Practical Christianity - Scripture

Opening of Lesson:

Prayers and Blessings (Highs and Lows)

Recap Series we are in - Practical Christianity

Recap last weeks lesson

What did we talk about last week? - What is a Christian? Who was Jesus? What is the gospel?

Todays Lesson we are looking at scripture and how it relates to the Christian walk.

What is scripture?

The Bible, God’s word, made up of 66 books all containing one unified message.

The sole factor of truth - not church tradition like catholics believe

a handbook for living life the way God wants us to

ultimate truth

unchanging - God’s word means the same thing now that it did when it was written. This proves it is the “living word”. It is very common for younger Christians to omit certain parts of the bible that they think are invalid or they don’t want to follow, but there is no expiration date on God’s word

Read Hebrews 4:12

Hebrews 4:12 CSB

12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

it is living, it doesnt expire. It is also able to judge thoughts and the heart, which is how we are hear from God and are convicted when we read scripture.

Read 1 Peter 1:22-25

1 Peter 1:22–25 CSB

22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

again, God’s word doesn’t fade, it is living and will persist forever

Read 1 Peter 2:8

1 Peter 2:8 CSB

8 and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.

disobeying the word (God’s commandments) will lead to stumbling

Read 2 Peter 1:19-21

2 Peter 1:19–21 CSB

19 We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

the Bible is not just a book written by different people, all of the people who wrote it were inspired by God through the Holy Spirit. That is the only way you can have the Bible carry one unified message. The Bible was written by around 40 differend authors spanning from around 1440 BC to around 90 AD, and there are no contradictions, or differing messages.

Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17

2 Timothy 3:14–17 CSB

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

the scriptures contain enough to give the wisdom for salvation. Catholics and some other denominations believe that church tradition is equal to scripture, but we see here that scripture is enough on its own.

all scripture is inspired by God (Holy Spirit), and is used for teaching (like this or preaching), rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, (becoming more like Jesus and addressing the sin in our life, and also equipping us for every good work

We always hear to read our Bibles, why is this?

they give us understanding

it is a book of instruction

we are called to meditate on it

Read Psalm 119:125-131

Psalm 119:125–131 CSB

125 I am your servant; give me understanding so that I may know your decrees. 126 It is time for the Lord to act, for they have violated your instruction. 127 Since I love your commands more than gold, even the purest gold, 128 I carefully follow all your precepts and hate every false way. 129 Your decrees are wondrous; therefore I obey them. 130 The revelation of your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced. 131 I open my mouth and pant because I long for your commands.

there is understanding to be found in the commands of the Lord

Read Psalm 1:1-3

Psalm 1:1–3 CSB

1 How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

instruction can be found in God’s word

Read Psalm 119:97-104

Psalm 119:97–104 CSB

97 How I love your instruction! It is my meditation all day long. 98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers because your decrees are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the elders because I obey your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path to follow your word. 102 I have not turned from your judgments, for you yourself have instructed me. 103 How sweet your word is to my taste— sweeter than honey in my mouth. 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.

meditating on God’s word is how we fight against sin and understand the Lord more

So what do we use the scriptures for?

everything we just said, so guidance, teaching, rebuking, correcting, understanding, etc

sharing the gospel with others

Read Luke 8:4-15

Luke 8:4–15 CSB

4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.” 9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 10 So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing. 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.

Our main call as Christians is to go and spread the word of God to those around us. It may not flourish, but some of it will stick and grow to produce fruit

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