2 Timothy 3:13-16; Psalm 1:1-3 Consider The Word of God in 2022

In every area of life, success depends on fundamentals.

Your car doesn’t run right. Reconsider the basics. Get a tune up. Clean your injectors. Look for nonfunctioning parts.

Slumps in sports. Reconsider the basics. Foot placement. Flow of movement. Proper eye awareness. Practicing the fundamentals.

Relationships. Reconsider the basics. Proper quality time being spent. Being present. Listening. Empathy. Refocus.

Same is true for the spiritual life. Reconsider the basics. Evaluate your life based upon the simple elements that produce fruit in our lives. Focus on the spiritual disciplines that result in healthy life.

So we will consider (reconsider) the basics of the spiritual life in the next few weeks.

Today let us reconsider the role that the Word of God plays in our lives. Every Christian will give mouth services to the Word of God. But what role do we really allow it to play in our lives?

2 Timothy 3:13-16; Psalm 1:1-3 Re Consider The Word of God in 2022

I. Consider the Word of God in 2022: What is it?

A. Words from God

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

1. The mind of God revealed

2. Message from God given

B. Transcends culture

(ESV) 2 Timothy 3 13 while evil people and impostorswill go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. … 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God …

1. Written in culture

2. More than original culture

C. Authority / Foundation for life

(ESV) 2 Timothy 3 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learnedand have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it

1. To us (trustworthy)

2. For others (not need to justify it)

3. More than experience (can be fooled)

D. Alive in itself *

1. More than information - lives

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

2. Penetrates the inner man

(ESV) Hebrews 4 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

II. Consider the Word of God in 2022: What it does?

A. Redeems *

1. When responded to by faith, the message of the gospel saves

(ESV) 2 Timothy 3 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 1 18 For the word of the crossis folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

(ESV) Romans 10 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Spirit uses it ---- Work together

B. Reveals God’s will

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

1. Tells us about Him

2. Tells us what He desires for us to be / to do

C. Causes conviction

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

1. Convicts – more than the conscience – enables the conscience

D. Enables to respond

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

1. Shows what needs to be done instead

2. Respond by faith – it enables

E. Sufficient to equip

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

1. Give all that is need to live out the Christian life

F. Transforms *

1. Renews the mind

(ESV) Romans 12 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

(ESV) Psalms 119 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

(ESV) Isaiah 55 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplishthat which I purpose, and shall succeedin the thing for which I sent it.

a. We read / desire to respond / He enables us to respond

III. Consider the Word of God in 2022: What should I do?

A. Embrace it *

(ESV) Psalms 1 1 Blessed is the man … 2 … his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

(ESV) Psalms 119 14 In the way of your testimonies I delightas much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

(ESV) Psalms 119 35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

1. Delight in it

2. Respond by faith to it

B. Read it *

(ESV) 1 Timothy 4 13 Until I come, devote yourselfto the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

1. From Moses forward – reading the Word of God was preeminent (40 times mentioned – sometimes ¼ of the day)

(ESV) Exodus 24 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

2. As it is written

a. Not merely what others say about it

b. Okay to hear what people say – but only the Word itself is authority

3. In its entirety

a. By Testament

b. By Book

c. By chapter

4. Topically (but more than individual verses)

a. Beware of the Facebook style verse consumption.

C. Meditate on it

(ESV) Psalms 1 1 Blessed is the man … 2 … his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

1. Fill your mind with it

2. Explore based on need

a. For encouragement

3. Be transformed by it

D. Respond to it by faith and obedience

(ESV) Joshua 1 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to allthat is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

E. Enjoy its blessings

(ESV) Psalms 1 1 Blessed is the man … 2 … his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

1. Like a tree by streams of water

2. Intentionally planted

3. Bears fruit appropriately

4. Withstands the stress around it – nourished from within

5. Prospers