At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called His disciples to be people who didn’t just hear His words, but intentionally put them into practice. Devotion to Scripture is a lifestyle of loving God’s Word, listening to God’s Word, living out God’s Word in our daily lives and leading others according to God’s Word. In Lifegroups we seek to build communities that lives this value out together.

Why Devotion to Scripture Value Matters: 

God’s Word is essential for the people of God. God's Word is like bread that strengthens us (Matthew 4:4), honey that satisfies us (Psalm 119:103), light that guides us (Psalm 119:105), a firm foundation to build our lives on (Matthew 7:24-25), a scalpel that removes infection (Hebrews 4:12), medicine that heals us (Proverbs 4:20-22), a seed that bears good fruit in our lives (Luke 8:11), and a weapon to fight the Devil with (Ephesians 6:17).

How Do I Help My Group Live This Value Out?

Here are six ways to build a community marked with devotion to Scripture: 

1. Lead by example: Your love for God’s Word will inspire others to be love God’s Word as well. Jesus modeled this value for us:

• Jesus knew Scripture deeply: Luke 4:4: Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 

• Jesus quoted Scripture from memory: Matthew 4:7: Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

• Jesus fought the enemy with Scripture: Matthew 4:10: Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" 

• Jesus taught from Scripture regularly: Luke 4:16-17: He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.

• Jesus corrected error with Scripture: Matthew 22:29: Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God." 

• Jesus applied Scripture to daily life: Luke 4:21: He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 

• Jesus taught His disciples the Scriptures: Luke 24:27: And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 

As leaders, our goal is to follow Jesus and live, love and lead like Him. As we walk in devotion to Scripture, we will set the tone for our LIfegroup and inspire them to be devoted to Scripture as well. 

2. Consistently Pray that your group would value God’s Word: In Psalm 119, David prays, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law...Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart...Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” 

The Holy Spirit wants to give God’s people a supernatural love for God’s Word! Make this a consistent prayer request for your group!

3. Regularly cast vision to your group about being devoted to Scripture and use Scripture to explain why your Lifegroup does what it does. This practice helps your group members connect the activities done in Lifegroups to biblical purpose by showing how they're practical expressions of Scripture. Here is an example: Before encouraging group members, read Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Then explain: "This is why we take time to encourage each other tonight—Scripture calls us to stimulate one another toward love and good deeds. Speaking life over each other is one practical way we live this out."

This approach helps your group understand that your activities aren't just social events or a church program, but intentional ways to obey and embody God's Word together.

4. Encourage people to bring their Bibles to Lifegroup.

5. Build discipleship groups within your Lifegroup. One of the primary reasons we do discipleship groups is to help people personally apply God’s Word to different areas of their lives. Discipleship groups are kindling to stir the fires of devotion to and personal application of God’s Word in our lives. 

6. Use the sermon discussion guides. We send out guides each week to help your group move from hearing the Word via the sermon of the week, to putting these truths into practice in their daily lives. While we don’t require your Lifegroup uses these every week, we do provide them to help your Lifegroup live out devotion to Scripture together.

Next Steps:

Pray and ask the Lord, what is the next step He is highlighting for you and your group in growing in this value?