Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Good morning Point Harbor Church!

Please join me in turning to 2 Timothy 3. We are going to be living there this morning as we discuss God’s Word.

Have you ever sat back, had a look at the world around you and thought to yourself.

“This isn’t great”?

Every outlet out there is telling us that we are all doomed.

It’s easy for us to look at Global circumstances and feel trapped in a disaster without hope for change.

It’s easy for us to take a look at the generation behind us, you too students, and think, “Well, if they are the ones taking over when I get old… I hope I don’t make it to old...”.

Yes, as Christians, we have an eternal hope.

We know that one day God will destroy all and rebuild a new heaven and a new earth.

But Jesus also said that he came for us to live live more abundantly here on earth.

We also know that we are subject to a scantificaltion process here on earth.

We know that we arent supposed to Trust jesus, assume the fetal position and hope for the best.

It’s also easy for us to look inwardly and panic at the state of things.

We are all a mess.

Tempers, Lust, Addiction, Anxiety - all of it, sin.

We know it’s a mess, but we don’t maybe know what to do with it.

We know that we are supposed to be christians, we are supposed to be getting better, but we are left confused.

Maybe we’ve been a christian for 30 years and nothing has changed.

Maybe we are a fresh christian and we don’t feel that it’s working....

Change is needed!

In us, and in the world around us! We know that Jesus is the change agent, but what does that mean practically?

What does that mean for me?

What do I do now?

This morning, we are going to be discussing the importance of God’s word in our lives, and in the lives of the people around us.

We are going to be discussing the effect that the bible can have on us, if we let it.

Finally, we are going to be discussing how we read our bibles, and interact with scripture in a way that I pray will enlighten some things for all of us in the room.

Are we ready?

Before we get into the weeds this morning, I want to read the beginning of 2 Timothy 3.

It provides context as to WHY Paul is saying what he said

That feels a little similar.

With that context in mind, let’s read our passage of focus this morning

Let’s start with v16 - could you pop that up for us?

This verse starts with “All Scripture”

All Scripture is Good for Us

We must not cherry pick.

When we sit down for a bible study, we can start with the knowledge that every scrap of it is good for our souls.

I sat down to study the book of Matthew one time.

When I read my bible, I like to copy it out by hand on one side of the notebook, and take notes on the other side.

I remember starting with Ch 1 and getting the lineage of Jesus.

I dutifully copied it out and wondered how on earth I was going to take notes on this.

I couldn’t get past the names let alone the meaning for their order or even the the reason they were in scripture to begin with.

But I KNEW that this passage HAD to be good for me.

I KNEW there was something to learn.

Turns out...

Isn’t that amazing!

All of it is good for digestion.

When we are in God’s word, we can hold to the promise contained in the beginning of V16 and know that there is something here for us.

Even the weird bits

There are some parts of the bible that are odd, and confusing.

People sleep around.

People do weird things with family.

There are some laws that are so specific, you can’t help but imagine that God knew it would happen if it wasn’t in there.

There are some hard bits too, like murder.

It’s hard to understand why God would ask his people to do the things that he asked them to do.

It’s hard to know that God allowed all the males, except Moses, to be thrown into the nile.

It’s odd to sit down and read the parts of Genesis that tell the stories of just despicable sin people engaged in.

But these passages have something for us.

We know this because this passage says “All”

Prescriptive vs. Descriptive

A note… Often when discussing God’s Word.

People like to say that it’s so contradicting and full of murder and genocide and sexism and yuck.

Why would you read it?

Why would you worship a God that approves of the stuff in Gods word?

Here’s the deal.

Some of the bible is Prescriptive and some of it is Descriptive.

What do I mean?

Prescriptive - Love the Lord your God with all your Mind yours soul and strength.

That’s a good thing that we should all do!

Descriptive - Moses kills an Egyptian Guard.

It’s obvious that God isn’t asking us all to start our ministry by killing someone.

Christianity isn’t a religious hit club.

Some of the things that are in Scripture are God asking us to follow him, and God setting a standard on how we should live.

Some of the things in scripture are God telling a true story, and showing us the consequences of sin.

Either way, there is value in what scripture?

ALL SCRIPTURE

The OT Has Value!

Remember, when Paul wrote this letter, it was mid to late 60’s AD.

We arrived at our current canon of scripture after 300 AD.

So when Paul is saying “scripture” he is saying OT!

Yes, we are in the new covenant.

Yes, Jesus came to fulfil the Law.

Yes, the NT can seem happier and more fun.

But Paul here is telling his young apprentice that the OT is good for you.

DO NOT LEAVE THE OT OUT OF YOUR BIBLE READING BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE IT ALL THAT MUCH.

The NT has Authority

But Tim… What about the NT?

Well, Paul is on record as calling one of the writings in the book of Luke “Scripture”

1 Timothy 5:18 - Its a direct quote, word for word on the greek, of Luke 10:7.

Paul called this passage scripture.

Further, as things were happening and moving and shaking as the early church was growing.

People started to write and pass stuff around.

We didn’t just start including random stuff!

The NT you’re holding in your hand had to pass the test.

It’s author had to be an Apostle/Prophet, or have a special relationship to one.

Mark to Peter/Luke to Paul...

Witness of the Spirit

The appeal to the inner witness of the Holy Spirit was also made to aid the people in understanding which books belonged in the canon and which did not.

Clark Pinnock writes:

The Spirit did not reveal a list of inspired books, but left their recognition to a historical process in which He was active, God's people learned to distinguish wheat from chaff, and gold from gravel, as He worked in their hearts