**your attitudes and actions reveal your level of commitment to Christ
Hebrews 5:11-14
11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
1. Attitude
An apathetic attitude reveals disinterest in the things of God.
V. 11-- "dull of hearing"
-We are unable to discern how to live right, or we just don't care. If this is a struggle for you, then be cautioned! This lack of understanding is a direct result of living outside of God's will and His word.
2. Growth
Lacking spiritual growth in your life means that you are moving backwards. Like the vine from last week's lesson, if we are not growing and living in Christ then we are dying!
V. 12-- we should be much further along in our spiritual journey. The milk is for babies!
3. Effectiveness
What kind of steward are you of God's gift of salvation? Have you been thankful for it? Have you sought to make good choices based on what you know from God's word? Do you want to know more and train your mind to think Biblically?
Vv. 13-14-- "righteousness" means right living. And right thinking = right living! We must train our minds to think right by absorbing God's truth in His word.
**The book of Hebrews is written to the Jews (Hebrews) to help those who followed Christ to move past their "rituals" into a life of obedience. Consider the very best way young people can live out obedience to Christ. There is no better act than to honor your parents. This is a great starting point for you to direct your thinking and living toward the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Christ's example-- obedient to the point of death! (Philippians 2:8)
-the fifth commandment (Exodus 20)
-Ephesians 6...v. 3 "SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH."
-Matthew 15
-Deuteronomy 5:16
-Proverbs 23:22
Showing posts with label Discipleship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Discipleship. Show all posts
Sunday, September 30, 2012
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!
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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