4.2.28 6.9.2024 The Bible Matters
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Start:
The B I B L E! It has shaped my life. And I know that it has done the same for many of you.
Entice:
Some of Bob’s Bibles
Some of Bob’s Bibles
1976 After “the fire”
1980-1987 College
1983-My First Greek New Testament
My “preaching” Bibles
On Prayer kneeler in my study…
Some Bibles were so “beloved” that I destroyed them. I won a little NIV pocket testament at OBCSC the summer before High School. I carried every day and by
1980, it had been destroyed.
Since around 1995 most of my “Bible Study” has been on screens rather than paper. By and large that is positive and powerful. It has not diminished my love for Scripture to access it on computer, Ipad, or phone.
The B I B L E! Yes, that’s the book for me!
The B I B L E! Yes, that’s the book for me!
Engage: Do you have a favorite Copy? Your Bible? Maybe your Mom or Dad’s or one of your Grandparents. Whatever version you read, in whatever format—is the best Bible for you. I would also recommend that you not be shy about marking that Bible up. Own it.
Expand: Knowing that the Bible is inspired and authoritative is important. But if you don’t hear it read, preached, and taught, if you don’t read it for yourself for both study and spiritual growth it may as well not be inspired and authoritative.
Excite: What is the best way to show love for Scripture? How do we best appreciate the Bible?
Read it!
Read it!
Listen to it preached!
Listen to it preached!
Apply it!
Apply it!
Teach it to others!
Teach it to others!
Explore:
The Bible matters because it is God’s intended revelation of Himself and His will.
The Bible matters because it is God’s intended revelation of Himself and His will.
Expand: The goal is to receive God’s revealed will responsibly. The first responsibility is
Body of Sermon:
1 Interpretation.
1 Interpretation.
The Bible is not a magic formula.
Christian living thrives when we feed on good Biblical interpretation.
We need to know
1.1 What it says.
1.1 What it says.
30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
21 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.
1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,
2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,
3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
We need to know
1.2 What it means.
1.2 What it means.
37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,
38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
We should know and experience
1.3 How it “works.”
1.3 How it “works.”
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
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.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Next, we consider
2 Application.
2 Application.
Typical discussions of applying the Bible are individualistic, idiosyncratic, and personal. In other words, self-centered—even narcissistic. When we consider the Bible from the viewpoint of Jesus and the salvation He provides there are two broad areas of application. It begins with
2.1 Organizing God’s People.
2.1 Organizing God’s People.
Because we focus on people, places, and things in familiar and beloved stories we often lose track of the main Biblical plot line which is…
God calling a people to Himself and ultimately redeeming them in Jesus.
The OT plot is about the calling of Israel as a faithful worshipping community whose whole destiny is realized in Jesus.
The Gospels Complete or fulfill the OT in Jesus. Consider these texts:
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
And again…
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
The rest of the NT extends the Biblical plot in the formation of God’s renewed people, the new Temple, the Church, God’s Flock, the body of Christ.
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Once we get the big application taken care of once we identify God’s people then we can talk about individual application which focuses on
2.2 Optimizing Godly Living.
2.2 Optimizing Godly Living.
Interpreting correctly and living faithfully is only possible when Scripture informs
2.2.1 What we believe.
2.2.1 What we believe.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
Scripture informs
2.2.2 How we act.
2.2.2 How we act.
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Scripture informs
2.2.3 What we think.
2.2.3 What we think.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Finally, we come to the
3 Obligation.
3 Obligation.
placed on us by scripture. Psalm 119. 105 and Jesus Himself sum this obligation up clearly and succinctly:
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
3.1 Hear.
3.1 Hear.
3.2 Understand.
3.2 Understand.
3.3 Obey.
3.3 Obey.
Shut Down
The Bible is not magical. It is not a lucky charm. It is not merely a family heirloom or an interesting artifact. Just displaying it like a trophy does not
accomplish anything. You must read it in company with the Church. Preaching and teaching should clarify what seems obscure and constantly remind us that that in the scriptures we have life. Reading scripture in community not only keeps us from being confused it helps keep us focused on what is essential and what is secondary. All scripture is inspired and effective, not every scripture is as significant as others. Reading in company with other Christians keeps us from selfishly deciding that we are the point of the story.
Preaching and teaching is guided reading of Scripture. Preaching that meddles in minutia or teachers who want to constantly wade through the Song of Solomon, or Job, or Revelation most likely have an unbiblical understanding of scripture and an agenda focused more on their ability to astound than Jesus’ ability to save. I don’t want to ever be that preacher and I don’t want to make you that audience.
Interpretation helps us understand scripture.
When we understand scripture, we can readily apply it.
When we apply it, we are meeting our obligation to yield to Gods Authority.
I love the Bible. I love its words. I love its impact. As much as we need to love the Bible, We should love Jesus more. Jesus saves. The Bible tells His story.
It is through the word in print that we come to know the Word made Flesh.