Scripture as Current & Relevant

No Longer Trending…

We live in a society driven by trends, which really has always been the case, it’s just now a word that we throw around quite often in culture.

Trending or Ending (Kahoot)

Can you match the trends to the era?

Should this

What are some current trends or whats popular?

Music

Fashion

Leisure

Phrases

Social Media Challenges

Cracking an egg on someones head

What are some trends that have ended?

Tall Tees

Cuffed pants

Rubber bands on your pants

Overalls

Flannels

Discman

Bucket Hats

Timberland boots

What is one common thing among all trends that we ever see…they are here today and gone tomorrow…and sometimes they come back around

And the ones that come back around, just remind us of the truth of Ecclesiastes 1:9 , that there is nothing new under the sun…

Don’t Follow the Trend

Trends show us that we far too often are concerned with the things in this life that are passing away…as Paul reminds us (2 Corinthians 4:18) “… For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

It becomes foolish then when we consider how superficial the trends of our culture are, many of them are worthless at best and deadly at worst

people have died or seriously hurt themselves keeping up with these trends

However scripture makes this claim that, unlike the trends of culture, it never is outdated or irrelevant. In fact scripture makes this claim that it is living and presently exposing the hearts and minds of all people.

Hebrews 4:11–13 ESV

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 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.

The author of Hebrews in the previous verses is warning readers of the temptation to fall into the same disobedience Israel did after being delivered from Egypt, all because of their hardness of hearts. Rather that we would enter this rest God has for us by trusting and submitting to him.

Do you notice though that the text tells us that the Word is so precise and effective at exposing the deepest depths of who we are? The word isn’t just doing this to the original hearers but because its living and active, it is speaking to us and exposing us today.

Maybe you’ve seen this prove true, like statements in James 3:16 “16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”

Isaiah 40:6–8 ESV

6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Scripture reminds us that just like trends, all of us are here today and gone tomorrow, but the truth is that the Word of God has been remained steadfast from the beginning

History and archaeological discoveries only validate the Bible as true.

Science has only been able to prove what the Bible says is true

Psychology has not come up with a better understanding or clarity around the human mind and emotions.

Follow the Scripture that tell us the beginning and the end

Scripture gives a clear understanding of what this life is all about, the very thing that humankind has been trying to define for ourselves and revise with every movement and trend

The Bible is answering the deepest questions that we are really asking and resolving the deepest issues we have at the level of our souls

What has been a constant from the beginning of time is the wrestling in the heart of man to clear their guilty conscious and be in right relationship with God.

That’s where every false religion comes from…its where false spirituality comes from…that’s where atheism comes from. We know we are sinful and in order to be able to sleep at night (clear our conscious) we turn to every means apart from God’s means.

And from the beginning of time God has made the path to redemption and reconciliation clear. It was going to be through this child of Eve — Jesus. This is the central theme that the Bible is carrying out.

We are just as sinful Adam & Eve and just as in need of hearing of the grace of God available to sinners, as revealed in scripture

This is and will always be true and relevant for all human beings.

Therefore, where culture disagrees with the Bible or deems it ancient, we find a culture drifting into greater and greater darkness and confusion.

Marriage & Sexuality

Culture - Anybody can love who they want and be who they want

Confusion about identity and an epidemic of mental illness

Scripture - God created male & female, distinct but equal in value, to be in a monogamous covenant relationship. (Genesis 1:27;2:24)

Laws & Authority

Culture - Law enforcement is oppressive and punishment for crime is too harsh

Rising crime rates and diminishing morality, seared consciouses

Scripture - God has instituted governments and given them power to execute justice (Romans 13:1-7)

Forgiveness & Reconciliation

Culture - Get rid of the toxic people in your life

If someone wrongs you, just cut them off.

Cancel culture

Scripture - All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God and need the grace and mercy of God through Christ (Romans 3:23-24)

Forgive because you have been forgiven (Matthew 6:15)

Work & Merit

Culture - We all deserve to have comfortable lives regardless of how much we work

Abuse of government assistance

Scripture - Work is apart of God’s good plan for humankind and those that don’t work shouldn’t eat (Genesis 2:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Ultimately, scripture is the only eternally relevant revelation of God and His good plan in all creation.

Don’t follow the trends, follow the scriptures that tell us the beginning and the end.

Questions:

Cultural trends/movements always claim to be the right or better way of doing things, what are the subtle lies of cultural trends that contradict scripture?

In what ways have you been tempted to believe the Bible is not relevant in every area of life?

If you believe God’s Word is still relevant, how should that impact how you live your life?