We are to produce Christ-We are to produce Christ-

likeness both in ourselves likeness both in ourselves

and in the lives of others and in the lives of others

around us. Making around us. Making

disciples is both the disciples is both the

process of becoming a process of becoming a

disciple and the call to disciple and the call to

make more disciples.make more disciples.

We are to produce Christ-We are to produce Christ-

likeness both in ourselves likeness both in ourselves

and in the lives of others and in the lives of others

around us. Making around us. Making

disciples is both the disciples is both the

process of becoming a process of becoming a

disciple and the call to disciple and the call to

make more disciples.make more disciples.

Making disciples Making disciples

therefore is first and therefore is first and

foremost:foremost:

ABIDING IN CHRISTABIDING IN CHRIST

and then...and then...

ADVANCING HIS ADVANCING HIS

KINGDOM!KINGDOM!

Making disciples Making disciples

therefore is first and therefore is first and

foremost:foremost:

ABIDING IN CHRISTABIDING IN CHRIST

and then...and then...

ADVANCING HIS ADVANCING HIS

KINGDOM!KINGDOM!

BIBLEBIBLE

Content Content ForFor GrowthGrowth

BIBLEBIBLE

Content Content ForFor GrowthGrowthPsalm 119:9-16Psalm 119:9-16Psalm 119:9-16Psalm 119:9-16

It is a common It is a common

understanding among understanding among

Christians that the Bible Christians that the Bible

tops the chart when it comes tops the chart when it comes

to priority and authority. to priority and authority.

Jesus Christ himself pointed Jesus Christ himself pointed

to the primacy of the to the primacy of the

Scriptures when he said,Scriptures when he said,

It is a common It is a common

understanding among understanding among

Christians that the Bible Christians that the Bible

tops the chart when it comes tops the chart when it comes

to priority and authority. to priority and authority.

Jesus Christ himself pointed Jesus Christ himself pointed

to the primacy of the to the primacy of the

Scriptures when he said,Scriptures when he said,

““It is written, ‘Man It is written, ‘Man

shall not live on shall not live on

bread alone, but on bread alone, but on

every word that every word that

proceeds out of the proceeds out of the

mouth of God’” mouth of God’”

(Matt. 4:4)(Matt. 4:4)..

““It is written, ‘Man It is written, ‘Man

shall not live on shall not live on

bread alone, but on bread alone, but on

every word that every word that

proceeds out of the proceeds out of the

mouth of God’” mouth of God’”

(Matt. 4:4)(Matt. 4:4)..

Yet so many believers today Yet so many believers today

are biblically illiterate. At are biblically illiterate. At

best, their knowledge of the best, their knowledge of the

Word of God is superficial. Word of God is superficial.

And what is worse is for And what is worse is for

some Christians to be some Christians to be

biblically informed but not biblically informed but not

genuinely transformed.genuinely transformed.

Yet so many believers today Yet so many believers today

are biblically illiterate. At are biblically illiterate. At

best, their knowledge of the best, their knowledge of the

Word of God is superficial. Word of God is superficial.

And what is worse is for And what is worse is for

some Christians to be some Christians to be

biblically informed but not biblically informed but not

genuinely transformed.genuinely transformed.

The problem lies not on our The problem lies not on our

Approving of the Word but Approving of the Word but

on our Abiding in the Word. on our Abiding in the Word.

If we are to spiritually grow If we are to spiritually grow

in Christ, we must remain in in Christ, we must remain in

the Word. There are four the Word. There are four

keys to abiding in the Word.keys to abiding in the Word.

The problem lies not on our The problem lies not on our

Approving of the Word but Approving of the Word but

on our Abiding in the Word. on our Abiding in the Word.

If we are to spiritually grow If we are to spiritually grow

in Christ, we must remain in in Christ, we must remain in

the Word. There are four the Word. There are four

keys to abiding in the Word.keys to abiding in the Word.

SSincerely incerely

DDesire esire for

yourself the

Word of God(vv. 10, 12)

SSincerely incerely

DDesire esire for

yourself the

Word of God(vv. 10, 12)

““I seek you with all my I seek you with all my

heart; do not let me heart; do not let me

stray from your stray from your

commands… Praise be commands… Praise be

to you, O Lord; teach to you, O Lord; teach

me your decrees.” me your decrees.” (vv. 10-12)(vv. 10-12)

““I seek you with all my I seek you with all my

heart; do not let me heart; do not let me

stray from your stray from your

commands… Praise be commands… Praise be

to you, O Lord; teach to you, O Lord; teach

me your decrees.” me your decrees.” (vv. 10-12)(vv. 10-12)

a.a. Craving for God’s Craving for God’s

Word is the result Word is the result

of a lifestyle of of a lifestyle of

yearning for God.yearning for God.

a.a. Craving for God’s Craving for God’s

Word is the result Word is the result

of a lifestyle of of a lifestyle of

yearning for God.yearning for God.

b.b. Expect God to Expect God to

WELCOMEWELCOME you when you when

you you WISHWISH for His for His

WORDWORD..

b.b. Expect God to Expect God to

WELCOMEWELCOME you when you when

you you WISHWISH for His for His

WORDWORD..

SSteadily teadily

DDiscipline iscipline

yourself with the

Word of God(vv. 11, 13)

SSteadily teadily

DDiscipline iscipline

yourself with the

Word of God(vv. 11, 13)

““I have hidden your I have hidden your

word in my heart that I word in my heart that I

might not sin against might not sin against

you…With my lips I you…With my lips I

recount all the laws recount all the laws

that come from your that come from your

mouth.” mouth.” (vv. 11-13)(vv. 11-13)

““I have hidden your I have hidden your

word in my heart that I word in my heart that I

might not sin against might not sin against

you…With my lips I you…With my lips I

recount all the laws recount all the laws

that come from your that come from your

mouth.” mouth.” (vv. 11-13)(vv. 11-13)

a.a. Training with God’s Training with God’s

Word is the result Word is the result

of a lifestyle of of a lifestyle of

yielding to God.yielding to God.

a.a. Training with God’s Training with God’s

Word is the result Word is the result

of a lifestyle of of a lifestyle of

yielding to God.yielding to God.

b.b. Expect God to Expect God to

PURIFYPURIFY you when you when

you you PERSISTPERSIST on His on His

PROGRAMPROGRAM..

b.b. Expect God to Expect God to

PURIFYPURIFY you when you when

you you PERSISTPERSIST on His on His

PROGRAMPROGRAM..

SSweetly weetly DDelight elight

yourself in the

Word of God(vv. 14, 16a)

SSweetly weetly DDelight elight

yourself in the

Word of God(vv. 14, 16a)

““I rejoice in following I rejoice in following

your statutes as one your statutes as one

rejoices in great rejoices in great

riches…I delight in your riches…I delight in your

decrees;” decrees;” (vv. 14-16a)(vv. 14-16a)

““I rejoice in following I rejoice in following

your statutes as one your statutes as one

rejoices in great rejoices in great

riches…I delight in your riches…I delight in your

decrees;” decrees;” (vv. 14-16a)(vv. 14-16a)

a.a. Cherishing God’s Cherishing God’s

Word is the result Word is the result

of a lifestyle of of a lifestyle of

loving God.loving God.

a.a. Cherishing God’s Cherishing God’s

Word is the result Word is the result

of a lifestyle of of a lifestyle of

loving God.loving God.

b.b. Expect God to Expect God to

SATISFYSATISFY you when you when

you you SAVORSAVOR in His in His

STATUTESSTATUTES..

b.b. Expect God to Expect God to

SATISFYSATISFY you when you when

you you SAVORSAVOR in His in His

STATUTESSTATUTES..

SSacredly acredly DDevote evote

yourself to the

Word of God(vv. 15, 16b)

SSacredly acredly DDevote evote

yourself to the

Word of God(vv. 15, 16b)

““I meditate on your I meditate on your

precepts and consider precepts and consider

your ways…your ways…

I will not neglect your I will not neglect your

word.” word.” (vv. 15-16b)(vv. 15-16b)

““I meditate on your I meditate on your

precepts and consider precepts and consider

your ways…your ways…

I will not neglect your I will not neglect your

word.” word.” (vv. 15-16b)(vv. 15-16b)

a.a. Dedicating to God’s Dedicating to God’s

Word is the result Word is the result

of a lifestyle of of a lifestyle of

knowing God.knowing God.

a.a. Dedicating to God’s Dedicating to God’s

Word is the result Word is the result

of a lifestyle of of a lifestyle of

knowing God.knowing God.

b.b. Expect God to Expect God to

CHANGECHANGE you when you when

you you COMMITCOMMIT to His to His

COMMANDSCOMMANDS..

b.b. Expect God to Expect God to

CHANGECHANGE you when you when

you you COMMITCOMMIT to His to His

COMMANDSCOMMANDS..

““In the final analysis, In the final analysis,

getting into the Word is getting into the Word is

not about not about mastering the mastering the

WordWord. Rather, it is . Rather, it is

about about being mastered being mastered

by the Word of God!by the Word of God!” ” (Rev. Edmund Chan)(Rev. Edmund Chan)

““In the final analysis, In the final analysis,

getting into the Word is getting into the Word is

not about not about mastering the mastering the

WordWord. Rather, it is . Rather, it is

about about being mastered being mastered

by the Word of God!by the Word of God!” ” (Rev. Edmund Chan)(Rev. Edmund Chan)