roadrunner570
August 2nd, 2005, 07:36 PM
I will probably preach at the mission again sometime this month, but not sure when yet. So with my handy new Bibles, I thought I'd put together my next sermon. I think this is more detailed and longer than the last. I thought I'd share it with you all. Feedback is welcome :):
Why Study the Bible?
God has given us his word, the Bible. It is his instruction book for life, a love letter, a map, and even a weapon! But for many of us, its hard to study it daily. Why is it so hard, and why is it so important to read God’s Word each day? Imagine buying a new car, with all sorts of deluxe features and options. While many of us stubborn men would fumble around with it for hours, eventually, we’d have to go read the owner’s manual. The owner’s manual will tell us how to make everything work properly and safely. Same with any instruction book that comes with most products that we buy. God has given us an owners manual for life. Its called the Bible.
–It stands forever.
Ps 119:89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Ps 119:152 Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.
Many people today will say that “Oh, that book was written thousands of years ago, those things don’t apply today!” But look at the things they had going on back then, there was sexual immorality, false religions, murder, you name it. Any of that sound familiar? Just turn the news on. Jesus tells us:
Mt 5:18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Mt 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away
While we sit here on Earth and try to build up worldly treasures and possessions that will eventually end up in the landfill, the words of God shall stand forever. Longer than gold, silver, sports cars or even fancy houses.
–The Bible Feeds the Soul
Dt 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Sound Familiar? Lets look at something Jesus said:
Mt 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’’”
But how is it food? I don’t think we tear the pages out of our Bibles and eat them do we?
1Pe 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation
As we grow in our walk with Christ, we need fed and nurtured so that we might grow. The best way to do this, is through reading God’s Word daily. I know even if I go a single day without reading the Bible, I feel distant from God. One of the first steps to a Christian’s falling away, is to stop spending time in The Word. First its just a day, then two. Before you know it, its been a month.
But what is the Bible? Its just a book isn’t it? There are lots of books. What makes this one so different?
–Its Divinely inspired
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2Pe 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible isn’t something that men just sat and wrote on their own, but by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. While men wrote it in their own hand, they were spoken to by God on what to write.
So why study it?
–God Has Commanded Us
Dt 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
I’ve read some stories about churches in communist block countries back in the 60s and 70s. They met in secret in house churches. Bibles were very few, so of the ones they had, people would actually memorize the entire Bible! Now that is hiding God’s word in your heart, Amen?
–It Provides Light in the Darkness
Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path
Pr 6:23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,
The Word of God is a bright shining light, in the darkest night. In our darkest hour, when we need God the most, all we need to do is turn to his word and he is there, ready to speak to us.
–It’s a POWERFUL Weapon
a)A Devouring Flame
Jer 5:14 Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: “Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes
b)A Crushing Hammer
Jer 23:29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
c)A Saving Power
Ro 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
d)A Defensive Weapon
Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I’ve heard many Christians ask me things about the Bible. “What does it say about this?” Or “I heard a preacher on TV say this this and this, is that really true?” The biggest weapon and defense we have against false teachings, is the Holy Scriptures, right here at our fingertips. All we need to do is pick it up and read it.
After I had turned my back on God for years, and my life was coming apart. I was about to lose my marriage, my family, everything, all of my own sin and rebellious nature. I decided to give God one more chance. An arrogant thought I know, ME giving the Almighty God another chance, but that was my mind set at the time. So I went and bought a Bible, came home and started reading the book of John. The Lord opened my eyes, and revealed himself to me through his word. It actually took me a few days to pray to him, because I realized I had sinned so greatly, I was afraid he wouldn’t have me back. But finally I did, and he did take me back, as he takes us all back, just like a shepherd who lost his sheep. The Lord God has given us not only an instruction book, but a roadmap to him.
Tim Miller 2005
Why Study the Bible?
God has given us his word, the Bible. It is his instruction book for life, a love letter, a map, and even a weapon! But for many of us, its hard to study it daily. Why is it so hard, and why is it so important to read God’s Word each day? Imagine buying a new car, with all sorts of deluxe features and options. While many of us stubborn men would fumble around with it for hours, eventually, we’d have to go read the owner’s manual. The owner’s manual will tell us how to make everything work properly and safely. Same with any instruction book that comes with most products that we buy. God has given us an owners manual for life. Its called the Bible.
–It stands forever.
Ps 119:89 Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
Ps 119:152 Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.
Many people today will say that “Oh, that book was written thousands of years ago, those things don’t apply today!” But look at the things they had going on back then, there was sexual immorality, false religions, murder, you name it. Any of that sound familiar? Just turn the news on. Jesus tells us:
Mt 5:18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Mt 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away
While we sit here on Earth and try to build up worldly treasures and possessions that will eventually end up in the landfill, the words of God shall stand forever. Longer than gold, silver, sports cars or even fancy houses.
–The Bible Feeds the Soul
Dt 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Sound Familiar? Lets look at something Jesus said:
Mt 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’’”
But how is it food? I don’t think we tear the pages out of our Bibles and eat them do we?
1Pe 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation
As we grow in our walk with Christ, we need fed and nurtured so that we might grow. The best way to do this, is through reading God’s Word daily. I know even if I go a single day without reading the Bible, I feel distant from God. One of the first steps to a Christian’s falling away, is to stop spending time in The Word. First its just a day, then two. Before you know it, its been a month.
But what is the Bible? Its just a book isn’t it? There are lots of books. What makes this one so different?
–Its Divinely inspired
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2Pe 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible isn’t something that men just sat and wrote on their own, but by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. While men wrote it in their own hand, they were spoken to by God on what to write.
So why study it?
–God Has Commanded Us
Dt 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
I’ve read some stories about churches in communist block countries back in the 60s and 70s. They met in secret in house churches. Bibles were very few, so of the ones they had, people would actually memorize the entire Bible! Now that is hiding God’s word in your heart, Amen?
–It Provides Light in the Darkness
Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path
Pr 6:23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,
The Word of God is a bright shining light, in the darkest night. In our darkest hour, when we need God the most, all we need to do is turn to his word and he is there, ready to speak to us.
–It’s a POWERFUL Weapon
a)A Devouring Flame
Jer 5:14 Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: “Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes
b)A Crushing Hammer
Jer 23:29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
c)A Saving Power
Ro 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
d)A Defensive Weapon
Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I’ve heard many Christians ask me things about the Bible. “What does it say about this?” Or “I heard a preacher on TV say this this and this, is that really true?” The biggest weapon and defense we have against false teachings, is the Holy Scriptures, right here at our fingertips. All we need to do is pick it up and read it.
After I had turned my back on God for years, and my life was coming apart. I was about to lose my marriage, my family, everything, all of my own sin and rebellious nature. I decided to give God one more chance. An arrogant thought I know, ME giving the Almighty God another chance, but that was my mind set at the time. So I went and bought a Bible, came home and started reading the book of John. The Lord opened my eyes, and revealed himself to me through his word. It actually took me a few days to pray to him, because I realized I had sinned so greatly, I was afraid he wouldn’t have me back. But finally I did, and he did take me back, as he takes us all back, just like a shepherd who lost his sheep. The Lord God has given us not only an instruction book, but a roadmap to him.
Tim Miller 2005