Truth, real and artificial
There’s no shortage of voices telling us what’s right and wrong, what we can and cannot do, but are those voices true? The Bible claims to be true, trustworthy and essential. Can we trust it, and why do we need this ancient book, especially in today’s world of artificial intelligence and the access to knowledge. When we look at what Jesus believed about Scripture, and how the Holy Spirit of God has provided and protected it, we can be assured that Scripture is critical to the Church, now perhaps even more than ever before.
Scripture
John 17:14-17 ESV I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Bible Study Questions
The Church has never been a building
We still celebrate the birth of the Church at Pentecost and the Bible teaches us that at least four elements have always been critical to the identity and purpose of the Church: Scripture, Prayer, Worship and Serving. Can you see these four elements in the first description of the nature and working of the Church in Acts 2?
Acts 2:42-47 ESV And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
The wisdom of God to save us
Timothy is encouraged to cling to what He’s been taught by way of the sacred writing, Scripture. What is Scripture able to do through faith in Christ?
2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
The wisdom of God to train us
Is the wisdom of God given to us just to save us? What must happen after we are saved, and how does the Scripture help us to achieve this?
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.
Why is the Bible unique and essential?
What makes Scripture so special, wasn’t it written by human beings like you and me, doesn’t God use all human wisdom to save and train us for the good works He prepared for us to do?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV All Scripture is breathed out by God …
2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Why is knowing the Scripture critical today?
The Bible has always been critical to the Church, what’s happening today that makes it particularly important for us to know and understand it?
2 Timothy 4:2-4 ESV preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Isaiah 5:20 ESV Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
We need to be different and God’s Word makes us different
Was Jesus the same as the world, and does He want us to be the same as the world? How then can we be different from the world, and how can we stay that way?
John 17:14-17 ESV I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Why can we trust that Scripture is the perfect Word of God?
Scripture claims to be the perfect Word of God, why can we trust that? What did Jesus think of Scripture, and what did He chose to do rather than leave the Scriptures unfulfilled?
2 Peter 1:16-21 ESV For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Matthew 26:52-54 ESV Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”