John Lloyd - The Way to Know God and His Will
/Strengthen Your Core Series
God’s Word: The way to know God and His will
September 29, 2019
Pastor John Lloyd
Our physical bodies are made up of several core muscles. If kept in shape through exercise, they will function properly. God’s goal for followers is to make us more like Jesus. This happens when we think like Jesus, CORE beliefs, act like Jesus, CORE practices and be like Jesus, CORE virtues. We need to exercise our CORE in order to glorify God. The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus. Today, we will consider the core belief that the Bible is inspired and guides our beliefs and actions.
Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Memory Verses: 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Key Question: How can I know God and His will for my life?
How do we know such important life matters as the following:
Who the one true God is, God’s love for us, our birth into sin and separation from God, Jesus’ payment for our sin to restore us, the best way to live a successful and productive life and the truth about the future and God’s ultimate redemption of man.
Key Idea: I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God that guides my beliefs and actions.
I. Our great need is for the ______________________ of God.
Ephesians 1:18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, Luke 24:45
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Romans 2:14-15
“The Bible is seen not as a catalyst for revelation but as the
revelation itself. The Bible’s truth does not depend in any way on
whether a person believes the truth. This is God’s revelation about
Himself. It embodies truth beyond s is God’s revelation about Himself. It embodies truth beyond the scope of our own abilities. It comes from God.” R.C. Sproul Can I trust the Bible?
II. The revelation of God has been _________________ down.
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:4
A. The Words in Scriptures are ____________ Words.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Theopneustos- God breathed
“Inspiration is that mysterious process by which the divine casualty worked through the human prophets without destroying their individual personalities to produce divinely authoritative and inerrant writings.” Norman Geisler
Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. John 5:39, Matt. 4:4, I Cor. 2:13-14, Ephesians 6:17
John 6:63b The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
If we are to know God’s will, it will be because we have studied His Scriptures. Jesus had a high view of Scripture so should we. Sproul
Takeaway: The Scriptures are sufficient to reveal God to anyone who is seeking. They are God’s Word to us!
B. The Words in Scriptures have been carefully _________________. translated and protected.
Closest book of antiquity: The Iliad by Homer- 643
New Testament copies- 24,000
Oldest known copy of the Iliad is 500 years younger from the original.
Oldest known copy of the N.T is less than 100 years from the original.
In the New Testament only 400 words carry any question as to their original penning, none of which relate to actual doctrine. This is a 99.9 accuracy rate. Randy Frazee
III. The Bible is authoritative-possessing the right to ______________ our lives.
Psalm 119:1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
As the Word of God, the Bible has the right to govern a Christian’s life. Frazee
Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
IV. The Bible is infallible-unfailing in _________________________ its purposes.
Isaiah 55:10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
I Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
Scriptures are sufficient in guiding us to what to think about a particular doctrinal issue or to do in a particular situation.
The sufficiency of Scripture reminds us that we are to add nothing to Scripture and that we are to consider no other writings of equal value to Scripture.
God does not require us to believe anything about himself or his redemptive work that is not found in Scripture.
The sufficiency of Scripture shows us that no modern revelations from God are placed on a level equal to Scripture in authority.
The Bible is not a book of suggestions, but rather claims to be the very Word of God and invites you to let it rule and guide every aspect of your life.
Reflective Questions: Are you in or out?
Do you believe the Bible is the Word of God and that it has the right to command your belief and action?
Spiritual Growth Questions for September 29, 2019
(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)
Which statements are easy to declare with certainty? Which are more challenging, and why?
I believe the Bible is absolutely true in matters of faith and morals.
I believe the words of the Bible are words from God.
I believe the Bible has decisive authority over what I say and do.
I believe the Bible is relevant to address the needs of contemporary culture.
1. Read John 1:1-14, 4:14, 5:39, 6:63, 7:37-38, 10:34-35. What is his relationship to the written word? What would we know about Jesus if we did not have the written word? How is Jesus revealed as the Living Word? How does Jesus view the Scriptures?
2. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. In what ways have you seen the Bible be specifically useful in teaching, rebuking, correcting and training? In what ways can the Bible inform and govern your decision making in the areas of business, family life, friendships, and recreation?
3. Read 2 Peter 1:20-21. What are these verses teaching as to how the Bible was written? Consider there are 66 books and 40 writers but one theme flowing throughout. What role did God play and what role did man have in writing the Scriptures?
4. Read Exodus 20:1-21. What verse/s stand out to you? Why? How do the Ten Commandments reveal what is most important to God?
How would the world be different if all humanity were guided by the Word of God?
5. How has understanding the Scriptures changed the way you see the world? How has the Bible given you a better understanding of who you are and your purpose in this world?
6. Many people are overwhelmed by the Bible, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you have any obstacles that get in the way of reading and understanding God’s Word, honestly confess them. Then, spend some time as a group discussing ways to overcome these challenges.
Memory Verses: 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.