Dear Friends,

People often think reading the bible is boring. It’s like eating whole grain cereal with no milk. It’s good for you but it is dry.

The reason this happens is we are approaching the word of God like a repair manual or a textbook.

Unfortunately, because of this perspective on the scripture people don’t long for it or even read it much on their own.

Many people go to Church, listen to the scriptures and attend classes this can help because the Holy Spirit uses others to apply God’s word to your heart and that is tasting the words power. When you taste something good you begin to get an appetite for it. Tasting the word is when God speaks to you from it. He convicts you or comforts you, He gives you direction. When this happens, you want more. This Sunday I will show you five simple words on the word. Your understanding of how God wants to use His word to grow, direct, and encourage you is essential. Often the wars fought by those who want to fight about the bible instead of reading and applying it are complicated. The truth transformation and purpose of the Bible are simple. My hope is to return to how and why God’s word guides our lives. I hope you come and listen in person. If you can’t be sure to catch this online.

Blessings,

Joe

How’s God reveal Himself through creation?

Romans 1:19 Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

 

 

Why do we ignore this so often?

 

 

Describe a time where God spoke to you through creation.

Psalms 19:1-3 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.

 

How does God speak through scripture?

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

 

Describe a time when you felt God spoke to you through scripture.

 

 

How has reading the Bible changed your life?

 

 

How much scripture should someone read daily to be healthy in faith?

 

 

What can hinder you from hearing God speak through scripture?

Mark 4:18-20 “And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

 

 

What verse has really helped you love more fully?

1Timothy 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

 

 

 

 

Share a verse you memorized and why?

 

 

Why is meditating on scripture so important to living it?

Psalms 1:2-3 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law, he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

James 1:21-25 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.