WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:18.519 Now one of the truisms, that is things that people say about Christians, or perhaps if we're a Christian, one of the cliches we use as a Christian is that the Bible is central to everything we do and are as Christians and as a church. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:23.480 It's been a truism for years. 00:00:24.240 --> 00:00:27.780 But I want to start off by saying this morning that I actually think it's no longer true. 00:00:27.780 --> 00:00:30.900 The truism is still used, but it's no longer true. 00:00:33.120 --> 00:00:51.700 In recent months, the now infamous Israel Folau tweet of two verses from 1 Corinthians chapter 6, actually verses from Scripture, exposed such a massive and vicious division among evangelical Christians, 00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:59.440 mainline Christians, as to how to use the Bible and the place of the Bible in public life. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:09.439 And underneath that, there's a lot of questions about how confident we are in the Bible, how embarrassed we are by the Bible, 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:15.099 how fearful we are of offending others by our use of the Bible. 00:01:16.819 --> 00:01:21.679 Then this week, news has broken of Josh Harris. 00:01:21.900 --> 00:01:24.739 Many of you will have read his book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye. 00:01:24.739 --> 00:01:31.159 A very, very high-profile, conservative, evangelical Christian. 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:39.000 And it's now come out that he has decided to walk away from God and the Bible entirely. 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:45.159 His book sold more than a million copies. 00:01:45.479 --> 00:01:51.679 In many ways, he was a pin-up boy of lots of evangelical churches over the last 10, 15 years. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:57.180 Harris was caught in a dilemma. 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:07.680 He's lost confidence in the truth and relevance of God's Word for today's world. 00:02:13.260 --> 00:02:19.819 And he says this, he says it's intellectually easier to reject God completely 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:31.419 than it is for him to try and justify modern views on sex, sexuality, gender, and parenting from within the Bible. 00:02:36.379 --> 00:02:38.459 That's a massive statement, isn't it? 00:02:38.460 --> 00:02:46.700 In an interview with a liberal, progressive Christian magazine, 00:02:47.760 --> 00:02:51.500 which believes, which actually believes, the Bible can easily accommodate 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:55.719 all practices of the modern sexual revolution. 00:02:56.020 --> 00:02:56.680 All right, hear that again. 00:02:56.939 --> 00:03:01.500 This is an interview with a so-called progressive, liberal Christian magazine, 00:03:01.500 --> 00:03:08.860 which believes, the Bible can accommodate all practices of the modern sexual revolution. 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:09.879 Harris said this, 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:13.819 if in one generation, 00:03:15.099 --> 00:03:18.280 Christians can make such a radical shift with the Bible, 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:23.159 it starts to become silly putty 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:26.939 that is made to say anything. 00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:29.439 You know what putty is? 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:31.740 Play-Doh type stuff? 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:33.819 You just shape it. 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:35.180 If you want a new nose in your face, 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:36.500 you just make yourself a new nose. 00:03:42.379 --> 00:03:44.860 Harris is saying it's actually intellectually 00:03:44.860 --> 00:03:48.939 easier for him to walk away from God and Christianity altogether 00:03:49.460 --> 00:03:51.659 than it is to take the Bible 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:56.079 and try and make it say all the things our society want to make it say 00:03:56.079 --> 00:03:58.400 about sex and sexuality and gender and parenting 00:03:58.400 --> 00:03:59.300 and all those other things. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:05.240 He was in a dilemma. 00:04:07.400 --> 00:04:10.439 Didn't quite want to stand with the Bible, 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:17.519 but nor was he able just to make the Bible be what he wanted it to be either. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:22.439 So we come up with a third solution 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:24.359 that some will pillory him for 00:04:24.359 --> 00:04:26.000 and others will applaud him for. 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:27.819 Either way, 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:29.219 we have to wrestle 00:04:29.219 --> 00:04:31.819 with the same issue 00:04:31.819 --> 00:04:32.639 individually 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:34.819 and as a church. 00:04:38.060 --> 00:04:39.620 So here's a question for this morning. 00:04:40.620 --> 00:04:42.859 When you evaluate your church, 00:04:42.899 --> 00:04:43.759 and if you're a local here, 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:44.419 as most of you are, 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:46.120 when you evaluate this church, 00:04:46.120 --> 00:04:50.399 what do you, 00:04:50.579 --> 00:04:51.139 in your mind, 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:53.000 think should be foundational 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:54.560 to us as a church? 00:04:57.959 --> 00:04:59.259 What's the non-negotiable? 00:05:01.079 --> 00:05:02.780 What do you think should shape us 00:05:02.780 --> 00:05:04.079 in all the parts 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:05.699 that make up the whole 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:07.019 of our church family life? 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:09.920 Or again, 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:11.980 if a visitor coming in here this morning 00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:12.939 were to ask you, 00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:15.120 what is the key ingredient 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:16.600 that defines 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:18.939 us as a church family? 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:19.660 What would you say? 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:20.980 Or if they said, 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:22.339 what is our aim? 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:23.939 We talk about wanting to engage 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:24.819 with our local community. 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:25.240 Well, 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:26.060 what is our aim 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:26.980 in wanting to engage 00:05:26.980 --> 00:05:27.920 with the local community? 00:05:31.220 --> 00:05:32.360 Would you say 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:34.459 that the key ingredient 00:05:34.459 --> 00:05:36.459 that shapes and defines us 00:05:36.459 --> 00:05:37.259 as a church 00:05:37.259 --> 00:05:38.939 is the Bible? 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:41.399 That it's central 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:42.500 to everything we are 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:43.800 and everything we do. 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:46.860 Would you say 00:05:46.860 --> 00:05:47.399 the Bible 00:05:47.399 --> 00:05:49.399 is the only really valuable thing 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:50.259 we have to offer 00:05:50.259 --> 00:05:50.980 our community? 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:53.060 Because 00:05:53.060 --> 00:05:53.980 it offers 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:54.819 the pathway 00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:56.399 to the truly 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:57.259 godly life 00:05:57.259 --> 00:05:57.860 that everybody 00:05:57.860 --> 00:05:58.259 out there 00:05:58.259 --> 00:05:58.819 craves 00:05:58.819 --> 00:06:00.300 but is desperately 00:06:00.300 --> 00:06:01.240 seeking in places 00:06:01.240 --> 00:06:02.060 other than God. 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:06.759 and then 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:07.800 if you did say that 00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:09.720 would you actually 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:10.720 be practically 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:12.000 committed to it? 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:17.280 See, 00:06:17.340 --> 00:06:18.160 we live in an age, 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:19.319 a digital age we're told, 00:06:19.620 --> 00:06:21.019 the age of digital knowledge. 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:22.300 Vast amounts 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:23.060 of information 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:23.959 available through 00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:25.019 modern technology. 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:27.620 And as I said 00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:28.180 last week 00:06:28.180 --> 00:06:29.600 in our Grace Life thing, 00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:30.399 the reality 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:31.819 for so many Christians 00:06:31.819 --> 00:06:32.579 I'm not just talking 00:06:32.579 --> 00:06:33.459 about non-Christians, 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:33.959 I'm talking about 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:35.099 Christians as well here. 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:35.920 The reality 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:37.040 for so many Christians 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:38.639 is that their first 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:39.719 point of authority, 00:06:40.579 --> 00:06:41.860 reference and guidance, 00:06:43.459 --> 00:06:44.360 is so often 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:44.819 the internet. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:51.379 I think it's not 00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:52.199 too much to say 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:53.300 that many Christians 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:53.800 doubt 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:55.199 that 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:56.480 what is taught 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:56.939 in the Bible 00:06:56.939 --> 00:06:57.439 is even 00:06:57.439 --> 00:06:58.839 worth reading, 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:00.879 let alone 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:01.620 learning 00:07:01.620 --> 00:07:03.959 when compared 00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:04.860 to the immediacy 00:07:04.860 --> 00:07:05.480 and ease 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:06.439 of a Google search. 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:12.560 Now, 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:13.480 the result of this 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:14.800 is quite subtle 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:15.139 because 00:07:15.139 --> 00:07:16.199 the result of this 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:16.620 sort of 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:18.240 view of the Bible 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:19.939 is not that God's 00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:21.079 outright denied, 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:23.040 I don't hear 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:24.100 Christians doing that, 00:07:24.100 --> 00:07:26.939 but that God 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:27.560 is actually 00:07:27.560 --> 00:07:28.540 just considered 00:07:28.540 --> 00:07:29.100 irrelevant. 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:32.020 He's not the 00:07:32.020 --> 00:07:32.920 go-to person 00:07:32.920 --> 00:07:34.860 for our knowledge, 00:07:34.980 --> 00:07:35.720 for our guidance, 00:07:35.840 --> 00:07:36.560 for our authority. 00:07:38.700 --> 00:07:39.640 He's practically 00:07:39.640 --> 00:07:40.780 irrelevant. 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:42.220 So, 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:43.320 a couple of questions 00:07:43.320 --> 00:07:43.700 this morning 00:07:43.700 --> 00:07:44.280 as we move through 00:07:44.280 --> 00:07:44.740 this topic 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:45.439 and open it up 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:47.000 to look at it 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:47.900 then over four weeks 00:07:47.900 --> 00:07:48.500 in the afternoons. 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:49.500 What is the Bible? 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:51.860 What should we 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:52.860 believe about the Bible 00:07:52.860 --> 00:07:55.259 and what do we 00:07:55.259 --> 00:07:56.139 actually believe 00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:56.620 about the Bible? 00:07:56.699 --> 00:07:57.220 That's two good 00:07:57.220 --> 00:07:58.420 questions to ask 00:07:58.420 --> 00:07:58.839 yourself. 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:01.240 Well, 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:01.420 of course, 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:01.879 the Bible's 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:02.519 many things. 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:04.800 We can say 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:05.439 the Bible's 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:06.120 a library 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:06.899 of books 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:08.800 in one book 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:12.000 written by 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:12.579 many different 00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:12.939 people 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:13.800 over a period 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:14.060 of about 00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:15.060 1400 years, 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:17.759 full of words, 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:19.779 each of which 00:08:19.779 --> 00:08:20.420 is meant 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:21.980 to convey 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:22.699 a particular 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:23.120 meaning 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:24.680 and all of 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:25.300 which together 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:26.620 are designed 00:08:26.620 --> 00:08:27.819 to convey 00:08:27.819 --> 00:08:28.839 a particular 00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:29.719 narrative, 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:30.300 a particular 00:08:30.300 --> 00:08:30.899 story. 00:08:32.379 --> 00:08:33.039 Then we can say, 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:33.139 well, 00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:33.559 the Bible's 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:34.039 a really old 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:34.340 book. 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:37.299 It's a best 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:38.179 selling book 00:08:38.179 --> 00:08:38.639 still. 00:08:40.319 --> 00:08:41.120 It's been 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:41.879 translated into 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:42.559 hundreds of 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:43.019 languages. 00:08:44.679 --> 00:08:44.899 Well, 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:45.279 that's true 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:45.819 about the Bible. 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:46.519 Yet, 00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:46.980 again, 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:47.420 we have to 00:08:47.420 --> 00:08:48.159 say unbounds 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:49.060 that it 00:08:49.060 --> 00:08:49.639 remains a 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:49.860 very 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:50.379 neglected 00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:50.899 book. 00:08:57.139 --> 00:08:57.700 Christians, 00:08:58.080 --> 00:08:58.460 churches, 00:08:58.639 --> 00:08:58.960 who say 00:08:58.960 --> 00:08:59.379 the Bible 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:00.259 is their 00:09:00.259 --> 00:09:00.639 book, 00:09:02.019 --> 00:09:03.220 often have 00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:03.860 very little 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:04.399 knowledge of 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:04.659 what it 00:09:04.659 --> 00:09:05.100 says. 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:08.500 Even 00:09:08.500 --> 00:09:09.399 reject much 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:09.639 of its 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:10.340 contents, 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:12.539 if they 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:12.980 bother to 00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:13.240 read it 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:13.620 at all. 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:17.879 The word 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:18.220 Bible 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:18.940 simply comes 00:09:18.940 --> 00:09:19.220 from the 00:09:19.220 --> 00:09:19.639 Greek word 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:20.300 for book. 00:09:20.680 --> 00:09:21.120 That's what 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:21.360 it is. 00:09:21.460 --> 00:09:21.539 It's 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:22.039 Biblos, 00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:22.399 book, 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:22.940 Bible. 00:09:24.060 --> 00:09:24.940 But our 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:25.600 Bible is 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:26.240 more than 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:27.139 just an 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:27.539 ordinary 00:09:27.539 --> 00:09:28.259 book that 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:28.740 happens to 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:29.080 be about 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:29.500 God. 00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:30.500 Bible, 00:09:30.500 --> 00:09:32.820 the Bible 00:09:32.820 --> 00:09:35.059 claims to 00:09:35.059 --> 00:09:35.259 be 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:35.820 scripture. 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:37.679 Scriptura, 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:38.240 that word 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:39.340 means the 00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:40.340 writing of 00:09:40.340 --> 00:09:40.840 God 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:41.360 himself. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:45.600 The 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:46.580 scripture, 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:47.080 the Bible 00:09:47.080 --> 00:09:47.860 claims to 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:48.259 be the 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:48.620 written 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:49.820 record of 00:09:49.820 --> 00:09:50.500 what God 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:51.000 has said 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:51.320 to his 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:51.980 world and 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:52.580 his people 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:54.220 in the 00:09:54.220 --> 00:09:54.559 Old 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:55.259 Testament and 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:55.539 the New 00:09:55.539 --> 00:09:55.820 Testament 00:09:55.820 --> 00:09:56.360 periods. 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:59.480 Well, 00:09:59.500 --> 00:09:59.740 if that's 00:09:59.740 --> 00:09:59.940 what the 00:09:59.940 --> 00:10:00.440 Bible is, 00:10:00.680 --> 00:10:01.600 why did 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:02.240 God need 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:02.659 to speak? 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:02.919 If he 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:03.419 speaks in 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:03.860 the Bible, 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:04.440 speaks through 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:04.899 the Bible, 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:06.080 why did 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:06.320 he need 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:06.740 to speak? 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:08.639 The answer 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:09.000 is simple, 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:09.300 as Dave 00:10:09.300 --> 00:10:09.639 introduced 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:10.139 this morning. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:11.500 It goes 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:11.960 like this. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:12.300 It's a 00:10:12.300 --> 00:10:12.960 since then 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:13.460 argument. 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:15.180 Since 00:10:15.180 --> 00:10:16.320 God fills 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:17.100 our universe, 00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:17.879 as Rob 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:18.399 talked about 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:19.019 last week, 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:20.740 in his 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.320 character, 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:21.659 in his 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:22.039 presence, 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:22.379 in his 00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:22.740 creative 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:23.279 ability, 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:25.580 since God 00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:26.159 fills our 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:26.699 universe, 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:29.120 and since 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:29.639 he is so 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:31.120 different to 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:31.480 what we 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:31.839 are, 00:10:33.219 --> 00:10:33.679 even though 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:34.079 we are 00:10:34.079 --> 00:10:34.679 his creation, 00:10:34.819 --> 00:10:35.120 his created 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:35.659 beings, 00:10:36.939 --> 00:10:37.279 and even 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:37.539 though we're 00:10:37.539 --> 00:10:37.759 made in 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:38.079 his image, 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:38.480 he's still 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.240 so different 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:39.620 from us, 00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:40.159 so other 00:10:40.159 --> 00:10:40.459 than. 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:45.059 And since 00:10:45.059 --> 00:10:46.019 his desire 00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:46.579 is to relate 00:10:46.579 --> 00:10:46.879 to us 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:47.360 personally, 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:51.500 then we 00:10:51.500 --> 00:10:52.120 actually need 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:52.899 God to 00:10:52.899 --> 00:10:53.360 tell us 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:53.639 what he's 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:53.959 like. 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:59.500 because 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:00.339 unless God 00:11:00.339 --> 00:11:00.799 takes the 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:01.419 initiative to 00:11:01.419 --> 00:11:01.719 tell us 00:11:01.719 --> 00:11:02.000 what it's 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:02.379 like, 00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:03.600 to tell us 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:03.939 what's in 00:11:03.939 --> 00:11:04.579 his mind, 00:11:04.699 --> 00:11:05.059 to tell us 00:11:05.059 --> 00:11:05.339 what his 00:11:05.339 --> 00:11:06.100 purpose is, 00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:07.919 we could 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:08.179 never, 00:11:08.339 --> 00:11:08.659 ever know. 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:12.600 Now, 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:13.219 God didn't 00:11:13.219 --> 00:11:13.600 need to 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:14.059 reveal himself 00:11:14.059 --> 00:11:14.600 to us, 00:11:15.719 --> 00:11:17.159 but in an 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:17.620 act of 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.139 mercy, 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:20.480 and kindness, 00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:21.120 and grace, 00:11:21.199 --> 00:11:21.699 he has done 00:11:21.699 --> 00:11:22.279 so in 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:23.240 great detail 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:24.740 by speaking 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:25.460 into his 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:25.820 world, 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:29.080 in his 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:29.399 word. 00:11:31.940 --> 00:11:32.279 Now, 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:32.620 as you 00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:32.980 know, 00:11:33.680 --> 00:11:34.440 words are 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:35.340 essential to 00:11:35.340 --> 00:11:35.820 building 00:11:35.820 --> 00:11:36.899 relationship, 00:11:37.580 --> 00:11:39.100 good 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:39.600 relationship, 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:39.899 deep 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:40.299 relationship, 00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:40.680 that is. 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:41.159 Now, 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:41.659 there's a 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:42.220 certain amount 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:42.799 you can learn 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:43.299 about a person 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:43.740 just by 00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:44.299 observing them, 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:44.659 so if I 00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:45.360 brought a 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:45.980 stranger in 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:46.259 the midst 00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:46.700 this morning 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:47.060 and stood 00:11:47.060 --> 00:11:47.399 them up 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:47.659 here, 00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:48.299 there's a 00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:48.759 certain amount 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:49.080 of things 00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:49.360 you could 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:49.980 learn about 00:11:49.980 --> 00:11:50.220 them, 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:50.720 or at least 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:51.360 guess about 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:51.580 them, 00:11:52.419 --> 00:11:53.279 by simply 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:53.720 observing 00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:54.000 them, 00:11:54.800 --> 00:11:55.560 or we 00:11:55.560 --> 00:11:56.100 can learn 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:56.560 more about 00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:57.019 somebody by 00:11:57.019 --> 00:11:57.539 observing what 00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:58.060 they do 00:11:58.060 --> 00:11:59.240 in certain 00:11:59.240 --> 00:11:59.899 circumstances, 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:03.100 but to 00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:03.740 get to know 00:12:03.740 --> 00:12:04.460 them deeply, 00:12:04.800 --> 00:12:05.519 to understand 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:06.360 their character, 00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:08.820 to build that 00:12:08.820 --> 00:12:09.080 sort of 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:09.620 relationship, 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:11.060 then we 00:12:11.060 --> 00:12:11.379 need to 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:11.639 speak, 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.039 we need to 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:12.500 communicate 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:12.899 with a 00:12:12.899 --> 00:12:13.200 person, 00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:19.320 and that's 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:20.080 exactly what 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:20.820 God's word 00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:21.220 is. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.639 God's word 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:25.120 bridges the 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.860 gulf, the 00:12:25.860 --> 00:12:27.060 great gulf 00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:28.700 between the 00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:29.340 otherness of 00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:30.120 God and his 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:32.220 character and 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:33.300 our finiteness, 00:12:33.779 --> 00:12:35.720 and it 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:37.379 allows us to 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:37.800 know him 00:12:37.800 --> 00:12:38.279 personally. 00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:42.600 So revelation 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:43.100 then, my 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:43.800 friends, which 00:12:43.800 --> 00:12:44.820 is what we 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:45.220 call the 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:45.519 Bible, 00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:47.139 revelation is 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:48.820 God expressing 00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:49.340 himself. 00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:51.340 God's 00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:55.320 expression of 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:55.639 himself. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:56.160 Now that 00:12:56.160 --> 00:12:57.320 expression comes 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.980 both in the 00:12:58.980 --> 00:12:59.540 words that 00:12:59.540 --> 00:13:00.240 describe his 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.200 greatness and 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:02.200 his beauty and 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:03.100 his desirability, 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.560 the words we 00:13:04.560 --> 00:13:06.420 like, but 00:13:06.420 --> 00:13:08.840 also it's an 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:09.460 expression of 00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:10.180 himself as he 00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:11.320 describes his 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:12.160 holiness and his 00:13:12.160 --> 00:13:14.019 justness and the 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:15.019 awesomeness of 00:13:15.019 --> 00:13:15.620 him in 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:17.160 judgment, the 00:13:17.160 --> 00:13:17.580 words we tend 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:18.180 not to like. 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:20.100 Both are an 00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:20.820 expression of 00:13:20.820 --> 00:13:21.520 God's character. 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.340 Both need to be 00:13:23.340 --> 00:13:24.080 heard equally. 00:13:25.940 --> 00:13:26.740 They tell us 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:28.280 precisely why he 00:13:28.280 --> 00:13:29.200 does what he does 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:31.440 in his world so we 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:32.240 can understand his 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:33.259 character and purpose 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:33.639 and be in 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:34.420 relationship with 00:13:34.420 --> 00:13:34.560 him. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:36.699 So the Bible 00:13:36.699 --> 00:13:37.699 bridges the 00:13:37.699 --> 00:13:38.579 gulf, but the 00:13:38.579 --> 00:13:40.119 Bible also links 00:13:40.119 --> 00:13:41.239 the past to 00:13:41.239 --> 00:13:41.719 the present. 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:44.719 It records 00:13:44.719 --> 00:13:46.359 God's purposes 00:13:46.359 --> 00:13:47.199 and intentions 00:13:47.199 --> 00:13:48.279 as experienced 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:52.000 in history. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:52.859 This is what 00:13:52.859 --> 00:13:53.439 this is. 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:55.199 It's the record of 00:13:55.199 --> 00:13:56.039 God's purpose and 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:56.859 intention as it's 00:13:56.859 --> 00:13:57.419 been experienced 00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:57.979 in history. 00:13:58.979 --> 00:13:59.479 And so it 00:13:59.479 --> 00:14:00.559 becomes for us 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:01.699 then in 2019 00:14:01.700 --> 00:14:03.140 the template 00:14:03.140 --> 00:14:04.440 by which we 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:05.379 also now in 00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:06.140 our turn can 00:14:06.140 --> 00:14:06.980 encounter God 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:12.259 and come into 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.220 relationship with 00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:14.640 him in our own 00:14:14.640 --> 00:14:15.600 right, in our 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.240 own time and 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:16.700 space. 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:22.200 Now, let me 00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:22.960 just say this. 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.259 Revelation does 00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:28.259 not mean that 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:29.300 the only knowledge 00:14:29.300 --> 00:14:29.960 we have in our 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.879 world comes from 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:31.299 the Bible. 00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:35.460 In fact, the 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:36.080 Bible is actually 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:38.399 very clear that 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.659 rebellious humans 00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:41.799 may reject God 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:43.320 totally and still 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:44.600 know and discover 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:46.039 lots of amazing 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.059 things about our 00:14:47.059 --> 00:14:48.139 world and how it 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:48.659 operates. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.340 The Bible itself 00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:50.980 teaches that. 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:52.360 Chemistry, 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:52.899 physics, 00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.439 biology, 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:53.980 geology, 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:54.580 psychology, 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:55.059 medicine, 00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:55.720 all those other 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:56.899 things, they all 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:57.899 have a part to play 00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:58.679 in our world of 00:14:58.679 --> 00:14:59.779 discovering it and 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:00.460 directing it. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.899 They help us 00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:02.919 know our world. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:09.240 But the Bible is 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.759 also really clear 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:14.220 that knowledge of 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:14.700 which we have 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:16.820 much is not 00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:17.379 wisdom. 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:17.480 wisdom. 00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.320 And the Bible 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:23.259 distinguishes the 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:23.679 two because 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:25.419 wisdom is the 00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.500 ability to take 00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.399 that knowledge 00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:29.220 and put it into 00:15:29.220 --> 00:15:30.259 the big picture 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:30.860 narrative 00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:35.019 and discover a 00:15:35.019 --> 00:15:36.039 true understanding 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:38.240 of life and a 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:38.980 true understanding 00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:39.980 of how we live 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:40.740 the good life 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:45.840 and how we fit in 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:46.480 the universe. 00:15:48.820 --> 00:15:49.779 And the Bible 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:50.340 is clear, 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:50.740 therefore, 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.840 that not 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.980 withstanding the 00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.720 knowledge we can 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.759 discover quite 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:55.620 apart from God, 00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:58.560 that we can only 00:15:58.560 --> 00:15:59.399 know our universe 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:00.480 in its fullest 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.360 and truest 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:03.560 context as we 00:16:03.560 --> 00:16:04.340 bring that 00:16:04.340 --> 00:16:05.259 knowledge and put 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.080 it in the context 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:08.660 of God who 00:16:08.660 --> 00:16:09.440 created all. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:15.120 this ultimate 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:15.640 wisdom, 00:16:15.640 --> 00:16:16.680 says the Bible, 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.060 is God's 00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:18.340 alone. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:24.000 And this 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:24.620 wisdom, 00:16:25.040 --> 00:16:25.900 he generously 00:16:25.900 --> 00:16:27.280 shares with us 00:16:27.280 --> 00:16:28.700 in his written 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.980 word so that 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:31.160 we might know 00:16:31.160 --> 00:16:32.260 how to use our 00:16:32.260 --> 00:16:33.200 vast and 00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:33.720 increasing 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.320 knowledge 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.020 wisely 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:38.720 and know 00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.159 how to live 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:39.480 well. 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:43.000 Now, 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:43.799 that's a really 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:44.799 big check for us, 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.000 isn't it? 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:45.519 Because for 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.179 generations, 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:46.799 we've actually 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:47.659 been told, 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.199 we've been 00:16:48.199 --> 00:16:49.039 sold the line 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.100 that humans 00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:50.639 can find 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.720 ultimate truth 00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:52.399 and wisdom 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.059 for living 00:16:53.059 --> 00:16:53.980 without need 00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:54.500 for God. 00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.759 But I don't 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.299 need to argue 00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:00.840 the point that 00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:01.699 the hard evidence 00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:02.220 for that 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:04.259 proves the 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:04.879 Bible's point 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.940 that there's 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:06.720 an awful lot 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:07.160 of knowledge 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:07.540 out there 00:17:07.540 --> 00:17:07.760 in our 00:17:07.760 --> 00:17:08.040 world, 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:08.760 but very 00:17:08.760 --> 00:17:09.380 little wisdom 00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:09.880 as to how 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:10.220 to live 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:10.480 well. 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:15.600 So, 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.160 next question 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:16.360 then. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.340 What is the 00:17:19.340 --> 00:17:19.540 Bible? 00:17:19.820 --> 00:17:20.400 Why did God 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:20.900 need to speak? 00:17:21.020 --> 00:17:21.400 The question 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:21.680 then is, 00:17:21.800 --> 00:17:22.420 how has God 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.120 spoken to us? 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:25.540 Now, 00:17:25.600 --> 00:17:25.880 we look at 00:17:25.880 --> 00:17:26.600 2 Timothy 3, 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.120 16. 00:17:28.260 --> 00:17:28.840 It says 00:17:28.840 --> 00:17:29.020 there, 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:29.960 all Scripture 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:31.620 is breathed 00:17:31.620 --> 00:17:31.920 out. 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:35.700 by God. 00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:38.860 My friends, 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:39.620 the Bible 00:17:39.620 --> 00:17:42.860 is God's 00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:43.320 words 00:17:43.320 --> 00:17:44.820 in human 00:17:44.820 --> 00:17:45.200 words. 00:17:46.520 --> 00:17:47.400 All Scripture 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:49.160 comes directly 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:49.740 from God 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.500 as he breathes 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:50.700 out, 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.880 as he speaks. 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:55.480 What the Bible 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:55.980 says, 00:17:56.520 --> 00:17:58.300 God says 00:17:58.300 --> 00:17:59.960 just as 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:00.540 really 00:18:00.540 --> 00:18:01.500 as if 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:02.460 God himself 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.060 was standing 00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:03.700 here in front 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:04.039 of us 00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:04.919 this morning 00:18:04.919 --> 00:18:05.359 speaking. 00:18:06.399 --> 00:18:06.919 That's what 00:18:06.919 --> 00:18:07.179 the Bible 00:18:07.179 --> 00:18:07.940 claims about 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:08.299 itself. 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:10.759 All Scripture 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.679 is God 00:18:11.679 --> 00:18:12.119 breathed. 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.639 The same 00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:14.419 idea is 00:18:14.419 --> 00:18:14.859 in 00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:17.419 Hebrews 00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:18.059 chapter 1. 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.579 Let me 00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:21.019 just read it 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:21.179 to you 00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:21.399 when I 00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:21.919 find it. 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:22.339 Hebrews 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:23.059 chapter 1. 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:25.039 Long 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.480 ago, 00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.519 at many 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.279 times and 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:27.679 in many 00:18:27.679 --> 00:18:28.099 ways, 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:28.980 God spoke 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.359 to our 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:29.859 fathers by 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.419 the prophets. 00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:30.500 prophets. 00:18:32.560 --> 00:18:32.880 But in 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:33.560 these last 00:18:33.560 --> 00:18:34.160 days, 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:35.320 he has 00:18:35.320 --> 00:18:35.880 spoken to 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:37.259 us by 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.880 his son, 00:18:39.100 --> 00:18:39.420 whom he 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.120 appointed the 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:40.720 heir of all 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.100 things, 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.560 through whom 00:18:42.560 --> 00:18:43.759 he also 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.560 created the 00:18:44.560 --> 00:18:44.860 world. 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:50.720 How has 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.220 God spoken? 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:52.300 Well, 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.480 God communicated 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:55.380 with ordinary 00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:55.840 people 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:58.199 through 00:18:58.199 --> 00:18:58.839 ordinary 00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.419 words 00:18:59.419 --> 00:19:01.799 in 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.419 language 00:19:02.419 --> 00:19:02.839 which is 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:03.199 ordinary, 00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.119 propositions. 00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:06.000 That is, 00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:06.819 sentences, 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:07.919 statements, 00:19:08.639 --> 00:19:09.139 questions, 00:19:09.659 --> 00:19:10.179 commands. 00:19:15.179 --> 00:19:16.019 So, 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:16.839 in one 00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:17.240 sense, 00:19:18.099 --> 00:19:18.419 God has 00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:18.879 spoken in a 00:19:18.879 --> 00:19:19.500 really ordinary 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:19.879 way. 00:19:21.879 --> 00:19:22.679 Yet, 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.419 the process 00:19:23.419 --> 00:19:24.159 was also 00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:25.619 supernatural, 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.099 too. 00:19:27.459 --> 00:19:28.059 The word 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:28.899 breathed, 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:29.720 in Greek, 00:19:30.159 --> 00:19:30.899 contains the 00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:31.779 root word for 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:32.599 Holy Spirit, 00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:34.419 theonistus. 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.740 God 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.539 communicates 00:19:41.539 --> 00:19:42.379 his wisdom 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:44.240 to the 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.759 mind of 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.079 ordinary 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:45.639 people by 00:19:45.639 --> 00:19:46.019 his Holy 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.639 Spirit, 00:19:47.919 --> 00:19:48.659 whom he 00:19:48.659 --> 00:19:49.579 superintends. 00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:52.419 And he 00:19:52.419 --> 00:19:53.019 superintends 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.240 both the 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:55.199 recording of 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.740 that word 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.220 initially 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.680 that God 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.120 puts in 00:19:57.120 --> 00:19:57.600 their mind, 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.380 God's 00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:58.660 word. 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.160 He 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.660 superintends 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:00.940 that, 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.200 and also 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:03.380 superintends 00:20:03.380 --> 00:20:04.059 the process 00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:04.720 of passing 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.400 it on to 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:05.799 others 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:06.319 through 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:06.779 teaching, 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:07.620 which is 00:20:07.620 --> 00:20:08.059 why we 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:08.759 have God's 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.720 word in 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.559 its original 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.200 form come 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:11.600 down to 00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:11.960 us with 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.480 accuracy 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.140 and 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:13.759 completeness 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.700 in 2019, 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.600 2,000 years 00:20:15.600 --> 00:20:16.200 after it's 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:16.519 written, 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.700 3,000 years 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.140 after someone 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.299 that's 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:18.500 written. 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:26.259 So God 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.420 superintends 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:28.460 the process 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.920 from start 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:30.380 to finish, 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.359 and yet 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:32.500 we got his 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.119 slide back 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:33.519 and forward. 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:33.859 It's an 00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.119 ordinary 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:34.980 process because 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.900 God didn't 00:20:35.900 --> 00:20:36.460 reduce the 00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:37.000 writers to 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.079 robot status. 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:38.440 He didn't 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:38.720 put them 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.019 into a 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.319 trance. 00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.279 We can 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:40.839 see the 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:41.079 different 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:41.779 personalities, 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:42.319 the different 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.000 contexts, 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.180 the different 00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:45.099 styles of 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:45.480 the different 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:46.220 Bible writers, 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:46.319 writers, 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:48.160 and yet 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:50.120 we're told 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:50.500 that God 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.299 superintends 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:53.299 both the 00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:54.100 original writing, 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:54.740 the original 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.240 thinking, 00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.259 and then the 00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:57.019 transmission of 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:57.200 it. 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.860 But equally 00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:01.600 clear in 2 00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:02.220 Timothy 3, 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:03.180 15 and 16 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:04.720 is the 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.380 Bible is 00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:05.819 God's 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:07.039 living and 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.940 transforming 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.519 word. 00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:12.180 My friends, 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.920 the Bible, 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:13.680 whatever else 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.220 you say about 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:14.420 it, 00:21:15.620 --> 00:21:16.200 is the 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:16.900 God's 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.360 way of 00:21:17.360 --> 00:21:17.680 bringing 00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:20.380 life to 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:20.660 people, 00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:21.080 to his 00:21:21.080 --> 00:21:21.400 people, 00:21:22.080 --> 00:21:24.860 and to 00:21:24.860 --> 00:21:25.500 growing his 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:25.819 people, 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:26.860 to be the 00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:27.279 people he 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:27.620 wants them 00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:28.019 to be. 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:31.700 Though 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:32.100 written in 00:21:32.100 --> 00:21:32.720 the past, 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:34.420 it is 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.259 equally 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:35.980 applicable to 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.220 us now. 00:21:36.299 --> 00:21:36.620 Look at the 00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:36.960 way the 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.920 tenses change 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:38.340 in verse 00:21:38.340 --> 00:21:39.660 15. 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.580 I, from 00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:40.980 childhood, 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.279 you have 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:41.559 acquainted 00:21:41.559 --> 00:21:42.259 with the 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:42.539 sacred 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:42.960 writings, 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.319 which are 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:44.700 able. 00:21:44.840 --> 00:21:45.039 So, 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:45.660 Timothy, 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:46.000 you've 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.240 learned 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.420 these 00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:46.620 in the 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:46.880 past. 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.080 They've 00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:47.340 come 00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:47.800 down 00:21:47.800 --> 00:21:48.420 through 00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:48.620 the 00:21:48.620 --> 00:21:49.220 generations, 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.640 which are 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:51.060 able, 00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:51.900 that is a 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:52.600 present tense, 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.320 which are 00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:53.720 able to 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.200 make you 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:54.720 wise for 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.240 salvation 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:56.580 through 00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:57.500 faith in 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.019 Christ Jesus. 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:58.420 All 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.120 scripture is 00:21:59.120 --> 00:21:59.680 breathed out 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.100 by God 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:01.040 and is 00:22:01.040 --> 00:22:01.620 profitable 00:22:01.620 --> 00:22:02.900 for teaching, 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.100 for reproof, 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.860 for correction, 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:05.660 and for 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.180 training and 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:06.500 righteous, 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.580 that the 00:22:07.580 --> 00:22:08.140 man of God, 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:08.460 that the 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.000 person of 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.220 God, 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:09.519 that the 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.000 believer, 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:10.820 may be 00:22:10.820 --> 00:22:11.340 competent, 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:13.140 equipped for 00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:13.580 every good 00:22:13.580 --> 00:22:13.940 work. 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.040 God's 00:22:18.040 --> 00:22:20.480 word brings 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.000 life. 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:21.680 It is able 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.240 to make us 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.560 wise for 00:22:23.560 --> 00:22:24.259 salvation. 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.620 It is 00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.780 useful now 00:22:28.780 --> 00:22:30.220 for growing us 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:30.960 into his 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.640 likeness. 00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:35.460 God's 00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.880 word is 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.800 how God 00:22:37.800 --> 00:22:38.520 makes his 00:22:38.520 --> 00:22:40.280 people and 00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:40.899 grows his 00:22:40.899 --> 00:22:41.200 people. 00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:46.579 Put it in 00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:46.960 Timothy's 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.440 context. 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:48.019 Timothy's 00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.619 work was 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:49.139 of teaching 00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:49.619 the gospel 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:50.059 and building 00:22:50.059 --> 00:22:50.579 the church. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.359 It was a 00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:51.759 cultural 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.619 context like 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:53.019 our own. 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.200 You see 00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:54.500 that in the 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:54.819 beginning of 00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.440 chapter 3 and 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:55.660 then the 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:55.940 beginning of 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:56.599 chapter 4. 00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.740 A cultural 00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.460 context we 00:22:59.460 --> 00:22:59.879 recognize. 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:00.779 People were 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.399 chasing the 00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:02.240 good life. 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.039 How? 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:04.299 Through their 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:05.079 own wisdom 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:06.180 and apart 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:06.779 from God. 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:10.779 verse 8. 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:11.759 They were 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.160 making a 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:12.519 mess of 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:12.660 it. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.299 Look at 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:13.879 the way 00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.059 it is 00:23:14.059 --> 00:23:15.059 described in 00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:15.180 there. 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.160 It is 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.879 relationships 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:18.119 gone viral 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:18.799 in the 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.139 sense of 00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:19.799 gone bad 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.259 that is. 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.160 Verse 8. 00:23:25.399 --> 00:23:25.879 Men who 00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:26.500 oppose the 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.059 truth, men 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.660 corrupted in 00:23:27.660 --> 00:23:28.019 mind and 00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:28.639 disqualified 00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:29.420 regarding the 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:29.700 faith. 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:31.519 Sorry, 00:23:31.639 --> 00:23:32.079 verse 7 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:32.279 rather. 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.000 Always 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:34.720 learning and 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:35.680 never able to 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.500 arrive at 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.059 knowledge of 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.480 the truth. 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:39.119 See, people 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:39.880 chase the 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.400 good life 00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:40.759 under their 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.299 own wisdom. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.440 They chase 00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:42.940 knowledge. 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:43.400 They are all 00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:43.700 the time 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:45.240 learning about 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.839 this so-called 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:46.460 good life but 00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:46.920 they can never 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:47.799 quite get it. 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.720 They can never 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.160 get it onto 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.720 the ground. 00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:51.180 They can never 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:51.859 make it real. 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:58.059 They can never 00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:59.099 discover truth 00:23:59.099 --> 00:23:59.940 to actually 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.779 free them 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.440 into the 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:01.900 life they 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:02.240 crave. 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.599 So what 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.359 Paul's 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:05.519 encouragement to 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.240 Timothy writes 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.819 this young 00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:07.440 preacher? 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.000 What's the 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.680 tool he gives 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.380 Timothy for 00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:11.480 changing lives 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.160 and hearts 00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:13.180 filled with 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:13.500 their own 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.980 foolishness and 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.799 determined to 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:16.380 pursue their 00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:17.180 own foolishness? 00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:19.920 Chapter 4, 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.440 verse 2. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:21.980 Preach the 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.200 word. 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:33.779 The living, 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.840 transforming word 00:24:35.840 --> 00:24:36.620 of God. 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.140 That's your 00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:38.380 tool, 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:38.759 Timothy. 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:40.480 That's why you 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:40.759 can be 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:42.380 encouraged in 00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:42.960 a cultural 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.559 context where 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:45.140 people are 00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:46.420 totally committed 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:46.920 to their own 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:47.860 foolishness and 00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:48.220 don't even 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:48.799 realize how 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:49.420 foolish their 00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:50.180 foolishness is. 00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.519 preach the 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:51.740 word. 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:59.240 That's your 00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.759 tool for 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.860 changing lives 00:25:00.860 --> 00:25:01.539 and hearts. 00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:03.019 Both the 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.480 Old Testament 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.160 scripture he had 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:04.700 learned as a 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.820 child and the 00:25:05.820 --> 00:25:06.440 New Testament 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.259 scripture coming 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.759 to him through 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.039 Paul and other 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:10.000 apostolic writers. 00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.039 Friends, our 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.880 Bible is a 00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:14.180 unique book because 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:15.519 it comes directly 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.180 from the mind 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:16.580 of God. 00:25:17.580 --> 00:25:18.660 It is God's 00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:20.680 wisdom to 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:21.220 his world. 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.180 Now, again, 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.680 the Bible never 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:26.539 claims that it 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.259 says everything 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.140 there is to say 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:28.660 about God. 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:29.840 It never claims 00:25:29.840 --> 00:25:30.360 that at all. 00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.940 But it does 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:33.220 tell us that in 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:34.039 the Bible we 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.620 have God's 00:25:34.620 --> 00:25:35.259 word which is 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:36.240 everything we 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.920 need to free 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:38.340 us from 00:25:38.340 --> 00:25:39.400 emptiness, from 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.100 empty living, 00:25:40.580 --> 00:25:41.180 and to make us 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:42.460 God's people and 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:44.060 to grow us into 00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:45.140 Christ's likeness. 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:51.440 everything we 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:51.700 need. 00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.600 And even more 00:25:53.600 --> 00:25:54.200 directly, going 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:54.600 back to the 00:25:54.600 --> 00:25:55.080 Hebrews 1 00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:56.539 quotation, we 00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.920 have all of 00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:59.000 that personified 00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.680 in the person 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.180 of Jesus. 00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:03.580 John 1, 1-4, 00:26:04.039 --> 00:26:05.220 the word became 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.740 flesh. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.120 God's living, 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.500 breathing word 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:15.940 came to us 00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:17.340 for what 00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:17.820 purpose? 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.160 To bring 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.180 life, to 00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:21.840 move us from 00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:22.779 darkness and 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:25.019 death to 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.059 relationship with 00:26:26.059 --> 00:26:26.640 him and 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.140 life. 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.400 God's written 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.400 word makes us 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.480 wise to salvation 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.420 by pointing us 00:26:35.420 --> 00:26:38.080 to Christ, who 00:26:38.080 --> 00:26:39.059 himself come into 00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:40.420 the world to 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.360 complete God's 00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:42.059 purpose and 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:43.460 actually deliver us 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.100 into the good 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.859 life he wants 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.959 for us, the 00:26:45.959 --> 00:26:46.719 good life we 00:26:46.719 --> 00:26:47.099 crave. 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:50.179 And God's 00:26:50.179 --> 00:26:52.199 spirit grows 00:26:52.199 --> 00:26:52.759 us in our 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.399 new life in 00:26:53.399 --> 00:26:53.799 Christ. 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.079 God's spirit 00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:58.279 renews our 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.000 mind and our 00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.579 hearts from the 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:00.579 inside out so 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:01.119 that we not 00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:02.000 only recognize 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.719 this new life 00:27:02.719 --> 00:27:03.559 in Christ, but 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.599 we desire it. 00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:08.919 And we see 00:27:08.919 --> 00:27:09.439 ourselves being 00:27:09.439 --> 00:27:10.099 equipped by 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:10.839 God's spirit as 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:11.699 we understand 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.539 more and more 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.759 how God wants 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.640 us to live and 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.420 what it is to be 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:16.120 true image 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.740 bearers. 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.240 To 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.680 Timothy 3.16, 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:23.140 to become 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:23.960 competent, 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:26.200 well equipped, 00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.440 highly functioning 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:29.420 servants of God 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:30.880 who look like 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:31.740 him, who 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:32.640 sound like him, 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.680 and who act 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:35.019 like him, and 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.680 ultimately who 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.600 have hearts like 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:36.799 him. 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:40.720 Now, let me 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.240 finish up 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.819 reasonably 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.220 quickly. 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:42.700 I'm running 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.119 out of time 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:44.019 here, so I'll 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:44.799 rush over these 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.039 things. 00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:45.539 We can talk 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.000 about them more 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.480 this afternoon. 00:27:47.379 --> 00:27:48.480 Given that the 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:50.000 Bible is such a 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.720 gift, given it 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.879 is so powerful 00:27:51.879 --> 00:27:52.440 for bringing 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:56.220 life, especially 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:58.159 to us as 00:27:58.159 --> 00:28:01.119 Christians, what 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:02.240 stops us from 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.240 making it central 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:05.099 in our lives and 00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:05.799 in our church? 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:12.859 I've got three 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.339 things here I'm 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:13.779 just going to run 00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.539 over real quick. 00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:16.619 The first is, I 00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:17.339 think, that the 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:19.720 God of our 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.359 Bible is too 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:20.720 small. 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.759 Rob spoke last 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:25.819 week about the 00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.659 character of God. 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.740 He's so profound. 00:28:28.919 --> 00:28:29.440 He's so other 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:29.859 than us. 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.700 When we forget 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.839 that the Bible is 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.819 God's unique 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:36.720 communication, 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:39.059 to us, or 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.980 when we have a 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.960 small view of 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:43.259 God, then 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.059 what happens is 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.879 that we easily 00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:45.419 get into the 00:28:45.419 --> 00:28:46.180 position where we 00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:47.919 stand over God's 00:28:47.919 --> 00:28:48.579 word, the Bible, 00:28:48.919 --> 00:28:50.919 just like arrogant 00:28:50.919 --> 00:28:52.680 teenagers who 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.419 will roll their 00:28:53.419 --> 00:28:54.240 eyes when mom and 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:54.819 dad give them 00:28:54.819 --> 00:28:56.940 wisdom and 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.919 treat it as the 00:28:57.919 --> 00:28:58.839 most idiotic thing 00:28:58.839 --> 00:28:59.279 has ever been 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.180 pronounced in God's 00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:00.419 world. 00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:04.080 words, and I 00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:04.640 speak there as 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.740 remembering my own 00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.920 teenage years. 00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:10.580 What happens? 00:29:11.300 --> 00:29:13.019 Well, we take that 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.740 attitude with God. 00:29:13.800 --> 00:29:14.820 We get too small a 00:29:14.820 --> 00:29:15.380 view of God. 00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:22.960 The problem is not 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:23.920 the clarity of God's 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.220 word. 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:26.180 It's my arrogance, 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.560 thinking that I know 00:29:27.560 --> 00:29:29.480 better, or I don't 00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:30.380 like that, so it's 00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:32.020 got to be over here, 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:35.300 or I don't understand 00:29:35.300 --> 00:29:36.260 that, so therefore I 00:29:36.260 --> 00:29:37.200 won't believe that. 00:29:37.280 --> 00:29:37.880 It can't be true. 00:29:38.260 --> 00:29:39.060 The Bible's always 00:29:39.060 --> 00:29:40.660 saying to us, believe, 00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:42.720 and understanding 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.180 will come. 00:29:43.340 --> 00:29:43.620 Believe. 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.019 Why? 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:45.940 Believe, because it's 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:47.120 God's word. 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:54.460 And how dare we 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:57.480 reject God's word 00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.060 and throw it back 00:29:58.060 --> 00:29:58.580 on us then, well 00:29:58.580 --> 00:29:59.560 actually God, I'm 00:29:59.560 --> 00:30:00.300 pretty sure you made 00:30:00.300 --> 00:30:00.960 a mistake here. 00:30:01.080 --> 00:30:01.560 Had you been 00:30:01.560 --> 00:30:02.720 thinking clearly, you 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.200 wouldn't have said 00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:03.540 this. 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:09.100 God must always 00:30:09.100 --> 00:30:10.200 evaluate me. 00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.960 And my culture 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:14.259 must never be the 00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:14.820 other way around. 00:30:16.620 --> 00:30:17.720 And yet I fear 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.220 that's what it's 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.019 become for us as 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.380 Christians. 00:30:22.040 --> 00:30:22.860 Secondly, we think 00:30:22.860 --> 00:30:23.500 the Bible is not 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:25.320 relevant or not 00:30:25.320 --> 00:30:26.720 sufficient for the 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:27.519 problems we face. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:28.400 And the argument 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.040 goes like this. 00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:30.400 Well look, the fact 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:30.940 of the matter is 00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.860 that we face 00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:32.920 problems on a daily 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:34.560 basis that people 00:30:34.560 --> 00:30:35.600 50 years ago 00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:36.580 couldn't imagine, 00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.240 let alone people 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.240 2,000 years ago. 00:30:39.540 --> 00:30:40.440 So therefore, how 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:40.900 could the Bible 00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:42.259 possibly be 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.080 sufficient for 00:30:43.080 --> 00:30:44.140 every aspect of 00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:44.860 life and practice? 00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.860 We tend to think 00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:49.799 therefore the Bible 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:50.600 has nothing to say 00:30:50.600 --> 00:30:51.320 on these modern 00:30:51.320 --> 00:30:51.799 issues. 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:54.000 And so then, if the 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.820 Bible's got nothing 00:30:54.820 --> 00:30:55.700 to say, the Bible's 00:30:55.700 --> 00:30:56.240 not our authority, 00:30:56.340 --> 00:30:57.519 then where will we 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:57.740 turn? 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.500 We need help with 00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.160 these issues. 00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:00.880 And so we turn to 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:01.180 Google. 00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.640 We turn to our 00:31:02.640 --> 00:31:03.180 peers. 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:04.620 Or if we're older, 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:06.019 we perhaps just fall 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.880 back on comfortable 00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.380 tradition. 00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.620 But the problem 00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:12.540 here, you see, is 00:31:12.540 --> 00:31:14.120 that we've 00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:15.740 sacrificed wisdom 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:17.000 for knowledge. 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.480 Paul didn't need 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.880 to, well, sorry, 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.920 Paul didn't have to 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:25.780 negotiate the 00:31:25.780 --> 00:31:27.020 internet or social 00:31:27.020 --> 00:31:27.380 media. 00:31:27.820 --> 00:31:28.980 He didn't have to 00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:30.660 decide what sort of 00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.380 car to buy. 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:35.160 But he was a 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:35.900 student of human 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:36.340 nature. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:40.160 And he knew only 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.100 too well how we 00:31:41.100 --> 00:31:42.440 naturally tend to 00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.520 take the good 00:31:43.520 --> 00:31:44.260 things that God 00:31:44.260 --> 00:31:45.220 gives us in his 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.720 world and fill our 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.600 lives with those 00:31:47.600 --> 00:31:51.160 things and 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.200 exclude God, the 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:52.720 giver of them. 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:57.160 He knows how 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.360 these, that sort of 00:31:58.360 --> 00:31:58.780 thinking then, 00:31:58.820 --> 00:31:59.440 becomes an idol, 00:31:59.520 --> 00:32:00.060 how these things 00:32:00.060 --> 00:32:00.920 become equally or 00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:01.720 more important to 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.200 us than God. 00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:03.039 And he knows the 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.860 consequences of 00:32:03.860 --> 00:32:04.740 this idol worship 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.720 when we are 00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.519 created to be 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.160 worshippers of 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.539 God. 00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:08.980 It brings 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.600 disaster. 00:32:10.120 --> 00:32:10.820 He didn't need 00:32:10.820 --> 00:32:11.400 to know the 00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:11.880 workings of 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:13.180 the internet to 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:13.560 be able to 00:32:13.560 --> 00:32:14.820 speak wisely 00:32:14.820 --> 00:32:15.779 into our lives 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.340 as to the 00:32:16.340 --> 00:32:17.160 dangers of the 00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:19.620 internet and a 00:32:19.620 --> 00:32:20.080 million other 00:32:20.080 --> 00:32:20.820 things beside the 00:32:20.820 --> 00:32:21.060 internet. 00:32:27.060 --> 00:32:28.060 We think that 00:32:28.060 --> 00:32:28.560 because the 00:32:28.560 --> 00:32:29.100 Bible doesn't 00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:29.640 mention the 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:30.120 internet by 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:31.919 name, therefore 00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:32.639 the Bible has 00:32:32.639 --> 00:32:33.500 nothing to say 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:34.759 in respect of 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.639 how we approach 00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:36.279 these things. 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.419 We've got a 00:32:38.419 --> 00:32:38.939 wrong idea of 00:32:38.939 --> 00:32:39.319 the Bible. 00:32:41.139 --> 00:32:41.879 And Paul not 00:32:41.879 --> 00:32:42.939 only knew how 00:32:42.939 --> 00:32:44.079 to analyze his 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:45.079 society and his 00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:46.139 culture and his 00:32:46.139 --> 00:32:47.379 own heart, he 00:32:47.379 --> 00:32:47.939 knew where to 00:32:47.939 --> 00:32:48.699 look for truth. 00:32:49.159 --> 00:32:49.679 He knew the 00:32:49.679 --> 00:32:50.419 heart was looking 00:32:50.419 --> 00:32:51.099 for freedom, 00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:52.719 freedom from the 00:32:52.719 --> 00:32:53.699 emptiness of ways 00:32:53.699 --> 00:32:54.619 handed down by 00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:55.299 the forefathers, 00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:56.559 and he knew 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:57.200 where to go to 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.779 look for that 00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:58.159 truth. 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:01.099 My friends, the 00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:01.899 Bible still speaks 00:33:01.899 --> 00:33:02.579 the same to us 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:05.099 today because the 00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:06.220 names change, the 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:08.659 faces change, the 00:33:08.659 --> 00:33:09.839 issues apparently 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:11.919 change, but in a 00:33:11.919 --> 00:33:12.440 sense there's no 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:12.819 change. 00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:15.180 And finally, we've 00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:15.759 got a mechanical 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.720 view of the 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.000 Bible. 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:20.319 Now this is 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:20.859 probably the one 00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:21.200 that will get 00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:21.980 most people upset 00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.640 if anything gets 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:23.420 you upset, but I 00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:24.059 don't mind getting 00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.519 you upset, at 00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:25.099 least you're 00:33:25.099 --> 00:33:25.660 thinking then. 00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:28.819 Just don't take 00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:29.220 it out of me, 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:29.559 that's all. 00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:30.759 We have a 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.500 mechanical view of 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:31.839 the Bible. 00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:33.880 Now what I mean 00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:34.619 by that is that 00:33:34.619 --> 00:33:36.039 sometimes Christians 00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.740 get into the 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.440 mode of thinking 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.720 that simply reading 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:40.740 the Bible or 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:42.140 learning sections 00:33:42.140 --> 00:33:42.880 of the Bible by 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:44.819 rote is the 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.480 important thing. 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:49.819 My friends, we're 00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.480 only using the 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:51.420 Bible properly when 00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:52.240 we're reading for 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.180 understanding, when 00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:53.839 we're reading for 00:33:53.839 --> 00:33:54.619 transformation. 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.160 That's why I've 00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:58.059 always, over my 00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:59.359 years, had a real 00:33:59.359 --> 00:34:00.160 problem with the 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:01.579 old quiet time 00:34:01.579 --> 00:34:04.079 mentality where you 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:05.380 just read a portion 00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:06.339 of Scripture every 00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:06.700 day. 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:08.239 And I know 00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:09.099 Christians who did 00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:10.679 that religiously. 00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.659 They wouldn't go to 00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:12.139 bed every night 00:34:12.139 --> 00:34:12.900 before they read 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.559 their portion of 00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:13.820 Scripture. 00:34:14.059 --> 00:34:14.659 But it might only 00:34:14.659 --> 00:34:15.420 be three minutes 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:16.420 like Marty was 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:16.960 doing, half 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.760 falling asleep or 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.220 checking their 00:34:18.220 --> 00:34:18.579 phone at the 00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.059 same time. 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:20.199 But, you know, 00:34:20.240 --> 00:34:20.720 we've ticked the 00:34:20.720 --> 00:34:21.300 box, we've read 00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:21.760 the Bible. 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:26.220 Or parents get 00:34:26.220 --> 00:34:26.800 children to 00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.940 memorize lots of 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.280 Scripture. 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:30.019 And again, that 00:34:30.019 --> 00:34:30.720 can be so 00:34:30.720 --> 00:34:31.440 dangerous. 00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.559 If we think that 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.480 by somehow 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:36.780 memorizing Scripture, 00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.220 our children have 00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:38.860 used Scripture 00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.699 well and we've 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:40.179 taught our 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:40.780 children to use 00:34:40.780 --> 00:34:41.380 Scripture well. 00:34:42.579 --> 00:34:43.280 Memorizing is a 00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:43.860 great thing. 00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:45.380 but only if our 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.599 memorizing comes in 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:47.700 the context also 00:34:47.700 --> 00:34:48.480 with their children 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:50.340 of teaching them 00:34:50.340 --> 00:34:54.720 to life and 00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:56.460 transformation in 00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:57.059 that which they 00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:57.280 learn. 00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.599 And again, you 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:00.440 see, again, it 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:00.920 applies to the 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:01.160 internet. 00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:02.740 It is so easy 00:35:02.740 --> 00:35:03.800 today to find a 00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:04.500 verse, to find a 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.460 quotation, to find a 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:06.660 commentary by a 00:35:06.660 --> 00:35:08.099 famous preacher at 00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:08.740 the press of a 00:35:08.740 --> 00:35:09.480 button on Google. 00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:12.000 And so again, we 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:13.340 quickly go to that 00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:14.019 and we think, ah, 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.860 yes, I've got that. 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.619 Isn't that a really 00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:16.440 good sentence there? 00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:18.800 And so again, we 00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:20.159 fill our minds with 00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:20.800 knowledge. 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.940 But are we using 00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:25.619 those things for 00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:26.099 transformation? 00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:27.400 Are we 00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:28.240 understanding how 00:35:28.240 --> 00:35:29.119 God brings life 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:29.780 through His word 00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:32.500 and grows us 00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:33.000 through His word? 00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:34.119 Are we struggling 00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:35.820 for wisdom that 00:35:35.820 --> 00:35:37.019 changes the heart? 00:35:37.019 --> 00:35:38.679 or are we just 00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:40.099 gathering knowledge? 00:35:43.900 --> 00:35:44.519 Somebody once 00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:44.920 said, I think it 00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:45.460 was Spurgeon, I'm 00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.000 not quite sure, 00:35:46.360 --> 00:35:47.239 said this, make no 00:35:47.239 --> 00:35:48.119 mistake, Satan is 00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:48.420 clever. 00:35:49.079 --> 00:35:50.139 If he cannot keep 00:35:50.139 --> 00:35:50.699 you out of the 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:51.619 Bible altogether, 00:35:52.619 --> 00:35:54.059 then he will keep 00:35:54.059 --> 00:35:56.380 you in it, but 00:35:56.380 --> 00:35:57.559 focused on minor 00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:58.719 details of doctrine, 00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:00.340 so as you're 00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:01.820 distracted and 00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:02.500 making a big fuss 00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.259 about very little, 00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:05.219 or he will keep 00:36:05.219 --> 00:36:06.719 you in it, but 00:36:06.719 --> 00:36:08.039 with a dull mind 00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:09.079 which is happy 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:10.199 just to read the 00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:11.179 Bible in a year 00:36:11.179 --> 00:36:11.619 or something like 00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:13.519 that, more than 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.119 desire to be 00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:14.859 changed by it. 00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:18.299 Friends, I 00:36:18.299 --> 00:36:19.000 finish my first 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.559 sentence again. 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:22.139 Is the statement 00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:23.739 that the Bible is 00:36:23.739 --> 00:36:24.379 central to 00:36:24.379 --> 00:36:25.439 everything we are 00:36:25.439 --> 00:36:27.239 and do, as 00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:28.139 individuals here, 00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:29.019 as Christians here, 00:36:29.279 --> 00:36:29.980 and as a church, 00:36:31.419 --> 00:36:32.839 is that a 00:36:32.839 --> 00:36:33.879 practical truth 00:36:33.879 --> 00:36:34.459 for you? 00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:37.099 or is it just a 00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:37.360 cliche? 00:36:40.280 --> 00:36:41.039 Let me pray. 00:36:45.720 --> 00:36:46.760 Lord, forgive us 00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:47.820 for sitting loose 00:36:47.820 --> 00:36:48.460 to your word. 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:51.960 Forgive us, Lord, 00:36:52.099 --> 00:36:53.800 for zeal 00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:55.820 towards you, 00:36:56.340 --> 00:36:57.360 as Paul says in 00:36:57.360 --> 00:36:58.079 Romans chapter 10, 00:36:58.220 --> 00:36:59.820 zeal that's not 00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:00.980 directed by knowledge 00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:01.940 of your word. 00:37:01.940 --> 00:37:03.619 forgive us, Lord, 00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:04.300 for those things 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:04.900 that we've offered 00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:05.460 you in worship 00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:07.639 which would be 00:37:07.639 --> 00:37:08.720 offensive to you 00:37:08.720 --> 00:37:10.820 when you call us 00:37:10.820 --> 00:37:12.119 first and foremost 00:37:12.119 --> 00:37:14.059 to give our hearts, 00:37:14.159 --> 00:37:14.980 to give our whole 00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:15.659 minds, to give our 00:37:15.659 --> 00:37:16.700 whole bodies in 00:37:16.700 --> 00:37:17.440 response to you. 00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:20.079 Help us to 00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:22.280 know your word, 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:23.519 help us to know you 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:24.159 through your word, 00:37:24.260 --> 00:37:25.099 and help us to value 00:37:25.099 --> 00:37:26.240 and treasure that word. 00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:27.099 In Jesus' name, 00:37:27.299 --> 00:37:27.519 Amen. 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:27.619 Amen.