Why Trust The Bible? - 11AM

Whitehorse Baptist Church"#TheGreatestBOOK" "WHY TRUST THE BIBLE?"(2 PETER 1:19-21 & 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17)OUTLINE STYLE: DEDUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT INTRODUCTION: 1. PRE-MESSAGE PRAYER (Facilitated by Worship Team) 2. (VIDEO) "ARE CANADIANS DONE WITH THE BIBLE?" Ø By Canadian Bible Forum (Pre-load video at https://vimeo.com/93482675.) 3. (SLIDE 1) WEEKLY BIBLE ENGAGEMENT (Canadian Bible Forum) a) 1996: 21%, 2013: 11%, what will the future hold? b) Pertinent following 7 P.C. and another clear sign of the shift toward a post-Christian culture. 4. (SLIDE 2) SERIES PROMO & MESSAGE INTRO a) Disclosure: Aids by Rev. Dr. Les Somers, NorthLife Fellowship, Fort McMurray, AB b) This series will feel more scholastic (Bible College class). A lot of content, including multiple verses, facts, stats, etc. (Use notes!) TEACHING: 5. (SLIDE 3) CONTENT: What is in this Book? a) Fulfilled Prophecies: 2 Peter 1:19-21 b) (SLIDE 4) Progressive Revelation: Truth unfolding in Bible's entirety c) (SLIDE 5) Jesus & Scripture: O.T. pointed, He used O.T., N.T. fulfilled. d) (SLIDE 6) Composition: 40 authors, over 1600 years, in 3 languages. i) O.T. Semitic - Hebrew & Aramaic (Occasional Egyptian, Persian & Greek Words) ii) N.T.: Greek - Koine, evolving into Byzantine e) (SLIDE 7) Canonicity: 66 books accepted for over 400 years. 6. (SLIDE 8) CLAIMS: What does this Book say about itself? a) God’s Written Communication: The Bible claims it is “The word of God” 48 (ESV) and “The word of the Lord” 274 (ESV). b) (SLIDE 9) God-Breathed: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 7. (SLIDE 10) CONTINUANCE: How long has this Book been around? a) Tracing the River (of Bible Preservation) i) BibleGateway.com: 21st Century ii) Several Versions, Many Languages: 20th Century iii) Dead Sea Scrolls Discoveries: 1947 iv) Revised KJV Version: 1885/1901 v) King James Version: 1611 vi) Geneva Bible - Chapter Divisions: 1560 vii) Tyndale & Gutenburg Printing: 1526 viii) John Wycliffe – English Bible: 1382 ix) Alfred the Great, Anglo-Saxon - Some Bible In English: 849–899 x) Jerome of Bethlehem - Latin Vulgate Bible Version: 1000 Years of Use xi) Church Fathers - Origen; Irenaeus; Tertullian: Clement of Alexandria: ca. 175 AD xii) Jesus & Apostles xiii) LXX-Septuagint - Greek Version of O.T. – Used by Jesus & Apostles: 285 BC xiv) Nehemiah: 445 BC – Ezra xv) Jewish Nation: Centuries of Scribes b) (SLIDE 11) Conclusion: Through meticulous copying, even in pre-printing days, numerous versions and translations in multiple languages, centuries of tactics trying to destroy it; and yet it has been preserved! APPLICATION: 8. (SLIDE 12) CHARACTER: What influence does this Book have? a) Character of Scripture i) To Agitate ii) To Educate iii) To Convince iv) To Comfort v) To Guide vi) To __________ b) It's hard to dispute personal experience. (Tim's Monday Night Bible Study!) CONCLUSION: 9. (SLIDE 13) "WHY NOT TRUST THE BIBLE?" (Our Challenge) Ø Embrace (1) the 14-Day Devotional Study, (2) a Community Group, and (3) a Conversation with an unbeliever about the Bible. 10. (SLIDE 14) INVITATION (Communion) Ø 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 11. (SLIDE 15) POST-MESSAGE PRAYER & WORSHIP