The Bible: Out of Darkness into Light

INTRODUCTION

Based on the miniseries "The Bible" we have explored together -- in corporate worship, in our viewing gathering, even in our own private times of prayer and devotion -- many of the stories that have shaped us. Over the last month, we have seen revealed in some of these stories how salvation in Jesus Christ leads us:

• From death to life
• From slavery to freedom
• From victims to victors
• From religion to relationship

Today we reach the peak, the summit, the pinnacle toward which all those stories point.

Jesus told the Jewish leaders, "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!" (John 5:39)

On the road to Emmaus, "Jesus took them (two of his followers) through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27)

TRANSITION TO THIS WEEK'S THEME

Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion took His friends and followers by surprise. They had seen Him heal people, walk on water, and even raise the dead. Yet just days after He had entered the city as a holy King and cleansed the temple as a prophet, He was arrested, tried, convicted, and executed as a criminal. With that, in Matthew's words, "darkness fell across the whole land" (Matthew 27:45b) and over them -- over their hearts and minds and spirits.

Maybe you have felt that way, too. You might even feel that way today, or you might know someone who does. If that is the case, I want you to know that there is hope.

We're going to focus on three short scenes found in John 20, to see three aspects of this "great salvation" we've been exploring in this series in light of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. The first aspect, or facet, of salvation is this:

1. We are saved from the darkness of confusion and given a new commission.

• (read John 20:1-18)
• That first Easter was a confusing morning for Mary. First, she had to be grief-stricken. Then she finds the tomb empty. Then she meets two angels but may not have realized they were angels! Then she sees Jesus, but at first doesn't recognize Him! She thinks He's the gardener!
• But Jesus calls her by name, and her confusion disappears into excitement and joy. And she is given a commission ("Go and tell…"). She becomes the first evangelist of the resurrection in Christian history.
• So it is with me and with you. We may be confused about many this, but if you have invited the risen Christ into your heart and life, many things become clear. ("What is the meaning of life?," "What is my purpose?," "How did we get here?", etc.)
• And, like Mary, the soul that has trusted Christ is given the same commission: to spread the news of the risen Christ.
• Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

2. We are saved from the darkness of fear and given a new peace and presence.

• (read John 20:19-23)
• Why were the disciples behind locked doors? (v. 19 - "for fear") -- Peter, who walked on water; James, one of the "sons of thunder"; John, who stayed by the cross until the bitter end
• But Jesus greets them -- "Peace be with you." -- and then breathed new life into them. He banished their fear with his peace and the constant presence of the Holy Spirit.
• So it is with me and with you. Are you afraid today? Of what? (Of rejection? Of abandonment? Of persecution? Of financial ruin? Of national/global unrest? Of death?) You don't have to be. The peace and presence of Jesus in your heart banishes fear. The Bible says that "perfect love expels all fear (1 John 4:18b)," and that "God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)."
• Hebrews 2:14-15 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

3. We are saved from the darkness of doubt and given a new beginning.

• (Read John 20:24-29)
• Thomas, who wasn't in the room when Jesus appeared to the others, confessed his doubt. He wanted more than his friends' words before he believed. And the risen Christ appeared and removed all doubt.
• Notice that Thomas had vowed not to believe until he touch Jesus' hands and side. But when Jesus appeared and invited him to do so, he apparently changed his mind. The sight of Jesus was enough.
• Everything changed. (reference stories of healing of beggar outside the temple, John & Peter uncowed by Caiaphas, Stephen willing to die, etc).

4. We are rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of His dear son.

• Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
• 1 Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
• Matthew 4:16 "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”
• John 1:1-5 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
• John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
• John 12:44-48 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken."

APPLICATION

I pray that your eyes will be opened to the risen Christ today, right now -- that you will "stop doubting and believe." That you will find the fullness of His salvation in having your confusion disappear, your fear banished, your doubt removed.

SALVATION PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

I am coming to You in the Name of Jesus, Your Son. You said in Your Word that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved. I am calling on His Name right now. I believe that Jesus died for my sins when He died on the cross, that He was raised from the dead on the third day, and that He is alive right now. I ask You right now to come into my heart and live in me. I repent of my sins and ask you to forgive me in Jesus’ name. I receive Your forgiveness, and right now I confess Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I will give my life over to Him and serve Him all of my days. Thank You for loving me so very much!

In Jesus' name, amen.

The Bible: Religion to Relationship

Cultural Context: "Perfect Storm"

There were three interests arrayed against Jesus which also correspond to the "great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3) that is available to every one of us by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.

(Read Luke 19:28-48)

But there was far more going on that day when Jesus entered Jerusalem. His entry into the city of Jerusalem on that fateful day at the beginning of that fateful week can even supply an illustration of three things that change when Jesus enters my life -- or your life.

Salvation comes to the human heart, not as a result of religion -- like that of the Pharisees and Sadducees -- but as a result of relationship. A true, living relationship with Jesus brings about a "great salvation" that no amount of religion could ever do:

1. When Jesus enters my life, forgiveness comes to me because He is my high priest.

• The Sadducees (one of the forces in the "perfect storm") were the priestly party of Jesus' day.
• It was the high priest's job to offer sacrifices that brought forgiveness and cleansing for the people of God.
• Jesus offered HIMSELF as a "once-for-all" sacrifice for our sin.
• When Jesus comes into my life, He brings forgiveness and cleansing.
• Hebrews 4:14-16 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

2. When Jesus enters my life, righteousness comes to me because He is the fulfillment of the Law.

• The Pharisees (another of the forces in the "perfect storm") relied religiously, dutifully, on adherence to the Law of Moses in every detail to try to gain favor in God's sight.
• But until Jesus, not one human being had succeeded in that endeavor, because the Law was not given to make us righteous.
• Romans 3:10-18, 23 As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous- not even one. [11] No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. [12] All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one." [13] "Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies." "Snake venom drips from their lips." [14] "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." [15] "They rush to commit murder. [16] Destruction and misery always follow them. [17] They don't know where to find peace." [18] "They have no fear of God at all." [23] For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.
• The law was given to show us our sin.
• Romans 3:20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
• It was put into place to lead us to Christ, to show us our need of a Savior.
• Galatians 3:24 The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.
• Jesus is the fulfillment of the law.
• Matthew 5:17 "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose."
• So when Jesus comes into my life, He brings righteousness.
• 2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (NIV - God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.)

3. When Jesus enters my life, a new power comes to me because He is King.

• A few days after entering the city as a King, Jesus would of course be placed on trial and shuttled between King Herod and Pilate, the representative of the Roman emperor. These earthly kings, who had the power to pardon or sentence Jesus, were confounded by Him. They seemed powerless to do what was right: Pilate even went through the theatrical exercise of washing his hands, finding "no fault" in Jesus, while handing Him over to be crucified.
• Ironically, the true King, the true power, stood right before him.
• John 19:11a Then Jesus said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above."
• Jesus is the King of Kings.
• Luke 1:32-33 "He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!"
• This is why, after Jesus had died and rose from the dead, his closest followers asked Him, "Lord, are you now going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" In other words, "Are you going to take your throne and exert your power... and, of course, share it with us?"
• Jesus answered, "You shall receive power..." But it was not political, temporal power. It was power of a different kind, but no less important.
• Acts 1:8 "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere--in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
• Power to heal, to turn weakness to strength, to resist temptation, to conquer evil, to speak boldly, to endure persecution, etc.
• So when Jesus comes into my life, He brings new power.

Application:

• But remember -- forgiveness and cleansing, righteousness and power, comes as a result of relationship, not religion. It comes when Jesus enters in.

The Bible: From Victim to Victor

"The Bible" series - "A Story of God and Us All"

The stories of the Bible - through the age of the patriarchs, the Exodus, the wanderings in the wilderness, the Conquest of Canaan, the period of the judges and the kings - eventually led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of God's people in Babylon.

The entire nation was reduced to nothing. To rubble. To victimhood.

But God had a plan, as He does for every one of us. His plan was to work their redemption in such a way to turn them from victims to victors. And the stories in the book of Daniel give us some inspiring insights into how God's "great salvation" changes us from victims to victors. And the first such insight is this:

1. I can be victorious because "there is a God in heaven" (Daniel 2:1-48).

• v27-28 - God reveals secrets and mysteries
• And God has revealed to you, in His Word, "the mystery of Christ" -- Ephesians 3:9-12 "I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence."

2. I can be victorious because my God "is able to save" (Daniel 3:8-27).

• (Tell story of three Hebrews, emphasizing Daniel 3:17-18: "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."
• You and I can have that kind of confidence, too. He was able to save Noah and his family from the flood. He was able to save his people from slavery in Egypt. He was able to save the nation of Israel from oppression by Philistines, Moabites, and Edomites.

3. I can be victorious because "my God sent" (Daniel 6:1-22).

• (Summarize story of Daniel in the lion's den, ending with v. 22, in which Daniel reports to the king that "my God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths.")
• You and I can say the same, except that God did not send an angel, but a Son; (John 3:16). His ability -- and willingness -- to save is most powerfully shown in the coming of Jesus to earth and the cross by which he worked salvation.

Application:

1. Listen to what Daniel said after the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar's dream was revealed to him.

• Daniel 2:20-22 He said, "Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light."

2. Listen to what Nebuchadnezzar said after Daniel's friends were delivered through the fiery furnace.

• Daniel 3:29b "There is no other God who can rescue like this!"

3. Listen to what King Darius said after God saved Daniel from the lions' den.

• Daniel 6:26-27 "I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."

God's "great salvation" provides victory over sin, death, and the devil, and it can be yours today.

• Romans 8:35, 37 Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
• 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Colossians 2:9-15 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

The Bible: Deliver Us

"The Bible" series - "A Story of God and Us All"

Episode 1 highlights:

Adam & Eve - sin separated (Genesis 3)

• Genesis 3:21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
• Hebrews 9:22b For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

Noah - judgment and the ark. (Genesis 6)

Abraham & Isaac - God provided a ram (Genesis 22)

1. My life is an uncertain journey (Genesis 22:1-8).

• Isaac was on a journey. There was much he didn't understand. He was clueless as to what awaited him.
• That is also true of our lives. So much uncertainty.

2. My death appears certain (Genesis 22:9-10).

• Imagine Isaac's incredulity, horror during this scene.
• We know of Abraham's faith, but what of Isaac's? ("The Lord will provide a sheep...")
• Such is the position of every man and woman on earth.
• Romans 5:12 - When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
• From "The Bible" (Passover scene) - "Death is coming for us all."

3. My salvation has been provided (Genesis 22:11-14).

• God provided a ram, a substitute, a sacrifice in Isaac's place.
• It's what God does, faithfully, repeatedly, graciously leading us from death to life.

Moses - The angel of death passed over the homes marked with blood, out of Egypt, out of slavery, through the Red Sea (Exodus 12)

Jesus - God provided the Lamb of God, for you, for me, for all of us, to lead us from death to life.

• John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
• Hebrews 7:27 Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people's sins.
• 1 John 1:7b The blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Where the Story Picks Up Tonight: Exodus / Law Given / Wilderness Wanderings / Death of Moses / Joshua and Jericho

Rahab - "The story of us all."

1. My story starts out sad (Joshua 2:1-3).

• Jericho was a brilliant strategic choice; it was the world's oldest known fortified city, whose defeat would have struck terror in the hearts all around.
• But Rahab seems like a strange choice. She is referred to as a prostitute; not an auspicious start to her story, any more than hundreds of thousands of slaves in Egypt had any reason to hope for deliverance before the Exodus.
• This can be seen as a depiction of our situation: enslaved by sin. Dress it up however you like; it's not a pretty picture. Your sin may seem more "respectable" than mine, or Rahab's, but it's still ugly, and it's still slavery.
• 2 Peter 2:19b For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
• John 8:34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin."
• Romans 7:14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin.

2. My story includes a choice (Joshua 2:4-14)

• Rahab faced a decision. "Our lives for your lives," the spies said (v. 14).
• God is a God who specializes in setting captives free: Joseph, Israelites in Egypt, Israel through Judges, Israel oppressed by Philistines, Israel in exile
• Each of us faces a decision, too: Sin or salvation. Slavery or freedom. Death or life.

3. My story involves a scarlet cord (Joshua 2:15-21, 6:20-25).

• Rahab was saved by a scarlet cord hung outside the walls, evocative of the blood on the lintels at Passover... but symbolic of something else.
• She not only found a place among the people of God (Joshua 6:25); she also found a place of honor among the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).
• A scarlet cord runs through my story: The blood of the Lamb that saved Isaac, the blood of the lamb that saved Israel's firstborn, the blood of the Lamb hung outside the walls of the city.

Application:

• By grace, through faith, I can be set free.
• Galatians 4:3-7 And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Bible Literacy

Bible Literacy Statistics

http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/325-barna-studies-the-research-offers-a-year-in-review-perspective

• “Most self-identified Christians are comfortable with the idea that the Bible and the sacred books from non-Christian religions all teach the same truths and principles.”
• 68% of self-identified Christians have heard of spiritual gifts, a decline in the past decade; a minority (roughly one-third) can actually identify a biblical spiritual gift they claim to possess
• Less than one out of every five born again adults (19%) has a biblical worldview, which is unchanged in the past 15 years
• Just half of all self-identified Christians firmly believe that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles (not the facts, just the principles) that it teaches
• Barely one-quarter of adults (27%) are confident that Satan exists
• Less than four out of every ten self-identified Christians firmly accept the teaching that a person can be influenced by spiritual forces, such as angels or demons
• An overwhelming majority of self-identified Christians (81%) contend that spiritual maturity is achieved by following the rules in the Bible
• Only 4% believe that poverty is an issue that is primarily the responsibility of the Church

http://www.christianity.com/print/1270946/

• Fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels. Many Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples. According to data from the Barna Research Group, 60 percent of Americans can’t name even five of the Ten Commandments. “No wonder people break the Ten Commandments all the time. They don’t know what they are,” said George Barna, president of the firm.
• Multiple surveys reveal the problem in stark terms. According to 82 percent of Americans, “God helps those who help themselves,” is a Bible verse. Those identified as born-again Christians did better–by one percent. A majority of adults think the Bible teaches that the most important purpose in life is taking care of one’s family.
• Some of the statistics are enough to perplex even those aware of the problem. A Barna poll indicated that at least 12 percent of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. Another survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife. A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham. We are in big trouble.

http://m.lifeway.com/Article/research-survey-bible-engagement-churchgoers

• The survey found 90 percent of churchgoers agree “I desire to please and honor Jesus in all I do,” and 59 percent agree with the statement: “Throughout the day I find myself thinking about biblical truths.” While the majority agree with both statements, there is a significant difference in the strength of agreement. Nearly two-thirds of churchgoers (64 percent) strongly agree with the first statement, but only 20 percent strongly agree with the second.
• However, when asked how often they personally (not as part of a church worship service) read the Bible, a similar number respond “Every Day” (19 percent) as respond “Rarely/Never” (18 percent). A quarter indicate they read the Bible a few times a week. Fourteen percent say they read the Bible “Once a Week” and another 22 percent say “Once a Month” or “A Few Times a Month.”
• “Bible engagement has an impact in just about every area of spiritual growth,” said Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research. “You can follow Christ and see Christianity as your source of truth, but if that truth does not permeate your thoughts, aspirations and actions, you are not fully engaging the truth.
• “God’s Word is truth, so it should come as no surprise that reading and studying the Bible are still the activities that have the most impact on growth in this attribute of spiritual maturity,” Stetzer said. “As basic as that is, there are still numerous churchgoers who are not reading the Bible regularly. You simply won’t grow if you don’t know God and spend time in God’s Word.”

http://www.intothyword.org/apps/articles/?articleid=36562

• Seven hundred fifty-six (756 or 72%) of the pastors we surveyed stated that they only studied the Bible when they were preparing for sermons or lessons. This left only 38% who read the Bible for devotions and personal study.

http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/133-only-half-of-protestant-pastors-have-a-biblical-worldview

• Based on interviews with 601 Senior Pastors nationwide, representing a random cross-section of Protestant churches, Barna reports that only half of the country’s Protestant pastors – 51% – have a biblical worldview. Defining such a worldview as believing that absolute moral truth exists, that it is based upon the Bible, and having a biblical view on six core beliefs (the accuracy of biblical teaching, the sinless nature of Jesus, the literal existence of Satan, the omnipotence and omniscience of God, salvation by grace alone, and the personal responsibility to evangelize), the researcher produced data showing that there are significant variations by denominational affiliation and other demographics.

Fall in love with the Book

• Matthew 4:4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ (Jesus often says, “The Scriptures say…” and “Haven’t you read the Scripture…?”)
• Ephesians 6:17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
• Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
• 1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.
• Psalm 119:103-105, 133 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.  Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.  Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. …  Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God-which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.
• 2 Timothy 3:14-17  But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.  You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
• 2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.
• James 1:21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
• Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes-the Jew first and also the Gentile.  This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
• Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
• John 1:1-5, 14 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• Luke 24:27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
• Luke 24:44-45 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
• John 5:39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!”
• Acts 17:11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

The Pastor’s Privilege

• 1 Timothy 4:11-13 Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them.  Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.  Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

66 books, written by over 40 authors, in three languages, on three continents, over a span of about 1500 years.  History, law, poetry, prophecy, wisdom, letters from eyewitnesses — all of it inspired (literally “God-breathed”) by God.  In the Old Testament, there are over 300 prophecies pointing to the coming Messiah.  In fact, the great over-arching story of the entirety of the Bible is of God’s unquenchable love for His people, culminating in Christ.

It contains everything that you need for salvation, for godly living, for wisdom, for living and enjoying life

Applications:

• Make time.  There is *always* time.
• Don’t read it out of guilt, obligation, or to “earn His favor”.
• Become a student of the Bible.
• Pray as you read.
• If you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask.
• Personalize it.
• Memorize it.  Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Regular Bible reading further develops a living relationship with God – knowing Him through His word, learning His “voice”, discovering His character, His passionate love, letting Him speak to you through His word

• John 14:26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative-that is, the Holy Spirit-he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
• Ephesians 5:26-27 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.  He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.

Bible Challenge!

• Bible TV series / Easter
• Take and read your Bible in public. – don’t be ashamed
• Share Scripture on Facebook/Twitter. – modern day printing press & public square