Maturity- the need of every believer

1. Maturity- the need of every believer Facts about spiritual maturity: IT’S NOT AUTOMATIC Hebrews 5:12-13 2. IT IS A PROCESS 2Pet 3:18 3. IT TAKES DISCIPLINE 1Tim 4:7 Mature believers are called disciples

2. What the Bible teaches • I cannot be a disciple without being discipline • The more disciplined I become the more God can use me. 2Tim. 2:20-21 • The mark of a disciple is cross bearing Luke 14:27 • As a disciple I must bear my cross daily Lk 9:23 • Cross bearing is giving up whatever it takes to make Christ first place in my life.

3. How can I become a Disciple? • By developing disciple habits Col 3:9-10 • There are four habits we must develop; • Time with God’s Word, Prayer, Giving and Fellowship • Lets observe and circle the word disciples in the following verses • Time with God’s Word John 8:31 • Prayer John 15:7-8 • Giving Luke 14:33

4. Duet 14:23 • Fellowship John 13:34-35 • Remember if God is not number one in every area of my life time , money, relationship etc then he is not number one at all.

5. Habits • It is a continual, often unconscious inclination to do a certain activity, acquired through frequent repetition. • Habit is really the disposition of character. • We are all bundles of habits • It is easier to form good habits than to get rid of bad habits. So in order to get rid of bad habits is to replace them with good habits.

6. How to benefit from habit • Ro. 6:19 • Note give yourselves– an act of volunteering. • To benefit from a habit you’ve got to voluntarily want to do it. It can’t be forced on you because you’ve got to have the right motive.

7. GRASP YOUR BIBLE

8. How to hear God’s Word • Ro.10:17 • Listen on internet, church, sermon radio etc • The problem is, we tend to forget 95% of what we hear within 72 hours • If you don’t really remember it, you can’t really apply it.

9. Five ways to improve your hearing • Be ready and eager to hear God. James 1:19 • Deal with attitudes that prevent hearing God. Luke 8:4-15 • Confess any sin in your life James 1:21 • Take notes on what you hear Heb.2:1 • Act on what you hear Jas 1:22,25

10. How to Read God’s Word • Rev 1:3 • Deut 17:19 • Read it systematically • Read it in a Bible without notes • Read it in different translations • Read it out aloud to yourself • Underline or colour code key verses • Choose a reading plan and stick with it

11. How to Study God’s Word • Acts 17:11 • 2Tim 2:15 • Ezra 7:10 • God intended that each of us do more than just hear the word or read it, we must also study it. • The difference between reading and studying the Bible is writing and making notes on what you see.

12. Key in Studying the Bible • Ask the right questions that will give you insight in the passage. • Who? What? When? Where? Why? • This will be a great start in a simple way. • Dynamic Bible study Methods- Rick Warren • You needs at least ONE study Bible

13. Four Good Study Bible • The Life Application Bible published by Tyndale- best for application questions • Thompson Chain Reference Bible- best for topical studies • NIV Study Bible– best for background • The Disciple Study Bible– best for doctrine

14. How To Memorize God’s Word • Prov 7:2-3 • BENEFITS OF MEMORIZENG SCRIPTURE: • It helps me resist temptation- Ps 119:11 • Its helps me make wise decisions- Ps 119:105 • Its strengthens me when I’m under stress Is. 40:31

15. 4. It comforts me when I’m sad- Jer 15:16, Prov 22:18 • 5. It helps me witness to unbelievers 1Pet 3:15 • WHEN TO MEMORIZE A VERSE • During your quiet time • Your exercise time • While wait and during spare moments • Anything to help you remember

16. How to Memorize scripture • Pick a verse that speaks to you • Say the verse reference before and after • Read the verse aloud many times- then say it out loud • Break the verse into natural phrases • Emphasize key words when quoting the verse

17. 6.Write the verse out on flash card • 7.Display your verses in prominent places where you are going to see them • 8. Always memorize the verse word perfect- the way it is • 9. Some of you could put music to the verse • 10. Get a partner so you can check each other.

18. MEDITATION • Meditation is focused thinking about a Bible verse in order to discover how I can apply its truth to my own life. • The word meditation is also the word for rumination. • Can everyone meditate? • Can everyone worry? • Worry is negative meditation

19. Why We Should Meditate on Scripture: • It is the key to become like Christ- Prov. 4:23, 2 Cor. 3:18 & Ro. 12:2 • It is the key to answered prayers—John 15:7 • It is the key to successful living—Josh 1:8

20. Six Ways to meditate on a Verse • Picture it • Pronounce it • Paraphrase it • Personalize it • Pray it • This works all the time---PROBE it

21. How to Probe a verse • From Rick warren acrostic--- S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S questions

22. S- Is there a Sin to confess? • P- Is there a Promise to claim? • A- Is there an Attitude to change? • C- Is there a Command to obey? • E- Is there an Example to follow? • P-Is there a Prayer to pray? • E- Is there an Error to avoid? • T- Is there a Truth to believe? • S-is there Something to thank God for?

23. AH, ITS TIME TO APPLY • In order to apply, you need to cross the application bridge. • Two key questions that must be asked: • What did it mean then? • What does it mean now? Every story in the Bible is place there on intention and there are timeless principles that we must apply.

24. Three Questions to ask • What did it mean to the original hearers? • What is the underlying timeless principle? • Where or how can I practice that today? Acts 15 Ro 14:21

25. The Big question • Now what I’m I going to do about it? • Most applications will focus on relationships • When trying to apply Bible to your life think relationships. • My relationship to God • My relationship to self • My relationship to other people

26. Four Guides when applying • It’s personal • It’s practical • It’s possible • It’s provable– you know its done. John 13 :17