RHYTHMS - Week 3
Matthew 11:28-30
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (MSG)
“Consistent spiritual discipline becomes, a rhythm for living in which we can grow more intimately connected to God.” - John Ortberg
2020 ‘State of the Bible’ Report: This year’s survey found that only 9% of respondents read their Bible on a daily basis
6 Reasons why we should read the Bible:
1. Scripture helps us to know God more.
“For many people, growth in Christ is primarily growth in knowledge of Bible facts and doctrines… But the point of the Bible is not to fill your head with knowledge. The point is to fill your heart with wonder.” — JD Greear
John 5:39-40
You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life. (CSB)
2. Scripture Equips us for Life.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good. (CSB)
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path
3. Scripture Nourishes and Sustains us
Matthew 4:4
It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (CSB)
Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart,
1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,[a] so that by it you may grow up into your salvation
“A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't"
― Charles Spurgeon
4. Scripture Frees us from Satan
John 8:32
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (CSB)
1 John 2:14
I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, God’s word remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one. (CSB)
Ephesians 6:17
the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God. (CSB)
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (CSB)
5. Scripture Sanctifies us
John 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (CSB)
“We don’t read the Bible, the Bible reads us.” - David Paul Kirkpatrick
6. Scripture Protects us from False Teaching
2 Peter 2:1
There were indeed false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves
Ephesians 4:13-14
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. (CSB)
2 Timothy 4:1-4
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom, Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths
Proverbs 4:13
Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life.