"The More You Know"

EPISODE 191

Series: Cross Training • Discipleship Dimensions: Truth

Let the Lord’s Teaching Shape Your Thinking

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Classic TV programming in the '80s and '90s really wanted us to know things. Remember phrases like, "The more you know" from NBC's public service announcements? How about "Knowing is half the battle" from G.I. Joe? Or "Take a look, it's in a book" from Reading Rainbow? This week we're changing the channel from last year's Into the Book reading plan to a yearlong series on developing as Christ's disciples. We call it Cross Training — learning from the Master Teacher himself (Luke 6:40). As one disciple put it many years ago, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal. 2:20).

So, as we kick things off, let's focus on what we know, considering the first of four Dimensions of Discipleship: Truth.

What You Need to Know

When Jesus went on trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, Pilate asked him if he was a king. Jesus said, "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." So Pilate asked, "What is truth?" (John 18:37-38). He didn't wait for an answer before leaving, but it's the kind of rhetorical, half-whispered question many of us might find ourselves wondering. What's the real story about life? Are there answers worth building my life upon? What is truth?

Christ sets the guiding lines of a Christian's life like a cornerstone sets a building's angles. We "are ... members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone" (Eph. 2:18-22). Jesus sent apostles to represent him, carrying his authority and proclaiming his message (cf. Mark 3:13-19; Acts 1:21-26). Prophets also uttered God's words (2 Peter 1:19-21). The apostle Paul said, "When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery ... revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Eph. 3:4-5). The apostles and prophets reveal Christ, elaborating and explaining his life and teaching. When we trust these words and obey them, we build on the apostles' and prophets' foundation.

A lot of folks go through life without a guiding "cornerstone" or a definite "foundation." How about you? Before we can mature as disciples, we need to know that all Scripture comes from God's breath (2 Tim. 3:15-17). These writings are inspired, authoritative, and trustworthy (1 Cor. 2:12-13; 14:37-38; John 16:13; 17:17).

What You Need to Do

We sometimes settle for a shaky foundation, built with the faulty materials of a worldview shaped by the world. But we need to rebuild our lives on Christ's words and example, and what his apostles and prophets taught. Examine your assumptions and align your thinking with the Lord's. It's not enough to embrace some of the teaching, trying to make do with a half-installed, faulty foundation. Search out the Lord's answers to your questions and settle into genuine faith.

You can know the truth (John 8:31-32). It's up to you, and it begins with hearing (Rom. 10:9-10) or reading (Eph. 3:3-4) the words.

What we believe shapes our lives. And knowing the truth is step one on the road to becoming like Jesus.

Through the Week

How can we put truth into action Through the Week? Here are five challenges that you can do on your own own, along with us.

• Read (Mon) — Matt. 4:1-11; John 8:31-32; 17:17; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Cor. 2:12-13
• Reflect (Tue) — What influences shape my worldview? Does my view match the way the Lord sees things?
• Request (Wed) — "Lord, teach me what I ought to know. Bless me as I listen to your words."
• Respond (Thu) — List five things you know are true. Make a list of questions you want to answer.
• Reach Out (Fri) — What do you think are life's most important questions? What answers have you found?