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BIG IDEA: Food is for the body what scripture is to the soul.

November 1, 2015

MAIN POINTS & SCRIPTURES The greatest barrier in our spiritual growth is lack of engagement with the scriptures. The number one analogy the Bible uses about scripture is eating. (Jeremiah 15:16; Ezekiel 3:3; Matthew 4:4; Hebrews 4:12; Joshua 1:6-9) Five practical steps on how to feed ourselves: 1. Ask God to give you a desire for His Word. He appreciates honesty.

Everything we need for discovering our destiny is in the book. If we want to flourish in life, we need to feed ourselves the Bible. (Psalm 1:1-3)

2. Schedule time with Him. Good intentions become good actions when they get on our calendar. Pick a time that works. We always make time for what we value. It’s impossible to fall in love with someone we don’t spend time with. (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 5:3; John 5:39-40; 2 Timothy 3:16)

3. Open your Bible. Have a plan. Read for quality, not quantity. We’re not trying to get through it; we’re trying to get it into us. Take a single piece of scripture (such as Philippians 4:19) and spend time progressing through observation à interpretation à application. One good verse is better than one hundred chapters. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide. The same Holy Spirit that inspired the scriptures now provides illumination & revelation for us today. (John 14:26)

4. Look for Jesus. The Bible is not a book about what we have to do, but a book about what Jesus has done. When we discover what Jesus has done, it changes what we do. The more clearly we see Jesus, the more clearly we see everything else in our life. (Luke 24:25-27;32)

5. Apply it to your life. The Bible is designed for health, not disease control. It is not a “quick fix”, but it slowly nourishes and transforms us from the inside out if we apply it. (James 1:22)

DISCUSSION

1. What challenges prevent you from feeding yourself spiritually? 2. What time of day works best for you to spend time with God in your busy

schedule? (See point #2.) 3. How do you plan to engage the scriptures differently as a result of this

message? (See points #3-5.) - What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? - What is your Next Step?

GROUPS VISION We desire everyone at Valley Creek Church to be in a small group. Groups are where we take Next Steps together on our journey with Jesus and where Group Leaders develop their Next Leaders to carry the vision to others.

KEY VERSE Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8

POTENTIAL NEXT STEP Do you struggle knowing what to read in your time with Jesus? Read a chapter a day from the Gospels, or Psalms, or Proverbs. Or, visit www.bible.com/reading-plans to choose a reading plan that works for you.

Do you have a story of someone taking a Next Step or a Leader developing a Next Leader? Share with us at groups@valleycreek.org