Transformative Nourishment: Feeding on Christ Through His Word
Summary
Feeding on Christ through His word is a transformative practice that goes beyond merely reading the Bible. It involves absorbing the word of God so deeply that it becomes a part of us, nourishing our souls and sustaining our spiritual lives. Jesus Christ is the center of the entire Bible, and understanding scripture in relation to Him is crucial. The Bible is not just a book of information; it is a source of transformation. Psalm 19:7-8 illustrates this by showing how the word of God revives the soul, makes the simple wise, rejoices the heart, and enlightens the eyes. These transformations occur because the word leads us to Jesus, and as we feed on Him, these gifts become ours.
Jesus used the language of food to describe how the word of God nourishes us, just as bread nourishes the body. Psalm 1 further emphasizes the benefits of absorbing God's word, likening a person who delights in the law of the Lord to a tree planted by streams of water, symbolizing stability, fruitfulness, and sustainability. As Christian leaders, it is essential to nourish our own souls to effectively nourish others. James Alexander's insight that a preacher who constantly pours out without pouring in can only do so for a short time is a reminder of the importance of feeding on Christ through His word.
To feed on Christ, one practical approach is to identify a verse from a Bible passage and meditate on it throughout the day. This involves asking questions about the verse, such as what it says, what promises or commands it contains, and how it points to Christ. Keeping a journal to record insights from scripture can help deepen this practice. The goal is to carry the truth of scripture with us, allowing it to shape our lives and be shared with others.
Developing a habit of feeding on Christ through His word can be challenging initially, but the power of habit will help. Meditating on the word provides something to share with others and breathes fresh life into our prayers. As we engage in this practice, we will find our lives enriched and our faith strengthened.
Key Takeaways:
- Feeding on Christ through His word is more than reading; it is about absorbing the word so deeply that it transforms us. This transformation is evident in how the word revives the soul, makes us wise, and brings joy and enlightenment. [02:20]
- Jesus emphasized the importance of the word of God as nourishment for our inner lives, similar to how bread sustains the body. This nourishment leads to stability, fruitfulness, and sustainability in our spiritual journey. [03:33]
- As Christian leaders, it is crucial to nourish our own souls to effectively nourish others. Constantly giving without receiving from the word can lead to burnout, highlighting the need for a balanced spiritual intake. [06:10]
- A practical way to feed on Christ is to meditate on a specific verse, asking questions that help apply it to our lives and see how it points to Christ. This practice enriches our understanding and strengthens our faith. [08:12]
- Developing a habit of meditating on the word provides spiritual enrichment, offers insights to share with others, and revitalizes our prayer life. The power of habit and regular engagement with scripture lead to spiritual growth. [19:27]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Feeding on Christ
- [00:44] - Beyond Information
- [01:20] - Transformation Through the Word
- [02:33] - Biblical Language of Feeding
- [03:33] - Nourishment from the Word
- [04:24] - Stability and Fruitfulness
- [05:01] - Importance for Christian Leaders
- [06:26] - Practical Steps to Feed on Christ
- [07:38] - Questions for Meditation
- [09:20] - Hearing God's Voice
- [10:15] - Personal Application
- [12:10] - God's Love and Steadfastness
- [14:25] - Journaling and Sharing
- [15:11] - Forming a Habit
- [19:12] - Encouragements for Meditation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Feeding on Christ Through His Word
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 19:7-8
2. Psalm 1:1-3
3. John 15:5-7
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Psalm 19:7-8, what are the effects of the word of God on a person's soul and mind? How does this relate to the idea of transformation mentioned in the sermon? [01:00]
2. In Psalm 1:1-3, what imagery is used to describe a person who delights in the law of the Lord? How does this imagery relate to the concept of spiritual nourishment? [03:50]
3. How does Jesus describe the relationship between abiding in Him and bearing fruit in John 15:5-7? What role does His word play in this process? [02:54]
4. What practical steps were suggested in the sermon for feeding on Christ through His word? [06:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the transformation described in Psalm 19:7-8 reflect the deeper spiritual changes that occur when one feeds on Christ through His word? [02:20]
2. In what ways does the imagery of a tree planted by streams of water in Psalm 1:1-3 illustrate the benefits of spiritual stability and sustainability? How might this apply to a believer's life? [04:24]
3. What does it mean to "abide" in Christ according to John 15:5-7, and how does this concept relate to the idea of feeding on His word? [03:16]
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of Christian leaders nourishing their own souls. How might this principle apply to all believers, not just leaders? [05:01]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually nourished by God's word. What specific practices helped you absorb and apply scripture in your life? [06:45]
2. Psalm 1:1-3 describes a person who meditates on God's law day and night. What practical steps can you take to incorporate regular meditation on scripture into your daily routine? [04:05]
3. Consider the areas of your life where you need more stability and fruitfulness. How can feeding on Christ through His word help you achieve these spiritual goals? [04:44]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of journaling insights from scripture. How might keeping a journal enhance your understanding and application of God's word? [09:01]
5. Identify a specific verse or passage that has recently impacted you. How can you meditate on this verse throughout the day and share its insights with others? [07:04]
6. The sermon mentioned the risk of burnout for those who constantly give without receiving. How can you ensure a balanced spiritual intake in your life? [06:10]
7. How can the practice of feeding on Christ through His word breathe fresh life into your prayer life? What changes might you need to make to experience this renewal? [19:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Transformation Through Deep Absorption of the Word
Feeding on Christ through His word is more than just reading; it involves absorbing the word so deeply that it transforms us. This transformation is evident in how the word revives the soul, makes us wise, and brings joy and enlightenment. The Bible is not merely a book of information but a source of transformation. As we engage with scripture, we are led to Jesus, and through Him, we receive the gifts of wisdom, joy, and enlightenment. This deep absorption of the word allows it to become a part of us, nourishing our souls and sustaining our spiritual lives. [02:20]
Psalm 119:130 (ESV): "The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple."
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you need transformation? How can you intentionally absorb God's word to address this area today?
Day 2: Nourishment for Stability and Fruitfulness
Jesus emphasized the importance of the word of God as nourishment for our inner lives, similar to how bread sustains the body. This nourishment leads to stability, fruitfulness, and sustainability in our spiritual journey. Just as a tree planted by streams of water is stable and fruitful, so are we when we delight in and absorb God's word. This spiritual nourishment is essential for our growth and sustenance, providing us with the strength and wisdom needed for life's challenges. [03:33]
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that your spiritual life is deeply rooted and nourished by God's word to withstand life's challenges?
Day 3: The Balance of Giving and Receiving
As Christian leaders, it is crucial to nourish our own souls to effectively nourish others. Constantly giving without receiving from the word can lead to burnout, highlighting the need for a balanced spiritual intake. James Alexander's insight reminds us that a preacher who constantly pours out without pouring in can only do so for a short time. To be effective in ministry and in our personal spiritual lives, we must prioritize feeding on Christ through His word, ensuring that we are spiritually replenished and equipped to serve others. [06:10]
2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV): "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day."
Reflection: How can you create a balanced routine that allows you to both give to others and receive spiritual nourishment from God's word?
Day 4: Meditating on Scripture for Deeper Understanding
A practical way to feed on Christ is to meditate on a specific verse, asking questions that help apply it to our lives and see how it points to Christ. This practice enriches our understanding and strengthens our faith. By meditating on scripture, we allow it to shape our thoughts and actions, leading to a deeper relationship with Christ. Keeping a journal to record insights from scripture can further deepen this practice, helping us to carry the truth of scripture with us and share it with others. [08:12]
Psalm 119:15-16 (ESV): "I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word."
Reflection: Choose a verse to meditate on today. What questions can you ask about this verse to deepen your understanding and see how it points to Christ?
Day 5: The Power of Habit in Spiritual Growth
Developing a habit of meditating on the word provides spiritual enrichment, offers insights to share with others, and revitalizes our prayer life. The power of habit and regular engagement with scripture lead to spiritual growth. Although it may be challenging initially, the consistent practice of feeding on Christ through His word will enrich our lives and strengthen our faith. As we engage in this practice, we will find ourselves more equipped to share the truth of scripture with others and to live out our faith in meaningful ways. [19:27]
Hebrews 5:14 (ESV): "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."
Reflection: What specific habit can you start today to ensure regular engagement with scripture, and how can this habit contribute to your spiritual growth?
Quotes
Feeding involves taking something good into yourself, absorbing it so that it actually becomes part of you and it's lifegiving to you. Now it would be easy to get the idea that the Bible is simply a book of information about God, about life, about the world, and that we need to read it in order to know what to believe and how to behave. [00:31:59]
The word of God brings transformation. You see this very clearly in Psalm 19:7 and 8: the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. [00:63:51]
Jesus said, "Whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me." He said, "Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." [00:164:76]
Psalm 1 tells us about the good effects of absorbing the word of God into your life: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." [00:230:15]
As a Christian leader, you have to be able to sustain your own spiritual life. If you can't nourish your own soul, how are you going to be able to nourish others who you try to lead? Think about this beautiful picture: a mother is feeding a baby at her breast; she nourishes herself so that she can nourish her child. [00:310:88]
James Alexander says something of preachers that is true of all Christian leaders: the preacher who is constantly pouring out and seldom pouring in can pour but a little while. You know what that's like. Sometimes as a Christian leader, you're just always giving out. It's relentless sometimes. [00:357:36]
Years ago, my pastor taught me to try and identify one verse in a passage from the Bible and kind of carry it with me through the day, and I have found this to be really, really helpful. See, it's easy to read a chapter from the Bible and really not take anything very much in. [00:397:03]
When I found my verse, I usually start out by asking questions, and which questions work best will depend on the passage of scripture you're reading. Questions are really a bit like a toolbox; you don't use every tool for every job. What you do is you select what is needed for the work that you have to do. [00:445:75]
Suppose you're reading from 2 Thessalonians in chapter 3, and you decide, as I did not so long ago, to camp on verse five: "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." Now here's a verse that very obviously is about the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ. [00:567:16]
You will find that as you form the habit of meditating on the scriptures, you'll soon gather a store of verses from the Bible that will come to your mind, and the more that you have stored in your heart, the richer your meditation on the word will become. [00:771:00]
Here's a very simple way to feed on Christ through his word: you read a few verses, you pick a verse that grabs your attention, and write it out in your journal. You express what the verse says in your own words, you write two or three sentences that apply what it says to your own life. [00:859:51]
Andrew Bonar says this: "By the grace of God and the strength of the Holy Spirit, I desire to lay down a rule not to speak to man until I have spoken with God, not to do anything with my hand till I have been upon my knees, not to read letters or papers until I have read something of the Holy Scriptures." [00:988:51]
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