Foundational: Scripture

Introduction:

Series Intro:

Formational...

The Things that we commit to personally that will have a ripple effect in forming our church corporately.

Danger: There are many dangers if Christians have a low view of scripture.

Most terrifying is that we might decide to throw out parts of God’s Word when we don’t like what it says.

We end up conforming God to our opinions rather than conforming our understanding of God to what God says about Himself. In other words, God’s Word should change us…

We as a church will commit to preaching the bible. (and centering all discipleship environments around scripture…

So Tonight....

What is the bible?

How will we commit to it as a community?

How can you commit to it personally?

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:20–21 ESV

knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

What is the Bible?

Our Statement on the Bible:

We believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the full record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. Different men, while writing according to their own styles and personalities, were supernaturally moved along by the Holy Spirit to record God’s very words, inerrant in the original writings. Therefore, those applying themselves to study its literal, historical-grammatical context can accurately understand God’s Word. Scripture is fully trustworthy as our final and sufficient authority for all of life

1) The Bible is divinely inspired.

2 Timothy 3:16 - “All scripture is God-breathed…” (See also 2 Peter 1:16-21)

Key word: Transcendent

God, who is eternal and far above us, gives His Word to sinful humanity.

Key point: We can trust God’s Word more than we can trust our own senses and logic.

2) The Bible is inerrant and infallible. (In original Writing)

Inerrant - “Free of error or untruths.”

Infallible - “Incapable of erring.”

What this means is that all of scripture is BOTH true and factual.

John 17:17 - “Your word is truth.”

Key point: We can take the Bible at its word and trust every word of it.

3) The Bible is authoritative.

It is our authority for all things in life and faith.

Even Jesus believed this!

Matthew 4:1-11 - Jesus uses Scripture against the temptations of Satan.

Key point: We will trust the Bible more than the words of any pastor, elder, or church leader. Because scripture is the very Word of God, it is our authority.

“The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.” — Wayne Grudem

4) The Bible is sufficient.

“Scripture contains all the words of God he intended his people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it now contains all the words of God we need for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.”

- Wayne Grudem

Key point: What God has given to us today is exactly what we need to know how God is saving us and to equip us to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom.

How will we Commit to the Bible as a community?

In Preaching & Teaching

In ministry philosophy

In every discipleship environment (Kids, Students, Small Groups, Classes)

In the personal lives of our leadership

in the personal lives of our people

How can you commit to the bible personally?

Commit to time in the Bible

Commit to living and leading guided by the Bible

Commit to discipling your children, in the Bible.

Questions:

How is your time in the word?

What is a practical step you need to take to allowing the bible to Form you?