Purpose of the Scripture - Series Introduction

Introduction

The Bible

The Bible is a collection of writings gathered together documenting the interactions and words between God and Humans throughout history. The Bible is a collection of writings spanning from 1500 BC - 100 AD. The message is simple enough for a child and so deep that scholars over the centuries have yet to probe the depths. There is an incredible life changing message of the Gospel and daily application for personal change. The Bible is unlike any other book in history.

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

“Some people like to read so many [Bible] chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up in your very soul, till it saturates your heart!” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Sit and meditate of the Bible and through the Meditation and Holy Spirit allow the Bible to transform our thinking and life.

Mike Winger - adding more time of prayer and meditation. We as people used to fill our time with bible reading, meditation and prayer. Now we fill our time on the phone/tablets playing games, watching videos, scrolling facebook/pintrest, or anything else to fill empty space.

“The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” – A.W. Tozer

One of the saddest things I hear is that people of God have not read the whole Bible. I am sure the reasons are many: “to confusing, to difficult, to boring, to busy, etc”

I would like to show us 4 reasons why we should dedicate time in our day to read and understand the Bible.

Outline adapted from: Manser, Martin H. Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser, 2009. Print.

Scripture is intended to lead people to salvation (2 Tim 3:14-15)

2 Timothy 3:14–15 (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.

Paul writes 2 letters to his companion Timothy, who is in Ephesus dealing with false teachers that have come into the church and are corrupting the church. Paul continues to encourage Timothy to stand firm in the mist of the struggle by holding firm to the Bible.

“Continue in what you have learned and believed...”

Continue your life and ministry based on the truth you have learned and believe to be true.

What is that truth he learned and believed?

Sacred Writings(15)

“Holy writings” (NET)

This is the Bible (OT for Timothy, OT/NT for us)

Salvation (15)

“able to make you wise for salvation...”

make you wise - to cause a person to have wisdom and understanding—‘to cause to understand, to cause to be wise, to make wise.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 384. Print.)

Salvation - understanding of our condition is Sin, our coming judgment for our Sin, God’s love, mercy and grace, Jesus the all sufficient savior and our acceptance of Christ by faith.

“through faith...”

Faith - to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance—‘to believe in, to have confidence in, to have faith in, to trust, faith, trust.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 375. Print.)

The Bible gives us the understanding and wisdom about and our need for salvation. We realize that we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

Scripture is intended to lead believers to maturity in faith (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

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.

Complete and Equipped through the Bible (17)

“man of God...” (ESV) , “the person dedicated to God...” (NET) - tn Grk “the man of God,” but ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) is most likely used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women. (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

Complete - pertaining to being qualified to perform some function—‘qualified, proficient.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 678. Print.) “complete, competent, able to meet all demands.” (Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson, 2019. Print.)

By its teaching

Profitable - pertaining to a benefit to be derived from some object, event, or state—‘advantage, benefit, beneficial.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 624. Print.)

Teaching - to provide instruction in a formal or informal setting—‘to teach, teaching.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 412. Print.)

By its rebuke and correction

Rebuke - to state that someone has done wrong, with the implication that there is adequate proof of such wrongdoing—‘to rebuke, to reproach, rebuke, reproach.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 435. Print.)

Correction - to cause something to be or to become correct, with the implication of a previous condition of faults or failures—‘to correct, correcting faults.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 673. Print.)

By training in righteousness

Training - to provide instruction, with the intent of forming proper habits of behavior—‘to teach, to instruct, to train, teaching, instruction.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 413. Print.

Think about a walk through the woods with a path to follow. Pointing out the path (Teaching), Pointing out our leaving the path (Rebuke), Pointing the way back to the path (Correction), Training how to stay on the path (training in Righteousness).

Scripture is Illuminating to bring understanding and guidance. (Psalms 119:105, 130)

Understanding of the truth.

Psalm 119:130 (ESV)

130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Psalm 119:130 (NET 2nd ed.)

130 Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the untrained.

Unfolding - declaration; disclosure, statement. (opening (process) n., becoming open or being made open) (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Understanding - to cause to understand v., to cause to know and comprehend the nature or meaning of something. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Simple - simple person n., a person lacking intelligence or common sense (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Guides us of the right path.

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

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

Psalm 119:105 (NET 2nd ed.)

105 Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path.

Lamp n., a small container with a wick that extending from it; typically burned oil in order to give light to a room. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

A light that illuminates the path to be traveled. The Bible guides us to live a righteous life and helps us make wise decisions.

Scripture is essential for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus’ last commission for his Disciples was to Make disciples of others.

Disciple - to cause someone to become a disciple or follower of—‘to make disciples, to cause people to become followers. (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 470. Print.)

We are disciples (Followers) of Jesus, who invest into others to help or encourage them to follow Jesus as well.

We accomplish this through going to others, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus’ teaching.

If we are going to fulfill our part in the great commission, it is essential that we be in the word ourselves. This will transform us to be more Christlike in our lives and choices. We also have a better understanding of truth through the Bible that we can instruct and guide others into the understanding of the Bible for themselves.

We start with our family and spread out to those in our realm of influence.

Challenge

Walk through the Word 2023

Chronological Bible reading plans.

Full bible reading plan - every chapter of the Bible.

Shortened reading plan - A focus on events and characters through the Bible.

Will have handouts throughout the Year.

I hope to continue to remind us where we are at in scriptural history.

Handouts throughout the year will help guide us in the word.

Why should we challenge ourselves to read the Word?

To know and understand God.

To know and receive salvation.

To grow mature in our faith.

To understand and participate in the mission of the Gospel.

Success is not completion of the reading plan, but

More time with God in his Bible,

Habit forming of daily reading,

Reading a portion of the Bible you have not before,

Getting a better understanding of the historical flow of the Bible

1 Timothy 4:7–9 (ESV)

7 ... Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.