Maturity- the need of every Maturity- the need of every believerbeliever

Facts about spiritual maturity:Facts about spiritual maturity:

IT’S NOT AUTOMATICIT’S NOT AUTOMATIC

Hebrews 5:12-13Hebrews 5:12-13

2. 2. IT IS A PROCESSIT IS A PROCESS

2Pet 3:182Pet 3:18

3. 3. IT TAKES DISCIPLINEIT TAKES DISCIPLINE

1Tim 4:71Tim 4:7

Mature believers are called disciplesMature believers are called disciples

What the Bible teachesWhat the Bible teaches

I I cannotcannot be a disciple without being be a disciple without being disciplinediscipline

The more The more disciplineddisciplined I become the more I become the more God can God can use use me. 2Tim. 2:20-21me. 2Tim. 2:20-21

The The markmark of a disciple is of a disciple is cross bearingcross bearing Luke 14:27Luke 14:27

As a disciple I must bear my cross As a disciple I must bear my cross daily daily Lk 9:23Lk 9:23

Cross bearing is giving up Cross bearing is giving up whateverwhatever it it takes to make Christ first place in my life.takes to make Christ first place in my life.

How can I become a Disciple?How can I become a Disciple?

By developing disciple habits Col 3:9-10By developing disciple habits Col 3:9-10 There are There are four habits four habits we must develop;we must develop; Time with God’s Word, Prayer, Giving and Time with God’s Word, Prayer, Giving and

FellowshipFellowship Lets observe and circle the word disciples Lets observe and circle the word disciples

in the following versesin the following verses Time with God’s Word John 8:31Time with God’s Word John 8:31 Prayer John 15:7-8Prayer John 15:7-8 Giving Luke 14:33 Giving Luke 14:33

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

HabitsHabits It is a continual, often unconscious It is a continual, often unconscious

inclination to do a certain activity, inclination to do a certain activity, acquired through frequent repetition.acquired through frequent repetition.

Habit is really the disposition of Habit is really the disposition of character.character.

We are all bundles of habitsWe are all bundles of habits It is easier to form good habits than It is easier to form good habits than

to get rid of bad habits. So in order to get rid of bad habits. So in order to get rid of bad habits is to replace to get rid of bad habits is to replace them with good habits.them with good habits.

How to benefit from habitHow to benefit from habit

Ro. 6:19Ro. 6:19 Note give yourselves– an act of Note give yourselves– an act of

volunteering.volunteering. To benefit from a habit you’ve To benefit from a habit you’ve

got to voluntarily want to do it. It got to voluntarily want to do it. It can’t be forced on you because can’t be forced on you because you’ve got to have the right you’ve got to have the right motive.motive.

GRASP YOUR BIBLEGRASP YOUR BIBLE

How to hear God’s WordHow to hear God’s Word

Ro.10:17Ro.10:17 Listen on internet, church, Listen on internet, church,

sermon radio etcsermon radio etc The problem is, we tend to forget The problem is, we tend to forget

95% of what we hear within 72 95% of what we hear within 72 hourshours

If you don’t really remember it, If you don’t really remember it, you can’t really apply it.you can’t really apply it.

Five ways to improve your hearingFive ways to improve your hearing

Be Be readyready and and eagereager to hear God. to hear God. James 1:19James 1:19

DealDeal with attitudes that prevent with attitudes that prevent hearing God. Luke 8:4-15hearing God. Luke 8:4-15

ConfessConfess any any sinsin in your life James in your life James 1:211:21

Take notesTake notes on what you on what you hearhear Heb.2:1Heb.2:1

Act Act on what you hear Jas 1:22,25 on what you hear Jas 1:22,25

How to Read God’s WordHow to Read God’s Word

Rev 1:3Rev 1:3 Deut 17:19Deut 17:19 Read it systematicallyRead it systematically Read it in a Bible without notesRead it in a Bible without notes Read it in different translationsRead it in different translations Read it out aloud to yourselfRead it out aloud to yourself Underline or colour code key versesUnderline or colour code key verses Choose a reading plan and stick with itChoose a reading plan and stick with it

How to Study God’s WordHow to Study God’s Word

Acts 17:11 Acts 17:11 2Tim 2:152Tim 2:15 Ezra 7:10Ezra 7:10 God intended that each of us do more God intended that each of us do more

than just than just hearhear the word or read it, we the word or read it, we must also study it.must also study it.

The difference between reading and The difference between reading and studying the Bible is studying the Bible is writing and writing and making notesmaking notes on what you see. on what you see.

Key in Studying the BibleKey in Studying the Bible

Ask the right questions that will give Ask the right questions that will give you insight in the passage.you insight in the passage.

Who? What? When? Where? Who? What? When? Where? Why?Why?

This will be a great start in a simple This will be a great start in a simple way.way.

Dynamic Bible study Methods- Rick Dynamic Bible study Methods- Rick WarrenWarren

You needs at least ONE study BibleYou needs at least ONE study Bible

Four Good Study BibleFour Good Study Bible The Life Application Bible The Life Application Bible

published by Tyndale- best for published by Tyndale- best for application questionsapplication questions

Thompson Chain Reference Bible- Thompson Chain Reference Bible- best for best for topical studiestopical studies

NIV Study Bible– best for NIV Study Bible– best for backgroundbackground

The Disciple Study Bible– best for The Disciple Study Bible– best for doctrinedoctrine

How To Memorize God’s WordHow To Memorize God’s Word Prov 7:2-3Prov 7:2-3 BENEFITS OF MEMORIZENG BENEFITS OF MEMORIZENG

SCRIPTURE:SCRIPTURE: It helps me resist temptation- Ps It helps me resist temptation- Ps

119:11119:11 Its helps me make wise decisions- Ps Its helps me make wise decisions- Ps

119:105119:105 Its strengthens me when I’m under Its strengthens me when I’m under

stress Is. 40:31stress Is. 40:31

4. It comforts me when I’m sad- Jer 4. It comforts me when I’m sad- Jer 15:16, Prov 22:1815:16, Prov 22:18

5. It helps me witness to 5. It helps me witness to unbelievers 1Pet 3:15unbelievers 1Pet 3:15

WHEN TO MEMORIZE A VERSEWHEN TO MEMORIZE A VERSE During your quiet timeDuring your quiet time Your exercise timeYour exercise time While wait and during spare While wait and during spare

momentsmoments Anything to help you rememberAnything to help you remember

How to Memorize scriptureHow to Memorize scripture Pick a verse that speaks to youPick a verse that speaks to you Say the verse reference before Say the verse reference before

and afterand after Read the verse aloud many Read the verse aloud many

times- then say it out loudtimes- then say it out loud Break the verse into natural Break the verse into natural

phrasesphrases Emphasize key words when Emphasize key words when

quoting the versequoting the verse

6.Write the verse out on flash 6.Write the verse out on flash cardcard

7.Display your verses in 7.Display your verses in prominent places where you are prominent places where you are going to see themgoing to see them

8. Always memorize the verse 8. Always memorize the verse word perfect- the way it isword perfect- the way it is

9. Some of you could put music 9. Some of you could put music to the verseto the verse

10. Get a partner so you can 10. Get a partner so you can check each other.check each other.

MEDITATIONMEDITATION Meditation is Meditation is focused thinkingfocused thinking

about a Bible verse in order to about a Bible verse in order to discover how I can apply its truth discover how I can apply its truth to my own life.to my own life.

The word The word meditationmeditation is also the is also the word for word for rumination.rumination.

Can everyone meditate?Can everyone meditate? Can everyone worry?Can everyone worry? Worry is negative meditationWorry is negative meditation

Why We Should Meditate on Why We Should Meditate on Scripture:Scripture:

1.1. It is the key to become like It is the key to become like Christ- Prov. 4:23, 2 Cor. Christ- Prov. 4:23, 2 Cor. 3:18 & Ro. 12:23:18 & Ro. 12:2

2.2. It is the key to answered It is the key to answered prayers—John 15:7prayers—John 15:7

3.3. It is the key to successful It is the key to successful living—Josh 1:8living—Josh 1:8

Six Ways to meditate on a VerseSix Ways to meditate on a Verse

1.1. Picture itPicture it

2.2. Pronounce itPronounce it

3.3. Paraphrase itParaphrase it

4.4. Personalize itPersonalize it

5.5. Pray itPray it

6.6. This works all the time---This works all the time---PROBE itPROBE it

How to Probe a verseHow to Probe a verse

From Rick warren From Rick warren acrostic--- acrostic--- S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S questionsquestions

S- Is there a S- Is there a SinSin to to confessconfess?? P- Is there a P- Is there a PromisePromise to to claimclaim?? A- Is there an A- Is there an AttitudeAttitude to to changechange?? C- Is there a C- Is there a CommandCommand to to obeyobey?? E- Is there an E- Is there an ExampleExample to to followfollow?? P-Is there a P-Is there a PrayerPrayer to to praypray?? E- Is there an E- Is there an ErrorError to to avoidavoid?? T- Is there a T- Is there a TruthTruth to to believebelieve?? S-is there S-is there SomethingSomething to to thank thank

God for?God for?

AH, ITS TIME TO APPLYAH, ITS TIME TO APPLY In order to apply, you need to cross In order to apply, you need to cross

the application bridge. the application bridge. Two key questions that must be Two key questions that must be

asked:asked:

1.1. What did it mean What did it mean thenthen??

2.2. What does it mean What does it mean nownow??

EveryEvery story in the Bible is place there story in the Bible is place there on intention and there are timeless on intention and there are timeless principles that we must apply.principles that we must apply.

Three Questions to askThree Questions to ask1.1. What did it mean to the What did it mean to the

original hearers?original hearers?

2.2. What is the underlying What is the underlying timeless principle?timeless principle?

3.3. Where or how can I practice Where or how can I practice that today?that today?

Acts 15Acts 15

Ro 14:21Ro 14:21

The Big questionThe Big question Now what I’m I going to do about Now what I’m I going to do about

it?it? Most applications will focus on Most applications will focus on

relationshipsrelationships When trying to apply Bible to your When trying to apply Bible to your

life think relationships.life think relationships.

1.1. My relationship toMy relationship to God God

2.2. My relationship to My relationship to selfself

3.3. My relationship to My relationship to other peopleother people

Four Guides when applyingFour Guides when applying1.1. It’s personalIt’s personal

2.2. It’s practicalIt’s practical

3.3. It’s possibleIt’s possible

4.4. It’s provable– you know its It’s provable– you know its done.done.

John 13 :17 John 13 :17