The Best Bible Translation (2)

Introduction (1m)

What Does Your Bible Translation Say About You?

KJV - Known for: Their favourite seat. / Found at: Church faith tea / Discussing end times and current events. / NIV - Known for: Daily Bread devotional book/Social media shares of devotional reading, quiet times, and favourite Bible verses. / Found at: Starbucks with Bible study group. / Discussing John MacArthur or Beth Moore’s new Bible Study. / NRSV - Known for: Smart phone/tablet devices for Bible reading / Found: Coffee shop alone. /Thinking: Predestination and total depravity. / The Voice - known for chinos and polo shirts/personal blog focused on their faith./Found: Church conference./Discussing: Greek language as it applies to the Bible. / NLT – Known for: Flip-flops and jeans/Enthusiasm for worship music./Found: Small group meeting./Discussing: Free-will. / Message: “Don’t give me theology, just give me Jesus.”/The Shack./Found: Waterstones./Discussing:Latest Christian living books. (Based on article by Liz Kanoy)

First Article of Faith

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God; and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice. (The Salvation Army’s First Article of Faith).

Matters: how Bible is translated into your life. / Are you the best translation of the Bible there is? / Bible your only Divine rule of Christian faith and practice? / Is your life shaped by Scripture

Explanation (2m)

The Centrality of Scripture in Faith and Practice

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT

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

P keen to ensure T translates Bible into his life / Ensure Scripture is his only Divine rule of Christian faith and practice. / Why? - “God-breathed”. / Every word breathed out by God. / God didn’t breathe into something that someone else had produced/breathe into the human authors. / He brought Scriptures into existence by his breath. / Explain? - Theories or explanations about inspiration. / Miss the point: See that all Scripture is God-breathed/Originated in God’s mind/Communicated by God through his breath/Spirit. / Therefore, essential to study it/live our lives by it/translate it into our lives.

Timothy saved through teaching of his mother Lois, his grandmother Eunice and his closest friend, Paul. What a powerful combination! / Heard good news/Seen it lived out = best translations of the Bible he could have had. / But not enough: Keep going/learning/putting it into practice.

Like Paul: T will teach/live out/find purpose/found faith/develop and mature patience, love, endurance/withstand persecution in Word of God.

Application (2m)

Be Shaped by Scripture

I want to see a new translation of the Bible into the hearts and conduct of living men and women. … I want an improved translation — or transference it might be called — of the commandments and promises and teachings and influences of this Book to the minds and feelings and words and activities of the men and women who hold on to it and swear by it and declare it to be an inspired Book and the only authorised rule of life. … it is of no use making correct translations of words, if we cannot get the words translated into life. (General William Booth on publication of RSV, 1885)

How is God’s Word being translated into your life? / Need guidance of God’s Word today more than ever. / You can never outgrow the Word of God. / Rather than trying to be a better Christian/more holy/more Christlike, studying the Bible helps to train you in the righteousness you seek. / Makes you realise what’s wrong/equips you for your ministry - burn out unless service fuelled by study of the Scripture. / You should be shaped by Scripture. / Are you shaped by Scripture? / Quality time with God’s Word that you hear God’s voice gently telling you to apply what you’re reading to a particular area of your life? / Do you read it in a way that helps you pay attention to what God is telling you through it?

May each of us: Become people of the Book/Shaped by Scripture/Trained in righteousness/Ensure Bible is our only “rule of Christian faith and practice”/Decide to train to become the best translation of the Bible there is.