Transformed Through His Word

Transformed By The Gospel

Transformed Through His Word

John 15: 1-7 & James 1:19-25

Key Truth For This Series:

The gospel is not just how we Begin in Christ, it is how we Grow in Christ!

The way that you grow in Christ is never growing Beyond the gospel, but growing Deeper in the gospel

The same grace that has Forgiven me is now in the process of Changing me

Key Word: Abide

Three Aspects of Abiding

• Connection
• Dependence
• Continuance

Q: Practically how do I abide daily?

A: Jesus gave us some Practices that help us to stay connected to Him

Caution: These spiritual habits or practices don’t have power in themselves, but they keep us connected to the place where the power comes from, The Gospel

The first habit/practice we will look at will be Jesus’ Words

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,” (John 8:31)

“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.” (John 14:23–24)

“And so letting the words of Jesus abide in you means taking whatever steps are necessary to keep the living voice of Jesus speaking with you through the words that he spoke in Scripture.”  John Piper

Staying Connected Through Scripture

James 1:19-25

1. Receive it with my ears (19-21)

Four Attitudes That Improve My Reception:

• Be Quiet
• Be Calm
• Be Clean
• Be Humble

2. Read it with my eyes (22-25)

2 Qualifiers:

• “Looks intently” – Glance vs Gaze

• “Continues to do so” – Consistency/Perseverance

The mirror of God’s Word helps us to evaluate ourselves, to see what we look like on the inside

3. Research it with my hands and mouth

“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

Research is Bible Study

2 Vital Aids to Studying the Bible:

• Write it down
• Talk it over

4. Review and Remember it with my mind

• Memorization
• Meditation

“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 good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

5. Respond to it with my actions (22 & 25)

I only believe those parts of the Bible I actually do!

““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

“Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning”  Dallas Willard

Making It Personal:

• Have I genuinely experienced the life changing power of the gospel in my life through renouncing my sin and relying totally on the finished work of Jesus Christ?

• How will I practice abiding in Christ through God’s gift to us of Scripture this week? Make it practical:

• When? What time?
• Where? What place?
• What resources will I gather to help me?
• Who do I need to communicate and possibly coordinate with to make this happen? Is there someone who can help guide me in this practice?
• How will I start?

• How will I remind myself that this does not earn God’s love or favor, but simply connects me to the abundance of God’s life transforming love and power?

• Who can I share these truths with?