the fundamentals of the faith pt.4 “discipleship – knowing...

The Fundamentals of the Faith Pt.4 “Discipleship – Knowing the

Word and Living it Out” Acts 2:42-47

The Fundamentals of the Faith, Pt. 4 “Discipleship: Knowing the Word and Living It Out.”

• Sermon Series • Pt. 1: Worship: Giving God the Glory • Pt. 2: Fellowship: Drawing Near to God

and His Church • Pt. 3: Prayer: Connecting our Heart to

God’s Heart


• Acts 2:42-47, “42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

• 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and


• were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”


• They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching (i.e. discipleship)

• “The 3,000 new converts needed instruction in the Word and fellowship with God’s people if they were to grow and become effective witnesses. The early church did more than make converts; they also made disciples.” - Warren Wiersbe


• Matthew 28:19-20, “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

• The mission of redemption that Jesus came to fulfill, he now placed that responsibility on the shoulders of the disciples.


• John 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

• John 16:13, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”


•  ““The apostles’ teaching” refers to a body of material considered authoritative because it was the message about Jesus of Nazareth proclaimed by accredited apostles. It undoubtedly included a compilation of the words of Jesus (cf. 20:35), some account of his earthly ministry, passion, and resurrection (cf. 2:22-24), and a declaration of what all this meant for man’s redemption (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3-5) – all of which was thought of in terms of a Christian “tradition” that could be passed on to others.” - Richard Longnecker


• The Cost of Discipleship • Matthew 16:24, “If anyone wishes to come

after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”


• Jesus set the example for the disciples and revealed to them the importance of knowing the Word and hiding it in your heart.

•  • In the Gospel accounts, Jesus quoted the

Old Testament 45 times. ▫ “It is written…” ▫ “Have you not read…”


• Psalm 119:11, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”


• How can we hide the Word of God in our hearts?

• 1). Hearing God’s Word. • The process of discipleship involves

disciplining ourselves to regularly hear from God’s Word.

• Luke 11:28b, “…blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”



• 2). Reading God’s Word. • 18% of believers read the Bible every day. • 23% say they never read the Word of God • Matthew 4:4, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL

NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"


• When reading a passage of Scripture, you need to ask 4 Important Questions:

•  1). What does this passage say? • 2). Why is this important? • 3). What should I do about it? • 4). How can I remember this?

• The S.O.A.P method. It stands for: ▫ Scripture. Observation. Application. ▫ Prayer.



• 3). Studying God’s Word. • “If reading the Bible can be compared to

cruising the width of a clear, sparkling lake in a motorboat, studying the Bible is like slowly crossing that same lake in a glass-bottomed boat. The motorboat crossing provides an overview of the lake and a swift, passing view of its depths. The glass



• 3). Studying God’s Word. • bottomed boat of study, however, takes you

beneath the surface of Scripture for an unhurried look of clarity and detail that’s normally missed by those who simply read the text.” - Donald Whitney.



• 3). Studying God’s Word. • How do you study the Word of God? ▫ Don’t Be in a Rush ▫ Write Questions Out About the Text ▫ Cross-Reference the Text ▫ Do a Word Study/Use a Concordance ▫ Read It in Other Translations.


• “Here then, is the real problem our negligence. We fail in our duty to study God’s Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy.” - R.C. Sproul.



• 4). Memorizing God’s Word. • Why memorize scripture? • A). It Supplies Spiritual Power. ▫ Psalm 119:11, “Your word I have treasured in

my heart, That I may not sin against You.” ▫ Facing temptation? Quote Colossians 3:2,

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”




my heart, That I may not sin against You.” ▫ Facing the Attack of Satan? Quote James 4:7,

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”




my heart, That I may not sin against You.” ▫  Facing Peer Pressure? Quote 1 Corinthians 10:13,

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not




my heart, That I may not sin against You.” ▫  allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,

but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”



• 4). Memorizing God’s Word. • Why memorize scripture? • A). It Supplies Spiritual Power. • B). It Strengthens Your Faith. ▫ When you feel that you can’t do anything, you

can strengthen your faith by qouting Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”



• 4). Memorizing God’s Word. • Why memorize scripture? • A). It Supplies Spiritual Power. • B). It Strengthens Your Faith. ▫  When you are in a situation that you can’t see no way

out, you can strengthen your faith by quoting Eph. 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”



• 4). Memorizing God’s Word. • Why memorize scripture? • A). It Supplies Spiritual Power. • B). It Strengthens Your Faith. • C). It Helps Your Witness More Effectively



• 5). Meditating God’s Word. • What is mediation? From a Christian

perspective, it is a form of quiet contemplation often associated with prayer or scripture study.


• Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

• What does meditation involve? Christian meditation involves filling your mind with God’s Truth.


• Meditation Defined: “Deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer. Meditation goes beyond hearing, reading, studying, and even memorizing as a means of taking in God’s Word.” - Donald Whitney.



• 6). Applying God’s Word. • James 1:22, “But prove yourselves doers of

the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”

• Have you been applying the Word of God to your own life?

The Fundamentals of the Faith Pt.4 “Discipleship – Knowing the

Word and Living it Out” Acts 2:42-47

the fundamentals of the faith pt.4 “discipleship – knowing...

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