Set Your Heart

INTRODUCTION (SECURE ATTENTION) & BACKGROUND OF THE PASSAGE:

PRAY before starting the sermon.

I’m sure that many of you are excited as today is the last day of exams.

No studies, no assignments, no exams, no work duties until the opening service of the 2nd semester.

However, as you go for your semester break, I want to encourage you to set your heart on certain things during semester break and throughout your lives.

What do we set our hearts on?

The answer is found in Ezra 7:10.

Would you take God’s Word and turn your Bibles with me to EZRA 7:10 (READ)?

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.

I have entitled today’s sermon as: “SET YOUR HEART.”

THE EXEGETICAL IDEA: Ezra set his heart to study the Law, do it, and teach it.

THE PURPOSE BRIDGE: To challenge the students at CGLD to set their hearts to study the Word, live the Word, and to teach the Word.

FALLEN CONDITION FOCUS: Already dealt with above.

PROPOSITION: We must set our hearts to study the Word so that we can do it and teach it.

I. WE MUST SET OUR HEARTS TO STUDY THE WORD.

Reading the Word is not enough.

We must set our hearts to study the Word.

This is the very Word of God; it has authority.

Thus, it deserves our attention and time.

Read Psalm 1:1-2—1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

God has given each of one of you a great privilege to study His Word.

Millions of believers out there don’t have such a great honor to study God’s Word in-depth.

But you’ve been given this privilege.

So, be a diligent student of the Word.

II. WE MUST SET OUR HEARTS TO DO THE WORD.

As we study God’s Word, we must also live according to the Word.

We must do the Word intentionally (set our hearts).

God’s Word is prescriptive, not just descriptive.

Read Php. 4:9—What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Read James 1:22—But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Our theology must affect our lives positively.

As you study God’s Word, think of ways you can practically apply it to your daily life and live out the Word.

III. WE MUST SET OUR HEARTS TO TEACH THE WORD.

As you learn God’s Word and as you apply the Word in your own life, we need to also teach it to others.

Read 2 Tim. 2:2—and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

You are here not merely to learn the Bible and how to do ministry.

You are given the task to teach God’s people and equip them for ministry (refer Eph. 4:11-12).

The effectiveness of your teaching is dependent on the way you study the Word and the way you apply God’s Word in your life.

CONCLUSION (INCLUDING THE PROPOSITION, REVIEWING THE MAIN POINTS [OPTIONAL], AND ACTION STATEMENTS):

PROPOSITION: We must set our hearts to study the Word so that we can do it and teach it.

This morning, I want to encourage and challenge you to set your hearts to study the Word all your life.

And as you do that, set your hearts to do the Word and teach the Word.