2 Believe the Bible

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Big Idea: We believe God’s written word which guides us to His Living Word.

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Introduction

Review last week – Experience God’s Love and Grace means turning from our sin, receiving God’s gift of Jesus Christ and His rescue, and walking with Him every day and each moment by the power of His Holy Spirit transforming us.
Who brought paper copy bibles? Electronic copy? Pew bible? Wait for me to put passages on the screen?
Do you make it an intentional habit to set time aside most days to read the bible? Study the bible?
Why? What if you didn’t have the bible in a language you understood?
Stack of Indonesian Bibles.
picture of Seth.
Why is the bible so precious? We say the bible is God’s Word. Why? Words of life.
Is it possible to be too focused on the bible? Is it possible to lift the bible too high? To put it on a pedestal?
Let’s put the bible in proper perspective and right understanding.
Core Value 2 – We value the Bible as God’s authoritative Word, study it together, and build our lives on its truth.

God’s Authoritative Word

God’s Authoritative Word

Revelation

Making known the mysteries
Jesus – the Logos, the Word, active in creation, spoke everything into existence,
John 1:1–2 CSB
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
Jesus – the Logos, the Word, active in creation, spoke everything into existence,
All of Scripture points to Jesus
John 5:39–40 CSB
39 You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. 40 But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
point to Jesus
Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God.
Colossians 1:15 CSB
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Authority

Rule of life ?
Paul tells Timothy the value and authority of God’s Word
2 Timothy 3:16–17 CSB
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
. Paul tells Timothy the value and authority of God’s Word
** How to get into the Kingdom, how to remain in the Kingdom, how to live as part of the Kingdom =
Scripture is authoritative only because of the authority of the One who inspired Scripture. The book itself is not the authority.
Matthew 22:29 CSB
29 Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God.

Inspiration

Source of message
2 Peter 1:16–21 CSB
16 For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased!” 18 We ourselves heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
– we were eyewitnesses to what we are telling you, prophecy of Scripture comes by God’s Spirit, not man’s will.
we were eyewitnesses to what we are telling you, prophecy of Scripture comes by God’s Spirit, not man’s will.
carried along = led to, guided into
God spoke through prophets in the past, in last days by His Son.
Hebrews 1:1–3 CSB
1 Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
God spoke through prophets in the past, in last days by His Son.
living and active
Hebrews 4:12 CSB
12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
living and active
Do we try to find some individual meaning or inspiration in the words of the bible that were not meant to be there?
Bible trivia. Rolling the bible dice. Pull out the Scripture Sticker and paste it over some random or not-so-random situation.
Be careful to stick to context of individual verses or passages and hold true to the intended meaning.

Study the Bible Together

Example of the people of Berea searched the Scriptures to make sure what Paul was teaching was accurate.
Acts 17:11 CSB
11 The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
the people of Berea searched the Scriptures to make sure what Paul was teaching was accurate.
Example of Hebrews - encourage each other and continue to gather
Hebrews 10:24–25 CSB
24 And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
encourage each other and continue to gather
Example of the early church gathered together to hear the teaching
Acts 2:42 CSB
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
Acts 2:46 CSB
46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,
,
Example of Paul’s message to the Colossian church - teach admonish
gathered together to hear the teaching
Colossians 3:16 CSB
16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
teach admonish
Several thoughts here – study together, interpret together. Not only taught one man’s interpretation, and not open to any individual’s whim and desire. All together discovering God’s truth and its application.

Build Our Lives On the Truth

Parable of the firm foundation,
Matthew 7:24–28 CSB
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
Parable of the firm foundation, build on the solid Rock. Hear the words of Jesus and does them.
build on the solid Rock. Hear the words of Jesus and does them.
Does this mean all we do is focused on adhering to the rules and commands?
Or does it mean Jesus is our foundation and using the written word to point us to the living Word.
Luke 11:28 CSB
28 He said, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
hear and keep
hear and keep
James 1:22 CSB
22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
hear AND do
hear AND do
Psalm 119:105 CSB
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
lamp and light, keep from falling and gives direction. Study
lamp and light, keep from falling and gives direction. Study

Conclusion

We hold up this book we call the Bible as the top authority and want to force others to follow it. We lift up this book and want to force it back into schools and the government. We politicize the Bible.
Without Jesus, without God’s Spirit, the Bible is a book. A book that doesn’t make much sense. Is hard to figure out.
We follow Jesus, we carry the Living Word with us wherever we go. People will see Jesus and be drawn to Him more quickly by observing your life than be having a book thrown at them.
Do we then neglect the written word? Absolutely not. But let’s keep it in proper perspective.

Big Idea: We believe God’s written word which guides us to His Living Word.

Big Idea: We believe God’s written word which guides us to His Living Word.

What About You?

Do you believe the Bible?
Do you believe the Bible is God’s written word? Revelation, authority, and inspiration
Are you thankful to have this precious gift in your language?
Do you obey/follow the Bible as a rule book or as the guide that points you to the Living Word?
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your reading, studying, understanding, and application or living out of God’s Word.
Don’t neglect studying God’s Word together. Sunday School. Home Group. D-Group.
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