This document discusses how the truth from God's word transforms people as they accept its authority, assimilate its teachings, and apply its principles to their lives. It encourages reading the Bible daily, studying what it says, reflecting on it, and most importantly acting on what it teaches. Applying the Bible's truths in specific, measurable ways is important but can also be difficult at times. Discussion groups can help with understanding and implementing what Scripture says. The overall message is that absorbing and living out God's word leads to spiritual growth and being transformed into Christ's likeness.

1. You Were Created
To Become Like
Christ
Purpose 3
Sections 22-28 (pages 169-223)
Sunday 24 October 2010

2. Transformed by
Truth
Section 24 page 185-192
Sunday 24 October 2010

3. Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man
does not live on bread alone, but on
every word that comes from the
mouth of God.'"
"Now I commit you to God and to
the word of his grace, which can build
you up and give you an inheritance
among all those who are sanctified.”
Sunday 24 October 2010

4. The Truth
Transforms us
Sunday 24 October 2010

5. Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies
with truth, Jn 17:17
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Spirit of God + Word of God
= us like Son of God
Sunday 24 October 2010

6. 2 Tim 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
God’s Word is not a book - it is alive and
powerful, life changing
Heb 4:12, Acts 7:38, 1 Pet 1:23
Sunday 24 October 2010

7. John 6:63The Spirit gives
life; the flesh counts for nothing.
The words I have spoken to you
are spirit and they are life.
Creation exists because God
spoke.
James 1:18
He chose to give us birth
through the word of truth, that
we might be a kind of firstfruits
of all he created.
Sunday 24 October 2010

8. God’s Word generates life,
creates faith, produces
change, frightens the devil,
causes miracles, heals hurts,
builds character, transforms
circumstances...
[Full list on page 186]
Sunday 24 October 2010

9. God’s Word is our
spiritual nourishment -
milk, bread, solid food,
sweeter than honey.
1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave
pure spiritual milk, so that
by it you may grow up in
your salvation,
Sunday 24 October 2010

10. Abiding in God’s Word
Millions of believers are starving to death from
spiritual malnutrition. It is not enough to simply
own a Bible, you have to feed on God’s Word:
John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you
hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.Then
you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free."
This involves 3 activities in daily life
Sunday 24 October 2010

11. I must accept its
authority
The Bible has to be the
authority standard for my life -
the place I look for counsel, the
place from which I evaluate
everything - the first and last
word.
Society chooses based on
unreliable (flawed) sources:
traditions, reason, culture,
emotion
Sunday 24 October 2010

12. Prov 30:5
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those
who take refuge in him.
2 Tim 3:16
Warren makes the point that we need to accept
the authority of the Bible regardless of our
opinions, whether we understand it or not, what
our culture says - our fist question should be,
“What does the Bible say?”
and then trust it and live according to it.
Sunday 24 October 2010

13. I must assimilate its truth
Fill your mind with it so the Holy Spirit can
transform you using it.
Receive it
Read it
Research it
Remember it
Reflect on it
Sunday 24 October 2010

14. Receive it - with an open attitude - Parable
of the sower, seed is the Word of God - Lk 8:18
Therefore consider carefully how you listen.
Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not
have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from
him."
James 1:21TM
In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape
you with theWord...
This applies even in boring teaching
sessions!
Sunday 24 October 2010

15. Receive it - with an open attitude - Parable
of the sower, seed is the Word of God - Lk 8:18
Therefore consider carefully how you listen.
Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not
have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from
him."
James 1:21TM
In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape
you with theWord...
This applies even in boring teaching
sessions!
Sunday 24 October 2010

16. Read it!
15 minutes per day = whole Bible in one year
Deut 17:18-19
When he [the king] takes the throne of his kingdom,
he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law,
taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to
be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life
so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and
follow carefully all the words of this law and these
decrees
Get a good daily Bible reading plan!
Sunday 24 October 2010

17. Read it!
15 minutes per day = whole Bible in one year
Deut 17:18-19
When he [the king] takes the throne of his kingdom,
he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law,
taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to
be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life
so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and
follow carefully all the words of this law and these
decrees
Get a good daily Bible reading plan!
Sunday 24 October 2010

18. Research, study it!
Ask questions, write down your insights - learn to
ask the right questions - “5 W’s and an H”,
Inductive Bible study - observe, interpret, apply
James 1:25
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law
that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not
forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be
blessed in what he does.
Sunday 24 October 2010

19. Research, study it!
Ask questions, write down your insights - learn to
ask the right questions - “5 W’s and an H”,
Inductive Bible study - observe, interpret, apply
James 1:25
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law
that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not
forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be
blessed in what he does.
Sunday 24 October 2010

20. Remember it!
You memorise or remember many many facts -
whatever is important you memorise.
The Bible helps you resist temptation, make wise
decisions, reduce stress, build confidence, offer
good advice, share your faith...
Memorising is like a muscle - the more you use it,
the stronger it becomes.
Sunday 24 October 2010

21. Remember it!
You memorise or remember many many facts -
whatever is important you memorise.
The Bible helps you resist temptation, make wise
decisions, reduce stress, build confidence, offer
good advice, share your faith...
Memorising is like a muscle - the more you use it,
the stronger it becomes.
Sunday 24 October 2010

22. Reflect on it!
Meditate on it.
“No other habit can do more to
transform your life and make you
more like Jesus than daily
reflection on Scripture”
Rick Warren PDL page 190
This leads to transformation - 2 Cor 3:18
Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate
on it all day long. Said by David, a man after God’s
own heart.
Sunday 24 October 2010

23. I must apply its principles
We are meant to be ‘doers’ of the Word
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and
so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Satan hates Christians applying what they have
learned - in fact without implementing the Word
all our studies are useless.
John 13:17 Now that you know these things, you
will be blessed if you do them.
Sunday 24 October 2010

24. I must apply its principles
We are meant to be ‘doers’ of the Word
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and
so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Satan hates Christians applying what they have
learned - in fact without implementing the Word
all our studies are useless.
John 13:17 Now that you know these things, you
will be blessed if you do them.
Sunday 24 October 2010

25. Matt 7:24
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man who
built his house on the rock.The rain came down, the
streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against
that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its
foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these
words of mine and does not put them into practice is
like a foolish man who built his house on sand.The
rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew
and beat against that house, and it fell with a great
crash."
Sunday 24 October 2010

26. Matt 7:24
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man who
built his house on the rock.The rain came down, the
streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against
that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its
foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these
words of mine and does not put them into practice is
like a foolish man who built his house on sand.The
rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew
and beat against that house, and it fell with a great
crash."
Sunday 24 October 2010

27. Application can also be
difficult or painful - the
truth will set you free but it
will also first make you
miserable because of the
way it exposes our hearts
and minds.
Warren suggests a way to
overcome this is by being
part of a small study
discussion group - other
people help you see more
and apply it.
Sunday 24 October 2010

28. After you have studied - write down an action
step which is; Personal, Practical, Provable
What has God told you to do that
you haven’t already started doing
yet?
“The Bible was not given to
increase our knowledge but to
change our lives”
DL Moody
Sunday 24 October 2010

29. Point to Ponder:
The truth transforms me
Sunday 24 October 2010

30. Verse to remember:
John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him,
Jesus said, "If you hold to my
teaching, you are really my disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free."
Sunday 24 October 2010

31. Question to consider:
What has God already told me in
his Word that I haven’t started
doing yet?
Sunday 24 October 2010