Small Group Leaders Facilitation Worksheet:
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3. THE BIBLE-THE WORD OF GOD

[Third of a four part series]
ICEBREAKER: The last time we were together we discussed 17 aspects with regard to The Word of God. Did any
really challenge, effect, encourage or bless you?

[Allow for feedback]

Tonight I want us to look at what the Word is compared to in scripture to that will reveal the effectiveness of God’s Word in our lives.

3.THE WORD OF GOD IS COMPARED TO:

CLARIFY: There are 11 symbols that the Word of God is likened to:BUT there has to be BALANCE HERE, the Word must be inspired/anointed by AGAPE – LOVE and NOT vengeance, anger, pride or bitterness!

  1. A HAMMER:TO BRING CONVICTION

READ:Jeremiah:23v29

“Is not My Word life a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

CLARIFY:Sometimes it can be the rocky places in our lives that are stopping us from growing and being tender hearted that we need to deal with and destroy.

  1. A FIRE:TO REFINE

READ:Jeremiah:5v14

Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: Because you speak this word, behold, I will make MY WORDS in YOUR mouth fire, And this people wood, and it shall devour them.

CLARIFY:In this context Jeremiah is being anointed to deal with the false prophets and the words that the Holy Spirit will anoint him to speak will devour the WOOD, HAY and STUBBLE in their lives so that the TRUTH may be known.

Just because someone USES the Word remember somethingBr Haginused to say:“Eat the hay and spit out the stubble, sometimes all we need is ANOINTED COMMON SENSE, Bless God”.

  1. A MIRROR:TO REFLECT

READ:James:1v23-25

Verse 23: For if any man is a hearer of the Word and not a doer; he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

Verse 24: for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Verse 25: But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the WORK, this one will be BLESSED in what he DOES

QUESTION:can anyone explain what James is talking about here?

[Allow for feedback]

CLARIFY:What James is showing us is quite simply, do what has been revealed to you by the Word. It means WORK at it, whatever the Word/Mirror has reflected that you must do.

  1. A SEED:TO MULTIPLY

READ:1 Peter:1v23

Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God, which lives and abides forever.

Matthew:13v18-23

Verse 18: therefore hear the parable of the sower.

Verse 19: When anyone hears the Word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches awaywhat was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

Verse 20: But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy.

Verse 21: Yet he has NO root in himself but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, immediately he stumbles.

Verse 22: Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the Word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Verse 23: But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

  1. A LAVER: TO CLEANSE

READ:Ephesians:5v26-27

Verse 26That He might sanctify, and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word.

Verse 27(So that....Daddy has purpose for the cleansing) That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

  1. A LAMP:TO GUIDE

READ:Psalm: 119v105

Your Word is a LAMP to my feet and a LIGHT to my path.

  1. RAIN AND SNOW:TO REFRESH

READ:Isaiah:55v10

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, ANDmake it BRING FORTH and BUD, that it may give SEED to the sower and BREAD to the eater.

CLARITY:Did you notice the reason for the rain and snow was not only for the earth to bring forth and bud but also to GIVE seed to the sower AND bread to the eater.

QUESTION:How does this relate to us?

[Allow for feedback]

CLARIFYThe word is not only there to bless us but put us in a position to bless and help to equip others on their own journey in life. Do you remember the old saying?

“If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day – teach him to fish and you feed him for life!”

  1. A SWORD:TO PROTECT

READ:Ephesians:6v17

And take the helmet of salvation, and the SWORD of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Hebrews:4v12

For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of the soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

  1. TREASURE:TO ENRICH

READ:Proverbs:2v1-12 Amplified Bible

Verse 1MY SON, if you will receive my words and TREASURE up my commandments within you,

Verse 2MAKING your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying ALL your powers to the quest for it];

Verse 3 Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,

Verse 4 If you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden TREASURES,

Verse 5 Then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God. [Prov. 1:7.]

Verse 6 For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Verse 7 He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity,

Verse 8 That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints. [I Sam. 2:9; Ps. 66:8, 9.]

Verse 9Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and fair dealing [in EVERY area and relation]; yes, you will understand every good path.

Verse10 For skillful and godly Wisdom shall enter into your heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to you.

Verse 11 Discretion shall watch over you, understanding shall keep you,

Verse 12 To deliver you from the way of evil and the evil men, from men who speak perverse things and are liars,

Proverbs:4v1-13Amplified Bible

Verse 1HEAR, MY sons, the instruction of a father, and pay attention in order to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension, and interpretation [of spiritual matters].

Verse 2 For I give you good doctrine [what is to be received]; do not forsake my teaching.

Verse 3 When I [Solomon] was a son with my father [David], tender and the only son in the sight of my mother [Bathsheba],

Verse 4 He taught me and said to me, Let your hearthold fast my words; keepmy commandments and LIVE. [I Chron. 28:9; Eph. 6:4.]

Verse 5 Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth.

Verse 6 Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you.

Verse 7 The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation). [James 1:5.]

Verse 8 Prize Wisdom highly and exalt her, and she will exalt and promote you; she will bring you to honor when you embrace her.

Verse 9 She shall give to your head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to you.

Verse 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life shall be many.

Verse 11 I have taught you in the way of skillful and godly Wisdom [which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; I have led you in paths of uprightness.

Verse 12 When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered [your path will be clear and open]; and when you run, you shall not stumble.

Verse 13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.

  1. FOOD:TO NOURISH
  • MILK - for babies

1 Peter: 2v2

As new born babes, desire the pure MILK of the word, that you may grow thereby.

  • BREAD- for the hungry

Matthew: 4v4

But He answered and said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

John: 6v48

I am that bread of life

  • SOLID FOOD/MEAT- for the mature
    Hebrews: 5:12 -14

Verse 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not SOLID FOOD.

Verse 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

Verse 14But SOLID FOOD belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of USE have their senses exercised to DISCERN both good and evil.

  • HONEY- for a dessert

Psalm: 19v10

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psalm:119v103

How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

QUESTION:What do these verses mean to you?

[Allow for feedback]

CLARIFY:The word is so relevant; it is alive for every taste, to every circumstance, every situation, to everybody! This word is NOT for the chosen few but for the few that choose!!

I like something that Dr Fredrick K. C. Price once said,

“The Word is ever pregnant with new facets of revelation”.

The truth is that this word will NEVER get stale.

  1. POWER:TO CREATE FAITH AND ETERNAL LIFE

READ:Romans:10v17

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

1 Peter:1v23

Having been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God, which lives and abides forever.

QUESTION:Can someone summarise what we have covered here so far?

[Allow for comments and direct or correct if necessary]

CONCLUSION:We are beginning to recognise that the Word of God is a very important aspect or ingredient in enabling us to live the Christ Filled Life.

Produced by Rhema Bible Church North:
VM 20/03/12Page 1 of 5