REALLIFE STUDY GROUP

“The Word Became Flesh”

 

ICEBREAKER:  What’s the most unusual gift you have ever received?    

 

CONFESSION: The mind of God gives birth to the offspring of thought, the thoughts of God give birth to the offspring of the words of God, the words of God give birth to the offspring of His works or deeds.  The same is true in my life!  The Words of God are the thoughts of God in seed form. 

 

When I open The Bible, The Bible opens me up

When I read the Word of God, the Word of God reads me

When I hide this book, this book hides me

When I carry this book, this book carries me

When I promote this book, this book promotes me

When I bless this book, this book blesses me

When I value this book, this book adds value to me

When I receive this book, this book receives me

When I believe in this book, this book believes in me

When I cherish this book, this book cherishes me

When I favor this book, this book favors me

When I protect this book, this book protects me

When I lift up this book, this book lifts me up

When I acknowledge this book, this book acknowledges me

When I plant this Word, this Word plants me

 

DEFINITION: Logos versus Rhema

Logos refers to the inspired written Word of God

Rhema refers to the God-breathed spoken Word of God

 

PROSPEROUS: To rush, to advance, make progress, be profitable, succeed, to accomplish prosperously

Fit for all things, to be fit for anything

Flourish like a plant

Finish well

To attack or fall upon like the current or flow of river, God will cause it to break forth upon you, to flow or be poured out like water

 

GOOD SUCCESS: Bind plait like hair, be intertwined

1) to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand prosper

2) to give attention to, consider, ponder, be prudent

3) to have insight, have comprehension

 

OUTLINE: Metaphors of the Word

A Fire to Refine, a Hammer (Jeremiah 23: 29)

A Mirror to Reflect (James 1:23)

A Seed to Multiply (1 Peter 2:3)

A Laver to Cleanse (Ephesians 5:26)

A Lamp to Guide (Psalm 119:105)

Rain & Snow to Refresh (Isaiah 55: 10, 11)

A Sword to Cut (Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17)

Gold to Empower (Psalm 19:7-10)

Power to Produce Faith (Romans 10:17)

Food to Nourish

(Milk for babes, 1 Peter 2:2)

(Bread for the Hungry, Matthew 4:4)

(Meat for the Mature, Hebrews 5:11-14)

(Honey for Dessert, Psalm 19:10)

 

TEXT: John 1:1; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1; Psalm 119:1-10

 

STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:

1.    Which of the metaphors of God’s Word listed above jumps out at you?

2.    Describe how God’s Word has impacted your life with a few adjectives.

3.    Give an example of a Rhema Word that you have received from God.

4.    Identify the different similes or words used to describe God’s Word in Psalm 119.

5.    What are some of the excuses so many Christians use when they neglect the wonderful gift of God’s Word?

6.    Joshua 1:8 explains that is we confess, keep and meditate on God’s book of the Law we will make our way prosperous and find good success.  What would a prosperous way and good success look like for you? (Consider the definitions listed above for the words prosperous and success.)

7.    Which of the following do you need to focus on and do more of?  Explain.

 

He should LISTEN to (hear) it (Matthew 13:20; Acts 13:7, 44)

As for what was sown on thin (rocky) soil, this is he who hears the Word and at once welcomes and accepts it with joy. (Matthew 13:20 AMP)

 

RECEIVE it (Luke 8:13; James 1:21; Acts 8:14, 11:1, 17:11)

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21 KJV)

 

RETAIN it (Luke 8:13)

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (Luke 8:13 KJV)

 

KEEP (John 8:51, 14:23; 1 John 2:5; Revelation 3:8)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. (John 8:51 KJV)

 

and REMAIN in it (John 8:31)

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.  (John 8:31, 51 KJV)

 

Also, he should TESTIFY about it (Acts 8:25; Revelation 1:2)

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. (Acts 8:25 KJV)

 

MINISTER it (Acts 6:4)

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:4 KJV)

 

PROCLAIM it (2 Timothy 4:2)

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2 KJV)

 

ANNOUNCE it (Acts 15:36; 17:13)

 

Valiantly SPEAK it (Acts 4:29; Philippians 1:14)

And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:14 KJV)

 

TEACH it (Acts 18:11)

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them. (Acts 18:11 KJV)

 

And be a DOER of the Word (James 1:22)

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22 KJV)

 

PRAISE & PRAYER REQUESTS:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

ACTION POINT:  Identify one distraction in your life that has taken time away from spending time in God’s Word.  I will try to spend __________ minutes in God’s Word every day.