Welcome to “Learning and Living the God-centered life”

Carmel Baptist Church

September 7, 2008

All the information that we cover in class plus additional notes, downloads and files will be on our web site.

www.learningandlivingtheword.com

Back to the Basics

Three areas of focus when getting back to the Bible

1. Bible reading

2. Bible devotion

3. Bible study

Doctrine of God

Doctrine of man

Doctrine of Christ

Doctrine of the Spirit

Doctrine of salvation

Back to the Basics

The four main obstacles to Bible study

1. Motivation

2. Prioritization

3. Skills and Tools

4. Spiritual Maturity

Three absolute essentials of Bible study

1. Preparation (heart)

2. Explanation (head)

3. Implementation (feet)

PREPARATION (HEART)

Luke 24:13-35

Do you remember the four observations we made last week as it relates to our own personal Bible study?

1. Situation

2. Problem

3. Solution

4. Results

Situation - two disciples on the road to Emmaus, throwing around words and the Lord Jesus walks up, they are prevented from recognizing Him, He then talks with them and they look downcast or sad.

Problem - Jesus says they have a “slow” heart to believe.

Application

Does this represent our Bible reading, devotion and study?

We are prevented from recognizing the living words of the living Lord Jesus because we have a heart problem?

And we don’t remember what we have read to the point that we even leave sad or downcast?

Go to Luke 24:31

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight

Go to Acts 16:14

A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

Go to John 3:3

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Go to Matthew 16:16-17

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Go to Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.

Go to Mark 4:1-20The parable of the sower

Parable of the sower

Go to Mark 4:13:

What is the point Jesus is making to His disciples?

Answer - this is the parable of all parables, if you don’t get this one then you won’t get the rest of them

What is the main point of the parable?

The success of the seed is dependent upon the condition of the soil

Now rephrase this in a way of application by using what the Lord Jesus tells us in this parable

The seed is ?

The soil is ?

Application:

Dr. Popplin sows the word today in our worship service

What happens to that seed that is broadcast among the congregation?

1. The devil snatches it away

2. It grows on a temporary basis but withers under persecution and temptation

3. It grows but is eventually choked out by cares, worries and desires of this world

4. It flourishes within the rich soil of a heart that repents and believes!!!

We need to be a God-dependent and Bible saturated people

Confession of known sin or sin that is being tolerated in one's life (1 John 1:9)

I - Incline your heart (Psalm 119:36)"Incline my heart to Your testimoniesAnd not to dishonest gain"

O - Open my eyes (Psalm 119:18)"Open my eyes, that I may beholdWonderful things from Your law"

U – Unite my heart (Psalm 86:11)"Teach me Your way, O LORD;I will walk in Your truth;Unite my heart to fear Your name”

S - Satisfy my heart (Psalm 94:14)

C. S. Lewis writes:

I had not noticed either that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it: "Isn't she lovely? Wasn't it glorious? Don't you think that magnificent?" The Psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about…

I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.