REALLIFE STUDY GROUP

“Symbols of the Word of God”

 

ICEBREAKER:  Tell us what your favorite dessert is and be descriptive.

 

OUTLINE:  11 Symbols of the Word

1.              A Hammer to Convict, Jer 23:29

29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

 

2.              A Fire to Refine, Jer 23:29

 

3.              A Mirror To Reflect, James 1:23

23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror

4.              A Seed To Multiply, 1 Peter 1:23

23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

 

5.              A Laver To Cleanse, Eph 5:26

26to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word

 

6.              A Lamp To Guide, Psalm 119:105

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
       and a light for my path.

 

7.              Rain & Snow To Refresh, Isa 55:10,11

10 As the rain and the snow
       come down from heaven,
       and do not return to it
       without watering the earth
       and making it bud and flourish,
       so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
       It will not return to me empty,
       but will accomplish what I desire
       and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 

8.              A Sword To Cut, Heb 4:12, Eph 6:17

Hebrews 4:12 (New International Version)

 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Ephesians 6:17 (New International Version)

17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

9.              Gold to Empower, Psalm 19:7-10

 7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
       reviving the soul.
       The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
       making wise the simple.

 8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
       giving joy to the heart.
       The commands of the LORD are radiant,
       giving light to the eyes.

 9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
       enduring forever.
       The ordinances of the LORD are sure
       and altogether righteous.

 10 They are more precious than gold,
       than much pure gold;
       they are sweeter than honey,
       than honey from the comb.

 

10.         Power to Produce Faith, Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 (New International Version)

17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

 

11.         Food to Nourish,

a.              Milk for babes, 1 Peter 2:2

2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

 

b.              Bread for the hungry, Mat 4:4

 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'[a]"

 

c.              Meat for the Mature, Heb 5:11-14

Warning Against Falling Away

 11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

 

d.              Honey for Dessert, Psalm 19:10

 10 They are more precious than gold,
       than much pure gold;
       they are sweeter than honey,
       than honey from the comb.

 

 

TEXT: Psalms 119:1-10

 

STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:

1.     Identify as many synonyms for the Bible (other names for the Bible) used in Psalms 119:1-10

2.     Tell us which symbol for the Word of God that God uses most to speak into your life. Explain.

3.     God spoke to many people in many different ways.  Identify someone who He spoke to through a divine encounter, someone He spoke to through a dream or vision, someone He spoke to through a prophet, someone He spoke to by an angel, someone He spoke to through an animal.

4.     One of the symbols for the Word of God is a hammer to convict.  The word “convict” means to convince.  Identify someone in the Bible that it took a word from God to convince them to obey.

5.     Why do you think Jeremiah describes God’s Word as a refining fire?  Tell us a time when God used His Word to refine you.

6.     Another symbol for the Word of God is a sword to cut.  Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  Name an attitude that the Word of God brings to our attention to correct.

7.     Why is the Word of God more important than any other book that man has written?