The Importance of the Bible: Discipleship, Discernment, and Relationship

Devotional

Day 1: Scripture Equips Us for Every Good Work

The Bible is not just a book of stories or ancient wisdom; it is the very breath of God, given to teach, correct, and train us in righteousness so that we may be fully equipped for every good work. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we are reminded of the truths we have learned and are strengthened in our faith, just as Timothy was encouraged to continue in what he had been taught since childhood. The Word of God is our foundation, shaping our beliefs and actions, and preparing us to live out our calling with confidence and integrity. [41:41]

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ESV)
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need God’s Word to teach, correct, or train you today so you can be better equipped for the good works He has prepared for you?

Day 2: Be Ready to Share the Gospel at All Times

God calls every believer to proclaim the gospel to the world, not just when it’s convenient or when we feel spiritually energized, but in every season and circumstance. To fulfill this calling, we must continually fill ourselves with God’s Word, so that we are always prepared to teach, encourage, and disciple others. Just as a teapot cannot pour if it is empty, we cannot pour into others unless we are first filled with the truth and wisdom of Scripture, ready to share it whenever God gives us the opportunity. [44:42]

Mark 16:15 (ESV)
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Reflection: Who is one person you might encounter this week that you can intentionally share God’s love or truth with, and how can you prepare yourself in God’s Word to be ready for that moment?

Day 3: Discernment Against False Teaching

The Bible is our guide for discerning truth from error, especially in a world where false teachings and misleading voices abound. Jesus warns us to be wise and to recognize false prophets by their fruits, reminding us that discernment comes from knowing God’s Word deeply. By regularly reading and studying Scripture, we are able to test what we hear, hold each other accountable in love, and ensure that we are not led astray but remain rooted in the unchanging truth of God. [47:42]

Matthew 7:15-20 (ESV)
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

Reflection: Is there a teaching, message, or influence in your life that you need to examine more closely in light of Scripture—how can you use God’s Word to discern its truth?

Day 4: Recognizing God’s Voice Through Relationship

Just as sheep know the voice of their shepherd because they spend time with him, we learn to recognize God’s voice by spending time in His Word and building a close relationship with Him. The more we read and study the Bible, the more familiar we become with God’s character and guidance, making it easier to distinguish His voice from our own thoughts or the world’s distractions. God desires a relationship where we confidently know and follow Him, never mistaking His voice for that of a stranger. [54:33]

John 10:3-5 (ESV)
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can spend more intentional time with God this week so you can better recognize His voice when He speaks?

Day 5: Accountability and Unity in the Body of Christ

We are called to be one body, united in Christ, holding each other accountable and encouraging one another to grow in faith and obedience. Sharing our spiritual goals and struggles with trusted brothers and sisters helps us stay committed and fosters unity within the church. When we support each other in reading God’s Word and living it out, we reflect Christ to the world and strengthen our relationships with both God and one another. [57:43]

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: Who can you invite to help keep you accountable in your walk with God, and how can you encourage someone else in their faith journey this week?

Sermon Summary

The Bible is not just a book to be read when convenient; it is the very Word of God, essential for every believer’s life and growth. Paul’s encouragement to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-17 reminds us to continue in what we have learned, to hold fast to the sacred writings that make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ. Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness, equipping us for every good work. This means that our engagement with the Bible should be intentional and prioritized, not left to chance or convenience.

One of the primary reasons to immerse ourselves in Scripture is so we can disciple others. We are called to proclaim the gospel to all creation, but we cannot pour into others if we ourselves are empty. Just as a teapot cannot fill a cup if it is empty, we must be filled with God’s Word to teach and encourage others effectively. This requires not only knowing the fundamentals but also continually growing in our understanding, so that when God calls us to share, we have something meaningful to offer.

Another vital aspect of knowing the Bible is discernment. Jesus warns us to beware of false prophets, and the only way to recognize what is true and what is false is by knowing God’s Word intimately. The Bible is our standard; if someone claims to speak for God but contradicts Scripture, we can be confident that their message is not from Him. This discernment also extends to holding one another accountable within the body of Christ, ensuring that we are all producing good fruit and representing God well.

Our relationship with God is built on communication, and the Bible is His primary way of speaking to us. Just as we recognize the voice of someone we spend time with, we learn to recognize God’s voice by spending time in His Word. The more we study and meditate on Scripture, the more attuned we become to His leading, and the less likely we are to mistake His voice for our own thoughts or the voice of a stranger.

Ultimately, the challenge is to reflect on the fruits we are producing and the closeness of our relationship with God. Are we spending enough time in His Word to know His voice and represent Him well? God invites us into a relationship, but we must choose to draw near, listen, and respond. Let us hold each other accountable, pursue unity, and make the study of God’s Word a central part of our lives.

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Key Takeaways

1. Scripture as the Foundation for Discipleship Immersing ourselves in the Bible is essential if we are to disciple others effectively. We cannot teach what we do not know, and our ability to pour into others is directly tied to how much we are filled with God’s Word. Continual growth in understanding Scripture equips us to fulfill our calling to proclaim the gospel and build up the body of Christ. [45:21]
2. Discernment Against False Teaching The Bible is our ultimate standard for truth, enabling us to discern between genuine and false teaching. Jesus warns that false prophets will come in sheep’s clothing, and only by knowing Scripture can we recognize when something contradicts God’s character or commands. Discernment is not about judgment, but about protecting ourselves and others from being led astray. [48:39]
3. Accountability and Fruitfulness in Community We are called to hold one another accountable, examining the fruits of our lives and encouraging each other toward righteousness. When we see a brother or sister beginning to stray, it is an act of love to gently correct and restore them. Our witness to the world depends on the fruit we produce, and accountability helps us represent Christ faithfully. [49:54]
4. Recognizing God’s Voice Through Relationship Just as we recognize the voice of someone we spend time with, we learn to distinguish God’s voice by spending time in His Word. The more we know Him, the more clearly we hear Him, and the less likely we are to confuse His voice with our own thoughts or the enemy’s lies. Building this relationship requires intentionality and consistent engagement with Scripture. [53:40]
5. Choosing Closeness with God God offers us relationship, but He does not force it upon us; we must choose to draw near. Our willingness to spend time in His Word and listen for His voice determines the depth of our relationship. When we neglect this, God can become a stranger to us, but when we pursue Him, we become attuned to His leading and secure in His love. [56:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[40:56] - Why the Bible Must Be a Priority
[41:24] - Reading of 2 Timothy 3:14-17
[42:01] - Paul’s Encouragement to Timothy
[42:17] - Voice Recognition Illustration
[44:14] - The Bible and Discipleship
[44:59] - Being Ready In and Out of Season
[45:51] - Filled to Pour Into Others
[46:19] - Growing in Understanding
[47:19] - Discerning False Prophets
[48:39] - The Bible as Our Guide
[49:30] - Accountability and Good Fruit
[50:18] - Representing Christ Well
[51:26] - Communication Builds Relationship
[53:03] - Recognizing God’s Voice
[54:33] - The Sheep Know the Shepherd’s Voice
[55:20] - Avoiding the Stranger’s Voice
[56:00] - Don’t Let God Become a Stranger
[57:22] - Choosing Closeness and Accountability
[58:05] - Closing and Prayer Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ESV) — But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Observation Questions

According to 2 Timothy 3:14-17, what are the different ways Scripture is described as being useful for believers?
In the sermon, what illustration was used to show the importance of being filled with God’s Word before pouring into others? [[45:51]]
What does the sermon say is the difference between discernment and judgment when it comes to recognizing false teaching? [[48:03]]
How does the sermon describe the process of recognizing God’s voice compared to the voice of a stranger? [[54:33]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul urge Timothy to “continue in what you have learned” and not move away from the Scriptures he was taught as a child? How might this apply to us today?
The sermon compares a teapot needing to be filled before it can pour into others. What does this say about the connection between personal Bible study and discipling others? [[45:51]]
According to the sermon, how does knowing Scripture help us discern between true and false teaching, and why is this important for the church community? [[48:39]]
The sermon uses the example of recognizing a familiar voice. What does this teach about the relationship between time spent with God in His Word and our ability to hear Him clearly? [[54:33]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to make Bible reading a priority, not just something we do when it’s convenient. What is one specific change you could make this week to prioritize time in God’s Word? [[41:09]]
Think about someone in your life you might be able to disciple or encourage in their faith. Are you “filled up” enough with God’s Word to pour into them? If not, what step can you take to grow in this area? [[45:51]]
Have you ever encountered a teaching or message that didn’t seem to line up with Scripture? How did you respond, and what would you do differently now after hearing this sermon? [[48:39]]
The sermon talks about holding each other accountable and examining the fruit in our lives. Is there someone you trust who can help keep you accountable in your walk with God? How can you invite them into that role? [[49:54]]
When was the last time you felt unsure if a thought or prompting was from God or just your own idea? What could you do to become more familiar with God’s voice through His Word? [[54:33]]
The pastor said, “Don’t let God become a stranger.” Are there areas in your life where you feel distant from God? What is one practical thing you can do this week to draw closer to Him? [[56:00]]
The sermon encourages us to set goals for Bible reading and share them with others for accountability. What is a realistic goal you can set for yourself, and who will you tell to help keep you on track? [[57:43]]

Sermon Clips

So think about like a teapot, okay? It can't pour the tea into the teacup if it's empty. So we need to be filled up with God's word so we can go pour into others. And we need to read the Bible so we know what to teach. If we're trying to teach the Bible, we can't teach something that we've never read before. So we need to know the Bible and understand it so we can go teach other people. [00:45:46] (24 seconds) #KnowToTeach

And if someone starts to say like, oh, yeah, oh, the Bible says this or God said that. But if it contradicts the Bible, we can know right away that it's false because God does not contradict himself. He never has and never will. This will remain the same yesterday, today and forever because God does not contradict himself. So if someone's starting to say like, oh, yes, God says this, but it goes against the Bible. We know that it's not actually from God because it goes against the Bible. But in order to know it goes against the Bible, we actually have to read it. [00:48:51] (34 seconds) #GodsWordIsTruth

So as the church, we should also be examining each other's fruits. Because like Lainey was saying, we need to be in unity with one another, be one body of Christ. So a way to do that is hold each other accountable. So if we start seeing one of our brothers or sisters in Christ starting to slip away a little bit or starting to produce bad fruit. Then we should let him know out of love. But we should let them know because we're supposed to help each other and hold each other accountable. We should want the best for each other. [00:49:25] (29 seconds) #AccountabilityInLove

We need to have a good communication with God in order to build that relationship with him. Think about your friend. The more you talk with your friend, the more you're in the presence of your friend and just with them, the stronger that relationship becomes. Because you're with them, you start to know them more and know who they are. Whereas if you're just with someone who you might occasionally talk to, but you definitely aren't with them that much, or you don't talk to them a lot, that relationship's going to be a whole lot weaker than the friend you spend a lot of time with and talk to a lot. That's the same with God. [00:51:20] (33 seconds) #BuildRelationshipWithGod

We have to be in his word and get to know who he is and build that relationship with him. The Bible is God's word. This is his instructions, his commands, and his expectations for our life. Let me repeat that. The Bible is God's word. It's his instructions, his commands, and our expectations for our life. [00:51:53] (22 seconds) #BibleIsGodsInstruction

We should be studying God's word for ourselves. And there is a difference between reading it and studying it. We should be studying God's word for ourselves because then we can better understand who God is and hear his voice better when he speaks to us. We should have a close enough relationship with God that when he speaks to us, we should have no doubt in our mind that that's him. We should have a super close relationship with God. [00:54:05] (26 seconds) #StudyToUnderstand

The sheep know the shepherd's voice. They spend a lot of time with their shepherd, so they're able to know and hear his voice when he speaks. Whereas with the stranger, they don't spend as much time with the stranger, so it's no wonder why they can't recognize the stranger's voice. See, the difference here is who the sheep spend their time with. We should be spending our time with God and listening for his voice. So who are you spending your time with? [00:54:56] (26 seconds) #SheepKnowShepherd

``Because when God speaks, we don't want to think it's the stranger's voice and then flee from it. We must be in his word, have that communication with him, build that relationship. So when it's God speaking, we know it's God speaking, and we don't flee from what we think is a stranger's voice. Because when we don't know God, and we don't spend time in his word and with him, God becomes the stranger. Don't let God become the stranger. [00:55:56] (28 seconds) #GodNotAStranger

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