GCC Newton sermon audio

What’s True in the Bible?

God uses prayer:

1. To renew our strength. (Mark 1:35, 9:25–29 / Matthew 14:23 / John 15:4–5)

2. To enrich our relationship. (Mark 1:35–37 / Matthew 6:6 / Luke 5:16 / James 4:8)

3. To reveal His direction. (Mark 1:38 / Luke 4:42–43 / James 1:5)

What’s Real in my life?

• What is the purpose of prayer?

• How would I categorize my prayers? (Are they mostly requests? Do I ever share my heart without making a request? Do I ever stop to listen?)

• How does prayer strengthen me spiritually?

• How does prayer deepen my relationship with God? (Do I truly feel closer to Him after prayer, or is it mainly a checklist or task-oriented discipline?)

What’s Next?

• Set aside 30 minutes to focus only on talking with God. Use 2–5 minutes of that time to be silent and listen; take note of your thoughts. Share your experience with a friend, and commit to enriching your relationship with God through prayer.

1. Love responds in relationship (Romans 5:8 / Romans 8:32 / 1 John 4:7)

2. Love requires a sacrifice (1 John 4:9–10)

3. Love reproduces new life (1 John 4:11)

What’s True in the Bible?

God’s glory is on display...

through our unity. (Romans 15:5)

through our purpose. (Romans 15:6)

through our hospitality. (Romans 15:7)

What’s Real in my life?

• How am I promoting unity with the people around me?

• How have I been a part of disunity in my relationships? What did I learn from that experience?

• When have I felt like I truly belonged? Why?

• What habits do I practice to create belonging for others?

What’s Next?

• Introduce yourself to someone sitting near you, get their name, and pray for them at least twice this week.

• Make plans to do lunch with someone from our church family next Sunday.

What’s True in the Bible?

We share God’s Word because it:

1. Teaches us truth. — Teaching (2 Timothy 3:16)

2. Stops us from hurting ourselves or others. — Reproof (2 Timothy 3:16)

3. Helps us get back up. — Correction (2 Timothy 3:16 / Psalm 66:18–20 / Romans 8:1)

4. Shows us how to live. — Training (2 Timothy 3:16)

What’s Real in my life?

• How often do I share God’s Word with others?
• How important is sharing it and why?
• How would I rate my comfortability and competency with sharing it?
• When it comes to teaching, reproof, correction, and training, do I lean heavily on one application more than another? Why and how so?

What’s Next?

• Take a truth from your reading this week and ask how you can use and share it for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.

What’s True in the Bible?

Truths about God’s Word

1. Reveals true justice. (Psalm 19:8a, 119:4)

2. Brings us joy. (Psalm 19:8b)

3. Motivated by pure love. (Psalm 12:6, 19:8c)

4. Gives us clear vision. (Psalm 19:8d)

What’s Real in my life?

• How does God’s Word inform us on what true justice is?
• How have I experienced joy from knowing God’s Word?
• Do I believe God’s motives are pure? Why or why not?
• How do God’s pure motives impact my receptivity to His Word?

What’s Next?

• Take an issue of injustice you are facing and search the Bible for insight. Answer, “Has God addressed this issue in the Bible? Does my understanding reflect God’s commandments and instruction? What can I do this week to promote biblical justice in this area?”

What’s True in the Bible?

We cling to God’s Word because:

1. God’s law is perfect. (Psalm 19:7a)

2. God’s Word feeds our soul. (Psalm 12:6, 19:7b, 23:3)

3. God’s testimony is trustworthy. (Psalm 18:30, 19:7c, 93:5, 119:160 / Proverbs 30:5)

4. God’s Word makes us wise. (Psalm 19:7d, 119:98–100)

What’s Real in my life?

• With what do I feed my soul?
• How “sure” is God’s Word to me? Why?
• How do I know if I’m acting/thinking out of God’s wisdom and not my own?

What’s Next?

• Find a friend to work together through a reading plan, encouraging and holding one another accountable.

Introductory notes:

What’s True in the Bible?

Placing God’s voice in our lives

1. Hear God’s Word — Read it. (Psalm 1:2 / Deuteronomy 8:3 / Joshua 1:8 / Nehemiah 8:3 / Acts 2:42 / Romans 10:17, 15:4 / 1 Timothy 4:13)

2. Study God’s Word — Research it. (Psalm 1:2, 119:15, 18, 48, 97, 148 / 2 Timothy 2:15)

3. Remember God’s Word — Recite it. (Psalm 1:2, 119:11a / Proverbs 4:20–22 / Joshua 1:8)

4. Apply God’s Word — Reflect it. (Psalm 1:2, 119:11b / Matthew 7:24 / James 1:22)

What’s Real in my life?

• How often do I listen to God’s voice?
• What has been my favorite practice of connecting with God through His Word? How has that impacted my life?
• What is my life like when I’m not meditating on God’s instruction?

What’s Next?

• Create a pattern: Identify a space and time to consistently take in God’s Word without distraction.

What’s True in the Bible?

1. Jesus heals with compassionate care. (Mark 1:29–31 / Matthew 8:14–15 / Luke 4:38–39)

2. Jesus heals with comprehensive power. (Mark 1:32–34a / Luke 4:39–40 / Matthew 8:16–17 / Isaiah 53:4–6)

3. Jesus has commissioned us to be his witnesses. (Mark 1:34b / Luke 4:41)

What’s Real in my life?

• What comforts you when you are sick?
• When you think of being healed—either physically or spiritually—by Jesus, how do you respond?
• How does knowing that Jesus is the ultimate healer change your perspective on sickness and affliction in this life?

What’s Next?

• Look for an opportunity to testify to the compassionate and comprehensive healing power of our Messiah, Jesus.

What’s True in the Bible?

Staying Healthy Like Jesus

1. Strive to be mentally healthy. (Proverbs 2:1–6, 9:10 / 1 Kings 3:16–28 / 2 Chronicles 1:7–12 / Psalm 119:98–100 / James 1:5)

2. Strive to be physically healthy. (1 Corinthians 6:12–13, 19–20 / Ephesians 2:10 / 1 Timothy 4:8)

3. Strive to be spiritually healthy. (2 Peter 3:18 / Psalm 139:23–24)

4. Strive to be relationally healthy. (Luke 2:52 / John 19:26–27 / Proverbs 1:10–16)

What’s Real in my life?

• How would I rate my overall health?
• Which of these areas (above) is God calling me to focus on this year?

What’s Next?

• Determine one practical step you can take to grow in each area of your life.
• Share your commitment with a friend for encouragement and accountability.