Sermon Tone Analysis

Embracing the Bible

 

*/2 Tim.

3:10 through 2 Tim.

3:17 (NIV)/*

10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.

Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

*Introduction: *When we accept the Bible as our book, there is a lot that goes along with it.

If you embrace the Bible, you had better be ready.

!

I.        If You Embrace the Bible, Be Ready For Trials.

!! A.      Engage in Serious Conflict

~*~*~*A young Christian who worked for a rich man was always telling his employer that Satan was constantly battling with him, but he always won over Satan.

The master made fun of him, telling him that Satan never bothered him.

How was that?

The young Christian could not answer him.

One day, however, they went hunting together.

The employer shot at some wild ducks.

Some he killed, and some he just wounded.

"Run," the employer said, "and catch the wounded ones first before they run away."

The young Christian came back laughing.

He had the answer to the big question.

"You know, sir," he said, "why Satan does not tempt you?

Because you are spiritually dead, just like those ducks.

He goes after the live ones, ones like me."

!! B.      Enjoy a Stable Conduct

~*~*~*  "The Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't."

     - Unknown

 

~*~*~*   Who can stand alone?

A minister traveling on a Continental train was the sole occupant of a compartment, save for a young man reading a newspaper.

The youth was also a Christian, but so weak was his faith, and so many were his temptations, that he told the minister he did not think he would be able to stand life a week longer.

The minister took from his pocket a Bible and a penknife, and said, "See, I will make this penknife stand up on the cover of this Bible, in spite of the rocking of the train."

The young man, thinking this was some conjuring trick, watched the proceeding with interest, saying, "I am afraid that it will not be very easy to do that, sir."

   "But," said the minister, "I am doing it."

"Oh, but you are holding it," retorted his fellow passenger.

"Why, of course!

Did you ever hear of a penknife standing up on its end without being held up?"  "I see; you mean that I cannot stand unless Christ holds me.

Thank you for reminding me." --Sunday School Times

 

~*~*~*   After the battle of Bunker Hill, a courier rode breathlessly up to General Washington at Cambridge and announced the news.

The great general asked one question--only one.

He did not inquire who commanded, nor how many were killed, nor even whether the British were finally repulsed.

He simply asked: "Did the militia stand fire?"

The messenger said they did.

"Then we shall win our independence," he replied.

--Topical Illustrations

!! C.      Endure with Strong Confidence

~*~*~*Not all things that come to us are, in themselves, good.

It was not good for Joseph to be hated by his brethren, put in a pit, sold into Egypt, lied on by a wicked woman, cast into prison.

No, these things were not good; but Joseph maintained a right attitude toward his trials.

Our attitude will make us or break us.

If we are the Lord's and true, we may rest assured that He will work all that comes for His glory.

Whatever comes, comes by His permission or direction.

He either sends it or permits it.

Whatever He sends or permits, He could prevent.

Since He does not prevent it, we may rest assured that He will, ultimately, work it for His glory.

and our good.

By William Moses Tidwell, "Effective Illustrations."

!

II.

If You Embrace the Bible, Be Ready For Training.

!! A.      With Continuous Work

  Paderewski, the great pianist, once said, "If I don't practice for one day, I notice it.

If I don't practice for two days, my friends know it; and if I don't practice for three days, the whole world notices it."

!! B.      With Convincing Workers

                        ~*~*~* Hypocrite:  Someone who complains that there is too much                             wickedness and violence on his VCR.

Adapted from Reader's                                      Digest, October 1991

 

~*~*~*There is the story of the man who came down from the North Carolina mountains.

He was all dressed up and carrying his Bible.

A friend saw him and asked, "Elias, what's happening?

Where are you going all dressed up like that?"  Elias said, "I've been hearing about New Orleans.

I hear that there is a lot of free-runnin' liquor and a lot of gamblin' and a lot of real good naughty shows."

The friend looked him over and said, "But Elias, why are you carrying your Bible under your arm?"

And Elias replied, "Well, if it's as good as they say it is, I might stay over until Sunday.

!! C.      With Capable Weapons

~*~*~*Ralph C. Norton, who was the Director of Personal Work for the Chapman-Alexander Missions and Director of the Belgian Gospel Mission, was talking with some friends about the supreme work of winning men one by one, in which God has used him so

wonderfully.

When they noticed the almost exclusive place he

gave to the Bible in personal work, one asked him: "What do you

do Mr. Norton, in cases where the unsaved man does not accept

the Bible as having any authority?"

"Well, if I had a fine

Damascus sword with a keen double-edged blade I would not sheath it in a fight just because the other man said he did not believe it would cut."

--Sunday School Times.

!

III.

If You Embrace the Bible, Be Ready for Truth.

!! A.      Revelation of God

~*~*~*After a little girl had prayed about what gift would be best

for her father's birthday, she felt led to buy a Bible.

She