1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.
9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"
16 For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
John 1:1-18

Sunday, September 23, 2012

How to grow as a disciple: Spiritual disciplines

I. Love Jesus
This is a commandment! But we love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NASB)

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart."(Deuteronomy 6:5, 6 NASB)

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:5-8 NASB)
** abide = live (picture of vine)

2. Read your Bible
Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, shows a love for God's Word:

"Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105 NASB)

"Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You. Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness." (Psalm 119:33-40 NASB)
-many descriptive words for "Bible": statutes, law, commandments, testimonies, ways, word, ordinances, precepts

**Make goals for reading!

3. Pray to God

"pray without ceasing;" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB)
-pray anytime; remember to pray for your parents' wisdom in raising you!

ACTS-adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication (praying for the needs of others)

4. Worship and serve

"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24, 25 NASB)
-this is why we need to be in church!

'If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.' (1 John 4:20, 21 NASB)
-don't undervalue relationships with loved ones. Mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers are very important and not to be taken for granted!
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