PURPOSE
Establish the scriptures as the standard for our lives
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE
- Greatest selling book in history
- 66 books (39 in Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament)
- Written over a period of about 1500 years
- Written by 40+ authors with various backgrounds (shepherd, fisherman, king, doctor, theologian, tax collector, etc.)
- Contains dozens of prophecies that have been fulfilled
- Historically accurate
2 TIMOTHY 3:14-17
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- Wise for salvation – The Bible teaches us how to find salvation.
- God-breathed – The Bible is from God himself, communicated through chosen men (Paul, John, Luke, etc.).
- Equipped for every good work – Scripture should be used to teach, correct, rebuke, and train us in every aspect of our life: marriage, parenting, righteousness, decision-making, relationships, etc.
HEBREWS 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
- Alive and active – The Bible applies to our lives today as it did when written.
- It judges – The Word reveals our hearts, our motivations, and our attitudes.
- Uncovered and laid bare – God can see everything in our hearts.
MATTHEW 15:1-9
Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”
3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’[a] and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[b] 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’[c]”
- Rules taught by men – Many grow up learning and practicing religious traditions, some of which contradict scripture (they are “in vain”).
- Scripture first – Following scripture is more important than honouring tradition.
- Hearts are far from me – God wants our hearts, not just lip service. Insisting on following traditions that break God’s commands shows that our hearts are far from him.
JOHN 8:31-32
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
- Hold to Jesus’ teachings – We are expected to “abide” in Jesus’ teachings.
- The truth will set you free – Jesus’ teachings are a source of truth and freedom.
JOHN 12:47-50
47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
- I did not come to judge the world – Jesus came to bring hope, grace, and God’s word to a lost world.
- There is a judge for the one who does not accept my words – We are allowed to make our decisions now. Judgment will come at the last day. Jesus’ words will be the standard.
- The Father commanded me to say – Jesus’ words are God’s words. They speak in unison.
- His command leads to eternal life – The hope in following God’s word is salvation.
ACTS 17:10-11
10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
- Q: What qualities listed here made the Bereans noble?
- Eagerness – They were eager to hear God’s word.
- Examined daily – they looked thoroughly at scripture daily.
- Pursuit of truth – They did not just accept what the religious leaders were saying; they checked the scriptures themselves.
TAKE THE “BEREAN CHALLENGE” AND IMITATE THESE THREE CHARACTERISTICS:
- Be eager to learn
- Examine God’s Word daily
- Search for Truth
ARE YOU WILLING TO:
- Q: Accept the Bible as the standard for your life?
- Q: Humbly let the Bible expose your heart and make necessary changes.
- Q: Eagerly study God’s word every day?
CHALLENGE
- Start reading the gospel of Mark.