Rooted in Scripture

Introduction

Good morning church!

I’ve got something special with me this morning - show journal - this is a journal that my wife gave me on the day that we got married - expound

Words matter.

Some words carry a deep emotional significance - like a love letter or for me the ones in this journal

…or the first time my daughter said “dada”

Some words are more sad - like the last words of a loved one before they passed away

…or a doctor saying, “it’s cancer”

Some words carry with them an authority - like when a parent says, “go to your room” or “you’re grounded”

…or a police officer saying “you have the right to remain silent”

Some words have a very clear meaning - like, “this shirt is red” - we can all agree on that right?

Some words have a less clear meaning - like, “can you turn the air down?” to some people that means hotter, to the correct people it means colder

Some words mean different things to different people- like when I tell my wife I’ll be ready in 5 minutes, it means I’ll be ready in 5 minutes… whereas when my wife says she’ll be ready in 5 minutes well… you get my point

All of this to say… words matter

But what words matter? We live in a world where we are getting bombarded by words from every angle - news, social media, music, TV shows, etc.

How do we know who to listen to?

Well… I believe there’s at least four things:

The authority of who says the words

The relationship we have with who says the words

The truthfulness of the words

The goodness of the words

And all of these things point to God’s Words as the words we ought to listen to above all else

So… we are going to continue in our “Back to Basics” study by looking at our second core value, “Rooted in Scripture”

Prayer

God’s Word through the Word

Genesis 1:1–3 (CSB)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Everything came into existence by God’s word

Genesis 1:26–27 (CSB)

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

God’s words gave us life

Genesis 2:15–17 (CSB)

The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

God’s words not only give life but they sustain life

Genesis 3:1 (CSB)

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The first temptation came by way of questioning and twisting the words of God

Genesis 3:2–3 (CSB)

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ”

The first sin came by way of not knowing the words of God and disobeying the words of God

But this is only the beginning

You have the flood and then people scatter and speak different languages - all because they didn’t listen and obey the word of God

Then in Genesis 12 God speaks to Abraham and he listens - it begins the people of God

Then in Exodus God speaks to Moses and he listens to God - he leads people out of Egypt, goes up onto a mountain and receives what? the word of God - the 10 commandments in Exodus 12

This then leads to:

Exodus 24:3 (CSB)

Moses came and told the people all the commands [words] of the Lord and all the ordinances. Then all the people responded with a single voice, “We will do everything that the Lord has commanded [spoken].”

From this moment on - for thousands of years - people have gathered to hear the words of God

In...

Deuteronomy 4:1–2 (CSB)

“Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to follow, so that you may live, enter, and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you.

jumping down to verse 5, it continues

Deuteronomy 4:5–8 (CSB)

Look, I have taught you statutes and ordinances as the Lord my God has commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to possess. Carefully follow them, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the peoples. When they hear about all these statutes, they will say, ‘This great nation is indeed a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god near to it as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation has righteous statutes and ordinances like this entire law I set before you today?

Do you see this church? What is the primary identifier for God’s people? That God speaks to them! And that they listen!

Which is why it says...

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 (CSB)

These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.

They put the words everywhere! It was to be the sole purpose of their lives - to know God’s words and to obey God’s words

But people were not… which led to sinfulness and wickedness among God’s people

So God raised up prophets to speak the word of God to the people

Look at...

1 Samuel 3:1 (CSB)

The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.

People were listening to the word of God

1 Samuel 3:21 (CSB)

The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there he revealed himself to Samuel by his word.

God spoke His word to Samuel and Samuel shared it with God’s people

But do people listen to the prophets? No.

And so God’s people fall into a vicious cycle of sin

But they did have the occasional bright spot - take King Josiah for example

2 Chronicles 34:14–15 (CSB)

When they brought out the silver that had been deposited in the Lord’s temple, the priest Hilkiah found the book of the law of the Lord written by the hand of Moses. Consequently, Hilkiah told the court secretary Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law in the Lord’s temple,” and he gave the book to Shaphan.

2 Chronicles 34:18–21 (CSB)

Then the court secretary Shaphan told the king, “The priest Hilkiah gave me a book,” and Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes. Then he commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, the court secretary Shaphan, and the king’s servant Asaiah, “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that was found. For great is the Lord’s wrath that is poured out on us because our ancestors have not kept the word of the Lord in order to do everything written in this book.”

King Josiah then gathers the people and begins reading aloud the words of God and God’s people see great prosperity

Everything hinges on whether or not we obey God’s word

Let’s look at one final example in the Old Testament

After Josiah, people once again turn from God’s word and Jerusalem and the temple end up destroyed and the people in exile

But God brings His people back to rebuild the temple, and guess what is the first thing they do

Nehemiah 8:1–8 (CSB)

all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel. On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law. The scribe Ezra stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places. They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

Expound

Church… we’ve just looked at centuries of history of God’s creation and the mark of His people is the listening to and obeying of His words

They created life, sustain life, and give meaning to life

And this is just the Old Testament!

What happens when we turn the pages to the New Testament?

John 1:1 (CSB)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 (CSB)

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is called the word of God

But what did Jesus come to do?

Mark 1:38–39 (CSB)

And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.” He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Jesus came as the word of God to preach the word of God

That is why Jesus came

…and then to die on a cross for those who have disobeyed God’s word

And all who believe in Him will be saved

He then raises from the grave, ascends into heaven, and sends the Holy Spirit down to fill us

And what is the first thing the people do when they are filled with the Holy Spirit? They speak the word of God

Acts 2:41 (CSB)

So those who accepted his message [word] were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.

And then what do they build their church on?

Acts 2:42 (CSB)

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

And let’s look at the history of this church

Acts 4:4 (CSB)

But many of those who heard the message [word] believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Acts 6:7 (CSB)

So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 8:4 (CSB)

So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word.

Acts 10:44 (CSB)

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message [word].

Acts 12:24 (CSB)

But the word of God spread and multiplied.

Acts 13:48–49 (CSB)

When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

Acts 18:11 (CSB)

He stayed there [Corinth] a year and a half, teaching the word of God among them.

Acts 19:10 (LEB)

[In Ephesus] ...this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 19:20 (CSB)

In this way the word of the Lord spread and prevailed.

And then check this out...

Acts 20:7–12 (CSB)

On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were assembled, and a young man named Eutychus was sitting on a window sill and sank into a deep sleep as Paul kept on talking. When he was overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. But Paul went down, bent over him, embraced him, and said, “Don’t be alarmed, because he’s alive.” After going upstairs, breaking the bread, and eating, Paul talked a long time until dawn. Then he left. They brought the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.

Expound

Since the creation of the world and you and I all the way through the existence of His church - God’s words have been at the center - knowing them and obeying them

As a church… we have called this being, “Rooted in Scripture”

So, I want to briefly share what this means, why we should be, and how we can be

What does it mean to be “Rooted in Scripture?”

Let’s overkill this analogy for a moment and take a step back to 6th grade science

What purposes/functions does a root have? 4

Absorb water and minerals

Water and minerals provide life to the plant - God’s word provide life to His people. And we absorb Him through His word

1 Timothy 4:15 says, “Practice these things, immerse [absorb] yourself in them...”

Anchor the plant body

God’s word anchors His people in the midst of trials and temptations - expound

Hebrews 6:19 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...”

Store minerals and nutrients

We store God’s word for times of need

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored your word in my heart that I might not sin against you...”

Transfer minerals and nutrients to other parts of the plant body

We share God’s word with other believers and non-believers

Matthew 28:18-19 says, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you...”

So… in short, to be “Rooted in Scripture” means:

Absorbing the word

Anchoring ourselves to the word

Storing the word

Sharing the word

Are you “Rooted in Scripture?”

Maybe your answer is no… and maybe it’s because you don’t really feel like you need to. Well… let’s look at why we should be “Rooted in Scripture”

Why should we be “Rooted in Scripture?”

First of all the history of God’s word from Genesis to the early church should be as convincing a reason as any.

But let me answer briefly in another way. In my intro, I proposed four thoughts that can help us determine whose words to listen to and whose words we place the most value. They are:

The authority of who says the words

There is no greater authority than the God of the universe - the one who created you and rules over you as definer of good and evil, as well as righteous judge

Psalm 135:6 says, “All that Yahweh desires, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.”

The relationship we have with who says the words

There is exists no better, personal, intimate opportunity for relationship than what we have available to us by God

Jeremiah 9:24 says, “But only in this must the one who boasts boast, that he has insight, and that he knows me, that I am Yahweh, showing loyal love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight,” declares Yahweh.”

The truthfulness of the words

No one’s words are as true as God’s

Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of humankind, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? And has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”

Hebrews 6:18 says, “in order that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge may have powerful encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us,”

The goodness of the words

No words are better than God’s

Psalm 119:103-105 says, “How smooth are your words to my palate, more than honey in my mouth. From your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

All of this… leads to a very important final question - “How can we be rooted in Scripture?”

How can we be “Rooted in Scripture?”

I have a few practical applications. But I want to share them in the same way we talked about “The Mission matters Most” last week

Celebrate how the church has done this

Discern how God would have our chruch continue to do this

Celebrate how we have done this individually

Discern how God would have us continue to do this

Church Celebrations

Studies

Bible in a Year study

4-week Missions study

5-week Easter Prophecy study

16-week study of 1 Corinthians

7-week Parable study

6-week Core Value study

2-week Christmas study

Many stand alones along the way

Interactive Discussion Questions

Church Goals

What does the Bible say about… cards

Personal Celebrations?

Expound

Personal Goals?

Bible Reading Plans

Communal Reading

Scripture Memory

Learning as you share

Closing Thoughts/Invitation

Holy Spirit Led