Sermon Tone Analysis

Bolivia Driving—flashing headlights

Toilets, internet, and driving practices

Early experiences of driving in Bolivia

[Take them to the back seat of the car and the experience of driving with no lights.]

Successful navigation require steady light.

In 1992, Michael Boulton of Surry, England, went missing.

A massive manhunt commenced for this 16-year-old who police thought to have been kidnapped.

After months of searching with no results, they called off the search.

Over a year later, spelunkers exploring a cave near Michael’s house found his body in a narrow passage only 300 feet from the mouth of the cave.

Scout.

Developing caver.

Found with no light.

Successful navigation require steady light.

C.S. Lewis once wrote:

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it—I see everything else.”

For our purposes this morning, I want to adapt Lewis:

“We believe in God’s Word as we believe that the sun has risen: not only because we see it, but because by it—we see everything else.”

As we continue our series on His, Mine, & , Ours we have the privilege of exploring God’s Word.

As we’ll see, God’s Word is light for us, so Lewis’s quote is very appropriate.

Like any good explorer of God’s Word as His, Mine, & Ours, we first need to find our starting point.

Two Starting Points

What comes to mind when you hear God’s Word?

What makes exploring God’s Word different that exploring other Christian topics?

A: Other Topics—Bible is primary source, Bible—Bible; fundamental problem?

#1 Basic Beliefs—EVERYONE has them

What are some basic beliefs must we hold before we can begin to explore what “God’s Word” or the “Word of God” means?

The key word is basic, foundational, fundamental.

I’m going to press you to go to the foundation of your beliefs.

Break it apart: God’s Word

Basic Beliefs for Exploring God’s Word

There is God & not god

Personal God

Reveals knowledge

Sufficient knowledge is attainable

Others?

“Faith Seeking Understanding” (fides quaerens intellectum)

Why is it important to embrace these beliefs?

“I believe so that I may understand.”

(Credo ut intelligam)

“I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but rather, I believe in order that I may understand.”

—Anselm of Canterbury (11th century)

Exploring God’s Word or seeking to know about God’s Word is pointless if we believe . . .

. . .

there is no God

. . .

there is no me/us

. . .

God is not personal

. . .

God doesn’t reveal things

. . .

what He reveals cannot be grasped in some measure

#2 Crash Course on Divine Revelation

Definition of Divine Revelation

How do you define “revelation?”

Revelation (def.):

“to unveil, uncover, bring to light, disclose, and/or make known that which was previously hidden, veiled, and/or unknown.”

Feinberg, Light in a Dark Place, 38

Divine Revelation (def.):

“a disclosure made by God or by one of his creatures for him.”

Feinberg, Light in a Dark Place, 38

Content of Divine Revelation

What types of things does God reveal?

Himself—immanent

Ourselves/others

History and future

Path of salvation

Categories of Divine Revelation

In what ways does God reveal?

Actions: Creation, history (providence), theophanies

Words: Holy Scripture

Incarnation—the Word made flesh

Hang on to this phrase:

God reveals through the world, the Word, and the Word in the world.

Key Biblical Evidence

Genesis 1:1–3 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

The world comes into existence by God’s spoken word.

Colossians 1:15-18 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

And he is the head of the body, the church.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”

The world comes into existence by the Son of God, the Word in the world.

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

The Son of God, Jesus Christ, is God’s Word.

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The Son is God’s Word in the world.

Hebrews 1:1-4 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”

God’s spoken word is Jesus Christ, the Word in the world.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

The written Word (Scripture) is God’s Word.

Summary: When we think of “God’s Word,” we must think of all the ways God discloses that which was previously hidden.

The World.

The Word.

The Word in the World.

That’s a lot.

Let’s stop there for questions and comments.

With that Starting Point we can focus on the meaning of God‘s Word most familiar to us—Holy Scripture.