Notes to accompany "Discipleship, Week 5"

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 1:1-3, Matthew 4:4

Other books were given for our information.
The Bible was given for our transformation.

The Defender

The Bible is God's Word to us.
It's a myth to say that faith is the absence of thinking or questioning.

How can you begin to hear the voice of God in the Bible?

1) In a quiet place ask God to speak to you from the words you're going to read. Ask God to show you His heart and His character.

2) Stop for a moment when the Bible speaks to you. Think about what it's saying about God and life. Is there a lesson to learn?

3) Ask God to plant deeply within you the words that make for life.

Example: Matthew 5:13-14

Take these words to heart for a season. Meditate on them. Ask to what extent you are or aren't living them.

where to start? 2Timothy 3:16, 2Peter 1:20-21

"The Bible is criticised most by those who read it least" - Anon

There are so many good translations of the Bible and excellent Bible notes.

The inspiration of God's Word

God used the personalities and experiences of the Bible writers to convey His message. The core of the Scriptures is Jesus.

Read each passage as part of God's whole story, which is about God's deep desire to have a relationship with us and to empower us to live the life of significance and purpose. Read and reflect.

Where you've failed, be drawn into repentance and/or forgiveness - the process of new beginnings.

The Bible is unique. It speaks to the eternal longing in each soul.

Praying the Scriptures

Jeremiah 31:33

"The Bible is a window through which we may look into eternity." - Timothy Dwight

As we learn to pray through a passage the message is written on our hearts.

Example:The Beatitudes. Matthew 5

Live the Word of God

Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalm 119:105, John 14.23

"Many people are bothered by those passages in Scripture which they cannot understand. as for me, I always noticed that the passages that trouble me most are those which I do understand." - Mark Twain

As you and I read the Bible daily we discover how it speaks into our lives and circumstances.

Example: Matthew 6:14-15

Forgiveness and Unforgiveness

Reading the Bible daily connects us to God's purpose for our lives and helps us to get His perspective.

Example: Matthew 6:19-21

The problem with the Church today is that so much of what was once regarded as biblical truth has been watered down.

Regular giving is such a practice. Tithing to your local church is one of God's most important training exercises for reshaping our hearts to be Christ's disciples.

The Church of England leadership has issued recent guidelines stating that we need to be very careful about using the words "Lord" or "Father" because they can lead to domestic violence and ale dominance! To state that God is not Father and Jesus is not Lord is heresy. It's nothing to do with sexism. Liberal leader in the Church are keen to embrace multi-faith, BUT John 14:6?

The fact is that a Muslim, a Sikh, a Hindu needs to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Their good works, their religious zeal won't save them. Daily Bible reading, like daily prayer and weekly worship, is a key mark of Christian discipleship.

Don't be deceived! Let God's Word be your rule.