Sermon Tone Analysis

Our Preaching theme for 2022 is “Begin Again”

This year we are going to be revisiting and refocusing on some foundational things.

We are beginning with our values.

When we began to formulate a vision for the church, we began with values.

Vision comes from values.

What is really important to us?

What are our priorities?

Our vision must reflect our values, so we begin with values.

You may be listening to this teaching sometime in the future and I hope that while our themes and perhaps even our vision statement have changed, our values are pretty much the same.

Our second value is the Word of God, or the Bible.

2. We value the Word of God, the Bible, as our authority both for teaching and for living lives that please God.

We believe that the Bible, is inspired, accurate, understandable, and faithfully shows us God’s revelation of Himself.

(2 Tim.

3:14-17, 2 Pet 1:20-21, Rom.

15:4, Heb 4:12-13)

Why the Bible?

Because it is the Word of God - it’s God’s self-revelation.

It records and recounts for us God’s dealings with humans culminating in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is not the only way that we can know God, because we also know Him by the Spirit.

But it is the way that we can know that we know God.

Because the Spirit and the Word are in agreement.

The Spirit is subjective, but the Word is objective.

The Spirit and the Word work together to communicate from God to us.

All Word and no Spirit, we dry up;

all Spirit and no Word, we blow up;

both Word and Spirit, we grow up

David Watson - Anglican Priest and pioneer in the Charismatic movement

We will talk more about the Spirit next week, but this week we will focus on the Word of God

I want to encourage us to read the Bible, to help us understand the Bible, but ultimately to live the Bible.

Read the Bible.

Let’s begin by reading a popular scripture when it comes to biblical authority, but in it’s context.

2 Timothy 3:14–17 (ESV)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

So Paul is writing to his Apostle-in-training Timothy

Timothy is used to having Paul around to follow.

But now Paul is anticipating possibly being martyred soon.

What is Timothy going to rely on if not Paul?

You have the scriptures and you have your experience.

You have the Word and you have the Spirit.

The Word and the Spirit compliment and confirm one another.

In fact the Word is ‘breathed’ by the Spirit.

Paul is saying to Timothy, “everything you need to know is already in writing.”

You don’t know it if you don’t read it.

I know this is profoundly simple, but it’s the place to begin.

The problem that most people have with the Bible is that they simply don’t read it.

A pastor had dinner at the home of a couple in his church.

After he left, the wife said to the husband, “ I think he stole our spoon!”

This bothered her for a while.

A year later the couple had the pastor for dinner again.

Unable to resist, the wife asked, “did you steal our spoon last year?”

The pastor replied, “No, I put it inside your Bible.”

I don’t suppose anyone wants to have me for dinner after hearing that?

But let me ask, how long has it been since you read your Bible?

We’re at the beginning of the year, so if it was your New Year’s resolution your probably good.

I’l be honest, sometimes I forget too.

Sure, I read the Bible all the time when I’m preaching and teaching, but just reading the Bible to hear from God for myself - sometimes I miss doing that.

It’s best to have some kind of regular habit of bible reading.

Maybe its a reading list that you check off.

Maybe it’s a devotional bible or bible reading plan.

You can download an app on your phone.

Faithlife study bible has reading plans.

You Version is popular.

Right now we are using The Bible Project App.

Having a specific time and place is helpful.

Doing it together with someone else can make it more interesting.

It doesn’t benefit you if you don’t use it.

When Paul writes to Timothy about remembering the scripture, he specifically says that the scripture is important because it is useful.

It’s not useful unless you use it for what it is for.

Sometime we use the Bible as a “good luck charm.”

We may keep one on the shelf, the mantle or the coffee table for looks.

We put verses on plaques around the house.

On my first visit to Haiti, I notices that most of the taxis, in fact most of the cars have scripture verses or Christian slogans on them.

I’m thinking to myself, most of these people are Christians!

Why is this place such a mission field?

My host, Pastor Leslie replied, “Because for most of these people the Bible is nothing more than superstition.

It is a good luck charm that they wear so that God will protect them.

The Bible is merely substituted for their old pagan beliefs.

I’m not saying that we should put scripture in prominent places where we see it, but It might be helpful to think about how we are using the scripture?

How do we properly use the scripture?

Paul give Timothy four examples or four steps:

For teaching - are we learning from the scripture?

Come to the text with curiosity and the willingness to learn.

Sometimes I like to read in a different translation, just so I don’t skip over what I think I know because I’ve heard it before.

For reproof - are we willing to admit when we see that we are wrong?

Are you willing to be challenged?

What do you do with a passage that you don’t like?

Do you skip over it, dismiss it or embrace it?

For correction - beyond conviction of sin, we see the right way to do things.

If you actually read the scripture that you know that God is not into condemnation.

His commands are meant to be helpful and to bring life.

So we look beyond “what not to do” for “what to do.”

For training - we build on what we know and refine our understanding.

There will always be more to learn and more to know.

But the deeper understanding comes as we practice what we already know.

I have read through the Bible multiple times and I am still learning.

I am still learning because I am still growing.

There are somethings I see now that I didn’t see before because I understand more now than I did the last time I read it.

We simply don’t see what we don’t comprehend.

If you really want to understand the bible, try doing what it says!