Following God's Instructions for a Fruitful Life
Summary
### Summary
In today's message, we explored the importance of following instructions, both in everyday life and in our spiritual journey. We began with a fun game of "Micah Says," which highlighted how crucial it is to listen carefully and follow directions. This led us into a discussion about how we often encounter instructions in various aspects of life, such as exams, cooking, or assembling furniture, and how ignoring these instructions can lead to mistakes and frustration.
We then transitioned to the spiritual realm, emphasizing that God's Word, the Bible, serves as our ultimate instruction manual. Just as we need to follow instructions to successfully assemble furniture or cook a meal, we need to follow God's instructions to live a fulfilling and righteous life. Jesus understood that people would struggle with understanding and following God's instructions, which is why He often used parables—earthly stories with heavenly meanings—to communicate deeper spiritual truths.
We delved into the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13:1-9, where Jesus describes different types of soil representing different responses to God's Word. Some people hear the Word but don't understand it, allowing the enemy to snatch it away. Others receive it with joy but fall away when challenges arise. Some are choked by life's worries and deceitfulness, while others receive the Word, understand it, and produce a fruitful life.
The message concluded with a reflection on Psalm 119:105-112, which describes God's Word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Just as a light guides us through darkness, God's Word guides us through life's challenges. We were encouraged to not only hear God's Word but to respond to it, allowing it to transform our lives and deepen our relationship with Him.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Instructions: Just as ignoring instructions in everyday tasks can lead to mistakes and frustration, ignoring God's instructions can lead to spiritual confusion and setbacks. Following God's Word is essential for living a fulfilling and righteous life. [05:20]
2. Understanding Parables: Jesus used parables to communicate deeper spiritual truths. The Parable of the Sower illustrates different responses to God's Word, emphasizing the importance of not just hearing but understanding and applying it to produce a fruitful life. [09:10]
3. God's Word as a Guide: Psalm 119:105-112 describes God's Word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Just as a light guides us through darkness, God's Word guides us through life's challenges, helping us navigate and make wise decisions. [17:13]
4. Responding to God's Word: Hearing God's Word invites a response. Whether it's understanding, applying, or sharing it, our response to God's Word reflects our relationship with Him. Ignoring or neglecting it can lead to spiritual stagnation. [21:06]
5. Community and Growth: Being part of a faith community helps us grow and mature in our spiritual journey. We don't have to figure everything out on our own; we can learn from others' experiences and support each other in our walk with God. [28:29]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:42] - Micah Says Game
[02:51] - Importance of Instructions
[04:01] - Ignoring Instructions
[05:20] - Spiritual Instructions
[06:34] - IKEA Furniture Story
[07:46] - Lessons from IKEA
[09:10] - Parable of the Sower
[10:25] - Different Types of Soil
[13:15] - Understanding the Parable
[14:33] - Jesus' Explanation
[17:13] - Psalm 119:105-112
[19:35] - God's Word as a Light
[21:06] - Responding to God's Word
[23:47] - Knowing God Through His Word
[25:22] - Reflecting on God's Word
[27:22] - Specific Instructions from the Bible
[28:29] - Community and Growth
[29:55] - Lifelong Journey of Responding to God's Word
[31:00] - Final Thoughts and Invitation to Respond
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 13:1-9 - The Parable of the Sower
2. Psalm 119:105-112 - God's Word as a Lamp and Light
#### Observation Questions
1. In the Parable of the Sower, what are the four types of soil mentioned, and what do they represent? (Matthew 13:1-9)
2. According to Psalm 119:105, what is God's Word compared to, and what is its purpose? (Psalm 119:105)
3. What are some examples given in the sermon of everyday tasks where following instructions is crucial? [02:51]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Parable of the Sower illustrate different responses to God's Word? What might each type of soil represent in our lives today? (Matthew 13:1-9)
2. Why do you think Jesus used parables to communicate deeper spiritual truths? How does this method help or hinder understanding? [09:10]
3. Psalm 119:105 describes God's Word as a lamp and light. How does this metaphor help us understand the role of Scripture in our daily lives? (Psalm 119:105-112)
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you ignored instructions in your life. How did that experience compare to times when you followed instructions carefully? How does this relate to following God's Word? [04:01]
2. In what ways can you ensure that you are not just hearing God's Word but also understanding and applying it in your life? [21:06]
3. Think about the different types of soil in the Parable of the Sower. Which type do you most identify with right now, and why? What steps can you take to become more like the good soil? (Matthew 13:1-9)
4. Psalm 119:105 says God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. What are some practical ways you can let God's Word guide you through a current challenge or decision? (Psalm 119:105-112)
5. How can being part of a faith community help you grow and mature in your spiritual journey? Share an example of how someone in your community has helped you understand or apply God's Word. [28:29]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of responding to God's Word. What is one specific way you can respond to what you've learned today? [31:00]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel spiritually stagnant. What changes can you make to invite God's Word to transform that area? [21:06]
Devotional
Day 1: The Necessity of Following Instructions
In our daily lives, we often encounter instructions that guide us through various tasks, such as cooking, assembling furniture, or taking exams. Ignoring these instructions can lead to mistakes, frustration, and even failure. Similarly, in our spiritual journey, God's Word serves as our ultimate instruction manual. Ignoring God's instructions can lead to spiritual confusion and setbacks. Following God's Word is essential for living a fulfilling and righteous life. Just as we need to follow instructions to successfully complete everyday tasks, we need to follow God's instructions to navigate our spiritual journey effectively. [05:20]
Proverbs 4:20-22 (ESV): "My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you ignored instructions and faced negative consequences. How can you apply this lesson to your spiritual life by being more attentive to God's Word?
Day 2: The Power of Parables
Jesus often used parables—earthly stories with heavenly meanings—to communicate deeper spiritual truths. The Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-9 illustrates different responses to God's Word. Some people hear the Word but don't understand it, allowing the enemy to snatch it away. Others receive it with joy but fall away when challenges arise. Some are choked by life's worries and deceitfulness, while others receive the Word, understand it, and produce a fruitful life. Understanding and applying these parables is crucial for spiritual growth and producing a fruitful life. [09:10]
Mark 4:33-34 (ESV): "With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything."
Reflection: Reflect on a parable that has impacted you deeply. How can you apply its lessons to your current life situation to produce a more fruitful spiritual life?
Day 3: God's Word as a Guide
Psalm 119:105-112 describes God's Word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Just as a light guides us through darkness, God's Word guides us through life's challenges, helping us navigate and make wise decisions. In times of uncertainty and difficulty, turning to God's Word can provide clarity, direction, and comfort. It is essential to immerse ourselves in Scripture, allowing it to illuminate our path and guide our steps. [17:13]
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you seek guidance from God's Word to navigate through this challenge?
Day 4: Responding to God's Word
Hearing God's Word invites a response. Whether it's understanding, applying, or sharing it, our response to God's Word reflects our relationship with Him. Ignoring or neglecting it can lead to spiritual stagnation. It is not enough to merely hear God's Word; we must actively respond to it by integrating its teachings into our daily lives. This response can take various forms, such as making changes in our behavior, sharing the Word with others, or deepening our relationship with God through prayer and reflection. [21:06]
James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: Identify one specific teaching from God's Word that you have heard recently. How can you actively respond to this teaching in your daily life starting today?
Day 5: The Role of Community in Spiritual Growth
Being part of a faith community helps us grow and mature in our spiritual journey. We don't have to figure everything out on our own; we can learn from others' experiences and support each other in our walk with God. A faith community provides accountability, encouragement, and shared wisdom, which are essential for spiritual growth. Engaging with a community of believers allows us to deepen our understanding of God's Word and apply it more effectively in our lives. [28:29]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Think about your involvement in your faith community. How can you contribute more actively to the spiritual growth of others while also seeking support for your own spiritual journey?
Quotes
1. "Instructions are super important when it comes to life that we live so that we know what to do and I'll be honest sometimes instructions are very very hard to to read and define I mean I know this as I get older um when you get an item it seems like the instructions are getting smaller and smaller print and you gotta like read them and it's hard to read some of them you gotta scan a qr code and then you gotta your phone there and you gotta I just bought a new lawnmower last year and like there was no instructions in the box there was nothing all that there was was a sticker that I had to scan that sticker it took me the instructions and then it showed me a video on how to put this whole thing together and I'll be honest like sometimes as a christian someone that says they love jesus someone who says that we're a follower of god we read instructions in the bible and we're like god is this really what you're asking is this really what you're saying like or is that what you're that instruction even meant for me you know or what if i like god i did this before i tried to do" [05:20] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When jesus was here on earth he understood that people like me would have a hard time either wanting to follow the instructions or understanding those instructions he knew people would misunderstand what he was saying he knew people would struggle with what was being said and you know we talked about it the last couple weeks that one way jesus would communicate was by telling stories he would oftentimes tell stories in order for people to understand what he was talking about and so we're going to tell another story tonight and we're going to walk through this and the story tonight is going to be a common story and again jesus told what we call" [09:10] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus is simply saying listen when you hear instructions you have a choice on what to do with it you have a choice to follow it see what i love is this verse in uh it's found in psalms 119 it's a passage of scripture in the old testament that actually helps us understand really what's going on it says in psalms 119 verses 105 to 112 it says this your word is a lamp a light unto my a lamp for my feet and a light to my path i have taken an oath and confirmed it that i will follow your law i have suffered much preserved my life according to the word i accept the lord and i'm willing to praise of my mouth and teach you the word of god teach me your laws it says though i constantly take my life in my hands i will not forget your law the wicked have set a snare for me but i will not be straight away your statutes are my heritage forever meaning that the word of god is in me forever and they are joy to my heart my heart is set on keeping secret decrees till the very end what this psalmist says in the beginning is if you can go back to that verse verse 105 it says your word is a lamp for my feet and a light" [17:13] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "In the darkness we can't see in the darkness literally there's there's no way of being able to see where you're going now i know that some of you have been to camp with us and we've got when we go to camp there's always an area where we have to walk from the field up into where the cafeteria is and during the night there aren't many lights that are there some of you know what i'm talking about that hill that goes down and if you are not paying attention you will run into a tree as you walk you will walk right into a tree you will walk right into a rock like you cannot see anything so a lot of times what everybody does is they bust out their phones and they have the flashlight and they begin to walk with the flashlight so that they can see where the path goes check this out this is what david the psalmist is saying in this verse he's saying the bible the words of god the words of jesus is a lamp to my feet so that i can see a path that is lit you can walk on a lit path and you can see a path that is lit you can go you can know exactly where you're going but as soon as the lights go out you might not know you might be thinking you're going the right way and you might run into the door you might run into the tree you might trip over something that you shouldn't you might end up somewhere you shouldn't and that's why it's so important that the bible that we take is that light that guides" [19:35] (78 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The bible is presented to you and then as it's presented to you you're invited not just to hear the words but to do something with the words that you hear why because god's word every time it goes forward it demands and invites a response from you so it's basically like what are you going to do with what you know what are you going to do with what you've learned see all of you that are in school you learned a certain subject and then you're tested on it and the testing of what is happening is based on what did you learn what knowledge did you retain how did you manage this it is the same thing with the word of god it's the same thing with the bible that the bible is something that when we read it and that when we hear it it's an it's an invitation to a response and what we do so when we talk about it are you the person who struggles to understand what god is saying are you the person who faced difficult times and you used to believe what god says now you don't are you the person that gets excited for what god says but then just allows life to distract you or do you feel like you're" [21:06] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Reading god's word in the bible it's really it's a place that we start to really understand who god is it's like it's a manual that says hey this is who this person is this is who you're serving this is how you can know them and so for us every one of us in this room we have to understand that we get this instruction that god gives to us and he says this is how you can know me better this is how you can know me better and as we read that we begin to know him better i'll tell you this if this was something that we could have with people that would be great like if i had a book that i could read that could tell me hey this is how you get to know zeth better this is how you get to know his inside outside everything about him his personality how he thinks like this is his character if i could read a book to get to know zeth better that would be amazing" [22:22] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "If you wanna know god you gotta read the instructions on how to know him better and that is the way that is the word of god the bible is that instructional book that says hey this is what you can know about god this is how you can praise him this is how you can live for him this is how you can know him because the word of god is so important to us as christians so reading god's word in the bible it's really where we start with everything because it inspires us by giving us examples of real people who dealt with real situations and responded to god in real ways guys you gotta understand the bible is not just some fake people that we make up the bible is actually historical figures that lived that had life and we were just talking about this the other day a lot of the characters in the bible that we read were teenagers they were actually teenagers when we talk about david when we talk about shadrach meshach and abednego" [23:47] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "When we hear the word of god we need to do this now we need to reflect okay what is it that is being said we've heard god's word we've heard what it says and now we need to reflect on that we need to consider what does this mean for us see my hope is this my hope is that when you come to refuge that you don't just pay attention to this message for the next 30 minutes and then go home and completely forget about it no i hope that i hope that it resonates with you i hope that you go home and think about it i hope that when you go home and you play video games or you watch netflix or you do your homework or whatever you're thinking about what we talked about tonight that you're allowing it to be a reflection and saying what is how does this impact my life how does this change who i am how is this something that i can apply" [25:22] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Respond to god's word the more you respond to god's word the more you'll find yourself falling in love with him why because i'm going to say this one last time god's word invites a response from you it invites a response from you" [31:00] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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