Living in the Word

A few weeks ago I introduced you to the Disciples Cross

It’s a teaching device created by a man named Avery T. Willis.

He created this to teach others how to be a Disciple.

Take a good look at it again.

We’re going to be using this over the next several weeks.

We’ve been talking about Disciples and Discipleship for quite a while now.

You may be wondering why I’m spending so much time on this.

You may even be getting a little tired of the discussion.

But I believe it’s time well spent.

It is well spent if you’re taking it all in and understand the need for this.

I’m convinced that the reason why the American Church, at large, is so weak and losing influence, is wrapped up in this subject.

Churches today don’t generally focus on discipleship. We tend leave people behind when they make a decision to follow Jesus.

Because, by and large, we do nothing to help them through the journey in Christian growth.

As important as leading people to Jesus is, it’s not the end of their journey.

And it’s not the end of the church’s responsibility.

Jesus say in Matthew 28, that we’re to make disciples, not converts.

Our responsibility, as the church, as individual Christians, is to help people find their way to becoming a follower of Jesus Christ.

So we need to take this responsibility very seriously.

I want to see all of you become sold out, crazy, radical, followers of Jesus Christ.

I don’t just want you to be believers, I want to see you be followers.

And so we’re grinding through this series on being a disciple.

I want to see you commit to the things that will help you be what Jesus has called you to be.

I’m not so naive as to think just spewing a lot of information will make you a disciple.

And so, we’re going to be using this Disciple’s Cross for the next several weeks to help you find your way to becoming a true follower of Jesus.

The cross represents the life of a Disciple, a follower of Jesus.

The center is a circle.

1. This circle represents the center of a Disciple’s life.

2. And at the center of a Disciple’s life is Jesus Christ.

3. And we’ve been talking about this already.

4. To be a Disciple, Jesus has to be at the center of all we are.

5. And Jesus has to be at the center of all we do.

6. He has to be the priority of our lives.

A cross has two aspects.

1. There’s the part of the cross that goes up and down.

2. That’s the vertical axis of the cross.

3. Then there’s the part that goes side to side.

4. That’s the horizontal axis of the cross.

In the Disciple’s Cross, the vertical axis represents our relationship with the Lord.

1. With Christ as the center of our life, we’re grounded in the Word.

2. And we respond upward to the Lord through prayer.

The horizontal axis represents our relationship with other people.

1. With Christ as the center of our life, we’ll cultivate relationships with other believers.

2. Part of the disciple-making process is fellowship with other believers.

3. The horizontal axis also represents our witness to those who are not believers.

4. Part of being a follower of Christ is leading other people to become followers of Jesus.

We’ve already talked about making Jesus the center of our life.

1. And that’s a given in everything else we cover.

2. A person is not a disciple if Jesus is not the center of your life.

3. So today, we’re going to begin looking at the Disciple’s Cross by looking at the bottom vertical section of the cross.

A Disciple must be grounded in the Word.

And the Word we’re talking about here is the Word of God, the Bible.

1. The key to discipleship is Lordship.

2. We make Jesus the Lord and Center of our lives.

3. We spend time with Him because we love Him.

4. We want Him to live in us and through us.

5. And the key to having Christ living in you is to have His Word in you.

6. Here’s what Jesus says about His Word and Disciples.

7. Read John 8:31–32

John 8:31–32 NKJV

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

True Disciples abide, live, in the Word of God.

The Word is the food of Disciples.

You will not grow as a Disciple of Jesus without taking in the Word.

The Word is absolutely necessary to being a Disciple of Jesus.

You can’t know Jesus without the Word.

Jesus says if we are in His Word, we’ll know the truth.

Jesus says in John 14:6 that He is the Truth.

Truth is not a set of rules or some theories.

Truth is a Person.

We get into the Word and we meet the Absolute Truth, Jesus!

And that Truth, that knowledge, that Person, sets us tree!

So the way we get there is to spend time with the Lord in His Word.

That means we daily set aside time to spend in the Bible.

We plan that daily time.

We reserve that daily time.

And we remain, abide, with Jesus.

Why is this so important?

Why is it so important that we make this an integral part of our lives?

Quickly, here’s four reasons why we need to spend time in the Word, daily.

We need this time to get to know God.

To really get to know God.

Romans 15:4 NKJV

4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Most everybody has their own ideas about God.

And most everybody voices their opinion when they get the chance.

And so much of what people think about God has nothing to back it up.

It’s just their concepts of who they think He ought to be.

When we spend time everyday with God in His Word, we really get to know Him.

Our knowledge of Him is based on fact.

It’s based on a true experience with Him.

We won’t ever really know God if we don’t let Him tell us about Himself!

Proverbs 7:2–3 NKJV

2 Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.

We need this time in His Word to get to know our God.

We need this time to get guidance and direction from the Lord.

There is no shortage of people who will happily offer you guidance and direction for your life.

They have TV shows.

They’re followed by millions of people on Facebook and/or YouTube.

You work with people who can tell you how to live your life.

You go to school with people who can tell you how to live your life.

Is that really where you want to get your guidance and direction for every decision you have to make?

When we are in the Word consistently, we find out how God advises us to live our life.

Since God is the one who created life don't you think He is the one who is best suited to help guide you through that life He gave you.

Psalm 119:105 NKJV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

We will never live the way God wants us to live if we don’t know how God wants us to live!

We need this time in His Word to get His guidance and direction for our lives.

We need this time to bring our wants, needs, and desires to the Lord.

There are always things that are on our hearts and minds.

Many times we don’t have an outlet for them.

We’re hurting and we don’t have someone to talk with.

We have needs that nobody has invented a pill for.

We are overwhelmed and need a place to run and hide.

Proverbs 30:5 NKJV

5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

When we are in the Word and spending time with the Lord, we always have Someone who cares for us.

He’s the One who knows the deep needs in our hearts.

He’s the One who knows the desires of our hearts.

He’s the only One who fully understands what’s going on in our lives.

So the key to this aspect of becoming a Disciple, this vertical axis of the Disciple’s Cross, is to ground yourself in the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,