Can I Trust the Bible?

WHY CAN I TRUST THE BIBLE?

40 Days In The Word – Part 1

February 17.2013

Listen to Sermon at https://www.facebook.com/middlesackvillebaptistchurch

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (NIV)

“All of your commands can be trusted.”  Ps.119:86 (NCV) 

I CAN TRUST THE BIBLE BECAUSE…

1.   It Is Historically Reliable

      “The Word of the Lord is right and true.”   Ps. 33:4 (NIV)    

2.   It Is Scientifically Reliable

“Every word of God is flawless.”   Prov. 30:5 (NIV) 

“The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay and purified seven times!”  Psalm 12:6 (NIV) 

3.   It Is Prophetically Reliable

      “No prophecy ever originated from humans. Instead, it was given by the Holy Spirit as humans spoke under God's direction.” 2 Peter 1:21 (GW) 

      “But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures."                   Matt. 26:56 (NLT) 

      “The angel said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true.     The Lord … sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.’”      Rev. 22:6 (NIV) 

4.   It Is Thematically Unified

      “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explained to them what was said in ALL the Scriptures concerning himself.”  Luke 24:27 (NIV) 

      “You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!”  John 5:39 (NLT) 

5.   It Is Confirmed by Jesus

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished!”

Matt. 5:18 (NIV) 

6.   It Has Survived All Attacks

      “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matt. 24:35 (NIV)  

      “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.”                                   1 Peter 1:24-25 (NIV) 

7.   It Has Transforming Power

      Jesus said, “If you continue in my Word, then you are my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free!”  John 8:31-32 (KJV)

THE BIG QUESTION:

WHAT WILL BE THE AUTHORITY FOR MY LIFE?

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good,

pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)

     

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly!”  Col. 3:16 (NIV)

40 Days in the Word Primer

Sunday, February 10, marks the beginning of a spiritual journey which will build up all of us as disciples of Jesus Christ. This post is designed to let you know how this spiritual growth campaign works. This information is meant to give you an overview of your plan of action during 40 Days in the Word. I trust this information is clear and useful. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact myself.

11.       SUNDAY WORSHIP:  Each week we will examine why and how the Bible is authoritative in our lives. The audio and outline for these messages will also be available online each week at www.facebook.com/middlesackvillebaptistchurch .

22.       MEMORIZE:  Each week there is a short Scripture verse to memorize. These are all listed on the bookmark, and will also be listed on the sermon notes page each week. These are verses you can recall during the day to remind you of God’s promises.

33.       DEVOTIONAL:  There is an audio devotional for each day to help you digest God’s truth in new ways. You can listen online or download them at www.40ditw.com or you can obtain them on a CD each week at church.

44.       SMALL GROUPS:  You are strongly encouraged to join a home group for this six week spiritual campaign. Only within these groups will you be able to maximize your growth using the materials. Also, each group provides an avenue for connection and service together. As a group you will learn Bible study methods and work on a “Micah 6:8 Assignment.”

55.       STUDY METHOD:  In the Small Groups you will learn how to meditate on a passage of Scripture until the Holy Spirit shows you how to apply it. These methods of Bible meditation will be employed each day of the week as you use the suggested verse of the day. There are pages in the workbook for your reflections.

66.       READING:  Each week you will be asked to read a larger portion of Scripture. The daily study verse will be drawn from these portions. The passage for the week is displayed at www.40ditw.com and will also be listed on the sermon notes page. The selections will be Philippians, Mark, James and Psalm 1.

40 Days in the Word "Kickoff"

BUILDING MY LIFE ON THE BIBLE               40 Days In The Word Kickoff

Vernon Vickruck                                                      February 3, 2013

Listen to the sermon online at https://www.facebook.com/middlesackvillebaptistchurch  

HOW DO I BUILD MY LIFE ON THE BIBLE?         JAMES 1:19-25

1.   I HEAR IT WITH MY EARS

      “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.”  Romans 10:17 (NIV)

“Everyone should be QUICK TO LISTEN, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly ACCEPT THE WORD planted in you, which can save you.”  James 1:19-21 (NIV)

For “Good Reception” I need to be …

h QUIET

 “Be quick to listen and slow to speak …”

h CALM

 “and slow to become angry …”

h CLEAN

 “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent”                                     

h HUMBLE

 “humbly accept the Word planted in you which can save you.”

 2.  I READ IT WITH MY EYES

“Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like!  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”  James 1:22-25 (NIV)

                  Get a Bible Reading Plan

3.  I STUDY IT WITH MY HANDS AND MY MOUTH

       Bible “STUDY” requires

                  - writing down what I learn

                  - talking about what I learn

“You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life.  And the Scriptures point to me!”  John 5:39 (NLT)

“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 check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth.”  Acts 17:11 (NLT)

4.  I MEMORIZE WITH MY MIND

      “The man who looks intently into the perfect law … and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does.”

      James 1:25 (NIV)

       The Bible term for remembering & reviewing God’s Word is “MEDITATION”

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.”       Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

5.  I RESPOND TO IT WITH MY ACTIONS

“Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves.  DO what it says!” 

James 1:22 (NIV)

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  BUT everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

Adapted from www.saddlebackresources.com

Re: Raising Your Children in Faith

Everyone has an opinion on just about everything. Some of us have strong opinions on some issues. And, when one of our opinions is challenged, sometimes we don’t take it very well. Such is life in a land with freedom of speech. As the T-shirt reads, “Those who think they know it all are annoying to those of us who really do.”

My experience has generally shown that the stronger we react to someone else’s opinion, the closer we should examine our own cherished belief. It would seem that one of those opinion-testing moments came last week as part of the sermon delivered at Middle Sackville Church. I have heard a lot of discussion, and heard about a lot of discussion, regarding the relative merits of public (read: secular) education vs private (read: parochial) education. (I’ve attended both types.)

Let’s put it bluntly: Crandall University vs all others in the Maritimes.

While I was not in church last Sunday, (we were in Ontario celebrating our first grandchild!!) I did listen to the message. While not having the benefit of the visual aspect of seeing it live, I did listen closely. What has come to my attention this week is the way in which we filter what we hear. Some of the comments made to myself since Sunday, which were credited as “quotes,” were not really correct. (It has also been my experience that I have been misquoted or misunderstood over the years as well.)

While some of the opinions expressed “pushed a few buttons,” I would like to weigh-in on some issues. First, the President of any university is paid to promote his own school. Would we have expected anything else? Second, we do support Crandall and should welcome the discussion of competing philosophies. The Bible has its own share of these debates. Third, don’t forget that a biblical (specifically Old Testament) perspective on education is holistic. (See my first blog, “Thinking About Education.”) After all, Jesus would have attended a parochial school and the debate about education isn’t in the New Testament. The choice we face is a late 20^th century phenomenon.

And a welcome choice it is. We value freedom of choice, and so does God. We use our minds to weigh the options and do what seems best. Hopefully, we have prayed about it. What I heard in the message on Sunday was that Crandall provides a choice. In the President’s opinion it is a better and more biblical choice – provided the preferred course of study is available. Feel free to disagree, but be thankful for the fact we have choice, and are able to openly debate the relative merits – free from condemnation.

And by the way, a little challenge to our own cherished beliefs makes us think, doesn’t it?

Experiencing Love

Here we are with a storm day and no church service.  Here are a few of the thoughts that I would have shared in the message.

My understanding of human nature is that all of us go around with a sign on our forehead that reads, "Love me." Now, if we said that to everyone we met, they might call the authorities. However, that is one of our soul cravings - to be loved unconditionally. Loved in spite of our faults. Loved because we matter. That is why Jesus is so compelling in how He treats people. Everyone matters. Everyone is welcome to receive all that He has to offer.

While we are looking for that type of love, we still hold on to a suspicion that some people matter more than others - that some people are more worthy of love than others. I've been in a restaurant where a street-dweller was refused service - regardless of ability to pay. I've been in a church where someone wanted to put up a fence to keep undesirables off the property. I'm even guilty of telling jokes that speak of some group not being as worthy of respect. All this is not good.

In Jesus I see people treated in a way that makes us uncomfortable, because it challenges us to love in the same way. After all, that's what being Jesus' disciple is all about. But if we have received this love, how can we hold back from loving others?

I admit, I like certain people more than others. I will enjoy a night out with certain friends. But I must learn to love deeply, even as I desire to be loved. A priest was asked by a TV host why he did not turn in the gang members with whom he ministered. His response was that he did not make his vows with the police department. When a gang member was aksed why the priest did not turn them over to the cops, his response was, "God... I guess." He understood something of unconditional love.

Jesus tells a story in Luke 14 about how we are to think of ourselves and treat others. We are to be humble in our estimation of ourselves. We are to show hospitality to those who cannot repay. And the result is, God will lift us up, and God will repay our obedience.

As followers of Jesus we must learn how to live this way. Our world continues to promote self-fulfillment and entitlement while Jesus commands self-denial and unconditional love. It doesn't make sense. But when I look at the lives touched by Jesus (including this month) the results are supernatural. The Kingdom of God, with all the love to receive, and love to give, is the best gift of Christmas.

Think about your own need for love. How does Jesus meet that need in spite of who you are?
Think about how you love others. Do you have "standards" for giving love, or are you able to be unconditional?

Joy to the World in the Midst of Tragedy?

Like most of North America and beyond, my thoughts have been with those suffering the loss of loved ones in Newtown, Connecticut. It's an unimaginable tragedy. I hope the lessons learned can make a positive difference in the future.

There are a lot of questions surrounding this shooting, and any other incident like it. What goes through the mind of a young adult male to exercise violence against the innocent? Are we even aware of those like him who are so wounded that they they act out so violently? Where do we find healing for broken lives before this happens? How does the Christmas angel message fit? "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

In this short space I cannot adequately answer these questions, but I do have a few thoughts to share. It would seem that young adults are hurting and somewhat lost with respect to the cravings of our soul. We all crave significance -- that desire to move forward and have a destiny. We all crave love and intimacy. We all crave meaning -- knowing why we are here. I think this last one especially ties in with the sanctity of life, which seems to be lost as well. The theme is "lostness" and pain. And as we can see, hurt people hurt people. Hmmm... Jesus said he came to seek and to save those who are lost. Are we looking for them?

My take on what Erwin McManus has written is that searching for God is like looking for a Balsam Fir at Christmas. The signs are everywhere. You just have to know what you're looking for. On the one hand there are many looking for God and not sure what they are looking for. On the other hand, there are many who follow God who are not sure how to look for and identify the lost.

We are all searching for truth. We are all looking for God. We crave meaning. We long to trust. We need to believe in something. We need to believe in someone. We need to believe in God. Is it possible that Jesus is like a sign that is obscured at Christmas? The seekers can't see it, and the Christ-followers aren't obvious.

When Jesus came -- as light to a dark world -- as healing to broken lives -- as freedom to those held captive -- he did not immediately transform the physical world into paradise. What he did do was offer something that would change the way we live. He said we are a light on a stand, which gives light for all to see. Not "you should be," but, "you are" a light! As he brought healing to the broken hearted, the broken bodies, and the broken psyches, he called his followers to do the same. "Carry each others burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

We wish all was well in our world, and we believe Jesus Christ will set it right. But for now we hold onto his words to us from the Psalms: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul."

As in times of disaster, times of war, and times of unspeakable horror, we look to Jesus. Born into a politically unstable and cruel regime. Born to bring hope, peace, joy, and love to those who need it most. It would seem our young adult population are missing this message. Maybe they haven't been able to read the signs. I hope we haven't been standing in front of them.

Go for the Goal -- becoming a spiritual champion!

Hands up if you spent a lot of time watching the Olympics this summer. Okay, hands up of those who will watch the Paralympics as well! (My rant is always the lack of air-time given to these latter games -- as if disabled athletes are less important. They just bring in less money, I guess.)

Over the four Sundays of August I have taught on Hebrews 12:1-3 which says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." (English Standard Version)

The four points (one each week) were as follows: First of all we need to "Remember the Witnesses" who surround us and motivate us to run. This could be those in our present day such as Billy Graham, Amy Carmichael, Mother Theresa, or Tony Campolo. Or, it could be heroes from the past such as Martin Luther King Jr., Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Eric Liddell, or Augustine. Hebrews 11 mentions two dozen indiviuals and groups from the Old Testament that are noteworthy examples of faithfulness. These disciples ought to grip our own lives to see the possibilities of serving God.

Second, we are to "Remove any Hindrances" which hold us back. This could be sinful aspects of our life which quench the Spirit, or it could be lifestyle choices which squeeze out God from our lives. As any high-level athlete needs to be careful about diet, routines and disciplines, so too the follower of Jesus. Are you feeding yourself from the Bible? Are you listening to God's direction and following it? Are you admitting your weak areas so that they can be changed with God's help?

Third, we must "Run with Perseverance" the race marked out for us. In order to run effectively we must have the desire to run, alter our lifestyle to make it possible, and understand the purpose of why we run. There is a general race for the believer, which includes loving God and others, serving those around us as though we were service Christ, and sacrificing our own lives and agenda for the well-being of others. There is also a person race which connects with who you are and the story you are living in this world.

Fourth, we we need to "Remain Christ-Focused" if we are to run as champions. Jesus ran his race because he knew what lay ahead for God's people -- forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, justice, freedom... He was full of joy in seeing the glory of God revealed, even at great personal cost. Lives are changed when the Spirit gets hold of them. Those who are dead are made alive in Christ when they trust in him. And when we live out our lives in the power of the Spirit, we bear much fruit, show ourselves to be Jesus' disciples, and bring glory to the Father. What amazing reasons to run, and run with perseverance!

What is God's race marked out for you? As a church we have agreed to live like Jesus, build our community, and share our story with others. The one who called us to this race is faithful and he will enable us to do it. Get out there and Run!