Text: 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (LSB)
Topic: The Word of God
Application Point: Making the Word a priority.
Sermon Title: The Trustworthiness of the Word.
The truly noble are always hopeful and the laws create good hopes for those who take more than a mere sip of their study —Philo of Alexandria
Review:
2 Timothy 3:9 (LSB)
9 But they will not make further progress, for their folly will be obvious to all, just as theirs was also.
1.Darkness living, thinking and acting stunts our Christlike
process.
2 Timothy 3:10-12 (LSB)
10 But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, [and] sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, [and] at Lystra. What persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
2. Christian
includes training in knowledge, behavior, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecution, and suffering.
Antioch, Iconium & Lystra
Acts 13:14-50 (Antioch)
Acts 14:1-7 (Iconium)
Acts 14:9-20 (Lystra)
2 Corinthians 12:10 (LSB)
Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions and hardships, for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Timothy 3:13 (LSB)
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed [from bad] to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
3. We are
disciple makers, leading people to look like what we are.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 (LSB)
14 But you, continue in the things you learned and became convinced of, knowing from whom you learned [them], 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
4. We will
like what we spend our time with.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (LSB)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.
5. The Word produces
that results in righteousness.
The Question that is being asked:
Can we really trust the Word of God?
How do we know it is reliable?
The Bible was written by normal sinful people?
Uncomfortable Problems:
Ezekiel 1:1-3 (LSB)
1 Now it happened in the thirtieth year, on the fifth [day] of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, [that] the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. 2 (On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, 3 the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of Yahweh came upon him.)
Matthew 27:37 (LSB)
37 And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Mark 15:26 (LSB)
26 And the inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Luke 23:38 (LSB)
38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
John 19:19 (LSB)
19 And Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Matthew 2:13-15 (LSB)
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and departed for Egypt. 15 And he remained there until the death of Herod, in order that what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying, “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.”
Hosea 11:1 (LSB)
1 When Israel [was] a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
Is the Bible reliable and authoritative for faith and practice?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (LSB)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.
1. Stop trying to
the Bible what it’s not.
a. The Bible is not about you it is about God.
b. The Bible is not there to give you the warm fuzzies.
c. The Bible is not a science textbook.
d. The Bible doesn’t answer every question just the ones God wanted to.
2. Read the Bible in
.
a. Read surrounding passages.
b. Read relevant passages.
c. Read with the ancient near eastern mindset.
3. Find the
statement.
a. What is the truth proposition in the passage you are reading?
Life Group Questions:
Get To Know You (Optional):
You are stranded on a desert Island what are three things you couldn’t live without?
Take a moment and share scripture that you read this week and what application you pulled from it.
How do you currently prioritize reading and studying the Bible in your weekly or daily routine? What challenges do you face in making the Word a priority, and how do you overcome them?
Discuss common questions or doubts people may have about the reliability of the Bible. How can we address these concerns? Share personal experiences or insights that have solidified your trust in the Word of God.
Reflect on the qualities mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:10-12 (teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecution, and suffering). Which of these do you find most challenging to embody in your life? How can we actively engage in disciple making, training others in the knowledge and behaviors of a Christlike life?