Called to Win Pt.3 The Word June 13 & 14, 2015 I. Review of Sunday This week we looked at the importance of God s word in our spiritual life. Pastor related that the word of God is like a Jedi light saber. A powerful beam of light and a sword of the spirit at the same time. Is there anything you would like to use a light saber on at this time? II. Open with prayer and Announcements Let s pray for our national leaders to work together for the peace of our nation and the growth of the gospel. Dear Heavenly Father, You are present in this room and in our lives. You alone are all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present, and we worship You alone. We confess our dependence on You, for apart from You we can do nothing. We choose to believe Your Word, which teaches that all authority in Heaven and Earth belongs to the resurrected Christ, and being alive in Christ we have authority in His name. Help us to live in obedience and the authority of Jesus our Savior s name. Amen III. Ice Breaker Options, Readings A.Where is your favorite place to take a night hike? Do you use flashlights or lanterns or something else? B. Who first taught you the Bible or read Bible stories to you? How old were you? Did you have a favorite Bible character or lesson?
Read these verses from Psalm 119 (NIV 83 ) 1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 17 Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. 25 I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. 33 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. 41 May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; 49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. 57 You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words. 65 Do good to your servant according to your word, O LORD. 66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands. 73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. 81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. 97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. 113 I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. 1. What words to describe the power of God s scripture stand out to you? Which verse in this list is the most encouraging? 2. The word has the power to preserve life (vs 25) and salvation (vs 41). How does that relate to keeping us pure (vs 9)? How has the Bible helped preserve, save or keep you pure in the past? 3. How can we hope in God s word? 4. When does reading the Bible fit into your routine most consistently? Is there a certain place that you find is best to get the most out of reading the word of God? 5. How does one love the law of God? How does the law love us back? Can it love us back? 6. Pastor taught that the word of God brings life and light. How is that like Jesus?
Read John 1:1-2; 9; 12-14 (NIV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning... 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world... 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 7. Why is it important to know that Jesus was present from creation until now? 8. Why does the scripture stress that Jesus was not of natural descent? 9. How does knowing that Jesus is the word becoming flesh make the Bible more personal? 10. Pastor said, The Bible is God s written word, Jesus is God s personal word. If we want to be rightly related to Jesus, we have to be rightly related to the Bible. How does this change a believer s attitude about reading and studying the Bible?
Read 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NIV 84) 10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings-- what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is Godbreathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 11. What does he remind Timothy of in verses 10 & 11? How would that relate to knowing the scripture? 12. How does knowing the word of God protect against evil people and imposters? How similar is Paul s attitude of scripture to Psalm 119 verses we saw earlier? 13. When did Timothy first learn about the Bible? When should we start teaching our children according to this?
14. What parts of the Bible are the most important according to this passage? What will knowing the Bible help us with in life? 15. Pastor talked about how being involved in witchcraft, ungodly worship, horiscopes, ouija boards and the like can hamper our ability to worship God or read the Bible. Did anyone find the prayer he lead us in helpful? Does anyone have a testimony to share? A Prayer for Freedom from Deception Dear Heavenly Father, You are present in this room and in my life. You alone are all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present, and I worship You alone. I declare my dependence on You, for apart from You I can do nothing. I choose to believe Your Word, which teaches that all authority in Heaven and Earth belongs to the resurrected Christ, and being alive in Christ I have the authority to resist the devil as I submit to You. Lord Jesus, I confess that I have been deceived in the past by witchcraft, drugs, and alcohol. Thank you for forgiving me and setting me free. I commit myself to believing Your truth. In Jesus name I pray. Amen 16. Pastor Jackson explained that believing in something other that God for our source of wisdom or peace can hamper our spiritual growth. How does that teaching agree with John 14:6 (NIV) 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.?
17. What can we do to encourage each other in daily Bible study? George Muller said that daily Bible study helped him to find new ways to believe and obey God every day. THIS WEEK S PRAYER: Prayer: Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. - In Jesus name I pray, Amen.