Printed workbooks of ESSENTIALS FOR LIFE are available at goodfeedmedia.com

SESSION 3: DEVOTION TO GOD / BUILDING GOD’S WORD INTO YOUR LIFE

I. INTRODUCTION

A. As a follower of Jesus, we need reliable directions.

• We need a clear picture of who Jesus is, and we need to hear from Him.

B. God’s Word is the most reliable life-map there is.

• When we build God’s Word into our lives, the Holy Spirit will access its truth and use it to direct us.

• John 14:26 // The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (NIV)

C. Too often, we want to hear a word from God, but we don’t want to read the Word of God—or maybe we don’t know how to read it.

“The decline of the knowledge of the holy has brought on our troubles. A rediscovery of the majesty of God will go a long way toward curing them. It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate. If we would bring back spiritual power to our lives, we must think of God more nearly as He is.” —A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

II. 3 THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOD’S WORD:

A. God has revealed Himself in His Word.

B. God’s Word is timeless and personal.

• We need to shift our passion from just studying the Bible to knowing God.

• Bible knowledge alone can become a smokescreen that hides what’s really going on inside our hearts.

• Matthew 23:27-28 // Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (NIV)

C. The goal is transformation.

• Romans 12:2 // Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

• If the information stops in our head, we’re no more than a modern-day Pharisee. If it stops in our heart, we’re just a fanatic. When it makes it to our hands and feet, we’re a true disciple.

  
  

  

III. 3 SIMPLE QUESTIONS:

A. What is the Timely Message?

B. What is the Timeless Principle?

C. What is the Personal Application?

IV. HOW DO YOU GET STARTED?

A. Purchase a notebook or journal.

B. Choose a short book.

C. Check your attitude.

• Reverence, expectancy, and a willingness to obey.

D. Day One:

• Slow down and be still. Take time to focus and prepare your heart.

• Read 5-10 verses or until a thought seems to be complete—typically a paragraph or two. There aren’t any rules to this. Just read a short section that makes sense to you.

• In your notebook or journal, record the date and the scripture reference.

• Write down your thoughts about what you read. You can write as much as you want or as little as you want. At least write down some things you want to pray about.

• Conclude your time by praying about what God has shown you in His Word and praying about the things on your list.

E. Day Two and beyond:

• Begin reading where you left off the day before and repeat the process.

• After a week or two, you’ll begin to see an improvement in the way you hear God speak to you as you build His Word into your life.

V. MEDITATING ON SCRIPTURE

Matthew 4:4 // Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (NIV)

A. Meditation changes the way we act by changing the way we think.

• Romans 12:2a // Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind … (NIV)

B. 5 Practical Benefits of Meditating on God’s Word:

Joshua 1:8 // Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (NIV)

[1] Meditation equips us to follow through with our faith.

[2] Meditation enables us to be prosperous and successful.

• The promises in Joshua 1:8 are conditional. IF we meditate on God’s Word, THEN we’ll be able “to do everything written in it.” IF we meditate on God’s Word, THEN we’ll be prosperous and successful.

[3] Meditation recalibrates our prayers.

• John 15:7 // If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (NIV)

[4] Meditation helps us sin less.

• Psalm 119:11 // I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (NIV)

[5] Meditation provides specific directions for life.

• Psalm 119:105 // Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (NIV)

C. How do we meditate on scripture?

[1] Meditation starts with memorization.

• If we treasure God’s Word and use it regularly, we’re highly motivated and much more likely to memorize it.

• Proverbs 7:2-3 // Guard my words as your most precious possession. Write them down, and also keep them deep within your heart. (LB)

• Psalm 119:72 // The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. (NIV)

[2] Memorize it, then personalize it.

• Put it in your own words. Make it personal by replacing the pronouns in the verse with your name.

[3.] Pray it.

• As you pray, look for ways to integrate God’s personalized truth into your open and honest communication with Him.

VI. CONCLUSION

A. The Apostle Paul outlined the high value of Scripture in his letter to a young leader named Timothy.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 // All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV)

  
  

B. God’s Word teaches and trains us. Sometimes it rebukes and corrects us. It equips us. And to be thoroughly equipped, we need to build it into our life.

TALK ABOUT IT

[1] Which phrase describes your experience with God’s Word: a love/hate relationship –
I never read a verse I didn’t like – I appreciate it but rarely read it; hard to understand.

[2] What has God’s Word revealed to you about God?

[3] What are some of your go-to scriptures that give you encouragement and strength?

[4] Look through the content in this workbook. Pick some scriptures that resonate with you that you think would be helpful to add to your memorize and meditate list.

[5] If transformation is the goal, how has God’s Word been used to transform your life? How has it trained you, corrected you, and equipped you?

BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES

• Bible Study Fellowship – In-depth Bible studies with trained group leaders for all ages and denominations around the world. Learn more at bsfinternational.org.

• Precept – Since 1970, Precept has been equipping small group Bible Study Leaders who can help you discover the truth of Scripture for yourself. Learn more at precept.org.

• The Bible Recap – A chronological reading plan that follows the story of Scripture as the events occurred. This one-year plan corresponds to The Bible Recap podcast (available wherever you listen to podcasts). Learn more at thebiblerecap.com

• The Navigator Bible Study Handbook – Learn how to do question-and-answer studies, verse analysis studies, comprehensive chapter analysis studies, and topical studies.

• Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods – 12 different Bible study methods to help you explore biblical truths, apply them to your life, and grow as a disciple.

  
  

Study Bibles

• The New Inductive Study Bible

• Life Application Study Bible

  
  

My Utmost for His Highest — A timeless devotional book by Oswald Chambers. This is not a pure Bible study book, but it is an effective change-up to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.