Matthew 4:3–4 (NLT) — 3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Deuteronomy 8:2–3 (NLT) — 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

1. The Power of the Word 

• Our Nourishment
• Our Discipleship 
  • 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NLT) — 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.
• Our Power
• Our encouragement
• Our guide

2. The Leaders Bread

• What happens when leaders don’t abide in the Word?
  1. Discouragement
  2. Burned out
  3. Dry
  4. Deceived 
• Are you consistent? — Joshua 1:8 (NLT) — Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
• Are you accountable? 
  1. ACCOUNT - ABILITY 
  2. Accountability is NOT a bad word - It’s irreplaceable.
  3. Accountability is a MIRACLE - it’s unbelievable the power of it. 
  4. Accountability is simply living in the light.
  5. Accountability must be a blessing not a curse, life giving not life draining, come from the right heart to right heart. 
• Are you sharing it with others? Deuteronomy 6:6–9 (NLT) — 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
• Are you confident in it? - Can you wield it? Can you recall it? Can you stand on it? 

3. The People’s Bread

• The Greatest Tool of Discipleship
  1. Unformed - Like Michelangelo's marble block, many are completely unformed. Paul said this. Galatians 4:19 (NLT) — 19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
  2. Immature— Ephesians 4:14–15 (NLT) — Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
  3. Unlearned— John 17:17 (NLT) — Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
• The Greatest Tool of Ministry:
  1. Discouraged - when they read, they become encouraged.
  2. Need Faith -  when they read, they become convinced of God’s promise and will.
  3. Need a Word - when they read, they get a Word from God. 

4. The Gathering Place

• Become passionate about daily Bible reading.
• Build habits of the Word
  1. Healthy habits
  2. Atomic Habits
• Talk about it
  1. Text threads
  2. Group conversations
  3. daily Bible reading (M’Cheyne plan), group conversations, share verses naturally.
• Make it central — make Scripture the heart of meetings, small groups, and relationships.
• Equip with tools — use S.O.A.P.:
  1. Scripture — Read it together.
  2. Observation — What does the text say?
  3. Application — What does it mean for me/us?
  4. Prayer — Respond to God together.