
The Lord Is My Shepherd – Part 6
October 10, 2021
Story Time
Parable of the Sower Review
Matthew 13:3–9
Mark 4:13
- God is not going to go beyond the to give us guidance.
- The Word is the button.
- Whenever, you get lost, go back to home button.
- Psalm 119:105
Matthew 13:19–23
- The Level 1 listener (Wayside Soil) is led by
- This person does not understand the support system behind the “rules”.
- For this person, God’s rules seem arbitrary, punitive, and inflexible.
- This person does not understand the of God’s word.
- This person does not understand that God’s Word is an intricate system of moral conduct that provides a deep reflection of the human condition.
- This person does not understand that “rules” are actually holy boundaries that come from a moral support system that is comprehensive, universal and sustainable.
- This person does not understand that God’s moral system is enough to feed their hunger and thirst for .
- The Level 2 listener (Stony Soil) is led by
- The Level 3 listener (Thorny Soil) is led by .
- Level 4 listener (Good Soil) is led by the
The Level 2 Listener
The appeal to the Level 1 listener is to the Word.
The appeal to the Level 2 listener is to value Scriptural .
What does scriptural meditation look like?
Reading, Talking, Listening, Pondering, Reflecting Day and Night
Psalm 1:1–3
Roots
Roots (Depth)
- Comprehensive
- It cares for every part of our lives
- Key Word:
- Universal
- It applies to everyone across time, place and culture
- While people change, it remains the same.
- It is immovable
- Key word:
- Sustainable
- It keeps going, especially under pressure, trials and tests
- Key Word:
Logos vs. Rhema
Logos gives us the summary of God’s thinking, His principles and main ideas.
Logos
- John 1:1; John 1:14
- The Word is God’s reasoning.
- Jesus is the embodiment of God’s reason.
- Galatians 5:14
Rhema
- Ephesians 6:17
- “The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Eph. 6:17; here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture” (Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Atlanta: Nelson, 1996, p. 683)
In Sum:
- Logos is God’s word in .
- Rhema is God’s word to .
The Word Behind the Word
Hebrews 4:12–13
- God wants to do open heart surgery.
- Until we submit to it, we will have logos, but no rhema.
- God hides the insight and practicality we need for daily guidance in the rhema.
Proverbs 1:20-23
- We submit to God’s surgery when we turn at his reproof.
- We see more when we turn more.
- The turn we make is towards Him.
Proverbs 2:1-7
© Joshua D. Smith, Ph.D., 2021