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INTRODUCTION
ILLUS: There are at least 25 different Bible Translations. What is yours?
Our church is A Family of Faith Growing Disciples of Jesus Christ by...
“Equipping - Studying God’s Word”
Initial Text: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - The Scriptures “equip” us
for life.
“equipped” = (Hebrews 13:21 NAS, NIV Ephesians 4:12 NAS) to
outfit, to bring into complete adjustment. Greek root used by ancient Doctors to set a broken bone,
by sailors to outfit a ship for journey, by fishermen to mend a broken net, and by soldiers to arm
an army.
Our Lord, through His Holy Word, sets our broken lives, mends our nets so we can catch men, outfits
us for the journey of life, and arms us for battles with the forces of evil. The Bible is the most
practical Book ever written.
An excellent equipping church in Acts was The Berean Bible Church of Berea, Macedonia. They are the
prototype church to teach us how to faithfully study God’s written Word - the Bible.
Text: Acts 17:10-12
1. The Students of the Bible
- Paul and Silas got in trouble in Thessalonica preaching King Jesus, causing a riot. It
was best they quietly leave. So they were sent to Berea.
- Berea about 50 SW of Thess. What is now Northern Greece. A nice place, but located
“off the beaten path” (Cicero). But this little out of the way town, became
one of the most famous churches - because of their intense interest in Scriptures.
- “noble minded” = well born, more cultured, more
refined/generous. Decent curious people. Open minded, not arrogant. Determined to know
the truth from the source - the Scriptures itself.
- They were a contrast to the Thess - who were stubborn, touchy, closed minded. Many
argued, not studied.
ILLUS: There are a lot of false views about the Bible. To some they ignore it as
irrelevant. To others they seek to kick it out of culture - sign at C-M Elementary
“Treat others the way you want to be treated” - but no source listed.
Sounds like the Bible’s Golden Rule.
- “receive the word with eagerness” = took great
interest, excited.
- Do you come with open mindedness or closed mindedness “Nothing here!” Do you
come great eagerness/great apprehension “I don’t like!”
ILLUS: How are you reading the Bible this year? Awana H.S. read Bible in 4 years. In
Bible Survey class in college we had to read the entire Bible in 9 months. To read
entire Bible in a year you only need 15 minutes a day, reading 3-4 chapters a day.
- The Bereans were noble, eager in approach to Bible, so must we!
2. The Searching of the Bible “examined the Scriptures daily...
things were so.”
- While they were open minded and eager - they were not gullible.
- Listened politely to Paul/Silas, then went to Scripture to see truth.
- “Scriptures&rldquo; = OT law, poetry, prophets. To see Jesus there - or
not!
- “examined” = thoroughly investigated, like lawyer/detective. This
new belief of Jesus was a major change - Is He Messiah/Savior? Study had to be through,
wanted strong evidence. Yet, knew Scripture final authority.
- “daily” = once a week in synagogue not enough. Intense,
interested.
- Paul/Silas had nothing to fear, The Bereans will find the truth in the Bible. Jesus was
clearly revealed in OT, Gospel was foretold.
ILLUS: 333 direct Prophecies of Jesus first coming in OT.
QUOTE: Focal person is Jesus: The Message (Speakers, p. 33-34)
- Trust the Bible, you can’t believe everything hear/read outside Bible.
- Plus students approach the Bible in prayer I Tim. 4:5. Bible study is God
talking to us, and prayer is us talking to God. God’s people can discern the Word.
ILLUS: Uncle John: “One’s attitude toward the Word says plenty about a
person...We need to examine every message by the Word of God.” (Sermonettes
#1, 323). Don’t take my word for it, take the Bible’s word for it.
3. The Salvation of the Bible
- One great result of the noble attitude and intense approach is people are saved. Proof
requires a decision. Evidence demands a verdict.
- “many...believed” Jews/Greeks, Men/Women.
- The purpose of the Bible is not to impress us, but to save us and to make us godly -
grow us as disciples of Jesus. II Tim. 2:15
- We believe in the power of the Word - simply read (why Gideons Isaiah 55:11) and simply
preached and taught (2 Tim. 4:2)
QUOTE: Halley’s Bible page. 20-21
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Our purpose statement says “A Family of Faith…Equipping - Studying God’s
Word” Let us start to see what it looks like if we really do this one line.
Accessible. We have it in our language. 25+ translations. 75+ Study. Not hard to
read. You can read it every day. Book form, audio, internet, I-pod,
Accurate. Not “stories,” “fairy tales,” “pretend.”
Teach the Bible as accurate record of history, and accurate interpretation of current events. It is
relevant to today - timeless and timely. The Bible interprets the newspaper.
Authoritative. This is God’s truth about everything we need to know: Ethics,
values, morals are unchanging through time. The Bible addresses all of our relationships - with
ourself, marriage, children, parents, work, church, government, neighbors - all with God as hub of
our relationships. “God said it I believe it, that’s good enough for me.”
Amazing. Any subject can be an entry point into the Bible: History, Literature,
Art, Science, Math, Political Science, Law, Family life, Music, Economics, etc. Teach a continuity
of the Bible, how the different parts fit together with central themes - God’s glory,
God’s love for mankind, God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Teach using as
many senses as possible to improve memory, application. Teach using the Technology we are blessed.
One cannot exhaust the resources available.
The Bible is the Living Word of God. Heb. 4:12, I John 2:5
Are we intensely examining the Scriptures nobly and eagerly? Is it saving souls and maturing saints?
Are we praying it in and praying it out? Are we looking into and living out the Bible?
What would this line in our purpose statement really look if we really did it?
Equipping - Studying God’s Word = Passionate Spirituality:
- We believe the Bible is God’s inspired and infallible Word and it speaks with
authority into our lives. We love, learn and live the Bible.
- We have Sunday School classes that provide in-depth and personal teaching using a
variety of methods.
- We preach Sunday Mornings messages that are solidly Biblical and practically relevant.
- We train our youth through specialty programs such as Awana Clubs and youth gatherings
to treasure and obey the Word of God.
- We provide Sunday evenings and small group ministries to share teaching, prayer, and
fellowship around the Word of God.
- We have specific plans to read and study God’s Word in our personal and family
lives during this year.
- We make life application in all our Bible study. We actually practice what we preach and
teach.
- We make all our decisions based upon what the Bible says.
- We use the Bible as the sword of the Spirit to defeat temptation and sin.
- We share with others how God is working in us, showing how the Bible comes alive in our
lives.
- We utilize the Biblical resources our church provides to deepen our personal faith and
relationships.
INVITATION. Renew your faithfulness to the Bible
Have a good Bible: Scofield. Ryrie, or Life Application.
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