At New Vision Church in Fayetteville, GA, we believe that the life of a disciple is a life of devotion. In Acts 2, the early church was described as continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching. That’s our example. If we want to grow in our faith, we must remain committed to learning, living, and teaching God’s Word.
Learning God’s Word
We can’t follow Christ well if we don’t know His Word. Many of us rely heavily on our phones or devices, but what happens when the internet goes down? Every one of us should know how to open a Bible, read it, and understand it.
Throughout history, there have been believers who risked their lives to bring Scripture into people’s hands. Years ago, Pastor George Lockhart had the privilege of helping smuggle Bibles into Vietnam. People there were hungry for God’s Word, even willing to sacrifice for just a few pages. Yet we, in America, often take it for granted.
Psalm 1 reminds us:
Blessed is the one
Psalm 1:1-3
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
If we want deep roots and fruitful lives, we need to be students of Scripture. Let’s study it, and not just skim God’s Word! Let’s come to church not just ready to receive, but also prepared to share what God has been teaching us during the week.
Living God’s Word
Learning is only the first step. The question is, are we living it out?
Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God is living and active.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart
Hebrews 4:12
If it’s alive in us, people should see that transformation. They should see evidence of God’s Spirit working in our lives.
Too often we know what to do but lack the power to do it. That’s why we must return to the source. God’s Word doesn’t just provide direction; it gives us the power to obey. The more we open our hearts to Scripture, the more God strengthens us to walk faithfully in daily life.
Teaching God’s Word
Finally, we can’t keep what we’ve learned to ourselves. Teaching others is part of the calling of every believer.
That doesn’t mean everyone is called to stand on a stage and preach, but it does mean that people are watching us. Our children, friends, neighbors, and co-workers learn about Christ through how we live and what we say.
Paul told Timothy to entrust the truth to faithful people who would teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). Each of us is called to pass along what we’ve received. We can’t teach what we don’t know, so we must keep growing. But we also can’t shrink back from speaking truth when God gives us the opportunity.
How We Can Stay Devoted
Here are a few practical ways we can stay devoted to God’s Word:
- Read and engage the Bible daily. Don’t rely only on sermons or social media posts. Open the Bible for yourself.
- Memorize Scripture. Even one verse at a time hides God’s Word in our hearts so we can carry it everywhere we go.
- Study with others. Join a Bible study, small group, or start one. We sharpen one another as we study together.
It may take time to develop a hunger for God’s Word, but like the psalmist says: Taste and see that the Lord is good. The more we practice, the more we’ll grow to love His Word.
We Are the Church
A poem once said,
“My church is composed of people just like me. It will be friendly if I am, it will do great work if I work, it will bring others in if I bring them.”
That’s the truth. The church is not just a building—it’s us. When we commit ourselves to learning, living, and teaching God’s Word, we build a stronger, healthier church together.
We invite you to join us at New Vision Church in Fayetteville, Georgia as we pursue God’s Word and God’s mission together. Worship with us Sundays at 10:00 AM at 479 Inman Road or at 5:30 PM at 193 Johnson Avenue. We’d love to meet you and grow together in Christ.