you means that you know it and can recall it quickly! (even if you don’t know chapter and verse…nor sometimes even the book)
Memorizing the Word allows the Holy Spirit to bring His direction and inspiration to your life.
You can’t hear what the Holy Spirit is leading you to do if you don’t have His Word in you.
There is a great distinction between inclination from the Holy Spirit vs direction from the Holy Spirit.
Knowing the Word and memorizing it helps to bring direction.
There are lots of methods for memorizing, and each one is unique to each person…it’s not about how you memorize, it’s that you memorize.
For me, I retain through study, writing it out, and application. When I have it on my mind and I am intentional on applying it to my daily life, it is easier for me to memorize.
We must seek to memorize God’s Word.
If something were to happen and you lost every copy of God’s Word you have or were no longer able to read…how well could you discern and live out God’s instructions?
CLOSING
CLOSING