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Bible passage:
John 8: 31-47
James 1: 19-25
One of the key ways we grow more like Jesus is by letting his truth, ideas and values shape our thinking. We are probably not as aware as we should be that we are bombarded by falsehoods, distortions and downright lies in the world in which we live.
'Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth . . . to become like Jesus, we must fill our lives with his word.'
The Bible is more than a doctrinal guidebook; it generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being and guarantees our future forever!
How vital is it for us to see the necessity of the Word in our lives?
Do you see that you cannot really live without the Word of God?
Share any experiences you have of the Word doing any of these things in your life recently.
Rick Warren identifies 3 activities that we must practice if God's Word is to have a transforming influence on our lives:
1. I must accept its authority
(Read John 8: 31-47) This was the issue for the opponents of Jesus in the passage before us. They knew their scriptures but they were not prepared to recognise the implicit authority of Jesus' words, as the Word. What is the power of the phrase 'hold to my teaching'? (v31)
What in fact were these people holding to in their lives?
What is the difference between an intellectual, head knowledge of God's word and a life changing abiding in God's word?
Accepting it's authority means the Bible must become the authoritative standard for my life: the compass I rely on for direction, the counsel I listen to for making wise decisions, and the benchmark I use for evaluating everything.
How far do we live like that? Often we base our lives on unreliable authorities, e.g. culture 'everybody's doing it'; tradition 'we've always done it'; reason 'it seemed logical' & emotion 'it felt right'
How much are you influenced by these forces in your life? Is the Bible your supreme guide?
2. I must assimilate its truth
Jesus speaks about the truth setting people free, but this only happens if we:
RECEIVE GOD'S WORD - a receptive attitude is vital if the word is to bear fruit in our lives
READ GOD'S WORD - how much time and attention do we give to it?
RESEARCH GOD'S WORD - ask questions of it, look into it
REMEMBER IT - memorizing scripture gives us help in crises
REFLECT ON IT - meditation is focused thinking, do we do it?
3. I must apply its principles
All of the above is useless if we fail to put it into practice.
(Read James 1: 19-25). Satan is not troubled by us studying the word unless we do something with what we have learned. How often do we fool ourselves into thinking that simply hearing, or reading, or studying the word means we have truly internalized it?
This is the hard bit, because personal application can be painful. The truth will set you free, but first it may make you miserable! Have you had any personal experience of this?
Warren suggests writing out an action step after we have read or studied God's word? What do you think of that?
He also stresses the importance of being a constant member of a small group to help us assimilate the word through mutual study/discussion.
Consider, what has God already told you to do in his word that you haven't started doing yet?
Remember: 'The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives' (D. L. Moody)
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