2 - Scripture

SLIDE: Scripture 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Scripture - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NLT)

16 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. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

SLIDE: Welome

SLIDE: Title

Introduction

Welcome church! Today we’re going to continue our 4-week series called, Back to the Basics. It’s a series about the basics...the foundations of our faith. And, if you were with us last week you’ll recall that we began with the practice of consistent and bold prayer.

Our journey continues today with the very word of God, the holy scripture. It may seem like such an obviously important part of Christian faith and yet for some reason, the Bible is all too often overlooked or ignored in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives.

The simple truth is that the Bible is anything but unimportant. As we’ll learn today the word of God is living, active, and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training. And that’s just scratching the surface! The Bible is full of wisdom and surprises.

For instance, the Bible actually consists of 66 smaller books, divided into 2 major sections; the Old and New Testament. Another way to think about it is that the Old Testament is everything that happened before Jesus and the New Testament covers about 70 years of time including the birth and ministry of Jesus along with the beginning of the early church. For our study today, we’ll primarily be in the New Testament, learning from Jesus and some of the original apostles.

Another interesting fact about the Bible is that it is the all-time best selling book in the history of the world and has been translated into 724 different languages. (As of Sept. 2022) And there are entire ministries, like Wycliffe Bible Translators, whose aim is to translate the Bible into every language on earth. Wycliffe is currently translating into 3,283 languages in 167 countries.

I think we would all agree that it’s important for everyone on earth to have access to the Bible. As I mentioned before, it is living, active, and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training.

Basically, the Bible is amazing. What an incredible gift God has given us. Let’s see what we can learn about the word, from the word.

Main Teaching

Have you ever read the Bible and something just JUMPS out at you? As if the Bible knew what you needed at that moment? Or have you ever just randomly opened to a passage that spoke so clearly into your life, it seemed uncanny.

If you’ve felt either of those things before, then you’re right. And actually the writer of Hebrews describes the words of scripture as both alive and active.

SLIDE:

Living & Active

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12

Wow! That one verse says an awful lot about scripture. But for starters let’s take a look at these 2 words; alive and active.

To be alive in this sense means to be counted among the living, not the dead. The point being here that the writer of Hebrews very much counts the words of scripture among the living just as other human beings, animals, etc… would be. The word active also means effective and productive in it’s work.

For those of us in the room who’ve been reading the Bible for some time, I think we can all agree that the Bible is both living and effective. And to drive the point home, the author of Hebrews says the word is more effective than a double edged sword at dividing (cutting through) soul and spirit.

The word is powerful and able to get down to the heart of the matter.

So again, if you’ve ever read the Bible and it seemed to be “speaking” directly into your situation then I think it’s fair to say that it probably was. And as we grow in our faith it’s important to continue returning to scripture again and again. Submitting ourselves to the word of God and allowing the Spirit to work in and through our lives.

I know that may sound hokey or too overly spiritual but I will tell you this… try it. Try giving yourself a consistent time every day in Bible study and see for yourself just how powerful and “profitable” the word is.

SLIDE: Profitable

Profitable

I’m sure most of you here today understand the idea of something being profitable. More often than not when we speak of profitability we’re referring to a financial gain or win. Interestingly, the word is also synonymous with the words beneficial and useful.

When the apostle Paul is writing to the young pastor Timothy in 2 Timothy he tells him that, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” That’s the NIV translation, the ESV says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16)

You may have noticed one verse says scripture is useful and the other says it is profitable… Good news is that the Bible is both. Add that to being living and active, or effective in its work, and the Bible is also great for:

- Teaching

- Reproof

- Correction

- And training in Righteousness

While I’m not going to go through each of those words today, I will say that these are important words in the life of a disciple, or student. And as we follow Jesus we submit ourselves to His process, His plan, and His direction in our lives.

Simply put, the Bible is profitable in the life of a disciple. And it’s profit is more than financial gain, it’s spiritual gain. Following Jesus will cost you, but the value gained is inestimable.

Theologian, pastor, and activist Dietrich Bonhoeffer says,

“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

And here we are again, back at the feet of Jesus. Where it all begins and ends for those who follow Him. Which brings us to our most important point of the day, that the word is where you encounter Jesus because Jesus is the word.

SLIDE: Jesus is the Word

Jesus is the Word

Here’s where this entire conversation gets weird… Admittedly, Jesus often spoke in parables and stories which at times made it difficult to understand what He was really getting at. In fact the original disciples routinely struggled with the messages Jesus was sending. However, it seems to me that the message I’m about to share with you is rather clear. Listen to these words from John chapter 1...

Read John 1:1-5, 14

John 1:1–5 (NLT)

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:14 (NLT)

14 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.

Verse 1 clearly says the word was with God in the beginning and that all things were made through the word. There is life in the word (verse 4) and the word is the light of mankind. Then, the kicker in verse 14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among mankind.” The gospel of John goes on to explain that this word is in fact Jesus. Actually, it couldn’t be more clear than saying, The Word became flesh.

Jesus is the word and the word is Jesus.

Is this why scripture is living and active? Is this why sometimes I feel that while I’m reading the Bible that the Bible is actually reading me? Is Jesus IN every Bible?

I actually don’t know if I can answer all those questions. I do know God’s ways are different from our ways. And I also know Jesus says some other, very interesting things in the gospels that may be of interest...

Read John 6:46-51

John 6:46–51 (NLT)

46 (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.) 47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 Yes, I am the bread of life! 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 50 Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”

In this passage, and throughout John 6, Jesus refers to himself as living bread or the bread of life. When Jesus was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness He says, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4) Jesus knew that He didn’t need another loaf of freshly baked French bread from the local bakery. What He needed, and what we need, is the very word of God, the living bread, the bread of life.

There is other “bread” out there that may satisfy your earthly hunger, but there is nothing else that will cure your spiritual starvation.

Only Jesus can do that.

The Word made flesh.

The bread of life.

Scripture.

Conclusion

I believe it to be of utmost importance in the life of a believer to be in the Bible every single day. There’s nothing like it, no other book has ever been written and I can guarantee that there is not another book in existence that we would say is alive and active.

And yet, I understand too that life gets complicated and almost before you know it your Bible reading plan is a bust. Or that devotional you bought to help give you some structure is nothing more than a permanent fixture on your mantle.

So today, instead of another bullet point plan or a bunch of hooting and hollering I’m just going to leave you with a few more words from Jesus.

Many of you will be familiar, as this verse is from the Lord’s prayer where Jesus simply says, “And give us Lord our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)

What if Jesus wasn’t just talking about french loaves and baguettes.

What if He was talking about the bread of life?

What if He was instructing the disciples to pray for Him?

And what if God gave us daily access to Christ through scripture?

Wouldn’t that be an amazing way for God the Father to provide for all His kids?

SLIDE: Try It...

Read your Bible every single day.

So give it a try this week, and expect that you will find the Bible to be alive, active, useful, effective, and powerful.

Let’s pray together.

Prayer - “Lord give is a hunger for the bread of life, the word made flesh, the scriptures… Give us space and time to meet with you, in your Word, every day.”

[1] Cited from this web address ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship: https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2723088-nachfolge