The Disciplines of a Disciple: Studying God’s Word to Teach Others

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God.

Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org you're going to be a real disciple of Jesus you need to carefully read and study and live according to God's great war, which had an important her to restrict we need to import the truth of God's word into our will and infection to others.

Everything I need to know about God and life itself as though the Bible and his disciples.

We are told, learned first that we are to share with other Christians. Persian roads were spices from in the truth have God's word is everything we need to know to grow committed followers of the Lord today on a new beginning. Greg Laurie points out that it's up to us to import those truths into our lives. Look for opportunities to export the lives of those in our circle of influence user discipline. How many of you want to hear God's you today from his word raise up your head for good as most of you will really comes down to how you listen how you listen to others different ways solicit you listen possibly you can really nihilism of all or you can listen intently. You need to listen as though your life depends upon it because it because what were looking about is from God himself. Let's say you were going to be a skydiver. How many of you have ever gone skydiving raise her hand up while I'm impressed by that.

Actually, I've never gone skydiving. I don't plan on going that my plane was on fire and there was a shoot. I would go skydiving okay but apart from that, I don't envision that happening, but I think about was going to go skydiving. I would listen very carefully to my instructor right like how to use the shoot where is the ripcord window. I pull the ripcord. Why would I listen to them carefully, because my life depends on it like I did hear a story of a guy who went skydiving for the first time he jumped out of the plane.

Five seconds later he pulled the ripcord nothing happens. He starts a panic he pulls it harder still, nothing happens that he remembers that he has another shoot a backup shoot people that ripcord and still nothing happened. Suddenly he looks down a much to his shock. He sees another guy in the air except this guys going up as a skydiver is going down so the skydiver yelled so the guy you know anything about skydiving and the guy goes back no. Do you know anything about lighting just so you listen listen to your instructor because your life depends on it will. Here's what the Bible tells us know about discipleship that are series discipleship the road less taken. Let's review what we've already learned of your writing. Note you may have missed one of these points so you might want to jot them down five things we've already learned about what it means to be a disciple number one, the disciple of Jesus Christ loves God more than anyone or anything else that's based on Luke 14 where Jesus said if you want to be my disciple.

You must hate your father, mother, why, mother, sister, and your own life and we pointed out to you that the Lord is not telling us to literally hate someone, but to love him more were our love for God would be so strong. Our love for someone else would be like hatred in comparison so point number one love God more than anyone or anything else. Number two, the disciple of Jesus Christ takes up their cross daily emphasis on that word daily and follows Christ, and we learn the what that means is you die to yourself.

You put God first. Number three the disciple of Jesus is turn the title deed of the life over to Christ.

The title deed or the pink slip if you will. Jesus said, there are Luke 14 if you want to be my disciple, you must first take all that you have. It does not mean we have to take a bow of poverty to be a believer or a disciple, but that phrase forsake all that you have means surrender your claim to, or simply acknowledge everything you have comes to you from God.

Hence the points during the pink slip or the title deed of your life over to God. Number four. A disciple impacts our culture. Jesus pointed out that we are the salt of the earth and in the first century, salt was used to stop the spread of corruption of the writing process you rub it in the meat to preserve it itself stimulates first the same way as a follower of Christ, we speak out against evil that we speak up for Christ. Hopefully living a life that is so godly it causes others to have a thirst to know him and for the lastly a disciple brings forth spiritual root because Scripture tells us here and will they know you're my disciples. You bring forth much fruit. All right without a mind, let's talk now about the things that the disciple does to stay strong spiritually that five call this message the disciplines of a disciple about the word disciple comes from the root word discipline.

The rooted together, but we don't like disappointment, product that's hard, you know, we wanted fast.

We wanted that we don't like to wait for anything anymore. You want to get a book or some item of clothing or whatever it is you want. Why go down to the mall disorder and on Amazon.com and if your prime member.

You might even get same-day delivery all you want to watch a movie. Why go to what theater now downloaded on iTunes are or maybe watch it on Netflix or you know you want to find the news you don't have to wait for the news to come on at 6 o'clock in the evening like the old days. Just go to twitter find out right now. What's going on get the new seed from that. Or if you want to find some information out. Gone are the days of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. How many of you remember those some of them you used to be able to buy them. The computer how sometimes a very impressive set of books. I got a set years ago.

Even the title. The encyclopedia Britannica. You just sounded intelligent, telling people about it. Here is my set of the encyclopedia Britannica. Have you read them, though I've never read them, but they look nice.

Something in the problem was when he did get around to reading them. They are already dated right hardback books already dated now we just Google information. Not that it's always accurate because anyone can pretty much say anything and it's not that it many cases, but we like to get things quickly so mommy Carol following Christ. It's taking up crosses and disciplining ourselves and slowing down and meditating on God's word is like alien information, but yet God says be still and know that I am God.

So what I want to share with you now is an absolute essential for being a disciple. If you are going to be a real disciple of Jesus you need to slow down and learned a lesson bringing me that my six-point a disciple will carefully read and study and live according to God's disciple will carefully read, study and live according to God's word. What is that based on Jesus said in John 831.

He said these things to those who believe in him.

If you continue in my word, you are my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Sometimes are versus taking out a constitutional amendment to the set you free music to thermal use. It did describe all kinds of truth," said we might pass on but this is very specific here. This is not just any truth. This is specific absolute truth found exclusively in Scripture. The context is reading, studying, knowing and living Scripture that truth will set you free. This is the only absolute truth. The truth we find in the Bible because God says by word is true. Jesus says I am the way, what the true and the life. This is the only absolute truth. We can be certain of in line and what I understand what God says about life. It sets me free printed you might think all God doesn't love me and he would never forgive me of my sin.

Okay, check out the truth in the Bible which says if you will confess your sin, he is faithful and just to forgive you your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness, all know I've messed up on can and God will hear my prayers. They open up the Bible and read the truth man. Romans 81 there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. I continue in true in a moment Greg points out either be being disciple by someone or we should be discipling someone else. It's an important part of God's plan. More on that in a moment. We send these daily studies via radio satellite over the Internet and we don't always know how these messages are touching lives. Pastor Greg, I stumbled on your daily Bible studies.

One morning, while listening to the radio became so interested in the way you explain the Bible and the station went off the air. I searched and was able to find your Google podcast and listen to every day when you explain the Bible stories finally let me connect with the Lord in a way I've never been able to before. I grew up attending Christian school and church ministry because it was like someone finally turn the lights on and connected the dots. After all these years it took someone across the country for me to finally explain things in a way I can understand.

I initiate you and thank you for turning on the light were so grateful to hear of the change lives to harvest ministries.

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You can do that through Google Apple course modifying or go to harvest.org that's harvest.org will today. Pastor Greg assuring those things genuine disciples do by way of a message called the disciplines of a disciple everything I need to know about God and life itself is found in the Bible.

How many of you believe that it's true everything you need to know.

You don't need extra biblical books are special revelations from people know everything you need to know about God is on right here in this book that you hold in your hands and as disciples, we are to learn it first and then we are to share it with others. Let's again review the great commission in Matthew 28 Jesus says go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father son and the Holy Spirit listen teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you. Hello, I am with you, even to the end of the age so I'm learning and I'm teaching. As I've said as a follower of Jesus.

I should either be being disciple by someone or I should be discipling someone else passing this truth on Paul writes about that in Colossians 128. He says that we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God spiritually mature in their relationship with Christ. Listen to this. You cannot teach people any further than you yourself have come you can take people any further than you yourself have come in here the problem were aware that and you know maybe were not as far down the road as we ought to be.

As followers of Jesus, so I first message I pointed out that somewhat normal Lord for 10 years, 20 years are still kind of like big spiritual baby never learned to feed themselves spiritually. They haven't become mature as they ought to, but listen you want to be so mature and your faith that you could say to someone, follow my example signal Greg, you're wrong. We should never ask people to follow her example we should just tell them to follow Jesus. That's a copout you should be living a godly life in such a way where you could say as the apostle Paul said imitate me as I imitate Christ. First Corinthians 11 one. Be imitators of me follow my example and listen if you like it or not, people are looking at you as a visible representative of Jesus Christ in their making evaluations about God. According to the way that you live. It's a lot of pressure.

I don't like that well they're doing it so deal with it. That's of being a disciple is we accept that every one of the church is filled with people just like you would have everybody else in the church was just like you are one of every one of the church. Read the Bible as faithfully as you read the Bible, would we be a Bible study and church. Whatever.

Everybody in the church worship God just like you do what we be a worshiping church. One of everybody in the church gave her their finances as faithfully as you do when we have a church that supported one of everybody in the church share the gospel as often as you do, what would it be like one of others were just like you would if they walk like you and talk like you and trust like you heard about a guy that wanted to get married in the worst way.

So I you found a girl he was in love with.

It took her home to meet his parents and his mother didn't like her.

So he went out upon another girl brought her home still. The mother didn't like her, suddenly went out about a girl that look like his mother talk like his mother's trust.

Like his mother in every way this girl was like his mother but his father didn't like her.

So this is still being a disciple is walking with Jesus in such a way that you get to say to someone else follow my example will greatly mess up.

I know we mess up. We all do I do you do that doesn't excuse us from being an example, the listen. He says if you continue in my word, then are you my disciples. This is translated elsewhere. If you abide in my were missing. What is this mean well.

Jesus says in John 15. If you abide in me and my words abide in you will ask what you will and it shall be done on the you what is that mean the word abide means.

Think of a tree planning your roots deeply in the Christ soaking up the nutrients growing each and every day.

Staying in a given place, staying in fellowship with them. If you continue in my word that I hear my disciples, if you abide in my word. Another word for or Jesus is if you abide in me and my word abide in you, then you live for whatever you wanted it will be done and I'll tell you what, because you'll start praying for what God wants you to pray for. That's the objective of prayer not getting God to do what I want him to do is getting me to do what God wants to do. If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples. Then he just study it means you memorize it, and ultimately a means it affects your thinking and ultimately your living in everything that you do.

I love how someone describes that man that walks with him and it says his delight is in the word of God and it does see meditate day and night, stored, meditate means to ponder actually in the root it means to chew chew your food to think it over gently. Sometimes we we read the Bible with no comprehension. We see it as a religious duty.

We do mechanically every three chapters read three chapters. What were they about.

I have no idea what I read three chapters, and I can prove John, but if it doesn't affect your life if you don't even understand what you read, you'd be better off reading three versus I'd rather you read one chapter of the Bible. Slowly, carefully, with contemplation asking the Lord out applies to your life, then read 10 chapters so you are bragging right it's possible to read the Bible out of pure duty and not remember anything. Sort of like Dorian finding Nemo. Remember she was always forgetting or maybe you might read the Bible like some self-help book positive principles.

What's much more than that, I need to understand that this is a very word of God and I read it that way. I am now reading the words of God. I am reading the autobiography of God and I believe that this book will speak to me. I love what Martin Luther said was paraphrase uses the Bible is alive it is.

Hands it takes hold of me and his feet and chases after me. It's alive and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. We must approach it like that. Greg Laurie great insights today on a new beginning about the importance of the word of God and discipleship 11.

Additional thought from today study before we go if you weren't able to take notes during today's message you can get an instant replay by going to harvest.org just look for the study, called the disciplines of a disciple and that it's a privilege to have pastor Greg's wife Kathy with us today she's joined by Shannon bream anchor of Fox News at night on the Fox News Channel and Shannon has just authored a wonderful new book called the women of the Bible speak. The subtitle is the wisdom of 16 women and their lessons for today getting.

I found the one chapter that you wrote about Esther and Rahab, and you talked about being prepared for the Esther or Rahab moments that will come into our lives and I was winning if you could give an example. Maybe from your own experience of what a moment like an Esther Rahab moment would look like about dear so much that God is preparing and planting along the way and all of our stories and we are making every effort to be in his will and walk with him.

I think not even things like Scripture memory verses I learned as a candidate come back to me now just so when those moments come on, don't even think about it, it becomes natural that that something pops up in your mind with the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight oh Lord my strength and my Redeemer. Or about putting on the full armor of God so I feel like having those things tucked away committing them to memory can be encouraging can be helpful. We know that Christ himself used Scripture when he was confronted by the me to shut down every line of his and he said he's coming at us with lies every day about who we are, what were worth anything for women especially, they need to know we are creating a needs. We are precious in his sight. We are daughters of the King as believers and so I think being able to to call on that truth when the lies come and tell you you are worthwhile you are not chosen, you don't get this job or this relationship falls apart. We don't hang in to pay the rent.

I mean their struggles and every single day for me. It really was the years of living in chronic pain that were sort of Esther and Rahab moments for me how well I rise to this occasion can I get through this and I'm Scripture was a huge comfort to me in those times when I thought I can't make it through one more day. I can't think we will all face challenges, whether their sudden loss is illness is rejection or betrayal whenever it is were on any get there.

So I think having the roads having the Scripture buried in our hearts so that we can call out lies from the enemy.

Based on that Scripture means to need is all things we can do to prepare for our Esther and Rahab moments on we hear so often that phrase for such a time as this which is fun. Esther story and it's important to remember that when Mordechai and her uncle came to her to explain her sent a message to her the entire Jewish people were under attack and would be related without some kind of intervention for her. He asked her to go to the king that she knew she went to the king unbidden he can have her put to that. We have to remember in her story. She didn't immediately say, okay, I'll go. She said handle the Jewish people fast for three days at the end and that I will go if it cost me my life. I will go on because Mordechai and send her don't think if you don't rise to this occasion that somebody else wants and you won't be protected as well. So it's good having to remember and her story. There was some hesitation and fear in their but she asked for help of fasting and fitting for the Jewish people and she then committed she would go on despite what he or she may have had, and to be brave in the moment so you know there there is preparation and rising to those moments that Shannon bream speaking with Kathy Lori about her new book, the women of the Bible speak there such deep inspiration in the stories not only for women but for men as well, and Shannon does a great job of helping us connect with that timeless encouragement will be glad to send you this new book to thank you for your investment so we can keep Pastor Greg studies coming your way. Your donation not only helps you benefit from them but so many others as well.

One listener express gratitude for them this way. Thank you so much for your passion toward lost souls. There is, in a moment in any of your sermons where you don't offer an opportunity for people to come to know Jesus. I admire and respect you so much, so we hope you'll send your investment today and then be sure to ask for this new book the women of the Bible speak by Shannon bream.

You can write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300 call anytime 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org yesterday. Give us the news about your new TV program called harvest with great glory. So we really expanded on television.

I would say quite dramatically wanting to reach new people wanting to reach unexpected people in unexpected places like the lifetime channel and is a huge viewership.

This is not what you would call a Christian channel it's more of a secular channel a mainstream TV outlet will be on the lifetime network also will be on the FOXBusiness network also on Newsmax. In addition to that will be a great Christian networks like DayStar and TBN if you want to find out more about air times go to harvest.org will next time more insight on the important role of God's word and the discipleship process today. Pastor Greg is been talking about how disciples need to be alert and ready to receive God's word and he closes with this thought, you know, I think the best way to illustrate it. It's sort of like the role of a pitcher and a catcher and a baseball game like this is a baseball and if I'm the picture I'm in a throw this the catcher has to pay attention right because of I throw this heart of I'm a really good picture. This can get up to a speed of 100 mph right so you have to be paying attention because if you are paying attention you get a message on the Sierra comes in on if you're not looking say you're looking that was a wiffleball. No one will be harmed in the this one's a little harder. This one's harder nits, she better be paying attention while rendering people.

They will more time here comes gadget it's coming very good okay don't throw back. I want you to keep it. You keep it. I think a little boy back there once.

If you want that you want the ball give it to the little boy, but he want to look okay listen you just woke up. Why because I was throwing things that you you didn't want to be a jerk but no the role of the picture to catcher. They work together and so when the word of God comes your way. How do you listen to makes all the lives of your distracted her looking around your headlight, but if you're being attention.

He got the big old had a glove and he got the cage in front of your face you catch it. That's I have become ready to hear the word of God. Everybody thinks or listening to an beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner. Just go to harvest.org