Month: June 2011

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The Authority of the Bible

Our Topic…what is the actual authority of the Bible.
Verses to Consider:     John 10:35; Revelation 22:18-19; Matthew 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 14:37
Key Questions:
  • How high in the pecking order is the Scripture?
  • I’m responsible to know the Scriptures (interpret it myself), so does it still have authority over me?
  • How does church history/tradition relate to the Scripture?
  • Is the Bible sufficient for what God wants us to know?
  • How does the Bible relate to science
Application:
Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:
            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:
Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        …with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        …with my child/parent:
                        …with my employer/employee:
                        …with my friends:
                        …with my brother/sister:
                        …with those in authority:
Apostolic Mission:    
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?
     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?
Take Home:
    The Scripture is superior to me
            The Scripture has a claim on my life
            Its authority leads us to a right relationship with God
            Have a learning, submitting, growing, awe-filled approach to the Scriptures
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How We Got Our Bible: The Canon of Scripture – Session 3

How We Got Our Bible: The Canon of Scripture
Topic:
     The Old Testament was in put together by the Jewish religious leaders years before Jesus came to earth.  The early church accepted the books of the New Testament after passing certain criteria.  The accepted collection was called the “canon” of Scripture.  The word “canon” means “measuring stick.”  There were three main criteria:
1)            Did an Apostle or someone with Jesus write it?
2)            Was the book consistent with known Scriptures?
3)            Did the early church universally accept the book as Scripture?
Check out the following article for more introduction:   http://bible.org/seriespage/bible-holy-canon-scripture
Key Questions:
  • Why these books?
  • How did it get to this list of books?
  • Can more books/letters be added to this list?
Application:
Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:
            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:

Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        …with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        …with my child/parent:
                        …with my employer/employee:
                        …with my friends:
                        …with my brother/sister:
                        …with those in authority:
Apostolic Mission:    
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?
     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?


One Thing I Will Do This Week:
Take Home:
1. General outline of how we got the Bible
2. Confident of the 66 books in our Bible
3. Awe of God using humans to accomplish His purpose over time, space, cultures


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Scriptures Reflecting Their Inspiration: Top Ten Bible Passages on Inspiration

What the Bible says about itself. . .
All Scripture is inspired.  Inspiration is literally “God-breathed.”  Inspiration in the biblical definition means that all the very words of Scripture were God-breathed.
            This text emphasizes that divine inspiration applies to the whole original text of the Bible.  It doesn’t say that all Scripture is equally important, but that it is equally inspired by God (cf. Judges 3:16 and John 3:16).
ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED
This text explains something of the “how” in divine revelation. It emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s superintending work over the human authors.  Both the human and divine elements exist, but the divine is in control.
THE HOW OF INSPIRATION INCLUDED GOD AND MAN
Christ endorsed
1)    the fact that Moses authored the Pentateuch (first 5 books of OT) and
2)    the divine inspiration of the Pentateuch. 
As a corollary, the emphasis is once again, as in 2 Timothy 3:16‑17, on the written product as being divinely inspired and preserved (see Matthew 5:18).
THE PENTATEUCH IS INSPIRED
Christ endorsed the Prophets.  In this case, Daniel is mentioned by name.  Thus this becomes an important proof text since Daniel, more than any other book outside the Pentateuch, is ridiculed and rejected by liberal “scholarship.”
THE PROPHETS ARE INSPIRED
Christ endorsed the Psalms, in this case also attesting to David’s authorship.
THE POETIC BOOKS ARE INSPIRED
Christ endorsed the entire Old Testament (called the “Law and the Prophets” in this verse‑ see Matthew 5:17, 7:12, 11:13).
THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT IS INSPIRED
Christ declared that his own words were eternal and infallible.
THE GOSPELS ARE INSPIRED
Christ declared that His teaching did not represent the sum of new revelation.  He stated that the Holy Spirit would give further, complete truth to the Apostles.  This verse teaches two things: (a) further revelation would be given to the Apostles, and (b) this revelation would be completed in the Apostles’ lifetimes, since Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide them into “all” truth.  Correlate this passage with John 17:17, where Jesus, speaking to the Father, says, “Thy word is truth [aleithia, same word as 16:12‑13].”
FURTHER REVELATION WOULD FOLLOW THE GOSPELS
Paul taught that his teaching carried divine authority (see also 1 Cor 14:37).
THE LETTERS/EPISTLES ARE INSPIRED
Peter affirmed the inspiration of Paul’s letters, equating them with the “other Scriptures.”  (The Greek word for “other” is loipos, meaning rest, further, remaining.)
THE LETTERS OF PAUL ARE INSPIRED

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Topic for Session 2 (Sun. 6/12) – Inspiration, Inerrancy and Reliability of the Bible

            
Verses to check out and see what they say about themselves (The Scriptures affirming the Scriptures):

1) 2 Timothy 3:16‑17 
2) 2 Peter 1:20‑21
3) Mark 7:8‑13
Christ endorsed
            1.  
                        2.                    

 Matthew 5:18
 4) Matthew 24:15
 5) Mark 12:36
 6) Luke 24:25‑27 
 7) Mark 13:31

 8) John 16:12‑13

 9) 1 Thessalonians 2:13
 10) 2 Peter 3:15‑16


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God’s Revealing Work – Revelation

Revelation
Topic: 
Revelation defined.       These are two kinds of revelation- Specific and General Revelation
Verses: Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20, Hebrews 1:1-3
Article: http://ldolphin.org/reveln.html
Key Questions:
•           How has God revealed himself to us?
•           How do we know He has? 
•           What means does He reveal himself to us today?
•           Why would God communicate with us?
•           What can you know about God and His expectations of man from General Revelation
Application:
Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:
            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:
Text Box: One Thing I Will Do This Week: Take Home: 1. Means by which God reveals Himself 2. A sense that God wants to be known by you
Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        …with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        …with my child/parent:
                        …with my employer/employee:
                        …with my friends:
                        …with my brother/sister:
                        …with those in authority:
Apostolic Mission:    
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?
     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?

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Revelation
Topic: 
Revelation defined.       These are two kinds of revelation- Specific and General Revelation
Verses: Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20, Hebrews 1:1-3
Article: http://ldolphin.org/reveln.html
Key Questions:
•           How has God revealed himself to us?
•           How do we know He has? 
•           What means does He reveal himself to us today?
•           Why would God communicate with us?
•           What can you know about God and His expectations of man from General Revelation
Application:
Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:
            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:
Text Box: One Thing I Will Do This Week: Take Home: 1. Means by which God reveals Himself 2. A sense that God wants to be known by you
Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        …with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        …with my child/parent:
                        …with my employer/employee:
                        …with my friends:
                        …with my brother/sister:
                        …with those in authority:
Apostolic Mission:    
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?
     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?

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Session 1 Worksheet — Revelation

Revelation
Topic: 
Revelation defined.       These are two kinds of revelation- Specific and General Revelation
Verses: Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20, Hebrews 1:1-3
Article: http://ldolphin.org/reveln.html
Key Questions:
•           How has God revealed himself to us?
•           How do we know He has? 
•           What means does He reveal himself to us today?
•           Why would God communicate with us?
•           What can you know about God and His expectations of man from General Revelation
Application:
Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:
            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:

Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        …with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        …with my child/parent:
                        …with my employer/employee:
                        …with my friends:
                        …with my brother/sister:
                        …with those in authority:
Apostolic Mission:    
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?
     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?
___________________

One Thing I Will Do This Week:

Take Home:
1. Means by which God reveals Himself
2. A sense that God wants to be known by you




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