2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV), one of Pastor Bob’s key scriptures, provides a rock-solid foundation for the authority of Scripture in our lives: 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Before Paul gets to this powerful declaration of the authority of Scripture in the believer’s life, he warns a young Timothy of the perils of living in the last days. For Paul and Timothy, the culture around them was filled with “heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good” (2 Tim 3:3) – just to name a few. Yikes. That sounds a lot like the world we live in.

Even in a cultural context so opposed to the Gospel, Paul encouraged Timothy to build his life and ministry on the Word. Building our lives upon God’s Word anchors us in a world that is anything but stable. It provides rest for our soul, reminds us of God’s promises and empowers us for daily ministry. 

The YouVersion Bible App, the most popular Bible app globally, has been downloaded over 268 million times. Having access to a Bible is one thing, especially when you can carry it around with you everywhere, but is God’s Word changing you? Are you receiving transformation or just information? Here are three ways you can act on God’s Word. 

Soak in the Word

Regardless of your age or stage, God’s Word must be prioritized. Pastor Bob said, “Use whatever time you have, but take your time using it”. Whether you’ve got a few minutes or a few hours, make sure you’re making the most of your time. On every page of your Bible, remember that the very voice of God is available to you! His Spirit is revealing truth and insight, but you have to make the time. Sacrificing a part of your day, whether it’s waking up a little earlier or staying up a little later and devoting that time to God, will be an immeasurable blessing in your life. Create a space where you can’t be distracted by the barrage of notifications we see on our phones, where you can retreat to commune with the Living God and his Word. It’s an investment that you won’t regret.

Let Scripture be Your Source

Out of that deep personal time with the Lord in His Word, you’ll be transformed to see things with a Christ-like mind. In a world of changing ideologies and political rhetoric, where everyone and anyone can have a platform, let God’s Word be your authority. Instead of turning to your favourite talking head or Instagram influencer when faced with moral questions, look to the inspired Word of God. Let the unshakable, unchanging Word of God shape your worldview.

Take it Beyond Sunday

Each Sunday, we have the incredible opportunity to open our bibles and be led in the study of Scripture by our Pastors. We receive insight into God’s Word each week and gain practical tools to live as fully mature disciples of Jesus. Acting on God’s Word requires more than a weekly check-in with Scripture. 

The easiest way to start is by getting involved in a Small Group. Together you’ll be able to wrestle through tough questions that simply can’t be asked on a Sunday and hold each other accountable to applying what was taught. Our Sermon Action Sheet is a guide to slow down and dive deeper into each scripture passage, with questions to get to the heart of what is being taught. Let the Sunday message be your jumping-off point for a week filled with the richness of God’s Holy Word.