Fresh Start WK 5

Why Do We Read The Bible?

Guys as we continue to look at questions from our survey we took a few weeks ago, the question we are at now is How often do you read the bible and Why do we read it? Do you know why it is important to read the bible? So those are some of the questions we are going to look at tonight.

Look at Acts 2:42 with me again. We looked at this passage a couple weeks ago when talking about the Church. Does anyone remember what is the Church? Why do we go to church service?

Acts 2:42 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Why did they devote themselves to the apostles teaching? And what where the Apostles teaching?

I kind of answered the second question a few weeks ago, but the apostles where teaching what Jesus had given and commanded them to teach. Jesus’ whole life He was teaching them and as He ascends into Heaven, He says, Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

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

So I want to back track just a little bit because Jesus is saying I want you to teach people all I have commanded you. Jesus is claiming to have a this authority that His words/His teaching is what is important for people to know Him and Walk with Him. So back track with me. If Jesus is claiming to have this authority first we have to answer the question

who is Jesus?

Yes we talk about Jesus a lot. Maybe you’re thinking He was this really cool guy that taught love and peace, helped people, die on the cross, and came to life. But it is so much more than that. I just want to remind you what kind of authority Jesus actually has.

Jesus is God.

John 1:1 NLT

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 NLT

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

God came to earth in the form of Jesus’. He limited Himself to become like one of us, so that He could defeat the thing that broke us.

Colossians 1:13–20 ESV

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

So Jesus who is God in the Flesh, who literally Has ALL Authority, His words matter, because In His Words He shows and teaches us the way we were created to live.

Why did they devote themselves to Jesus’ teachings and why is important for us to devote ourselves to reading the Bible?

The Word of God is Reliable/True.

The Word of God pointed them to Jesus who saved them from sin and rescued them from death. For them knowing the truth of Jesus fulfilled all of the law that they had studied, and heard their entire life.

For the people that didn’t know the law of God, and recieved the message of Jesus they experienced the love of God and gave them life and helped them to live a life that was not empty or void of purpose. It brought hope and helped them to love God and love people.

“It is a God book not a man book. God authored it and He lead men write it.”

The Bible is the most accurate historical document we have and it’s not even close. Carter preached a powerful message on the authenticity and the reliability of scripture a few months back.

Even prominent Historians who did not believe in Jesus and had nothing to gain by writing about him, confirmed His life, death, and resurrection. They believed Jesus to be a real person(HINT FROM JUSTIN WELLS MESSAGE FROM LAST WEEK)

These were events that really happened their were several hundred people who witnessed Jesus after His resurrection. Luke literally wrote that by many convincing proofs Jesus appeared to people over a period of 40 days and speaking to them about the Kingdom of God.

The Word of God is Relevant.

Relevant - closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, If you look at who they taught and if you read the NT Jesus and His followers used the OT a lot for different reasons.

Picture

And you’re like but it’s hard to read and I can’t get into it, and besides the OT has a lot of crazy stuff in there and i just can’t relate, No their culture and some of their traditions may not be Relevant for us today, but the people in the OT and the NT struggled with sin, anxiety, bad choices, bad habits, failures, consequences, successes, poor, rich, work, love, hate, forgiveness, unforgiveness, worry, living and learning from God, questions, answers, sexuality, identity, relationships, family, friends just to name a few that we can relate with and is relevant . And in all these things the word of God points to Jesus to rescue us from our sin and selfish things that causes us to be hurt, bitter, jealous, and it leads to death. The word says Jesus can rescue us from that, but not only does He rescue, but He wants to lead and walk with us to help us, give us wisdom, to guide us, in all and any of this things I’ve mentioned or haven’t mentioned. Jesus want us to love Him, love people, and love life. He is real. He tells us there is going to be struggles, and that life here on earth won’t be perfect but He is working and helping make us perfect.

Hebrews 4:14–16 NLT

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

The Bible is Reliable and Relevant for us today!

Okay Justin, God’s Word is Reliable and Relevant what can it do for me. It shows it is true and that people go through similar things that I go through how does that help me. Why should I read it?

2 Timothy 3:15–16 NLT

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

God’s Word helps us to Know Him,

He is Perfect, He Created us, He Gives us Life, He Loves us, There is no darkness or evil in Him, and He longs to rescue His creation from death and destruction.

God’s Word helps us to know us,

we are broken, we are lost, there are so many things we need help with, and we are full of darkness and evil

God’s Word gives wisdom to know how we are to be saved and is beneficial for us to be complete and equipped.

God’s Word reveals to us God’s actions to save humanity by giving His Son to defeat darkness and save us, but not just that, His word grows and shapes us to be complete, and equipped for every good work.

God’s Word helps us fight.

Resist Temptations, False Teaching, Lies of the enemy,

Is the Bible Reliable and Relevant for us today? How do we know?

Is the Bible Important to us? On a scale 1-5 how important is it to us? Why or Why Not?

Do we trust God’s word really or just say that we do?

Does it have any effect in our lives? How might the bible shape our thoughts and actions?

Today is a great day to jump in!