Bible Engagement

October 9th 2022

Series:Organic Disciples

Sermon Title:Bible Engagement

Handout:Auctionless Auction Booklet

Topic:Helping people understand the intimate, often misunderstood, relationship between Discipleship (Growing in Jesus) and Evangelism (Going with Jesus).

Key Passages: Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 2: 46-47, Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 5:27-28, Psalm 119:97, Psalm 119:105, James 1:22, Mark 10:45, 2 Peter 3:9

Sermon Blurb: The Bible is the Holy Spirit-breathed truth of heaven. Jesus is the Living Word of God, and while He walked this earth, He loved the written Word. He knew, quoted it, and let the Scriptures speak. As His followers, we need to know, love, and follow what the Bible says.

Grace Campus: Adam Grill / Erik Dine

Ebenezer Campus: Keith Stewart / Bob Wielenga

Sermon:

Teacher A - Grace Campus - Adam

EB Campus - Keith

Welcome to Family Church!

FAMILY MOMENT

If you’re new or newer to Family, we want you to know that…

EVERY year at Family Church, we take the entire month of October and talk about God’s mission and how we are a part of that mission!

We highlight what we are doing in missions both locally and globally!

And we want you to get excited about missions and serving people!

PAUSE

And….THIS year, for the FIRST time....missions month is NOT just ONE month!

THIS year it is going to be TWO months, an 8-week journey together.

PAUSE

So, let me explain the concept for this series.

We’re calling this series Organic Disciples.

It’s all about Growing in our love for God AND sharing our faith with others!

Jesus said in

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Jesus was talking to His disciples and giving them a snapshot of how to be an Organic Disciple.

Write this down

Organic Disciples are committed to grow in Jesus and go with Jesus.

Repeat

In case you missed last week’s message, I encourage you to go back and listen to it… because we laid a foundation for this series

But let me quickly recap for those who are new today…

Last week, we asked 3 Epic Questions which revealed how Organic Disciples grow in their faith in Jesus… what we call Discipleship

AND Organic Disciples go to others to share their faith… what we call Evangelism.

If you’re taking notes, write this down as well…

Discipleship is about becoming more like Jesus. Evangelism is about bringing people to Jesus.

Repeat

An Organic Disciple will do both.

An Organic Disciple will strive to become more like Jesus and NOT be afraid to share with others the Good News of Jesus with others.

PAUSE

From that foundation, we’re going to learn 7 things about Organic Disciples.

Or you could call these things spiritual maturity markers.

OR 7 indicators of REAL Organic Disciple of Jesus.

Let’s put those up on the screens…….

And our focus today will be on #1

7 Indicators of an Organic Disciple of Jesus: 1. Bible Engagement 2. Passionate Prayer 3. Wholehearted Worship 4. Humble Service 5. Joyful Generosity 6. Consistent Community 7. Organic Outreach

Over the next 7 weeks, we will address one of the points on that list.

We will look at these markers from three different angles.

The 1st angle we will look at each marker is through the lens of Jesus and the example we can see from the life Jesus lived.

The 2nd angle will be SUPER practically and look at each marker and how we can live more like Jesus in that area of our life

The 3rd angle we will ponder how each marker can help us in the real world with leading people toward Jesus.

Teacher B

Grace Campus – Erik

EB Campus - Bob

So, let’s dive in and look at this first marker of Spiritual Maturity

Let’s begin with

What can we learn from Jesus about Bible Engagement?

Who knows what is the #1 selling book of all time

The Bible.

The Bible is the bestselling book in ALL of human history and continues to be the best seller month after month, year after year.

Many estimate that over 100 million Bibles are printed each year…. 20 million are sold in the United States alone!

It’s been estimated that somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 million copies of the Bibles have been printed to date!

In 2020, online bookstores reported record sales of the Bible!!!

And electronic Bibles are now being downloaded in GREAT numbers! Just one electronic Bible app was downloaded over 600 million times in just one year!

Interestingly, the Bible is also reported to be the most shop-lifted book… which is why at Family Church, we prefer to just “give it away”.

Don’t rob us, we will gladly give you a Bible

PAUSE

Clearly, the Bible is valued and cherished.

And the reason the Bible is so valuable and timeless is because the Bible is literally God’s Word!!

PAUSE

No one cherished the Bible more than Jesus!

If you are filling notes in, write this down:

Jesus loved Scripture and memorized Scripture.

Repeat

When you study the life of Jesus… He knew the Bible,

Jesus quoted the Bible.

Jesus let the Bible speak to Him.

Jesus let the Bible speak through Him.

Jesus embraced the Word of God all throughout His life!

PAUSE

Let me show some examples in your Bible.

Turn to Luke 2 in your Bible….

As you are getting there let me bring you up to speed on what you are about to see.

At this point in the life of Jesus, he is 12.

So, Jesus is a middle school kid.

Let’s see how Jesus has embraced the Bible by middle school.....

Luke 2: 46-47 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

At 12-year-old Jesus is discussing the Bible with teachers and priests or pastors!!!!

And it says EVERYONE was amazed by Jesus’ insight and comprehension of DEEP Biblical topics!!!!

Think about the parents, grandparents, guardians in the room.

Do your middle school-aged kids know their Bibles?

Do they love their Bibles?

Do they know any deep topics at all?

Do you think your kids could sit with me and have a theological conversation?

PAUSE

Now move in your Bibles to Matthew 4.

Here we will see how Jesus handled as an adult.

And it is very interesting how Jesus was able to not fall into temptation and sin....

Matthew 4:1-11 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

This same temptation pattern happens 2 more times and both times Jesus responds by quoting the Bible!

Remember what we said just a minute ago!

At a YOUNG age, Jesus learned His Bible.

So as Jesus got older, he KNEW how to respond during times of trial BASED on the BIBLE not what culture teaches!

PAUSE

Let’s keep looking at the power of knowing the Bible in Jesus’s life...

Flip over to Matthew 5 and let’s look at Jesus’ teaching from the Bible!

Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

I would encourage you to keep reading this passage later today.

You will see 5 times Jesus references the Old Testament of our Bibles in his teaching right here!

Jesus upheld the authority of the Bible and affirmed Scripture!

PAUSE

Let me show you one more… turn to Matthew 27…

In this passage, Jesus is hanging on the cross and dying for the sins of the world...

And while he is suffering and dying, he says…

Matthew 27:46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

What is this?

What is He saying?

Jesus is quoting Scripture…

Jesus is quoting Psalm 22.

Jesus loved the Scriptures so much that while dying on the cross, what comes out of Jesus’s mouth is the Word of God!

Jesus lived and died by the Word of God!

The Word of God literally defined Jesus and guided everything about Jesus’ life!

Jesus loved the Bible!!!!

PAUSE

What about you?

Do you love the Scripture?

What naturally comes out of you…

When you’re facing spiritual battles?

When you’re making BIG decisions?

When you are squeezed by life what comes out of your mouth?

PAUSE

For many of us, tough times produce anger or rage… fear... desperation… hopelessness.... discouragement

For Jesus, in His toughest times, when He was pressed and crushed, what came out of Him?

Scripture!!!!!!

PAUSE

Jesus loved the Scriptures… do you?... Do you love the Bible?

I would encourage you to really ponder our next point....

Do I love the Scriptures like Jesus did?

Repeat

As Jesus’ followers, we should cherish His Word.....

We should view reading the Bible as privilege, not a chore

Teacher A

Grace Campus - Adam

EB Campus - Keith

Let us look at 3 steps to Bible Engagement

3 steps to Bible Engagement 1. Choose to love the Bible

Repeat

And that word choose is intentional.

You have free will...

So, you can choose to love and engage with your Bible or not.

If is YOUR choice and yours alone.

Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

Do you love the Bible like Jesus loved the Bible?

Love is choosing to cherish someone or something and to commit time and effort to it!

We need to cherish the Word of God and commit to reading it.

Think like marriage...

Most of us don’t fall in love at first site...

But as we spend more time together we fall in love.

And that love builds and we get married!

In the same way you need to spend time in the Word of God...the Bible...to fall in love with the Word of God!

And that naturally leads to our second step......

3 Steps to Bible Engagement:

2. Seek to know the Bible

Repeat

Did you know Billy Graham said,

“If you are ignorant of God’s Word, you will always be ignorant of God’s will.” – Billy Graham

The Bible says the same thing....

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

We need to get to know the Bible, the whole story!

There are so many incredible tools and resources today!

Get a great commentary or study guide to learn and explore God’s Word

Get into a great Bible study or small group to share with one another insights and ask questions

Jump in on our daily bible reading plan here at Family Church and read through the Bible in a year!

Keep bringing your kids to a church where they learn and even memorize Bible verses

Start doing a devotional with your kids before bedtime

Keep sending your teens to youth groups where they can hear the Word of God

Don’t miss church for weak reasons but show up

Start a daily journal based on Scripture and what comes to you…

Get to know the Bible and it will change your life!

Charles H. Spurgeon said this...

“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”― Charles H. Spurgeon

And that leads to our last step...

3 Steps to Bible Engagement

3. Commit to following the Bible

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Talk about the balance of information and transformation.

We need to know what the Bible says, but also DO what the Bible teaches us.

A lot of people try to shape the Bible to fit their lifestyles or thinking.

We sadly see that too often in our culture today.

We try to make the Bible fit our preferred worldview vs let our worldview be shaped by the Bible...

Church...you cannot be like those people!

We need to invite the Word of God to shape our lives, actions, and thinking as revealed in the Bible.

PAUSE

BUT the Bible is not just for you.

It is not just for Christians

It is not something that you start reading, or learning, or utilizing AFTER you become a Christian

The Bible is ALSO for the world!

This is where discipleship and evangelism begin to crossover!!!

Write this down

Going deeper into the Bible should take me deeper into the world.

Repeat

Our world is in desperate need of some good news!

We have the best news of all time… and it’s given to us in our Bibles!

Think about what the Bible teaches.

…you are loved

…God is near

…You have a purpose

….Your life has meaning

…You can belong in a family

…God wants to lead your life toward good destinations

…You can have joy and peace in this life

…God is preparing a place for you forever

This, and more, is the Good News that God has given in the Bible!

All of the Bible is filled with hope, blessing, and truth.

Teacher B

Grace Campus – Erik

EB Campus - Bob

The Bible also gives us a mission… God’s mission

Humankind longs for a mission… for meaning and purpose

And the Bible reveals our purpose and meaning!

The Bible even reveals the heart of God.

Look at Mark 10

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a random for many”

And then 2 Peter

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God’s heart is for people to be saved and brought into the family of God through Jesus Christ.

Following the teaching of the Bible helps us to shine in a murky world…

And that’s exactly what Jason & Kristyna Schuring (pronounced SKUR-ring) here is a photo of them if you have never seen them.

They live and work in the Amazon Jungle.

Jason and Kristyna met on the mission field because their parents were both missionaries and on top of that their grandparents were missionaries as well.

You might say that God’s heart for reaching people runs through their blood.

PAUSE

They live and work among people groups who have never heard anything about Jesus!

They are actively helping translate the Bible into local tribal languages that have no Bible.

These newly translated Bibles are then read onto solar-powered audio players so that people can listen to God’s word even when they can’t read it!

They are helping people begin to love, learn, and follow the Bible.

PAUSE

Over the past couple of years, the Brazilian government and cultural anthropologists have been working hard to get missionaries like the Schurings kicked off of these jungle reservations.

But God has been working behind to keep them there!

And we are helping the Schurings do that through a ministry we launched with them called Tekoa.

Because see the Brazilian government does NOT like Jesus.

Bu the do like companies that drill wells and provide medical help to indigenous people.

So we setup Tekoa, a non-religious company that drills wells in remote villages and builds Medical Clinics.

And the government now loves us and endorses the work!!

But see….the wells need to be serviced and we need to teach people how to use them….

So now….we can send in missionaries… to all these places to bring no only water….

But the LIVING water of Jesus!!!!!!

Pretty amazing!!!!

PAUSE

Last year we helped kick off the ministry of Tekoa by raising funds for the first 6 wells to be drilled in this area.

Not only did we raise the money for 6 wells – check out these pictures …SLIDE WITH 6 WELLS THAT HAVE BEEN DRILLED

But because of your generosity, we also were able to provide the startup funds for the ministry and help build the new administrative office, check out those pictures

PICTURE OF STM WORKING ON CONTAINER

which was constructed

PRIMED CONTAINER

out of an old shipping container.

PAINTED CONTAINER LIFTED UP ONSITE WITH WINDOWS INSTALLED

Last year, our Auctionless Auction was so successful that we’re doing it again this year.

PAUSE

Look through the Auctionless Auction booklet that you’ve been given this morning on your way in.

You’ll see a number of items – but don’t worry we’ll look at each of these items over the next couple of weeks.

Today I’d like us to just focus on Pages 2 & 3 you’ll see information about Bibles.

We want to raise enough money to put 2,000 Bibles into the hands of people all around the world.

Which is around one Bible for every man, woman, and child who is currently attending Family Church!!!!

We need Solar Powered Audio Bibles in Brazil, the Congo, and Kenya.

We need Student Study Bibles in El Salvador with our partner Orphan Helpers.

We need Bibles that can be given away as gifts, just like we do here at Family Church, in our churches in El Salvador and Kenya.

PAUSE

Our auction runs quite simply.

In your Auctionless Auction Book you will see an Envelope.

This envelope will accept cash, checks, and even allow you to enter your debit or credit card information.

Fill it as full as you can, check the box that says BIBLES and place the envelope in the Large Lighthouse in the Lobby.

I’ll make you this promise right now.

If you use that envelope this weekend to help us buy Bibles we will give you a brand new envelope to use next week so that you can continue to play along with all of our great Auctionless Auction items throughout the next 7 weeks.

PAUSE

Here’s this week’s Life Application.

LIFE APPLICATION: Are you engaging the Bible and is the Bible guiding your life? Ask God to reveal one way you can begin engaging the Bible like never before and make a commitment to do something about it.

This could be a small group, bible study, or just getting back to reading the Bible daily.

There are so many resources, and if you need help finding them…ask one of the pastors.