Today on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, a challenge to not just be listeners to the word, but doers.

Today on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, a challenge to not just be listeners to the word, but doers.

I don't want to know how much Bible you know, I want to know how much Bible you're applying in your life. I want to know that you're living out the gospel, not just hearing the gospel. I don't want to know the verses. I want to know are you living it?

I don't want to know how much Bible you know, I want to know how much Bible you're applying in your life. I want to know that you're living out the gospel, not just hearing the gospel. I don't want to know the verses. I want to know are you living it?

Welcome to Bold Steps with Pastor Mark Job. Mark as president of Moody Bible Institute and he's senior pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago. Today we're finishing a powerful message from the words of Jesus titled Shaped Me I Want to Grow, which is part of our short series, All in Meaning You can't half step your walk with Christ. Mark, in the second half, we're going to take us. Yeah.

Welcome to Bold Steps with Pastor Mark Job. Mark as president of Moody Bible Institute and he's senior pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago. Today we're finishing a powerful message from the words of Jesus titled Shaped Me I Want to Grow, which is part of our short series, All in Meaning You can't half step your walk with Christ. Mark, in the second half, we're going to take us. Yeah.

This message from Hebrews Chapter five will challenge believers. This is believers that maybe are just have made a slight commitment or you're stalled out, you're not growing. And what the Hebrew writer tells us is that if you are a follower of Jesus, you don't have the option not to grow. And he jumps into exactly what it means to grow in our walk with God. And so this will be challenging. This will be convicting, but it's good.

This message from Hebrews Chapter five will challenge believers. This is believers that maybe are just have made a slight commitment or you're stalled out, you're not growing. And what the Hebrew writer tells us is that if you are a follower of Jesus, you don't have the option not to grow. And he jumps into exactly what it means to grow in our walk with God. And so this will be challenging. This will be convicting, but it's good.

All right. Looking forward to it. From Hebrews Chapter five, here's Mark Job's message.

All right. Looking forward to it. From Hebrews Chapter five, here's Mark Job's message.

Without going through any improvement program, you can come just exactly the way you are now. You may have party 24 hours straight, slept with five prostitutes and come with still some cocaine in your system. And you come to this place and say, I want to give my life to Jesus. I'd prefer if you weren't high if you did that just so you understand what you're doing. But just. But you could come and say, I want to give my life to Jesus. And I don't say, Well, you got to go to rehab before you come to Christ. You have to clean up your act before you come to Christ. Go ask forgiveness of people. No, I say you can come to Jesus just exactly the way you are. But listen to me. But you can't leave being just the way you were. The goal of the disciple is to become like his teacher. And what the apostle? I think the Apostle Paul is the writer of the Hebrews, but the writer of the Hebrews actually is telling us he's talking to believers and he's saying, You know what? I want you to change. I want you to grow, but you become sluggish. In other words, you need to be more eager and not just open to change, but eager to change. Number two, he goes on and not only says that they need to be eager or hungry, but they are givers and not just takers. Verse 12 says, In fact, though, by this time you ought to be teachers. You need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. Some of you, by this time, he says, should actually be teaching new believers how to get going in their walk with God. But you become so sluggish, you become so dormant, you become so untrained that you have to be taught the elementary things all over again. Not only are you not a teacher, but you've forgotten the basics yourself. How many of you know that can happen if we don't review something over and over? It happens all the time. How many of you learned piano when you were ten? And now you can. Boy, just you're bad now. How many of you knew a language when you were young, but you haven't practiced it? And so you think, Yeah. Now I'm kind of rusty. You know, you learned a skill a long time ago, but you haven't done it in so long. You don't really remember how to do it very well. You have to go back to the basics. When I was 16, turning 17 and 17 turning 18, I worked in France, in southern France. It sounds exotic, but it wasn't. I was a dishwasher and cleaned rooms at a hotel. But I had to learn French more or less. It was a survival. Like learn French or don't. Someone asked me for a blanket and I brought them a hanger. You know, that was the extent of my French. One is manto and one is portmanteau. And I got the two mixed up, so. But, you know, it's been a long time since I practiced my French. I can speak it. When I was in France, I felt like I knew it pretty good. But it's been years since I practiced my French. And so when I when I traveled back to France, it's not like I'm fluent anymore. Let's just say that because I've forgotten the basics. I haven't practiced it. Now if I go back and practice, I'm in the environment. I can pick it up again. But it's been a while since I've really delved into my French. Some of you have come to Christ a while back and you knew the basics and you were eager and strong and growing and you knew the gospel very well and you knew the basics of the gospel. But you know what? You've gotten away from the basic so long, you've been so dull, so unengaged in your growth that by this time, by this time in your walk with God, you should be taking a new believer and mentoring them in the gospel. But you're unsure of mentoring a new believer because you're so rusty yourself that you should be a teacher by now, but you still need to be taught the basics all over. Some of you should be leading a home group by now, but instead. You have to be retrained in really what it means to follow Christ and all the basic things because you're unsure what does it mean? It means that you haven't practiced. There's an old adage when it comes to losing something, you use it or you. Let's say it again one more time. You either use it or you lose it. See, unless we use the knowledge that we're gaining, unless we put it in practice, chances are that we start to lose what we've gained. And the apostle Paul, the writer of the Hebrews, is speaking to the Hebrews believers, and he's saying, You know what? By this time, the length of time that you have known Christ, the time that you spent in God, you should be teaching other people. You should have progressed to a stage where you are givers, teachers. But he says, you know, in fact, by this stage you should be teachers, but you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again because you haven't been using it, and so you've lost it. Can I just be real honest about being all in here? If you are just an attender at a church but you're not engaged. Then you're not gaining ground. You're losing ground. No, we're in the Bible. Do I say Jesus says, come follow me and attend church. And you will be an awesome Christian. Nope, don't see that. The goal of Christianity is not to attend an hour and a half on Sunday morning. That is just the rev up engine. The worship together. The training time. The goal of Christianity is that we live our lives like Jesus on mission with Jesus, glorifying him in our life and making disciples of others. Some of you are like Pastor. I come to church on Sunday. Man, I'm a good Christian. In fact, out of 52 Sundays last year, I think I was in church. 40 out of the 52 boom made it. No, you just made it to a service. But I want to know more than just I made it to a service. I want to know what's happening Monday through Saturday. I want to know how you're letting God use you. I want to know, Have you mentored someone? Led someone to faith, poured into their life, led him to the waters of baptism because Jesus says, go ye, therefore make disciples of all nations. I want to know, are you letting God use you at your job? I want to know. Have you shared your faith? I want to know. Are you using your gifts? I want to know. Are you? Because on Sunday morning, for the most part, you're a receiver, not a giver. I want to know, have you moved beyond the basics? I'm talking about what it means to be all in. And he says that some of us, by this time you grow the most. I'm convinced, by the way, if you're stagnant in your spiritual life today, you say pass. I don't know you. And I was really excited in the beginning. I'm stagnant. I'm kind of dried out. I'm just kind of plateaued in my life. Then my my gut feeling is that you're probably plateaued because you're not fully engaged in using your gifts, because I believe that you grow the most when you give the most. Now, let me say that again, because some of you didn't get that. You see, there's one thing. If I'm. If someone is teaching me, if someone is teaching me the basics of math and I'm learning and taking notes and growing, that's one thing and I'm applying it. That's another thing when I actually take the basics of math, apply it, and then actually start to teach someone else. That means I've gotten the concepts and I've learned the concept so much that I'm able to explain it and teach someone else. That's when I really have it, not just when I hear it, not just when I know it, but when I start teaching someone else the concepts that I have. Come on, anybody with me today and I want to ask you this. Hey, when's the last time you've taken the concepts of Christianity and talked to someone else about it and started teaching someone else? Because if you really want to grow, then become a giver and not just to taker and you will find yourself being stretched in your spiritual life, you'll find the adventure of living for God. You will grow, you will stretch, you will realize, Wow, this is hard. I'm learning. I'm growing. There's a lot that I don't know because now I'm trying to teach someone else what it means to be a follower of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. Number three. Not only are they eager, not only are their givers, but their movers, they are movers, not just maintainers. Notice what he says in verse 12. He says, You need milk, not solid food. Anyone who lives on milk is still being infant, is not acquainted with the teachings about righteousness.

Without going through any improvement program, you can come just exactly the way you are now. You may have party 24 hours straight, slept with five prostitutes and come with still some cocaine in your system. And you come to this place and say, I want to give my life to Jesus. I'd prefer if you weren't high if you did that just so you understand what you're doing. But just. But you could come and say, I want to give my life to Jesus. And I don't say, Well, you got to go to rehab before you come to Christ. You have to clean up your act before you come to Christ. Go ask forgiveness of people. No, I say you can come to Jesus just exactly the way you are. But listen to me. But you can't leave being just the way you were. The goal of the disciple is to become like his teacher. And what the apostle? I think the Apostle Paul is the writer of the Hebrews, but the writer of the Hebrews actually is telling us he's talking to believers and he's saying, You know what? I want you to change. I want you to grow, but you become sluggish. In other words, you need to be more eager and not just open to change, but eager to change. Number two, he goes on and not only says that they need to be eager or hungry, but they are givers and not just takers. Verse 12 says, In fact, though, by this time you ought to be teachers. You need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. Some of you, by this time, he says, should actually be teaching new believers how to get going in their walk with God. But you become so sluggish, you become so dormant, you become so untrained that you have to be taught the elementary things all over again. Not only are you not a teacher, but you've forgotten the basics yourself. How many of you know that can happen if we don't review something over and over? It happens all the time. How many of you learned piano when you were ten? And now you can. Boy, just you're bad now. How many of you knew a language when you were young, but you haven't practiced it? And so you think, Yeah. Now I'm kind of rusty. You know, you learned a skill a long time ago, but you haven't done it in so long. You don't really remember how to do it very well. You have to go back to the basics. When I was 16, turning 17 and 17 turning 18, I worked in France, in southern France. It sounds exotic, but it wasn't. I was a dishwasher and cleaned rooms at a hotel. But I had to learn French more or less. It was a survival. Like learn French or don't. Someone asked me for a blanket and I brought them a hanger. You know, that was the extent of my French. One is manto and one is portmanteau. And I got the two mixed up, so. But, you know, it's been a long time since I practiced my French. I can speak it. When I was in France, I felt like I knew it pretty good. But it's been years since I practiced my French. And so when I when I traveled back to France, it's not like I'm fluent anymore. Let's just say that because I've forgotten the basics. I haven't practiced it. Now if I go back and practice, I'm in the environment. I can pick it up again. But it's been a while since I've really delved into my French. Some of you have come to Christ a while back and you knew the basics and you were eager and strong and growing and you knew the gospel very well and you knew the basics of the gospel. But you know what? You've gotten away from the basic so long, you've been so dull, so unengaged in your growth that by this time, by this time in your walk with God, you should be taking a new believer and mentoring them in the gospel. But you're unsure of mentoring a new believer because you're so rusty yourself that you should be a teacher by now, but you still need to be taught the basics all over. Some of you should be leading a home group by now, but instead. You have to be retrained in really what it means to follow Christ and all the basic things because you're unsure what does it mean? It means that you haven't practiced. There's an old adage when it comes to losing something, you use it or you. Let's say it again one more time. You either use it or you lose it. See, unless we use the knowledge that we're gaining, unless we put it in practice, chances are that we start to lose what we've gained. And the apostle Paul, the writer of the Hebrews, is speaking to the Hebrews believers, and he's saying, You know what? By this time, the length of time that you have known Christ, the time that you spent in God, you should be teaching other people. You should have progressed to a stage where you are givers, teachers. But he says, you know, in fact, by this stage you should be teachers, but you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again because you haven't been using it, and so you've lost it. Can I just be real honest about being all in here? If you are just an attender at a church but you're not engaged. Then you're not gaining ground. You're losing ground. No, we're in the Bible. Do I say Jesus says, come follow me and attend church. And you will be an awesome Christian. Nope, don't see that. The goal of Christianity is not to attend an hour and a half on Sunday morning. That is just the rev up engine. The worship together. The training time. The goal of Christianity is that we live our lives like Jesus on mission with Jesus, glorifying him in our life and making disciples of others. Some of you are like Pastor. I come to church on Sunday. Man, I'm a good Christian. In fact, out of 52 Sundays last year, I think I was in church. 40 out of the 52 boom made it. No, you just made it to a service. But I want to know more than just I made it to a service. I want to know what's happening Monday through Saturday. I want to know how you're letting God use you. I want to know, Have you mentored someone? Led someone to faith, poured into their life, led him to the waters of baptism because Jesus says, go ye, therefore make disciples of all nations. I want to know, are you letting God use you at your job? I want to know. Have you shared your faith? I want to know. Are you using your gifts? I want to know. Are you? Because on Sunday morning, for the most part, you're a receiver, not a giver. I want to know, have you moved beyond the basics? I'm talking about what it means to be all in. And he says that some of us, by this time you grow the most. I'm convinced, by the way, if you're stagnant in your spiritual life today, you say pass. I don't know you. And I was really excited in the beginning. I'm stagnant. I'm kind of dried out. I'm just kind of plateaued in my life. Then my my gut feeling is that you're probably plateaued because you're not fully engaged in using your gifts, because I believe that you grow the most when you give the most. Now, let me say that again, because some of you didn't get that. You see, there's one thing. If I'm. If someone is teaching me, if someone is teaching me the basics of math and I'm learning and taking notes and growing, that's one thing and I'm applying it. That's another thing when I actually take the basics of math, apply it, and then actually start to teach someone else. That means I've gotten the concepts and I've learned the concept so much that I'm able to explain it and teach someone else. That's when I really have it, not just when I hear it, not just when I know it, but when I start teaching someone else the concepts that I have. Come on, anybody with me today and I want to ask you this. Hey, when's the last time you've taken the concepts of Christianity and talked to someone else about it and started teaching someone else? Because if you really want to grow, then become a giver and not just to taker and you will find yourself being stretched in your spiritual life, you'll find the adventure of living for God. You will grow, you will stretch, you will realize, Wow, this is hard. I'm learning. I'm growing. There's a lot that I don't know because now I'm trying to teach someone else what it means to be a follower of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. Number three. Not only are they eager, not only are their givers, but their movers, they are movers, not just maintainers. Notice what he says in verse 12. He says, You need milk, not solid food. Anyone who lives on milk is still being infant, is not acquainted with the teachings about righteousness.

Listening to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, a message titled Shape Me, I Want to Grow and we'll continue this lesson shortly. But before that, Mark, let's take a brief break to discuss the upcoming message on our sister program, Bold Steps Week. And it airs this Saturday or Sunday.

Listening to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, a message titled Shape Me, I Want to Grow and we'll continue this lesson shortly. But before that, Mark, let's take a brief break to discuss the upcoming message on our sister program, Bold Steps Week. And it airs this Saturday or Sunday.

Yes. So this weekend we're in a series entitled Deeper Beyond Shallow Spirituality. And this weekend's message is your spiritual wake up call out of Revelation chapter two. This church had been around for 30 years, and maybe you can relate to this after 30 years. They were solid in doctrine, but their heart had grown cold. Their first love was no longer there.

Yes. So this weekend we're in a series entitled Deeper Beyond Shallow Spirituality. And this weekend's message is your spiritual wake up call out of Revelation chapter two. This church had been around for 30 years, and maybe you can relate to this after 30 years. They were solid in doctrine, but their heart had grown cold. Their first love was no longer there.

So be listening and catch bold steps week in this Saturday or Sunday to hear more on many of these stations. You can also listen online at Bold Steps weekend org or subscribe to the podcast Bold Steps. We can search for it on your podcast app and allows you to listen anytime you want and anywhere you go. Bold steps weekend.

So be listening and catch bold steps week in this Saturday or Sunday to hear more on many of these stations. You can also listen online at Bold Steps weekend org or subscribe to the podcast Bold Steps. We can search for it on your podcast app and allows you to listen anytime you want and anywhere you go. Bold steps weekend.

Yeah, and some of you know that I grew up in Spain. My parents were missionaries in Spain, so if you speak Spanish, you want to listen to Basil. That's that's bold steps in Spanish. It's a devotional thought from the Word of God that will motivate you to live for Jesus in a more compelling, passionate way.

Yeah, and some of you know that I grew up in Spain. My parents were missionaries in Spain, so if you speak Spanish, you want to listen to Basil. That's that's bold steps in Spanish. It's a devotional thought from the Word of God that will motivate you to live for Jesus in a more compelling, passionate way.

So glad you're doing that, Mark. Thank you. Let's get back to the final half of today's message. It's titled Shape Me. I Want to Grow. So here's Mark Jobe on Bold steps.

So glad you're doing that, Mark. Thank you. Let's get back to the final half of today's message. It's titled Shape Me. I Want to Grow. So here's Mark Jobe on Bold steps.

You don't just tell a baby. That's six months. I know you've been on milk. That. That milk stuff is getting old. I'm going to give you a little taquito de sada. So you can really experience life. Son, that milk stuff's getting old. Here's a little God in your cider. All right, here's. It's going to be really good. In fact, I want to put a little hot sauce on it just to make it even taste the way I like it. No, no, no, no. Maybe some of you guys have tried it, but, you know, the baby is not capable of eating meat that much because they haven't developed teeth. They have to grow into it. But if you have a ten year old and all they can eat is milk, there's something wrong with that ten year old. They should have progressed in their growth. They should be able to handle more than just the milk. They should be eating more solid food so that they can grow and get stronger. And what the apostle to the Hebrews is saying is that that's okay, that you started on milk, but some of you are stuck at milk, you're stuck at the basics of Christianity. And by this time in your walk, you've been a believer for six years. You should be able to handle more than just a salvation message. You should be. You should be beyond just the basics of what it means to follow Jesus. You should be getting into some more solid food. You should be able to be taught things that are tougher to understand, harder to grasp. You should be growing in your spiritual walk because you cannot be stuck just in a milk phase. So his challenge is we need to grow, you need to move forward and not just maintain. First Peter chapter two, Verse two says Newborn babies desire pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby. And that's good. Pure milk of the word is good. But there comes a stage where you have to go beyond just the milk of the Word of God. Listen in your spiritual walk, brothers and sisters, you need to get to a point where someone is not just spoon feeding you where your main meal is, not just on Sunday morning, a teaching where the pastor is giving you or a small group leader. There comes a point in your life where you should be getting into the Word of God yourself, reading the Word of God yourself, learning yourself, studying the Bible yourself so that you are actually feeding yourself in the Word of God. If persecution were to break out in this country and every church would have to close and there was no longer Christian radio, would you be able to feed yourself? Do you know enough about the word? Have you developed the study habits that you say, Yeah, I can get my Bible and I can study the word because that's what he's saying. Folks, we need to get to a point where we become self feeders, where we're growing, where we're studying the word, where we're understanding what the word of God has to say. First Corinthians chapter three, verse one through 12 says, Brothers, I do not address you as spiritual, but as worldly. Mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you are not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready, for you are still worldly. The apostle Paul is talking to the Corinthians and saying, I wish I could give you more, but I can't give you a steak because you've only progressed to milk. So he challenges, Let's grow, let's grow in our walk with God. And number four And lastly. Not only are they eager, not only do they learn to be givers, but they also. Not only do they learn to be movers, but they also learn to be doers. Verse 14 says, But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use, have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. So if you're going to grow, they are doers, not just listeners. In essence, what the writer of the Hebrews says is that people that mature, they get solid food, but they use it and apply it to their life. And as they're applying it to their life, they're growing. Can I tell you something? You don't grow just by listening to the word. You grow by listening to the word and applying the word to your life. Let me say that again. I have people that say, well, Pastor, you know, I. I want to I want to go deeper. And I'm glad you want to go deeper. But if you're not applying the basic, how can you go deeper if you're not? That's just going to be head knowledge, not application. The question is not just how much you know in your head. The question is how much are you applying to your life? You know, it's like the person. That goes to the gym and is out of shape. And the trainer says, Well, let me teach you the basics. I'm going to teach you how to do a setup. I'm going to teach you how to do push ups. I'm going to teach you just the basics. And they do it one week and they say, okay, I'm ready for cross training. Can you give me like, I want to be like one of the ninja guys jumping? Can you can you show me that stuff? Because I'm done with the basics and the trainer is going to say, no, You know what? Yeah, you know how to do a sit up, but you got to do setups for a while before you get to the advanced level. Let's do some push ups before you try to win the Ninja challenge. Okay, Let's let's go to the basics before you try to compete in the Olympics. I know you want to learn how the Olympics, the I know you're trying to figure out how the gymnasts do the flips, but let's start applying the basics so that we grow in the basics before we go on. It's not just the technique of how to do it is that you got to apply the basics so that you're good enough to go to the next level. Someone better be listening to me this morning because I'm talking I'm talking about being all in. I'm talking about spiritual growth. And he says, But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use, have trained themselves to distinguish between good and evil. We need to learn what means to practice and implement the Word of God. I hope that you leave on Sunday morning not just saying, Wow, that was a good teaching. I was inspired and motivated. I hope that you leave on Sunday morning saying, How can I apply it this week to my life? What are you saying to me, God, and what do I need to do about it? Those are two of the most important questions. As you read the Word of God, as you listen to a message that you should be asking yourself, God, what are you saying to me? And what do I need to do about it? Because James says, do not just be hearers the word of God, but be doers of the Word of God. I don't want to know how much you know, I want to know how much you put into practice. Don't tell me. And I've had people come up to me and they tried, you know, hey, you know, I come here and. You know, I just want you to know I've been in church all my life. I took a couple of courses at Moody. I went to this. I did that. I've studied the Bible. I have this concordance. What version do you, you know, trying to impress me like, Man, I know some stuff. Pastor, That's great. I'm glad you know some stuff now. Are you single? Married? Well, I'm single in a relationship. That's good. Are you in a relationship? And where is she? Well, you know, she's my fiance. And are you living together? Yeah, well, we're living together right now. Okay. All right. Hey, don't try to. Don't try to impress me with your knowledge when you're still having sex with your living girlfriend. I don't want to know how much Bible you know, I want to know how much Bible you're applying in your life. I want to know that you're living out the gospel, not just hearing the gospel. I don't want to know the verses. I want to know are you living it? And that's exactly what the writer is saying. Hey, let's start living out the gospel of Jesus Christ. And so I want to close with this challenge. I want us to be all in. I know some of you came and said, Pastor, well, you've been kind of hard on me today. No, I want you to grow. I just want you to look at me like a trainer in a gym that's saying, I'm glad you did five sit ups. I want ten setups out of you because I want to push you. I want you to grow. I don't want you to be stale. I don't want you to be stagnant. I want you to move forward in your walk with God.

You don't just tell a baby. That's six months. I know you've been on milk. That. That milk stuff is getting old. I'm going to give you a little taquito de sada. So you can really experience life. Son, that milk stuff's getting old. Here's a little God in your cider. All right, here's. It's going to be really good. In fact, I want to put a little hot sauce on it just to make it even taste the way I like it. No, no, no, no. Maybe some of you guys have tried it, but, you know, the baby is not capable of eating meat that much because they haven't developed teeth. They have to grow into it. But if you have a ten year old and all they can eat is milk, there's something wrong with that ten year old. They should have progressed in their growth. They should be able to handle more than just the milk. They should be eating more solid food so that they can grow and get stronger. And what the apostle to the Hebrews is saying is that that's okay, that you started on milk, but some of you are stuck at milk, you're stuck at the basics of Christianity. And by this time in your walk, you've been a believer for six years. You should be able to handle more than just a salvation message. You should be. You should be beyond just the basics of what it means to follow Jesus. You should be getting into some more solid food. You should be able to be taught things that are tougher to understand, harder to grasp. You should be growing in your spiritual walk because you cannot be stuck just in a milk phase. So his challenge is we need to grow, you need to move forward and not just maintain. First Peter chapter two, Verse two says Newborn babies desire pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby. And that's good. Pure milk of the word is good. But there comes a stage where you have to go beyond just the milk of the Word of God. Listen in your spiritual walk, brothers and sisters, you need to get to a point where someone is not just spoon feeding you where your main meal is, not just on Sunday morning, a teaching where the pastor is giving you or a small group leader. There comes a point in your life where you should be getting into the Word of God yourself, reading the Word of God yourself, learning yourself, studying the Bible yourself so that you are actually feeding yourself in the Word of God. If persecution were to break out in this country and every church would have to close and there was no longer Christian radio, would you be able to feed yourself? Do you know enough about the word? Have you developed the study habits that you say, Yeah, I can get my Bible and I can study the word because that's what he's saying. Folks, we need to get to a point where we become self feeders, where we're growing, where we're studying the word, where we're understanding what the word of God has to say. First Corinthians chapter three, verse one through 12 says, Brothers, I do not address you as spiritual, but as worldly. Mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you are not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready, for you are still worldly. The apostle Paul is talking to the Corinthians and saying, I wish I could give you more, but I can't give you a steak because you've only progressed to milk. So he challenges, Let's grow, let's grow in our walk with God. And number four And lastly. Not only are they eager, not only do they learn to be givers, but they also. Not only do they learn to be movers, but they also learn to be doers. Verse 14 says, But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use, have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. So if you're going to grow, they are doers, not just listeners. In essence, what the writer of the Hebrews says is that people that mature, they get solid food, but they use it and apply it to their life. And as they're applying it to their life, they're growing. Can I tell you something? You don't grow just by listening to the word. You grow by listening to the word and applying the word to your life. Let me say that again. I have people that say, well, Pastor, you know, I. I want to I want to go deeper. And I'm glad you want to go deeper. But if you're not applying the basic, how can you go deeper if you're not? That's just going to be head knowledge, not application. The question is not just how much you know in your head. The question is how much are you applying to your life? You know, it's like the person. That goes to the gym and is out of shape. And the trainer says, Well, let me teach you the basics. I'm going to teach you how to do a setup. I'm going to teach you how to do push ups. I'm going to teach you just the basics. And they do it one week and they say, okay, I'm ready for cross training. Can you give me like, I want to be like one of the ninja guys jumping? Can you can you show me that stuff? Because I'm done with the basics and the trainer is going to say, no, You know what? Yeah, you know how to do a sit up, but you got to do setups for a while before you get to the advanced level. Let's do some push ups before you try to win the Ninja challenge. Okay, Let's let's go to the basics before you try to compete in the Olympics. I know you want to learn how the Olympics, the I know you're trying to figure out how the gymnasts do the flips, but let's start applying the basics so that we grow in the basics before we go on. It's not just the technique of how to do it is that you got to apply the basics so that you're good enough to go to the next level. Someone better be listening to me this morning because I'm talking I'm talking about being all in. I'm talking about spiritual growth. And he says, But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use, have trained themselves to distinguish between good and evil. We need to learn what means to practice and implement the Word of God. I hope that you leave on Sunday morning not just saying, Wow, that was a good teaching. I was inspired and motivated. I hope that you leave on Sunday morning saying, How can I apply it this week to my life? What are you saying to me, God, and what do I need to do about it? Those are two of the most important questions. As you read the Word of God, as you listen to a message that you should be asking yourself, God, what are you saying to me? And what do I need to do about it? Because James says, do not just be hearers the word of God, but be doers of the Word of God. I don't want to know how much you know, I want to know how much you put into practice. Don't tell me. And I've had people come up to me and they tried, you know, hey, you know, I come here and. You know, I just want you to know I've been in church all my life. I took a couple of courses at Moody. I went to this. I did that. I've studied the Bible. I have this concordance. What version do you, you know, trying to impress me like, Man, I know some stuff. Pastor, That's great. I'm glad you know some stuff now. Are you single? Married? Well, I'm single in a relationship. That's good. Are you in a relationship? And where is she? Well, you know, she's my fiance. And are you living together? Yeah, well, we're living together right now. Okay. All right. Hey, don't try to. Don't try to impress me with your knowledge when you're still having sex with your living girlfriend. I don't want to know how much Bible you know, I want to know how much Bible you're applying in your life. I want to know that you're living out the gospel, not just hearing the gospel. I don't want to know the verses. I want to know are you living it? And that's exactly what the writer is saying. Hey, let's start living out the gospel of Jesus Christ. And so I want to close with this challenge. I want us to be all in. I know some of you came and said, Pastor, well, you've been kind of hard on me today. No, I want you to grow. I just want you to look at me like a trainer in a gym that's saying, I'm glad you did five sit ups. I want ten setups out of you because I want to push you. I want you to grow. I don't want you to be stale. I don't want you to be stagnant. I want you to move forward in your walk with God.

I want you to be all in.

I want you to be all in.

That's so good. That's our spiritual life. Coach Mark Jobe here on Bold Steps. And Mark, it feels like a workout here today. A lot to think about and consider when it comes to where I am on the faith maturity scale. That's a great challenge to be a doer of the word and not just to hear.

That's so good. That's our spiritual life. Coach Mark Jobe here on Bold Steps. And Mark, it feels like a workout here today. A lot to think about and consider when it comes to where I am on the faith maturity scale. That's a great challenge to be a doer of the word and not just to hear.

Yeah, that's what the Word of God tells us. And Wayne were so prone to just hear it, but it's a lot tougher to put it into practice.

Yeah, that's what the Word of God tells us. And Wayne were so prone to just hear it, but it's a lot tougher to put it into practice.

We all know that, don't we? Thank you. Well, as we wind down today, we're also nearing the end of the month. And that means there's only a few days left for listeners to request their copy of this month's Bold Step gift. You want to mention the gift?

We all know that, don't we? Thank you. Well, as we wind down today, we're also nearing the end of the month. And that means there's only a few days left for listeners to request their copy of this month's Bold Step gift. You want to mention the gift?

Yeah. So we've been offering this all month and we're very excited about this. It's how to overcome worry. Some of you just here in the title say I need to get it.

Yeah. So we've been offering this all month and we're very excited about this. It's how to overcome worry. Some of you just here in the title say I need to get it.

Yeah, right.

Yeah, right.

In Philippians chapter four, verse six through seven, Paul tells us to not be anxious about anything. But how many people listening right now realize I'm anxious about a lot of things. So my friend, Dr. Winfred Neeley, he's the author of this book, he's also the head of our seminary here at Moody and does an extraordinary job in training students in the area of homicide, which is in the area of preaching. But he also is an author. So he's got practical, pastoral experiences, walk people through anxiety issues. And I think you really need to get this book.

In Philippians chapter four, verse six through seven, Paul tells us to not be anxious about anything. But how many people listening right now realize I'm anxious about a lot of things. So my friend, Dr. Winfred Neeley, he's the author of this book, he's also the head of our seminary here at Moody and does an extraordinary job in training students in the area of homicide, which is in the area of preaching. But he also is an author. So he's got practical, pastoral experiences, walk people through anxiety issues. And I think you really need to get this book.

We have an audio clip of Dr. Neely talking about the book, and he says we should not be anxious.

We have an audio clip of Dr. Neely talking about the book, and he says we should not be anxious.

The statement, do not be anxious about anything is not a call to indifference. It's not a call to apathy. It's not a call to passivity. That's worry is when we act as if we are in this battle by ourselves. We act as if we're doing life for ourselves. We act as if we have to face the problems of life by ourselves. We want to figure it out. Instead of asking God for help, we want to try to solve this these problems without admitting, Lord, I don't know what to do and I really need some wisdom and help from you.

The statement, do not be anxious about anything is not a call to indifference. It's not a call to apathy. It's not a call to passivity. That's worry is when we act as if we are in this battle by ourselves. We act as if we're doing life for ourselves. We act as if we have to face the problems of life by ourselves. We want to figure it out. Instead of asking God for help, we want to try to solve this these problems without admitting, Lord, I don't know what to do and I really need some wisdom and help from you.

Our thanks to Dr. Neely for this book to request your copy of How to Overcome Worry. Just make a donation of any amount and ask for the book by going online to bold steps radio org or pick up the phone and call us at (844) 615-7363. That's (844) 615-7363. Now if you'd rather send a check in the mail along with your request for how to overcome worry, let me give you the mailing address. It's bold steps 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois. 606 ten And then before we close today, I want to remind you to check out our new YouTube channel and discover some great video content and special messages. Just get on YouTube and search for bold steps radio or type in our website, handle youtube.com, slash at bold steps radio and then tap the subscribe button and of course to hear any of these daily programs again or perhaps share them with a family member or friend, you'll find them on our website. Bold Steps Radio org. Well, that's our time today. I'm Wayne Shepherd. Already looking forward to joining you again Monday for the start of our next series called My Space Making Room for Healthy Relationships. It's a fascinating new study from our Bible teacher Mark Jobe. Starting next time Monday on Bold Steps. Bold Steps is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.

Our thanks to Dr. Neely for this book to request your copy of How to Overcome Worry. Just make a donation of any amount and ask for the book by going online to bold steps radio org or pick up the phone and call us at (844) 615-7363. That's (844) 615-7363. Now if you'd rather send a check in the mail along with your request for how to overcome worry, let me give you the mailing address. It's bold steps 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois. 606 ten And then before we close today, I want to remind you to check out our new YouTube channel and discover some great video content and special messages. Just get on YouTube and search for bold steps radio or type in our website, handle youtube.com, slash at bold steps radio and then tap the subscribe button and of course to hear any of these daily programs again or perhaps share them with a family member or friend, you'll find them on our website. Bold Steps Radio org. Well, that's our time today. I'm Wayne Shepherd. Already looking forward to joining you again Monday for the start of our next series called My Space Making Room for Healthy Relationships. It's a fascinating new study from our Bible teacher Mark Jobe. Starting next time Monday on Bold Steps. Bold Steps is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.