Core Values

The Core Values series of lessons covers what makes New Hope International
Church unique. Our core values describe who we are as a community. While our goals
and strategies may change according to the circumstances, our core values will not
change. They guide how we treat each other and how we serve God.

Lesson 1: The Word of God

Introduction
The Bible is the most widely distributed book in the world, but many people don’t
know where it comes from or what message it contains. The Bible explains how you can
know God and be blessed in your life. Moreover, it tells how God wants to use you to
bless others. When Christians obey God’s word in the Bible, and teach others to do the
same, we will see God’s blessings throughout the world.

Discussion question
How does the Bible make a difference in your life? Why do you read the Bible?

1. The Bible is from God

God used people to write the Bible, but the thoughts are from Him. They are His
instructions to us, to prepare us to do His good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every
good work. (NIV)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us
realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do
what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (NLT)

2. The word of God is powerful to create life

God spoke, and the world was formed, according to Hebrews 11:3. This shows
that the words of God are powerful to create life. The Bible includes many powerful
promises of life to us, both spiritual (eternal life) and physical (prosperity and healing).
We can claim these promises as our own through faith in God. Jesus said in John 15 that
when we ask God according to His words, we will have those things.

John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are
spirit and they are life. (NIV)
The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very
words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (NLT)
John 15:7
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be
given you. (NIV)

3. The word of God is water that cleanses us

God cleanses His people from all sin according to His promise: “For God so loved
the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not
perish but have eternal life.”
This is the word of God for us. When we receive His word by faith, it cleanses us
from our sin.
The Bible also instructs us to be perfect like God, and we are constantly
challenged to turn away from our sin and unbelief. We should not dilute or compromise
the message of the Bible to fit our lifestyle or worldview. Instead, we should change our
lifestyle and mindset to fit the Bible.

Ephesians 5:25-26
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to
make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. (NIV)
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up
his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
(NLT)

Psalm 119:9, 11
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. (NIV)

4. The word of God is light that guides us

The word of God is a light in a dark world. The word gospel means “good news”
because it gives hope where there was no hope. Without God’s word, people will be lost
and unable to understand God’s will.
The word of God also guides us personally, day by day. The Bible says His word
is like a lamp for our path at night, guiding us which way we ought to go in our lives.

2 Peter 1:19
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay
attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning
star rises in your hearts. (NIV)
Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed
by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like
a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines
in your hearts. (NLT)
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path. (NIV)

5. The word of God is spiritual food that nourishes us

The Bible says the word of God is food that nourishes our spirits. In the same way
we need physical food to strengthen our bodies, we need to read the Bible and listen to
sermons prayerfully in order to strengthen our spirits.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, telling them that they were not ready for some
spiritual instruction. They needed basic Christian truths, such as repentance, before they
could go on to learn about how to work together in ministry, for example.
In the same way, the Bible contains spiritual nourishment that is suitable for
different stages of our Christian life. The goal is that we will become mature, and attain
the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, as written in Ephesians 4:12-15.

Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that
comes from the mouth of God.'" (NIV)

1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I
gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. (NIV)
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to
spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you
were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because
you weren’t ready for anything stronger. (NLT)

Ephesians 4:12-15
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the
evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people
to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all
come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the
Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. (NLT)

6. The word of God is seed that produces good fruit in us

Jesus used a parable in which he compared the word of God to a seed. When
planted in good soil, a seed grows up and eventually yields a large crop. In the same way,
when we receive the word of God with faith and earnestness, it will eventually produce
good attitudes and good works in our lives.

Luke 8:4-8, 11
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after
town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the
seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some
fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other
seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was
sown."
When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.” (NIV)

7. The word of God is a sword that cuts into our inner being
Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (NIV)

The Bible says that God’s word is like a sword that we use to fight against the
enemy. Of all the equipment listed in Ephesians 6:13-17, the word of God is the only
thing that is compared to an offensive weapon. When we face a big obstacle or difficulty
in life, we can claim promises in the Bible through faith. When our faith is mixed with
the promises in God’s word, it is like a sword that we can use to break through enemy
lines.
The word of God is also like a sharp sword that penetrates deep into our attitudes
and motives. When we read or hear God’s word, it brings conviction through the Holy
Spirit. We discover where we are right and wrong.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged
sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our
innermost thoughts and desires. (NLT)

8. The word of God is a foundation for our lives

The word of God also provides us with wisdom to make important decisions in
life. God does not lie, and His word is sure. We can be confident of our future as long as
we hold onto His word, even in the midst of the storms of life.

Matthew 24:24-27
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a
wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the
winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation
on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into
practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the
streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great
crash." (NIV)

Conclusion
The Bible is God’s word to His people. The Bible helps us overcome sin, live a
holy life, understand and do God’s will, and defeat the spiritual enemy.

Discussion Questions
1. Please share one thing you learned today.
2. Why is it important to know what is written in the Bible?
3. How has the Bible changed how you live?