Introduction:
What do you think would happen to you if you spent quality time every day reading and meditating on the book of Proverbs?
Scripture answers this question for us. Read chapter 1:2-5
Proverbs 1:1-5 (NLT)
The Purpose of Proverbs
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance …
What do you think would happen to you if you spent quality time every day reading and meditating on the book of Psalms?
The book of Psalms promotes an attitude of Worship & Praise.
Psalms remind us of the Sovereignty of God.
Etc.
What do you think would happen to you if you spent quality time every day reading and meditating on the Gospels?
We gain a better understanding of all that Jesus did for us.
(and more)
On the New Testament?
On the Old Testament?
Lesson Title: Avoiding Spiritual Malnutrition
Study the Scriptures.
What happens to us when we spend time in the Word?
It changes us.
It changes the way we think.
It molds us.
It transforms us into new people.
2 Peter 1:1-4 (NLT)
Greetings from Peter
1 This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.
I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.
2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
Growing in Faith
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
Examine the scripture:
Peter is writing to Christians who have received the gift of salvation.
3 By his divine power, God has given us (God has made available to us) everything we need for living a godly life.
We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
Know Him – An intimate “full knowledge” of Christ.
Everything we need for living a Godly life becomes ours by “coming to know Him”.
4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
What are God’s promises?
We need to know God’s promises. These promises are not really ours if we don’t know them.
- As we come to know God better and better, God is giving us everything we need for living a Godly life.
- As we learn to know God’s promises, we are able to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
We become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We are being transformed.
Become more like Christ.
God gives us everything we need to live Godly lives.
What does God’s Word do?
Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT)
10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
- God’s word produces fruit.
- God’s word accomplishes all God wants it to.
Colossians 1:9-10 (NLT)
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.
All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
- You will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
- God’s Word produces fruit. (repeated)
John 17:17 (NLT)
17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
Psalm 119:11 (NLT)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
- God’s Word makes us holy.
Romans 10:17 (NLT)
17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
- Faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ.
James 1:21 (NLT)
21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
- God’s word has the power to save your soul.
What should our response be to all of this?
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
- Let God transform you.
Matthew 4:4 (NLT)
4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,
‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
- Don’t starve yourself.
Malnutrition or starvation is the result of an insufficient diet.
Teachers and parents need to be strong and healthy. (Spiritually)
We need to be studying the scriptures throughout the week. (Reflecting on it continually)
John 15:4-8 (NLT)
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
- Apart from Christ and His words we can do nothing.
2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)
18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:8-14 (NLT)
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.
14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
- Carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
- You can’t guard truth you don’t know.
Final comment:
1 Timothy 4:15-16 (NLT)
15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.
