The WORD of GOD

 

The Hebrew word “debar” means “word” or “speech”.

 

There are three words in the Greek language for “word”:

1.       “Epos” refers to the mere articulate sound of the voice.

2.       “Rhema” refers to the articulate sound of the voice as the manifestation of a mental state.  It denotes that which is spoken, what is uttered in speech or writing.  It focuses attention on a specific word or utterance.

3.       “Logos” is to pick words in order to express one’s thoughts.  It speaks of a word uttered by the human voice which embodies a conception or idea.  It refers to an entire message/speech/subject matter.  It refers not merely to a part of speech but to a concept or idea.  It is used of the living spoken word, the word not in its outward form, but with reference to the thought connected with the form, in short, not the word of language, but of conversation, of discourse; not the word as a part of speech, but the word as part of what is uttered.  “Logos” denotes the expression of thought – not the mere name of an object – as embodying a: idea or conception; a saying or statement; or used in discourse, speech, or of instruction.  Jesus is the “Logos” in that He is the representation and expression of what God has to say to the world, in whom and by whom God’s mind and purposes toward the world find their expression (The personal expression of the whole Deity).

 

Josh. 1:8         When would Joshua be prosperous and successful?

 

            Do you think it would be true of you as well if you applied this truth?                    Why (Jas. 1:25)?

 

Psa. 1:2           How often does this person meditate in God’s word?

                        How often do you, and why that amount?

 

Psa. 12:6         To what are the Lord’s words compared?

                        How much do you value God’s Word, and why?

 

Psa. 19:7-11    How is the Lord’s word described, and what are its effects?

 

 

 

Psa. 40:8         Where is God’s law in relationship to this person?                        And to you?

 

Psa. 119:9       How can a young man keep his way pure, and are you doing this, and why?

 

119:11             How did he hope not to sin against God?                         Are you doing this?

 

119:12, 33       What did he want to be taught?                          Do you also?                 Why?

 

119:13, 46, 172                       What did he speak of?                                       What do you talk about, and why?

 

119:14, 72, 111                       How did he feel about God’s word?                    How do you feel about it, and why?

 

119:15, 48, 78, 97       What did he do with God’s word?                       What are you doing with it, and why?

 

119:16, 24, 35, 47       How did he regard God’s word?                         Is this true of you?         Why?

 

119:18             What did he ask for?                             Are you asking God for this too?            Why?

 

119:20, 131     What was his soul crushed with?            Could you honestly say this is true of you, and why?

 

119:28             How was he to be strengthened?                                    Where is your strength from?

 

119:45             Why could he walk at liberty?                Do you live with a clear conscience?      Why?

 

119:50, 76, 93             What does God’s word give him?                       Does it do the same for you?      How?

 

119:86, 138     How reliable is God’s word?                              Would you agree, and why?

 

119:98-100, 104          What did God’s word give him?              Is this true of you?

 

119:105           To what is God’s word compared?                     Why do you think this is so?

 

119:113, 159, 167       What did he think of God’s word?                      What about you, and why?

 

119:141           What did he think of God’s word, even when feeling inferior?

How do you feel about it in similar situations?

 

119:165           What did God’s word afford him?                       How is it affecting you?

 

Isa. 40:8          What is lasting, and what difference does that make to you?

 

Isa. 55:10, 11  What will always give dividends on its investment?

                        Therefore, are you investing your time and thoughts in it?

 

Jer. 30:2; 36:1, 2        How did we get God’s word, and why would this be important to know?

 

Matt. 5:17       What did Jesus think about the Law and the Prophets (God’s word), and why is this important to know?

 

Matt. 7:24, 25             To what is a doer of Jesus’ words compared?

Based on this, would you qualify as a wise person, and why did you answer the way you did?

 

Matt. 22:29     Why did they err?

Does this show you the importance of seeking to understand the Scriptures?         If so, how?

 

Rom. 15:4       How might we have hope?

                        How do the Scriptures (God’s Word, the Bible) encourage you?

 

1 Cor. 10:11    Why was God’s word written?

 

How should knowing this affect you?

 

2 Tim. 3:15     What can knowledge of the holy Scriptures give a person, and has it given you this?

 

2 Tim. 3:16, 17                       What is inspired by God?                                   And what is it profitable for?

 

Has it been for you?                  If so, how?

 

[“reproof” – shows me where I’m wrong; “correction” – shows me what I should do; “training” – shows me how to do it].

 

2 Pet. 1:20, 21                        What is the source of Scriptures’ prophecy?

 

And why is this important to know?

 

2 Pet. 3:15, 16                        What is the end result of distorting Scripture?

 

Why do you think this is?

 

The following verses use the Greek word “Rhema” for the word “word”.

 

Matt. 12:36, 37                       What shall people render account for in the day of judgment?

 

How should this influence how you speak?

 

Matt. 26:75     What caused Peter to weep bitterly?                  Do you respond this way?

 

Jn. 3:34           What does the person whom God sends speak?

 

How should we regard Christ’s words, therefore?

 

Jn. 6:63           What are Jesus’ words?                                    Why is this important to know?

 

            [“spirit” – the breath of God; “life” – provide spiritual life, if believed].

 

Rom. 10:17     From where does faith come?                            Therefore, what should we be involved in doing?

 

            [“hearing” – the gospel and then being given by God the ability to understand and trust in it, 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:8; Acts 18:27; 11:18].

 

Eph. 6:17        To what is the word of God compared?

 

What is significant about what God’s word is compared to?

 

Heb. 11:3        How were the worlds formed?               Do you see how powerful and authoritative God’s word is?

 

The following verses use the word “Logos” for the word “word”.

 

Mk. 7:9, 13     What did people do?

 

            Do you nullify God’s word by making your opinions or some other person’s opinions more authoritative than God’s word in the Bible?                     Why?

 

Mk. 13:31       What will and what will not pass away?

 

            [“will pass” – will perish or go away as it is presently; “will not pass away” – go unfulfilled, but be enduring truth/validity].

 

Lk. 7:7                        What did the centurion tell Jesus to do to heal his servant?

 

How authoritative do you believe Christ’s words are?                              Why?

 

Lk. 11:28        Who is blessed (favored by God)?

 

            Are you observing/obeying it consistently?                      Why?

 

Jn. 1:1, 14       Who is the visible expression of the Word (divine essence; the vehicle of communication expressing the concept and thoughts) of God?

 

[“and the Word was God” – the word “God” is without the article in the original Greek language.  When it is used in that way, it refers to divine essence.  Emphasis is upon quality or character.].

 

Jn. 8:31           When are we truly Jesus’ disciples/followers?

 

            Are you abiding in/obeying Jesus’ word consistently?

 

Jn. 15:3           How were (or “are”) they clean?

 

Are you morally/spiritually clean because you believed His word, that He’s the Son of God and Savior (because of His death for your sins – Jn. 13:8-11; 12:44-50; 10:9; 6:29, 35, 54)?

 

Jn. 15:25         Why did the incident in verse 24 take place?

 

What does this tell you about the prophetic power of God’s word?

 

Jn. 17:17         What is God’s word, and what difference does that make?

 

Acts 17:11      Why were the Bereans more noble?                               Do you do this?

 

Acts 20:32      What is the word of God able to do?

 

            Is it building you up spiritually (e.g., boldness, motivation, correcting, and training you) to Christ-likeness?

            If so, how?

 

Col. 3:16         What should we do with the word of God?                                  For what reason?

 

1 Thes. 2:13    What does the word of God’s message (the gospel) do in the life of the believer?

 

            Is it performing its transforming work in you by changing you to be more Christ-like as well as giving you eternal, spiritual life?

 

1 Tim. 6:3-5    What is a person like who does not agree with the sound words of Jesus Christ?

 

2 Tim. 2:15     What should we do?

 

Are you handling accurately God’s Word by interpreting it in context and so teaching it accurately?

 

Heb. 4:12        What is the word of God?                                  And what is it able to do?

 

            [It is filled with the vitality of God and is energetic in its operation, its penetrating power can show us what is of the Spirit and what is of the flesh, even one’s motives.].

 

Jas. 1:21         What is able to save souls?

 

            Are you planting the gospel into the hearts/minds of people by evangelizing (e.g., 1 Cor. 3:6, 7)?

 

1 Pet. 1:23      How are we born again?

 

            Were you born again (converted; became a Christian) by believing in the word of God, the gospel (e.g., Eph. 1:13)?

 

1 Pet. 2:2        What are we to do as or like newborn babes?                 Why?

 

            Is your love for reading and hearing God’s Word, the Bible, helping you grow into Christ-likeness from your starting point of salvation/justification?

 

Rev. 19:13      What is Jesus called?

 

            Why (see Jn. 1:1, 14)?

 

Rev. 22:18, 19                        What will happen to anyone who adds to the words of the prophecy of this book?

 

            Do you see how dangerous it is to add extra words or books to the Bible once it was completed with the book of Revelation?

 

Eph. 5:26        To what is God’s word compared?                                 And what did it do?

 

            [Once again, we see that when a person believes God’s Word, the gospel, he/she is cleansed of his/her sins, just like water cleanses us from physical dirt (Acts 15:7, 9).].