If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
Introduction
The Bible is God’s Word to us. Being God’s Word it is not just a collection of Words, these words are words of life, and when we take them seriously then God is able to use them to feed us with His life.
Bible Zone
- Scripture - God’s Words - The Bible’s origin is God.
- Power of Word - God’s word is trustworthy because God backs it up by power.
- Focus of God’s Word - The Bible summarised in two simple statements.
- Resources for love - The love of God is linked with taking God’s word seriously.
- Heart Mind Soul - Bible impacts all our being, our hearts, our minds and our will.
The Bible, the Holy Scriptures are God’s words for us.
- What is the origin of Scripture?
- What is the intended use of Scripture?
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Words have amazing power. Words bring healing; words bring encouragement; words destroy and words crush. The power of words is most easily experienced rather than argued. We cannot understand how words could have such power, until someone uses words to encourage or attack us our mood and outlook changes.
The Bible expresses how important God’s words are from Psalm 119:89-94
- How does the Psalm writer express the power of God’s Word?
- Why is God’s Word so trustworthy?
- In what ways is the Psalm writer sustained by God’s Word?
Psalm 119:89 Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.
91 Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.
92 If your instructions hadn't sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.
93 I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life.
94 I am yours; rescue me! For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments.
God showed me how seriously he took our need to spend time together, principly through the Bible.
When Jesus was asked what is the most important of the Bible’s commands, He gave a summary statement. Matthew 22:36-40.
- What does Jesus point to as the fulfilment of God’s law?
- How does this fulfilment of God’s word influence the way we read it?
36 "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?"
37 Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'*38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'*40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
How do we love God whom we have never met. When I first began to follow Jesus I felt completely inadequate because I had no feelings of love towards Him. Love for others is no less difficult. In the passage above Jesus quotes a helpful passage that offers a solution. Deuteronomy 6:4-6
- Why are ‘loving God’ and ‘committing to God’s Word’ linked?
- What sense of passion is involved in engaging with God’s words?
- Consider the breadth of our being that will be influenced by God’s Word.
4 "Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.*5 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.
An experience that helped me see the linkage between committing to God’s word and the flow of God’s love.
When I love someone, I am with them. When I spend time with God through His Bible, I am drawn to be with Him in heart. I am reading words for the heart. At times we disagree, but we are committed to going together and when we meet through reading the Bible and prayer, new understanding opens up.
When I love someone with all my soul, it takes emotional resources. I don’t naturally have those resources, I need to be fed to show that kind of love. Spending time with God builds me up and gives strength to show the love He looks for. I am reading words that build.
How we love is governed by what we believe. This in turn is determined by the culture I live in. I need to allow God to challenge my beliefs, and transform my thinking so I can love Him with all my mind. I need words of truth to do this.
Through a love for God our way of life is transformed. Our relationships are influenced as we see how God loves us, and calls on us to love Him. We see Him being patient with us, we begin, to show that same patience. So our lives become more loving.
GOD’S WORDS - power for life
