Look at the Book

Intro:

Who’s ever played the game finish the lyric?

We’re gonna play it

The B-I-B-L-E,

Yes that’s the book for me;

I stand alone on the Word of God,

The B-I-B-L-E.

If you were in kids min or in awana … you know that song

We all know that song

While it’s a kids song and super catchy

It communicates something that is so true for all of us

The Bible is the book for me and for you

There is a reason why we talk about the Bible so much … why we say to read it

That’s because there is no other book like it

It’s author is unique and what it does

The Bible can change your life

And i know you’ve heard this and maybe it’s like ehhh really changes your life idk about that

I don’t see that … I don’t believe that

I’ve tried a few times to read it but nah it just does not hit ya know

Today i want to change your perspective on the Bible

I want to show you how it can radically change your life

We’re 13 days into the new year and we’ve been talking about how we can be wise this year

Look the highest priority for you this year has to be to know and grow

You won’t be wise … you won’t know God … you won’t grow …

…  if you are not reading the Bible

I want you to resolve to read your Bible in 2024

If you're someone that makes resolutions … God wants that to be included … to read your Bible in 2024

So I want us to get serious about that

Turn with me to 2 Tim. 3:14-17

A little bit about this letter

This is not actually Timothy writing. This is Paul writing to timothy

This is Paul’s last letter. He’s writing from prison to Timothy. Paul was Timothy’s mentor and discipler.

Imagine it like your small group leader’s last words to you … It’s like ooo what’s he going to say.

Well there was a lot going on - there were lots of false teaching … people getting deceived … and society getting worse (a lot like what’s going on in our day)

READ -  (COMMENTARY)

This text helps us answer the question … Why should you read your Bible?

How fast do you guys respond to texts?

Who’s that friend that responds really fast?

Who’s that friend that takes forever … leaving people on read?

It depends who it’s from

It it’s someone that you really care about … someone that is important to you

You’re quicker to pay more attention to someone who is important to you

Parents vs. friends

It’s like the other day I was getting into my car getting ready to go home and Pastor Lucas texts me

I immediately responded .. and (btw I am one of those people that writes out what i am going to say but have to re- read it a few times) … especially if it is someone important … like pastor lucas

The point is that I probably would not have responded that fast if one of my friends texted me

If it is someone important … we’ll pay attention

V.16a

God-breathed (theopneustos - God/breathe or wind)

God has spoken … the one who created you … given you life … has given us this book

We have God’s thoughts on paper

God is speaking to you through the Bible!

God has given us his divine library of 66 books

Because of this we cannot treat it like other books

Percy Jackson

Chronicles of Narnia

Dr. Seuss

Because of this we have treat God’s words with respect

Treat the Bible with Respect (v.16a)

We cannot treat the Bible with

Apathy (carelessness)

With doubt

Neglect

… Why? ….  because of who it’s written by …  its author! GOD

“Sacred writings” - holy writings

Is. 66:1-2 - tremble

Thus says the Lord:

“Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is my footstool;

what is the house that you would build for me,

and what is the place of my rest?

2 All these things my hand has made,

and so all these things came to be,

declares the Lord.

But this is the one to whom I will look:

he who is humble and contrite in spirit

and trembles at my word.

Show respect because god is talking

Demands your attention

Has anyone seen those bioluminescent waves?

For those who don’t know what I'm talking about …  they are these waves out here in Southern California that literally glow due to certain algae that create these amazing colors

Imagine your walking on the beach (you know nothing about these waves) and you see the bright colors

This is not something you're just going to brush off … like ehh

No, this demands your attention … this is something spectacular

Driving home … and boom a streak of lightning

In a greater way … God has spoke to humanity … and you have his words on your lap

There is not greater attention grabber

Treat it with Respect

You also need to Treasure it

Listen to Ps.19:7-10

The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings of the honeycomb.

Is this how you describe your relationship with the Bible?

…Maybe there is no relationship with the Bible

I know there are some who think the Bible is Boring

… there are parts I get

… there are some i sorta get

… but most of it I just don’t get and is boring to me

What are some of those books that are harder to understand and can seem boring?

Leviticus: All the rules … you can’t eat this … you can’t go here … the sacrifices

God is holy … you are not holy … you need atonement (you need your sins covered)

Deuteronomy: with the law

Offers us life and death; will we obey God or not

Judges: why is there a bunch of stories of people dying and killing each other

It shows your sinful tendency to want to do what is right in your own eyes

Psalms: what’s with all the emotions … the crying … the anger … the sorta extreme happiness

This shows you what to do with all our emotions … why do you feel the way you do

Ezekiel: with all the crazy visions …

This gives us hope that God will establish his kingdom one day

The Bible is not boring!

Ask why is this book here … what are the themes

Rom. 15:4

Now let me show you what the Bible Does

Turn with me back to 2 Tim. 3:15b-17

Because the point is not to just fill your mind with facts and be able to answer questions in small groups

There’s this show i use to watch (Jimmy Neutron)

Not to give you a big head

The Bibles changes and shapes your life

Read 2 Tim. 3:15b-17

You need God’s word because that’s the only way you will grow and be transformed

Experience God’s Transformative Power in the Bible (vv.15b-17)

We see 5 ways the Bible changes and transforms you

First is seen in v.15b “the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus”

As you read the Scriptures … you see your need for Christ

So how does the Bible transform you?

Seeing Your Need for Christ (v.15b)

How does it do that? …

… I think you can see how in terms of reading the NT but in the OT?

Well take what we’re reading in the DBR in the OT … in Genesis

Where have we seen our need for Christ in Genesis?

Beginning in chapter 3 - we like A & E have fallen short of God’s glory

We have envied like Cain

Our hearts are continually evil as God tells Noah before he floods the world

We need saving from God’s wrath as it seen in the flood

In the story of Abraham and Isaac - 22

We recognize that we need a substitute … a lamb to come and take our place like an animal came in Isaac’s place

“ 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Christian and Non-Christian you both need to see that you need Christ

If you are a Christian … this make you value Christ more

If you are not … you need to read the Bible … because in it you find the cure to your problem of sin … the remedy

2nd Thing is found in v.16b -  “teaching” - teaches

So how does the Bible transform you?

Learning What is True (v.16b)

John 17:7

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Teaches you truth

There is no error

Does anyone know our church theme verse?...  - Ps. 43:3

Did anyone not know we have one?

Send out your light and your truth;

let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy hill

and to your dwelling!

This is the idea of the Bible (truth) being our compass … our guide .. for living

God’s truth changes the way you think

There is a term … you probably should get familiar with … worldview

The way in which you see the world

“The lenses through which you see the world”

What informs your worldview?

God’s Word must inform your worldview

Ex:

when someone passes away… you know that God’s word says that death is a consequence of sin … maybe they are a Christian and they have had their sins paid for … yet you know our bodies do not work the way they should

When bad things happen … you see it on the news … your parents tell you ..

because we live in a broken world … in a world that does not function the way it should

You know this life is not all there is … there is a much better and longer one coming

Is your thinking (worldview) shaped more by God’s word or by something else?

Feelings

World

The Bible is the ultimate source of instruction for life

3rd way the Bible transforms you is “reproof” - shows you you are wrong … your error … your sin

So how does the Bible transform you?

Getting Shown Your Sin (v.16c)

In James 1:22-25 - the Bible is described as a mirror … where as you read it … you see your reflection … you see your sin

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

You recognize you fall short of God’s perfect holy standard

You identify with the characters you're reading … you see their faults

You say that’s me … it’s talking about

Do you guys know what a katana is? - a sword you use for Martial Arts

Do you guys know there is someone in this room that has one? (someone you would not expect)

Mrs. Candy

Whenever I go into her office … I’m met with the katana right there on a shelf

If I am honest … it’s a little sketch

So now you guys know if you ever don’t listen to Mrs. Candy

But reminds me of another passage … that says the Bible is like a sword that cuts into you

Heb. 4:12-13

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Conviction when you read it

Seeing our sin is a good thing because most of the time …

we don’t want to get exposed and told we are wrong … yet this is how change begins

The Bible does not leave us feeling terrible about ourselves

It corrects our behavior

It tells you what to do instead

Eph. 4:25-29

If you are a liar … admit that … and tell the truth

If you are someone who likes to steal … admit that … and work hard

You use your words for harm … admit that … and use your words for good

This moves into the 4th way the Bible changes you … “trains you for righteousness”

The Bible transforms you by …

Being Directed to Live a Godly Life (v.16d)

Ps. 1

Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish

God’s word has a direct correlation to the way you live

Ps. 119:105

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

Then our last way God’s word transforms you is found in v.17 “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”

The Bible transforms you by …

Getting Ready to Work for God (v.17)

This is the idea of getting prepared to go out and do something

Think of you guys who do sports … you have a game … and what do you do to prepare for you to do the best job you can do … you practice .. the comes game day and your ready to go

Anything you do … you have a recital … an audition … you prepare to do your best

Eph. 2:10

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God has good works for you to do right now in your life … if you are a Christian

To tell your non-christian friend about Jesus

To invite your friend to church

God also has your whole life ahead of you … full of things he wants you to do … some of you will be teachers … some will be doctors … some will be engineers ….

Whatever it is God … has good works for you to do …

The Bible is how he is going to prepare you right now

Alright by this point your probably like … ok i get it … read my Bible

This leads us into our last point … you need to make a commitment to read your Bible in 2024

3. Commit Yourself to the Bible (v.14)

This is exactly what Paul tells Timothy at the start of our passage in .v14

Continue! - remain, stay, don’t let go of the Bible

Now I know what it feels like to be in a sermon like this

Probably pumped and excited to read your Bible

Your saying yeah I am going to do this

… And you might

… But it will not last

Eventually you’ll run into things you might be saying now …

I don’t have enough time

We all the same 24 hrs

I always forget to read

Ill address that rn

It's too early to read before school

It takes forming habits of discipline

I just get distracted

I’ll address that rn

When I try I don’t understand

I’ll address that

I’ve missed too many days

Look I’ll be honest … reading your Bible everyday can be difficult … don’t think it will be easy

Prov. 2:1-5

My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,

2 making your ear attentive to wisdom

and inclining your heart to understanding;

3 yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

4 if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.

God has put treasure in his word and it’s up to us to find it … to search for it

Don’t give up

What you need to do … is make a plan

I gave you some questions to make a strategic plan that’s personal to you

I think if you honestly answer these it will set you up for success

Answer them and be ready to discuss them in small groups on Wednesday

Who will keep me accountable to read? - parents

What will I use to read?

When will I read?

When will I do the DBR Journal Application Questions?

Where will I read?

Alright now picture yourself sitting down to read tomorrow morning

We’ve just learned that God’s word is intended to change us

How can we make sure we are changing?

Meditating: think over and over again

This leads to change if you think about the right things

Use these questions to guide your Bible meditation

What do I learn about God?

What does this teach me about people?

What sin do I need to get rid of?

What righteous thing do I need to do?

What is something I can pray about?

Alright, hopefully you’ve seen …

that God has spoken in the pages of the Bible …

… he changes you as you give yourself to read

… and if you answer those questions … you’ll be set with a plan to read your Bible in 2024

My prayer is that everyone here in the Narrow would … Look at the Book

Let’s Pray