Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Joke

You may have heard the story of the man who wanted guidance about a major decision.

He was unsure of where to look, so he closed his eyes, opened his Bible put his finger down to get guidance from whatever verse his finger landed on.

His first try brought him to Matthew 27:5 “And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.”

Thinking this verse was not much help, he tried again, this time his finger landed on Luke 10:37 “And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.””

The man was not ready to give up, so he tried one more time.

This time his finger landed on John 13:27 “After the morsel, Satan then entered into him.

Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.””

This is probably not the way to get guidance from Scripture.

I love the Bible

When I was in fourth grade I had a teacher who read to us from the Children’s Bible.

I loved the stories she read.

The ones of Israelites escaping pharoah through the Red Sea.

How about David and Goliath?

Daniel and the Lion’s den.

As I got older and actually gave my life to Christ.

I began to read the Bible in earnest.

I was in the Navy when I was saved and Scripture and a man by the name of John Erickson were instrumental in my salvation.

I bought this little pocket edition of the entire Bible (the print was really tiny) and whenever I had a a free moment I would read it.

I would read it in the chow line while I was waiting my turn to get food.

You could say I was feeding myself with spiritual nourishment while waiting for physical nourishment.

I still have one of those pocket Bibles now, but my tired old eyes won’t let me read it now.

But my love for the Bible really grew as I began to really study it.

I bought a Ryrie Study Bible, a Matthew Henry commentary, and a Wycliffe commentary.

These allowed me to really dig deep and allow the Holy Spirit to work through me.

I learned how to use Greek dictionaries.

I still can’t read Greek though.

I began to teach the Bible in the Sunday School at my church.At first I was a fill in.

Now I am the teacher of the a class of some really great people.

I have been doing this for about eight years and the more I dig into it the more excited about the Scripture I get.

And it has changed me.

I often tell people that the man I was 10 years ago I don’t like and I suspect that ten years from now I won’t like the man I am now.

But in the mean time I keep studying and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in me and through me.

Turn with me in your Bibles to 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB95)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Inspired by God

All Scripture

Now there are those who will say that they believe in one part of the Bible but not others.

I used to work for man who believed the gospels were the only part of the Bible that was reliable.

We would have very long conversations about it.

There are those who have told me their God wouldn’t condemn anyone to hell.

They say they cannot believe that a loving God would do that.

And yes we have a loving, merciful God, but we also have a God of justice and of wrath.

Scripture is very clear on that.

So when Paul says “All Scripture,” he means every single word in the Bible.

You are very thin ice when you say only portions of the Bible are reliable.

How do you choose which ones? Do you say that only the narratives, the biographies, are valid and that the commandments are not?

I echo the sentiments of John W. Alexander who said, “Our attitude toward the Scripture is desperately important.

But I refuse to set myself up as judge of Scripture and commence deciding which problems are biblical error.”

God Breathed

What is it that makes the Bible reliable?

Paul answers the question by telling us that it is “inspired by God.” Did that mean that God dictated every single word of the Bible?

No, that’s not what it means at all.

Literally the “inspired” means “God breathed” or “breathed out by God.” From within the Bible it is clearly shown in Scripture that God’s divine truth flowed through the minds, souls, hearts, and emotions of those He chose to relay His revelation to us.

By whatever means necessary God supervised the accurate recording of His divine truth by His chosen men.

In the first five books of the Old Testament there are at least 680 claims to divine inspiration.

There are 418 in the historical books, 195 in the poetic books and 1307 in prophetic books.

There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament fulfilled in Jesus.

The men who wrote the Bible were from all walks of life.

Moses and Paul were educated men.

David was a poet.

Peter was a fisherman.

And Matthew was a tax collector.

Yet, God used these men and others to record His self-revelation to the world.

These me recorded the Bible, but the source is God.

Peter wrote:

2 Peter 1:20-21 “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

It should be noted that the Holy Spirit, gave scriptures to men and it is the Holy Spirit that interprets if for men.

Profitable

It should seem clear to us that if God inspired Scripture then it would be profitable.

When I hear the word profitable, I think of a profit.

It has value.

The Word of God has unparalleled value.

There is benefit in the Bible in many ways.

David lists six in:

Psalm 19.7-9 “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.”

Did you catch them?

Well, in case you didn’t let me list them for you.

It restores the soul

Makes wise the simple (Which is great for me)

rejoices the heart

enlightens the eyes

endures forever

produces complete righteousness.

In the final portion of verse 16, Paul ‘s list is hardly exhaustive.

But he shows how Scripture is profitable for believer in another four important ways.

Teaching

The first one is teaching or at least that is what my version says.

Some versions say doctrine.

Merriam Webster dictionary defines doctrine as something that is taught.

In other words we are not talking about the process or method of teaching.

Rather we are referring to its content.

In this case it refers specifically and exclusively to divine instruction given to believers through God’s Word, this would include the entire Bible.

Unbelievers are not intellectually inferior, but they are blinded to the truths of scripture.