Discipline #5 - The Power of the Word of God
THE FIFTH DISCIPLINE Feeing on the Word of God
Notes For Video #6: TEXT: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4) PRINCIPLE: Persistently progressing on a daily pathway of reading through the Bible (in spite of distraction and schedule irregularity) is more than essential—it can be joyous! God’s Word is the ever- available, supernatural source for faith, strength, wisdom, growth, and freedom in Christ. And there is no substitute for its power to nurture, counsel, and sustain. 1. Receiving the Word is as basic as eating, essential for: 1) To how we navigate our journey. 2) Every issue of life is covered by truth and wisdom 3) Becoming more lie Christ in Spirit fullness 2. Reading the Bible daily is a life-giving discipline. • (See Ps. 119:105; Prov. 3:6 and Ps. 19:7) C. Allowing God to guide you through the reading of His Word is a wonderful part of life with Him. The Power of the WORD of God: While God has revealed himself in part through his creation and human conscience (Psalm 19:1-6, Romans 1:20), he chose to reveal his love, infinite mercy and glorious plan of salvation through the Holy Scriptures. Both the Old and New Testaments reveal that eternal life is offered ultimately through Christ, the only mediator between God and humanity. The Word of God is eternal. The prophet Isaiah proclaims, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8). In this ever- changing world, this is good news! We need the unchanging Word of God. It’s a sure thing, steadfast, true, and dependable. We can trust and live by it for it will never pass away. The Apostle Paul in writing to Timothy shares the purpose and power of God’s Word: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation. through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:14-17). The purpose and power of God’s Word is for all people, at all times in every circumstance, offering life, truth and equipping us to live fully for God. The Word gives life
The Word reveals truth
The Word equips for every good work
An Emerging Heresy Progressive Christianity’s View of Scripture: Theology matters because beliefs are connected with behavior. In addition to this fact, one’s theology also reveals the true source of authority serving as the ultimate foundation. Am I going to be faithful to Scripture or conform to what is culturally comfortable? “Progressives are not just a group of Christians who are changing their minds on social issues and politics…they often deny core essential doctrines of the faith, which leads them to preach an entirely different gospel.” Theological Signs The Bible – An ancient spiritual travel journal? Progressive Christians view the Bible as a record of what people believed about God in the times and places in which they lived, rather than the inspired and authoritative Word of God. It’s not uncommon for a progressive Christian to express disagreement with a biblical writer, or to reject the passages they find unhelpful. In fact, progressive leader Richard Rohr encourages Christians to ignore, deny, and even openly oppose Scriptures that are “imperialistic, punitive, exclusionary, or tribal.” This matters because if we give ourselves permission to deny or ignore the Scriptures that don’t fit into our preconceived ideas about who God is and how he acts in the world, we will have effectively transferred the authority for truth from the Bible to our own thoughts, feelings, and preferences. The Atonement – Cosmic Child Abuse? Nothing New Under the Sun … Grounded in 20th century Liberalism: Reformed theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768–1834) . Karl Barth a Reaction to Liberalism: This week do your S.O.A.P. Study on Hebrews 4:11-13, ESV: 11” Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”