Small Group Leaders Facilitation Worksheet:
Produced by Rhema Bible Church North:
4. THE BIBLE-THE WORD OF GOD
[Fourth of a four part series]
ICEBREAKER: The last time we were together we discussed 17 aspects with regard to The Word of God did any
really challenge, affect, encourage or maybe bless you?
[Allow for feedback]
INTRODUCTION:
The Last Session we saw that the Word is so important for our Christian lives and education…
Hosea: 4v6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge….
Joshua: 1v8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Here in these scriptures we can plainly see that our attitude toward the word is of utmost importance and so tonight I want us to look at this aspect together.
4. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE WORD OF GOD:
CLARIFY: The ONLY way this will work for us is to have a proper attitude towards the Word of God BUT if all this is “just another book” then it will be of NO profit to us at all!
Let’s look at David’s attitude:
READ: Psalm: 119v161
Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in AWE of your Word.
WORD STUDY:
AWE: [Greek. to be astonished.]
[Hebrew. startled, fear, be afraid, make to shake]
1. Fear mingled with admiration or reverence; reverential fear.
2. Fear; dread inspired by something great, or terrific. To strike with fear and reverence; to influence by fear, terror or respect; as, his majesty awed them into silence.
3. Reverential fear and wonder
CLARIFY: The right attitude toward God’s Word will always unlock its treasure in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.
SUGGESTION: Look at maybe assigning the following scriptures to the members of the group to read out and comment on after the reading as to what was gleaned from the relative scripture that had just been read. Then begin to piece together or link the picture the scriptures reveal as you go.
READ: Isaiah: 66v2
For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist, says the Lord. But on THIS ONE will I look: On him who is POOR and of a CONTRITE SPIRIT, And who TREMBLES at my Word.
Jeremiah: 23v29
The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My Word, let him speak My word FAITHFULLY.
Acts: 17v11
These were more fair minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they RECIEVIED the Word with ALL READINESS, and SEARCHED the Scriptures DAILY to find out whether these things were so.
Acts: 4v29, 31
Verse 29: Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all BOLDNESS they may speak Your Word.
Verse 31: And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with BOLDNESS.
Acts: 8v25
So when they had TESTIFIED and PREACHED the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, PREACHING the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
Acts: 13v48
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were GLAD and GLORIFIED the Word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Acts: 18v11
And he continued there a year and six months, TEACHING the Word of God among them.
1 Peter:3v1
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not OBEY the Word, they without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.
2 Timothy: 2v15
Be DILIGENT to present yourself APROVED to God, a WORKER who does not need to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the Word of truth.
James: 1v22
But be DOERS of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Revelation:1v9
I, John, both your brother and companion IN TRIBULATION and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the Island that is called Patmos FOR THE WORD OF GOD AND FOR THE TESTEMONY OF JESUS CHRIST.
CLARIFY: The Word of God is the realm of HIGHER TRUTH not just THEORY!
As men and women of God we must learn to be SKILLED Swordsmen & women in OUR lives AND in those whom the Lord leads across our paths!
READ: 2 Timothy: 2v15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1. Points out imperfections.
2. Motivates us to deal with them.
3. Renews our relationship with Christ.
4. Guides us back to the RIGHT path.
5. Dispels negative thoughts
6. Destroys strongholds.
7. Changes our lives
8. And will reflect through us touching the lives of others around us.
READ: 2Timothy: 3v16
Verse 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is PROFITABLE for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Verse 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
READ: Psalm: 139v23-24
Verse 23 SEARCH me, O God, and know my heart; TRY me, and know my anxieties;
Verse 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
THE MESSAGE BIBLE:
Psalm: 139v23-24
Verse 23 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about;
Verse 24 See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong-- then guide me on the road to eternal life.
CLARIFY: You can only do that if there is a true relationship based on transparency. So it is through the Word of God we must endeavour to HELP develop A RELATIONSHIP with OUR DADDY by the Holy Spirit!
IF we look and refer to the Bible merely as a MANUAL/HANDBOOK OF LIFE – We are MISSING the very ESSENCE of the message of the LIVING WORD – a message of;
1. All that God has done.
2. ALL that Christ has done through the POWER of the PRECIOUS Holy Spirit.
3. All the Holy Spirit IS doing right NOW.
It’s for us to EXPERIENCE A LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CREATOR!!
That is the heart of the Father – To be ONE with man for ALL eternity!
· Theology should always end in RELATIONHIP!
· It is more than a bunch of do’s and don’ts’!
· It is NOT a magic wand to cater for our every whim!
Through THIS WORD we can seek
His Face NOT just His hand
His Heart NOT His arm!
Jesus came to establish a RELATIONSHIP not a RELIGION.
And He is calling us to;
· Follow Him
· Abide in him
· Fellowship with Him
· So that we can do what He did to glorify the Father
The Father uses His Word to:
· Heal
· Reveal
· Restore
· Establish Truth
· Enlighten
· Empower
· Encourage
· Feed
· Nurture
· Build Up
· Strengthen
QUESTION: The question must be - WHAT am I going to use it for?
[Allow for feedback]
CONCLUSION: Stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit as there may be those that seek a deeper relationship with the Lord through His word. Pray that the Holy Spirit open the eyes of their understanding to an even greater measure according to:
Psalm: 119v16-20
Verse 16 I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
Verse 17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.
Verse 18 Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
Verse 19 I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.
Verse 20 My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times.
Ephesians: 1v15-23
Verse 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Verse 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
Verse 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
Verse 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
Verse 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
Verse 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
Verse 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
Verse 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
Verse 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Produced by Rhema Bible Church North:
VM 20/03/12 Page 5 of 5