The Sufficiency of Scripture: Serve (2 Tim 3:16-17, 1 Pet. 4:10-11)

Intro:

True or false quiz:

Do you know how to define sufficiency of Scripture?

did you know that God has equipped you to serve by giving your a gift

You know what your gift is

You are presently using your gift?

You want to serve but you don’t know what that looks like

Definition of the Sufficiency of Scripture:

“God has given me all that I need for life and Godliness through His great and precious promises” 2 Pet 1:3-4

“All Scripture is profitable for all aspects of life”. 2 Tim. 3:16

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Prov

“The Bible contains all that we need to know God’s will and live a life pleasing to him” Heath Lambert.

The problem is that many people do not think that the Bible addresses these things. We think it is only a book for Sunday, Christmas, and Easter but has no relevance to life in between.Read the Text

Outline:

The Sificiency of Scripture: “Equip” (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

The Stewardship of Grace: “Serve” (1 Pet. 4:10-11)

Summary: The Scriptures are sufficient to equip us to serve by teaching truth, exposing lies, recovering us from sin, and training us to pleases God.

Prayer:

The Sufficiency of Scripture: “Equip” (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Source (v. 16)

All Scripture- the entire thing (at this time the “sacred writings” that Timothy has been aquainted with from childhood- OT).

Is breathed out by God- this is all one word meaning, “understood as the air that was physically expelled out of the lungs of God”. Since they are from God, they are without error. it is only used here in the NT. No one else’s words are like this...

2 Peter 1:21 “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.”

Content (v. 16)

and Profitable for -useful beneficial, enhancing well-being. It is not just right, it is meant to lead to live, want, respond, right.

Teaching- “didaskalia” intstruction, teaching, educating or instruction; activities that impart knowledge or skill.

Despite what you may think, none of us are neutral or a blank slate. We don’t start that way and we don’t go through life like that. We are constantly being taught by what we see, feel, and think. The Bible teaches us about these things.

It teaches truth (about ourselves and others).

Imgaine how profitable this is

to in the early stages of life and molding the mind- kids and teens.

to a new believer

in a culture

In decision making

Reproof- “elegmos” rebuke, an act or expression of criticism and censure to those in sin

This is punctiliar, it is that moment in time when you rebuke and make it know that what someone is doing is wrong or sinful.

The Letters to Timothy and Titus 1. Resources (3:10–17)

The word (elegmos) occurs only in here in the NT but twenty times in the LXX, where to fail to reprove is a sign of contempt (Lev 19:17)

The Letters to Timothy and Titus 1. Resources (3:10–17)

He writes to Christians at Ephesus, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose [= rebuke] them” (Eph 5:11).

Exposes lies

Imagine how profitable this is:

in times of temptation or compromise

when my emotions are taking control

Everyone else is doing it

When I don’t see the danger waiting on the other side

At the beginning of substance abuse, pornography, anger, gossip, and bitterness.

Correction- “epanorthosis” correction, the act of offering an improvement (according to a standard) to replace a mistake when someone is in error

how is this different from reproof?

The Letters to Timothy and Titus 1. Resources (3:10–17)

Pastors do not merely rebuke: they restore and point in corrective directions. “If convicting is regarded as a negative measure, the activity that follows, ‘correcting,’ is positive, aiming at the goal of recovery.”

It recovers us from sin

Imagine how profitable this is:

after giving in to substance abuse, pornography, anger, gossip, and bitterness

From emotions of shame and guild that have us so beaten down we cannot get out of bed or look at ourselves in the mirror

When I am so dissappointed by the expectations of life that I no longer have the desire to live

When I need hope that things could actually change, that I could actually change

to the one that gave their life to something or someone only to see it all fall apart.

Training in righteousness

Training- “paideia” discipline, training, instruction upbringing, the whole education and instuction of a disciple (both the cultivation of mind and morals); understood as the rearing and education of children

Used the most in Hebrews

In righteounsess- “dikaiosyne” righteousness, adherence to what is required according to a standard; for example, a moral standard, though not always.

This is not just the discipline or the training in general, it is in something, in righteousness!

The Letters to Timothy and Titus 1. Resources (3:10–17)

Aquinas serves as a suggestive example: “The effects of Scripture are fourfold: regarding the speculative reason, to teach the truth and to reprove falsity [= NIV ‘for teaching, rebuking’]; regarding the practical reason, to free one from evil and to lead him to good [= NIV ‘correcting and training in righteousness’].”

Summary: Teach truth, expose lies, recovers from sin, trainings to please God.

How can that be profitable:

gives hope for the future

keeps me focused on God’s goal after the kids leave the house, I change jobs or locations

To know that God is not done with me

re-establishing godly values and habbits

Objective (v. 17)

That the man of God- remember, Paul is addressing Timothy here. Timothy is a leader in the church at Ephesus, he is the pastor. So what are you saying, is this only for leaders in the church?Only for men? Well, what is the purpose of the Pastorate or church leadership...the word of God is sufficient in these areas in order that...

May be complete- “artios” capable; proficient, fitted out, furnished or equipped with every necessary component (for a task or purpose).

equipped

for every good work- the way that this is written could be pointing to this as the summary of the 4 things mentioned above about what the scriptures are profitable for. Wait a minute, what equipps for every good work? Is it our experience, the fact that we have been through the exact same thing as someone else? Not! It is the Scriputres! Why? because they point to Jesus and He is our high priest who knows what it is like to be tempted in every way yet without sin. You don’t need to be pointed to a counselor that has been through exactly what you have in order to be profitable, you need to be pointed to a a saviour that created you and knows you better than anyone on this earth.

Application/Implications:

That sounds great Jer, but it sounds like this is more a message for you, the other pastors, and deacons of our church. What does this have to do with me? I am so glad you asked that! Our role as leadership is to take the sufficient Word of God and teach you how to serve one another. That just as we are complete and equipped for every good work, we in turn teach, expose, correct, and train you with the same sufficient source as we have, the Word of God!

Does your understanding of sufficiency include all 4? Most of us, me included, would whole heartedly agree: The Bible is the right place to go to teach truth and expose error. But how many of us agree with as much charisma that the Bible is the right and only place to go to guide me in the correct direction recovering me from evil and effectively training me in a life of righteousness that pleases God?

Matt’s off-road recovery: people are out enjoying themselves having a ball living life and then they get stuck. They make a call, he finds them, attaches their vehicle to his, pulls them out, and then leads them back to the main road.

Maybe this is why I want a jeep. Because as believers, you and I are in the recovery business. We are tasked with going to those that are stuck, believer and non-believer, holding to truth, exposes of self-sufficiency, extending the recovery rope of Jesus from His Word to their lives, helping to yank them out, and leading them back to the main road of discipleship.

May be complete, fitted out- Matt’s offroad recovery, hunting, work cloths on and tools in hand!

Transitional phrase: The sufficency of Scripture equips me because the source is reliable, the content is profitable, and the objective is to serve in every good work. So, what does the sufficient word say about serving in every good work?

The Stewarship of Grace: “Serve” (1 Pet. 4:10-11)

Gifting (v. 10)

As each has received a gift- everyone considered individually

“As”- conditional, the way in which you received it, to the extent that you...

Has received- aor, to get something or come into possession of at the moment of salvation...

Gift- if you are a believer, you have a gift! (say that to your neighbour) Grace! a present given as a sign of beneficent favour.

Use it (say that to your neighbour)- presently, today, right now! To what end…or for what purpose...

To serve one another- “diakonountes” use it to serve” is actually one word! Using your gift and serving are one in the same. You use the grace gift by serving or ministering to the wants and needs of others. This is also where we get the word for Deacon

as good stewards of God’s varied grace- “as” there is that word again

Good

Stewards- administrator, one who supervises or has charge and direction of someone elses wealth or posessions.

Of God’s- not mine, my parent’s, my boss’s,

varied- having great diversity or variety- same as in 1:6 about various trials. Peter is saying that the variety of trials we face are met by the variety of Grace given. To put it in the Words of, whatever the trial or situation, “There is grace for that”. The varied trials are met with the matching varied grace. The sufficiency of God’s grace!

grace- same word as before. We get to be stewards of God’s goodwill. Okay, sounds good. I got it. I have received a gift or a sign of God’s grace that I am to use to serve presently. But what is it…The text breaks the categories into 2 parts (Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12).

Speaking (v. 11)

whoever speaks- Ministry that uses the mouth to get the words out thing… this can be public, like I am doing, or private in one to one conversations.

as one who speaks oracles of God- “as” there it is again! It is not just speaking, this is not the gift of gab but speaking the oracles (collected sayings) of God. The oracles or speech that comes out of me is not to find its origin with me. I am not passing on my words or sayings.

This might look like:

teaching

One to one discipleship ministry

Mentorship

Biblical Counselling

Phone calls

Visitation/hospital visits

Singing

Leading a Growth group

praying

Serving (v. 11)

whoever serves- “diakonei” same word as before, attending to the wants and needs of others- ministry that moves the body

as one who serves by the strength that God suppliees- “as” there it is again, by the ...

Strength- “ischys” capability possession of the qualities required to do something or get something done, especially the possession of physical qualities.

That God supplies- “choregeo” not coming from you, but that God provides or furnishes you with presently, actively, making it useful in that moment. to what end, why have the capability that I normally would not, or the qualities required...

This might look like:

Serving with our on-line social media, presence- posting creating visuals..

Serving in the tech booth on Sunday mornings

making meals/things to give to others

delivering meals

shopping for our food cupboard

work projects

weeding flower gardens

holding babies

showing up...

in order that in everything…”I might have success”… “I might be recognized”… “I will feel the satisfaction of accomplishment” people will praise me that they couldn’t do it without me, that I am amazing, smart, gifted... God may be glorified through Jesus Christ- There it is! The goal of life! The goal of death! The goal of giftings! the goal of serving! The goal of everything that has been created!!

To him belong glory (“doxa”) and dominion- “kratos”- controlling power, power to direct or determine (and govern).

forever and ever.

Amen

Application/Implications:

Is it possible to teach the truth, expose lies, show the correct way of life, and show consistency through serving? YES!

Serving is not just about you being a warm body at a program. It is not just about being present to “do something”. I serve when, whether by speaking or serving, I teach what the bibles says to relavent areas of life. I show those that are getting off track the way back to becoming more like Jesus and help keep them accountable to that goal.

Sometimes we think that serving has more to do with the activity which allows us to say, “Oh i can’t do that, I have never done that before, I don’t know what other peoples needs are...” Serving has to do with teaching the truth, exposing lies, showing the correct way to live, and striving for consistency as you serve. That is what we are asking you to enlist your body to do here at Central. That might be done through speaking or serving. God’s sufficient word equips you to do just that.

The goal of every activity, event, service, or ministry here at Central should have as its objective to glorify God through Jesus Christ! The Scriptures are sufficient for that! This is such a good time to be talking about this.

Transitional phrase: Serving means I use the words of my mouth and the actions of my body to give glory to God through Jesus by teaching truth, exposing lies, guiding in the correct direction, and consistently living it out

Summary:The Scriptures are sufficient to equip us to serve by teaching truth, exposing lies, recovering us from sin, and training us to pleases God.

Song: “Ye servants of God your master proclaim and publish abroad his wonderful name” May we sing this today as an anthem reminding us that we are equipped to serve as we leave here today.

Discussion questions

Worship- Renew the Mind (Scripture)

1. What passage of Scripture did we look at? Summarize it in your own words.

2. What 4 areas do the Scriptures equip us with according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17?

3. What are the 2 ways Peter categorizes spiritual gifting in 1 Peter 4:10-11?

4. What is the end goal stated in these passages? In other words, to what end are we to be equipped and serving?

Grow- Engage the Heart (Conversation)

1. How would you describe the profitability of Scripture in teaching truth, rebuking (exposing) lies, recovering from sin (correction), and training in righteousness? How does the Word help in these areas? Be specific.

2. In what ways should serving (speaking, service) be connected to the sufficiency of Scripture?

3. What other places do people take the issues of life to when they get stuck? What prompts them to go outside of the people of God (church) and the counsel of God (His Word)?

Serve- Enlist the Body (Action)

What is your spiritual gift? How are you using it to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness?

What is one area of your life that you would like a little teaching, rebuking, correcting, or training in righteousness from God’s Word? Ask others where they would go in God’s Word to address that area

How are some ways that we can encourage one another that the Scriptures are sufficient to equip us to grow? Songs? Passages of Scripture? Helpful resources? Etc?