WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where the Bible is the Word of God (Romans 10:17) Sermon Outline (a blog post for a video sermon for Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on July 19, 2020)

WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where the Bible is the Word of God (Romans 10:17) - July 19, 2020

INTRODUCTION‬

We are the church where the Bible is the Word of God.

“When the preacher's car broke down on a country road, he walked to a nearby roadhouse to use the phone. After calling for a tow truck, he spotted his old friend, Frank, drunk and shabbily dressed at the bar. "What happened to you, Frank?" asked the good reverend. "You used to be rich." Frank told a sad tale of bad investments that had led to his downfall. "Go home," the preacher said. "Open your Bible at random, stick your finger on the page and there will be God's answer."

Some time later, the preacher bumped into Frank, who was wearing a Gucci suit, sporting a Rolex watch and had just stepped our of a Mercedes. "Frank." said the preacher, "I am glad to see things really turned around for you." "Yes, preacher, and I owe it all to you," said Frank. "I opened my Bible, put my finger down on the page and there was the answer -- Chapter 11." 

Reader's Digest, March, 1993, p. 71

“A Bible in the hand is worth two in the bookcase.”

Traditional

“Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them.”

Traditional

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

‭‭ Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭NIV‬

I. THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD ABOUT JESUS

‬ “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:14-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A. OT points to Jesus

“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

‭‭ 2 Peter‬ ‭1:19-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B. NT tells us about Jesus

‬

II. THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR MISSION PREPARATION

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

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A. God-breathed

1. Inspired by God

2. Not human in origin

B. Useful

1. Teaching

2. Rebuking

3. Correcting

4. Training in righteousness

III. THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR KINGDOM MISSION

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

‭‭ 2 Timothy‬ ‭4:2 NIV‬‬

A. Preach the Word

1. Prepared in season

2. Prepared out of season

B. Correct

C. Rebuke

D. Encourage

E. Essentials

1. Great patience

2. Careful instruction

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

2 Timothy 4:3-5

A former park ranger at Yellowstone National Park tells the story of a ranger leading a group of hikers to a fire lookout. The ranger was so intent on telling the hikers about the flowers and animals that he considered the messages on his two-way radio distracting, so he switched it off. Nearing the tower, the ranger was met by a nearly breathless lookout, who asked why he hadn't responded to the messages on his radio. A grizzly bear had been seen stalking the group, and the authorities were trying to warn them of the danger.

Any time we turn out the messages God has sent us, we put at peril not only ourselves, but also those around us. How important it is that we never turn off God's saving communication! 

Harold M. Wiest, Power for Living, p. 109

CHALLENGE

Determine how long you would like to read the Bible per day. Start by reading 5 minutes per day this week. Then read 6 minutes per day next week. Add one minute per week until you have reached your goal. If you already read your Bible daily, add more time or chapters to your reading each week until you have reached your goal.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I would be honored to speak with you in the upper parking lot following the service about what God is doing in your life.