We heard during the weekend sermon that we are one of the first generations of people to have all sixty-six books of the Bible at our disposal. The Bible is one of God’s greatest gifts to us, yet many of us take our access to Scripture for granted. The Bible is powerful. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that Scripture is, “alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” The Bible has the power to transform lives. The question we heard over the weekend that we will wrestle with today is, “What are we going to do with it?”
Break the ice
What is your favorite way to study the Bible? Why?
Small group questions
Bible study questions
- What holds people back from picking up their Bibles and studying them?
- Read James 1:22-25. Summarize James' teaching in these verses.
22But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
- Compare the person who does not do what Scripture says versus the person who obeys Scripture.
- Read James 1:26-27. What are markers of people who not only read Scripture, but also do what it says?
26If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Application
- What is the biggest obstacle for you personally when it comes to studying Scripture?
- What impact does Scripture have when we make a habit of reading, studying, and applying it?
- What is one step you can take this week to focus on reading Scripture?
Moving forward
Over this next week, as you read Scripture, focus on application. Write down these questions, and answer them after your time reading and studying your Bible:
- How does this Scripture apply to my life?
- What do I need to stop or start doing after reading this Scripture?
- What do I need to start believing or stop believing after reading this Scripture?
- What does God want me to do about what I just read?
Let these questions prompt you as you work toward applying Scripture to your life. Throughout this week, talk about the impact this practice of application has had in your own life and in your relationship with God.
Going deeper
Obedience is critical when it comes to applying Scripture. In fact, we see throughout the Bible that God delights in the obedience of His people. Today we will look at a few people throughout Scripture who demonstrated faithful obedience and learn from their example. We will also look at Jesus’ teaching on obedience in a very familiar passage of Scripture.
Abraham:
One of the first people we see in Scripture who showed remarkable obedience to God was Abraham, also known as Abram. When God gave him difficult instructions with little detail, he obeyed faithfully. Let’s look at the first time we read about his unwavering obedience.
1. Read Genesis 12:1-4.
The Call of Abram
1The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
4So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
- Summarize God's command to Abraham (then called Abram).
- What about Abraham’s response to God’s instruction stands out to you?
- What information did God give Abraham about the new land He asked him to go to?
- What does Abraham’s response show about his view of God and His instructions?
Jesus' First Disciples:
When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He issued a call to a group of 12 men to follow Him closely. Take a look at the moment when Jesus called His first disciples and pay attention to how they obeyed Him.
1. Read Matthew 4:18-22.
The First Disciples
18One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20And they left their nets at once and followed him.
21A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
- Summarize Jesus' command to these four men.
- What stands out to you about their response to Jesus?
- What does the response of these four men show about what they believed about Jesus?
Jesus' Teaching on Obedience:
Now that we have looked at some examples of people who showed obedience in Scripture, let’s look at what Jesus taught about obedience in one of His most well-known teachings in Matthew 7.
1. Read Matthew 7:24-27. This passage of Scripture is the ending of Jesus' well known "Sermon on the Mount" where He taught large crowds of people.
Building on a Solid Foundation
24“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
- Compare and contrast the person who obeys versus the person who does not.
- Why, according to this verse, is obedience important?
Reflect:
Now that we have looked at examples of obedience in Scripture and Jesus' teaching on obedience, let's reflect.
- When you look back on the obedience of Abraham and Jesus' first disciples, what characteristics of their obedience do you want to model?
- What is something God has been calling you to do that you have been hesitant to obey? (Forgive someone, stop doing something, start doing something, etc.)
- What would it look like for you to start obeying God in that area starting today? (Make a difficult phone call, say "no" to something you need to say "no" to, start serving in an area where you know God has called you to serve, etc.).
Spend your final moments dividing into groups of two or three and pray together. Pray that God would give each one of you the strength to obey Him and that each one of you would be like a wise person who “builds a house on solid rock.” May each one of you experience that joy that comes from living obediently.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
17So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
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