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.