Sermon Tone Analysis

Spiritual Disciplines-Bible Intake Part 3-Diving In Deep-Getting Under the Surface

Slide 2

Review the Spiritual Disciplines

So far we have spent 2 weeks looking at the Spiritual Discipline of Bible Intake.

1st looking at the incredible uniqueness of this God’s Love Letter to us.

Then 2 weeks ago we looked at the importance of the Memorization of Scripture.

We emphasized that we are really without excuses when it comes to the Memorization of Scripture, adding that Scripture Memory is way more about effort that it is technique.

We looked at the benefits of Scripture Memory, how it supplies the Spiritual Power, how it Strengthens Your Faith, prepares us for Witnessing and Counseling, provides a Means for God’s Guidance, Stimulates Meditation.

Then we discussed the Methods of Memorization.

One is we need to Have a Plan, that Writing out the verses is a key, you could even draw out pictures if that would help, we looked at the importance of Memorizing Scripture word for word, have an Accountability partner and lastly that we should Review and Meditate on verses Every Day.

That brings us to next very important part of the Spiritual Discipline of Bible Intake and that is Diving In Deep-Getting Under the Surface.

This can be accomplished a couple different ways that we will look at this morning.

First: Slide 3

I.

Hearing God’s Word Slide 4

When it comes to the Spiritual Discipline of Bible Intake, this is the easiest.

In fact some may even question why this would be considered a discipline, I mean when you think about it, all you really do is show up and listen.

The problem is, even showing up on a weekly basis is an often neglected discipline.

Despite the fact that Scripture is clear in Hebrews 10:24 & 25

Slide 5

As we look over these 2 verses, I want you to pay close attention to the second word in verse 25 “neglecting”.

To be honest with you, thats way to weak a word for what is truly meant here.

The Greek word means “to totally abandon, utterly forsaken.

To give you a good picture of what is at play in this word, let’s watch a video from the movie “The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe” from the Chronicles of Narnia.

For those of you not familiar with the movie or book series.

Lucy has now made 2 trips through a magical wardrobe into the land of Narnia.

After her first trip, none of her 3 siblings believed her perceived tall tale.

The next day her brother, Edmund, quietly followed her into the wardrobe and discovered she was actually telling the truth.

Let’s watch the scene together.

I believe that scene is an accurate picture of what the author of Hebrews wants you to have when you read “not neglecting to meet together”.

Slide 6 The life of the Christ follower is not a stand alone relationship!

The fact is,

Slide 7

I. Hearing God’s Word

We need each other!

Not just to thrive, but at times to just survive.

Our regular attendance at church is an absolutely necessary Spiritual Discipline.

In my view, and this is not just my view as a Pastor, but this was also my view for the past 19 years as business man, in my view missing church should be an extremely rare occurrence.

On average over the close to 32 years of marriage for Pam and me, we have missed church less than once per year.

Most years we never missed church, and that includes when we were on vacation.

We have always understood the importance of being in church on Sunday’s.

It has never been a church box to check off on our to do list.

Instead it has been something we knew we needed as a part of our growth in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Slide 8

But beyond the fact that we need to be at church for our own well being, we also realize something else that is very important.

Slide 9

I. Hearing God’s Word

The Church Needs Us!

When we skip out on church attendance, not only to we miss out on opportunities to be ministered too and to hear from God, we also miss out on opportunities to minister to others.

You never know who God might bring you in contact with on Sunday morning who is going through something right now that you can relate too.

They need to hear from you on what God did in your life when you were faced with a situation or trial that they may be facing at that very moment, and if you skipped that Sunday, you miss out on a ministry opportunity, and not only on a ministry opportunity, but also on a huge blessing.

There are few things more encouraging than when God works through you to minister to someone else.

Especially when He uses the tragic circumstances you have been through to encourage another, assuring them that even in the midst of tragedy, God is with you.

He never leaves or forsakes you.

Slide 10

As important as it is to be at church to Hear His Word, just hearing His Word is not enough.

Slide 11

I. Hearing God’s Word

Listening is not enough, we also need to Keep His Word.

In his book “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life” Donald Whitney writes “Merely listening to God-inspired words is not the point.

The purpose of all methods of Bible intake is to “keep it,” that is, to do what God says and thereby develop in Christlikeness.

Whitney, Donald S.. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (pp.

23-24).

NavPress.

Kindle Edition.

In Luke 11:28 we read: Slide 12

When you are at church on a Sunday morning listening to the message, you should constantly be searching for what it is that God has for you that morning.

If you are listening with a desire to hear from God, He will speak to you.

By the way, can I let you in on something that practically every pastor has experienced, most of the time on many occasions?

All of the sudden they will hear that so and so is upset with them because that individual felt a recent message was written to specifically target them.

Now I am not saying that type of thing never happens, but I will tell you that the times it happens are extremely rare.

Can I tell you what is usually taking place in those situations?

Slide 13 We have a God Who knows all things, Who knows you better than you know yourself, knows your struggles, knows your sins-even those sins that you always thought were hidden sins, knows where the enemy is attacking you.

That all knowing God then directs the Pastor as he prepares the message and the words you hear are from God to you.

So next time you get to thinking that the Pastor has specifically targeted you in a message, rather than getting angry with him, think to yourself, alright,

What is God’s specific message for me, and what do I need to do now?

Slide 14

I. Hearing God’s Word

What are other ways I can discipline myself to hear from God?

Really in this day and age the opportunities to hear from God’s Word are endless!

As well as the available time.

Bring a bluetooth speaker.

There are endless apps on your smart phone that can open the door for you to hear from God multiple times throughout the day.

Currently I have 10 different apps on my iPhone that give me access to incredible Godly men and their messages, one of which givers me access to 10 or more on that one app.

I will regularly start a message as I am getting ready in the mornings, then I will turn on one of my bluetooth speakers or my earphones and listen as I get ready for the day.

I never mow the lawn that I am not listening to messages, and when you have more than an acre to mow, well that’s a lot of sermon time!

There are also many different Bible apps that will literally read the Bible to you out loud.

And when you’re driving to work, or school or to events or whatever, rather than turning your radio to music, which much of the time puts thoughts into your mind that are anything but godly, find one of the many stations that play messages from Godly leaders.

I cannot tell you how many times I have made it to my destination and ended up setting in the car from another 10-15 minutes because I wanted to finish a message.

And don’t forget podcasts!

Slide 15

The point is, Slide 16

We have no excuse not to Hear from God.

Slide 17

That brings us to the next way we hear from God.

Slide 18

II.

Our personal time in God’s Word.

Devotions & Quiet time.

This is easily the most neglected of the Spiritual Disciplines.

According to