Roots, Shoots and FruitsSample

THE SHOOTS OF THE WORD

Continuing with deep foundations, we want to go into what the Bible is, why we need to read it, and how we read it. Get ready for some practical ways we can include reading our Bible in our foundations and setting up for the new year.

In Mark 4:13-20, the farmer does what comes naturally and sows the word, it’s not the fault of the Sower that the word does not bear fruit. The issue is the soil of the hearts that the word falls upon. We want to encourage you this year to have good soil that the Word of God can go deep into, to bear new shoots. We want to be those that have seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it and produce a crop.

The Bible is something that we are called to delight in and meditate on day and night. So that we can weather the storms of life and bear fruit in season.

There are a couple of key reasons why we need to read our Bible:

• We are fed by reading the Word (Matthew 4:4)
• The Word is truth (John 8:31-32)
• It’s about discipleship, not just discipline.
• It's about encountering Jesus and God through the book, not just knowledge. (John 1:1)
• The Word teaches us (2 Tim 3:16)

God speaks through His Word (Hebrew 4:12). Sometimes you can feel like God is silent, but He is constantly speaking through His Word.

There are so many ways to read your Bible, you could do devotionals like the one you are doing right now, or read a chapter a day, or for the brave try reading the Bible in a year. But the point is to read it and remember reading your Bible is a lifestyle not a fad. It’s great to read your Bible everyday but don’t quit if you miss a few days. Just jump back in and start reading again!

Make your Bible reading work for you, take it to the beach, read it in the car before you go into work, listen to it as you drive to work, the Bible is part of your life, so have fun in it. Don’t just read it, act on what it says.

Scripture: "Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” - Mark 4:13-20

Prayer Point: Lord, I pray that you would help me to grow shoots of the Word this year. I pray that as I read your Word you would speak to me, equip and empower me, train me in righteousness, correct and guide me in truth. I thank you that the Word of God would bear much fruit in my life as I read it, meditate on it and act on it.