The Doctrine of Scripture

So we're going to begin this new series thinking about the doctrine of Scripture.

Let me begin with a question for us.

Does what I believe about the Bible matter?

Does what you believe about the Bible matter?

Well, hopefully by the time we come to the end, we'll be clearer on that answer.

But as people, we understand that we are people who think.

We recognize, too, that the way that we think tends to shape our actions.

How we think, our worldview tends to shape how we respond to our circumstances.

And in our thoughts, we process and make sense of life past, present, and future.

So then the question becomes, what place does the Bible, what place will the Bible have in shaping those thoughts?

And the answer to that question will depend on a number of different factors.

When we pick up our Bibles, do we pick it up believing it has authority or not?

Do we believe that it is revelation from God or not?

Do we believe all of it is revelation from God or not?

Do we consider it to be reliable and without error or not?

Does this book contain a guide for all that we need for a life of faith?

Can it guide us to live to the glory of God in our families, in our workplaces?

How we think about our money when we think about eternity?

Perhaps to put it another way, and I've been thinking about this a lot this week,

imagine if you never had the Bible.

You never had a chance to hear its truth.

You never had a chance to read it for yourself.

How different would your life be?

How different would your view of the world and your life be

without the Bible informing your thoughts and shaping your worldview?

Of course, that's a reality for hundreds of millions of people today.

That's a reality for thousands of people groups today.

And so part of this is connected to our desire to be a church that cares about mission

because people need to hear the Bible as our fundamental conviction.

I always liked what Spurgeon used to say, his desire for his church,

that if the people of God were cut open, that they would bleed Bible,

that we would absorb it, that it would shape our lives.

It would help us to respond to circumstances, help us to know how to live.

So our plan for this evening is going to be built around those texts that we read

at the beginning, sharing the convictions of Peter,

who believed that the writers of Scripture were carried along by the Spirit,

that the whole Bible was superintended by the Spirit,

so there's no error within it.

Following the conviction of Paul, that the whole Bible is God-breathed,

that the Word of God is God's Word, that it's inspired.

And following the conviction of Jesus,

who said heaven and earth will pass away, but my Word will never pass away,

so God's Word is permanent and unbreakable.

So having those as our sort of bedrock convictions as we continue to think,

we're going to briefly see four qualities of Scripture,

and then identify five reasons we need the Bible for everyday life.

So we're going to cover a lot of Bible texts.

I would suggest that some of these would be well worth noting,

and perhaps returning to,

but we will touch on each of these.

The first quality of God's Word we're going to think about is sufficiency.

This is the idea that God's Word is enough.

So let's read from the book of Hebrews to see it.

All the texts will be up on our screens,

but we're in Hebrews 1, verses 1 to 4,

Hebrews 1:1–4

in our first text.

In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,

whom he appointed heir of all things,

and through whom also he made the universe.

The Son is the radiance of God's glory

and the exact representation of his being,

sustaining all things by his powerful Word.

After he had provided purification for sins,

he sat down at the right hand of the majesty in heaven.

So he became as much superior to the angels

as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

So the book of Hebrews begins with this contrast.

In the past, God spoke to your ancestors,

people in the Old Testament era,

through the prophets,

throughout time,

in many times and in various ways.

Sometimes speaking by a vision,

sometimes speaking by a burning bush,

a whole variety of ways that God spoke.

But then he says,

in these last days,

speaking here of the final age of salvation,

speaking of everyone living in between the first and the second comings of the Lord Jesus,

so speaking of our day,

how has God spoken?

God has spoken through his Son.

And who is his Son?

Hebrews 1, 1-4 gives us a catalogue of qualities about Jesus.

Jesus has been,

verse 2,

appointed the heir of all things.

It is through Jesus that God made the universe.

God is,

Jesus is the agent of creation.

The Son is the radiance of God's glory.

To read about Jesus in the Gospels

is to be confronted with the glory of God.

Jesus is the one who is sustaining all things

by his powerful word.

Jesus is the one who has provided purification for sin.

Jesus has come as that sacrifice,

as the Savior,

as our substitute,

and now he sits at the right hand of the majesty in heaven,

enthroned as King of kings and Lord of lords.

And he is superior to the angels.

He's superior to Moses.

He is better than anyone and anything,

as the book of Hebrews makes plain.

And the conclusion there,

when we think about Jesus being superior,

the point is that Jesus is,

for us,

the final agent from God

in terms of revelation and redemption.

God has spoken through Jesus.

No further word needs to be said.

God has saved through Jesus.

No further salvation need be expected.

So the big idea here is that God's word contains all we need

for salvation and godly living.

The Bible is sufficient.

God's word is enough.

Jesus is the climax of revelation

and redemption.

We're not waiting for some fresh word.

We don't need later books.

We don't need to listen to anyone claiming fresh words of prophecy.

Rather, we're invited to have confidence

that in Jesus and in the gospel,

I have all I need to know about God,

all I need to know about salvation,

all I need to know for a life of godliness.

It's here in the Bible.

It's sufficient.

It's enough.

J.I. Packer put it this way.

He said,

There are no words of God spoken to us at all

except the words of Scripture.

So first plank in the doctrine of the Bible

is the sufficiency of Scripture.

Second up, clarity.

The idea that God's word is clear.

Now this time we're going to go Old Testament.

We're going to go to the book of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy chapter 30.

Deuteronomy 30 · chapter mention

Deuteronomy 30 from verse 11 to verse 14.

Now, this is God speaking through Moses

to the redeemed people of God.

Now what I am commanding you today

is not too difficult for you

or beyond your reach.

It is not up in heaven

so that you have to ask

who will ascend into heaven to get it

and proclaim it to us

so that we may obey it.

Nor is it beyond the sea

so that you have to ask

who will cross the sea to get it

and proclaim it to us

so that we may obey it.

No.

The word is very near you.

It is in your mouth

and in your heart

so that you may obey it.

So the big idea that the Bible says about itself

is that the central message of the Bible

is plainly taught

so that it can be understood

by all with ears to hear.

And especially for us in the era

in which we live,

the central saving message of Jesus

is plainly taught

so it can be understood

by all who are ready to hear.

So this text was spoken by Moses

to the redeemed people of God.

They've been set free from slavery in Egypt.

They've been brought to Mount Sinai.

They've entered into covenant relationship with God.

And now as he gives them his command,

as there's this covenant renewal going on,

his point is that God's word of command is clear.

It is not complicated.

It is understandable.

It is able to be obeyed.

God is kind to them.

He doesn't intend to frustrate them

by hiding the truth from them.

He's not hidden up in heaven.

He's not hidden it in the depths.

No.

It's there.

It's close by them.

And that fits with

what Moses said to the people of God

that they were to pass the law on to their children.

The central message of the Bible

is clear enough for children to understand.

For us today,

the central saving message of the Bible

that God doesn't save us because of our works,

because of our goodness,

but saves us by his grace,

that's clear.

That we don't save ourselves,

but that we are saved by the Lord Jesus,

who lives a life of perfect obedience in our place,

who dies on the cross as a sacrifice

or a universal substitute

to take the penalty for our sin

and to give us forgiveness in eternal life.

That is clear in the Word of God.

The clarity of Scripture says that

the essential points of truth

that we need to know and believe and do

are clearly seen in the Word of God.

Now, there are, of course,

some qualifiers that we need to consider,

as is true with any subject

that we look to study,

with any person that we want to get to know,

there is a level of work and effort involved

to get to know that person,

that truth, better.

So, to say that Scripture is clear

doesn't mean that we don't need to study

to understand more of God and His Word.

And it is also true to say,

and Peter said it of Paul's writing,

that not all parts of the Bible

are equally clear.

What is essential is very clear,

but not all parts are equally clear.

And perhaps two principles

beyond having to sort of work hard

and try and study.

One that requires us to be humble

and to be asking the Spirit to help us

and to guide us in our thoughts,

in our understanding.

But also, at a practical level,

we want to use what is clear and basic

to help understand the complex.

Sometimes groups of Christians or churches

can go wrong because they pick an obscure text

and try and build a whole theology

around one passage.

It's really hard to understand

when there's a lot more basic verses

that would help to clarify.

So, we use the clear help us

towards understanding the more complex.

But just as was the case

for the people in the days of Moses,

when we think about our view

on the clarity of the Bible,

is the Bible clear?

It's connected, in a sense,

to our view of God's character.

Do I believe God is able to speak clearly?

Do I believe that God is wise enough

to get down to our level

to speak so that we can understand

the central message of the Bible?

Calvin used to talk about God

baby-talking to us.

Is God's word for all?

Or do we think he's made it so complicated

that it's just for professionals

who go to ETS or somewhere like that?

When we understand the character of God,

then we understand that he wants to speak to us.

He wants us to be clear on salvation.

Wayne Grudem, I think, puts it well.

He says,

The Bible is written in such a way

that its teachings are able to be understood

by all who read it,

seeking God's help,

there's humility,

and being willing to follow it.

So, that's clarity.

The next plank

in our thinking about the doctrine of Scripture

is the idea of authority.

And for here,

we're going to turn to the book of Acts.

Acts chapter 17.

Acts 17 · chapter mention

Acts chapter 17,

Acts 17 · chapter mention

which is famous for Paul's sermon in Athens,

but we're going before that

to what happens in Berea.

And the idea of authority

is the idea that God's word is final.

That God's word gets the last word

in every topic it addresses.

So, Acts 17,

beginning at verse 10.

As soon as it was night,

the believers sent Paul and Silas

away to Berea.

On arriving there,

they went to the Jewish synagogue.

Now, the Berean Jews

were of more noble character

than those in Thessalonica,

for they received the message

with great eagerness

and examined the Scriptures

every day

to see if what Paul said

was true.

As a result,

many of them believed,

as did also a number

of prominent Greek women

and many Greek men.

But,

when the Jews in Thessalonica

learned that Paul

was preaching the word of God

at Berea,

some of them went there too,

agitating the crowds

and stirring them up.

If you have time to read

the first half of Acts 17,

you'll discover

it's the story of two cities.

And more than that,

it's the story of two different

responses to the word of God.

In Thessalonica,

as Paul preaches

that Christ is king,

as he brings the message

of Jesus Christ

and him crucified,

the Jews in particular

are rejecting that message.

And what we have

is this mob mentality

that's established

and where they're rioting

against the truth.

So, Paul leaves there

with Silas and some others

and they arrive in Berea.

And in Berea,

it couldn't be any more different.

Did you notice

how they acted?

Verse 11,

they received the message

with great eagerness

and examined the Scriptures

every day

to see if what Paul said

was true.

So, they have the Old Testament

in front of them

and they're listening

to Paul's Gospel

and they're listening

and they're checking

against Scripture

and they're wondering,

is what Paul says

in line with

the promises

and the prophecies

that we find

in the Old Testament

about what Messiah

would be like,

about who he is

and how he would suffer

and how he would die

and how he would rise.

So, they test Paul's Gospel

and when they recognize

it's in line with Scripture,

they believe.

Many of them believe.

Because they believe

the authority

of God's Word.

and so they believe

the authority

of Paul's Gospel too.

Their mindset

as they hear

this new message

is that if Scripture

says it,

we will believe it.

Others may write

about it,

but we're going to trust it.

And their attitude

is wonderful

because it's also

very much,

show us from the Bible.

It's not based

on Paul's reputation.

It's not based

on his ability

to argue.

Show us from the Bible.

That's a wonderful attitude

for any church,

any Christian

to have.

When we think

about the question

of authority,

we understand

that every religious group,

every system of belief,

every belief

that we have

individually

will always rest

on a particular

authority

in the sense

that someone

or something

will always

have the last word.

How am I going

to react

in this situation?

How am I going

to deal

with this circumstance?

There will be

something

that we will look

to to guide us.

If that's not

the Bible,

that can be

any number.

That could be

a scientific community.

It could be

contemporary culture.

It could be

what our parents

taught us,

what our peer group

believes.

It could be

the teaching

of some

influential figure

or a teacher

in our life

or online.

Something will

always have

the last word.

The doctrine

of scripture

says,

for the people

of God,

for the church,

it should always

be the word

of God.

One place

where we might

find that this

particular aspect

becomes important

is if you're

ever in conversation

and someone

asks the question,

well,

what about

mistakes in

the Bible?

What about

perceived errors

in the Bible

where one part

is seen to

disagree with

the other?

How do we

respond to

that?

Well,

as Christians,

our first

instinct should

be to trust

the authority

of God's

inspired word.

That's why we

need this solid

foundation of

the doctrine

of scripture.

So we're not

going to be

shaken

when somebody

comes with

those kind

of questions.

We also

have to have

an attitude,

a posture

of humility

because some

of those

perceived

difficulties

between

passage of

the Bible

or perceived

errors

are easy

to resolve.

A little bit

of reading

and you can

resolve those.

Others will

require hard

work and

others,

particular

questions,

questions we

might have

about the

word of

God.

We may

wrestle

with for

years and

we may

never come

to resolution

but will

we have

that humility

and that

trust in

the authority

of God's

word as

our foundation?

I came

across this

from G.I.

Packer which

I find

helpful.

He said

our intellectual

competence is

not the test

and measure

of divine

truth.

That's good

news for us

as Christians.

measure is

God's word.

The last

plank in

this

consideration

of the

doctrine of

scripture is

that God's

word is

necessary,

the necessity

of scripture.

We're just

going to go

one book

forward.

We're going

to go to

the book

of Romans

here.

The necessity

of scripture,

the idea

here is that

we need

more than

the created

world if we

are to know

God in a

saving way.

We need the

Bible to

tell us

who Jesus

is,

how we

are to

be saved,

and how

to live.

So,

Romans

Romans 1:16–20

chapter 1

verses 16

to 20

where we

read,

For I

am not

ashamed of

the gospel

because it

is the

power of

God that

brings salvation

to everyone

who believes,

first to

the Jew,

then to

the Gentile.

For in

the gospel

the righteousness

of God

is revealed,

a righteousness

that is by

faith from

first to

last,

just as it

is written,

the righteous

will live by

faith.

The wrath

of God

is being

revealed from

heaven against

all the

godlessness

and wickedness

of people

who suppress

the truth

by their

wickedness,

since what

may be known

about God

is plain to

them,

because God

has made it

plain to

them.

For since

the creation

of the

world,

God's

invisible

qualities,

his eternal

power and

divine nature

have been

clearly seen,

being understood

from what

has been

made,

so that

people are

without

excuse.

So the

word there

in verse

18,

there are

those who

suppress

the truth.

God

is

so

what

Paul

is

saying

is

that

God

has

so

created

the

world

that

his

qualities,

his glory,

his power,

his

godness

are

clearly

on show,

but the

wickedness of

human hearts

leads to

that being

suppressed.

God

says in

his word,

if we

open our

windows and

open our

eyes,

we're being

confronted with

the glory of

God day by

day by

day,

whether we're

looking in a

telescope or

looking in a

microscope,

we're seeing

the glory of

God in

view,

but it's a

truth that

people want

to suppress.

It's where

the talk of

intelligent design

becomes a

really awkward

one in

classrooms,

a reality

that's often

ignored.

But even

then,

even if

our eyes

were open

and we

looked out

our window

and we

saw the

glory of

God and

we recognized

there was a

creator,

there was an

intelligent design

behind it

all,

that would

not be

enough

for us

to be

saved.

That's why

the Bible

is necessary.

There is

limits to

what we can

learn about

God from

creation.

It can't

tell us

about sin.

It can't

tell us

about salvation.

it can't

tell us

about the

person and

work of

Jesus.

It can

tell us

that there

is a

God,

but we

need to

know God's

word in

order to

know salvation.

Verse 16

is how God

has responded

to that need

because he has

given us

the gospel,

the power of

God that brings

salvation to

everyone who

believes.

That in

God's word

and in the

word of the

gospel,

this gift of

a righteousness

credited to

us by

faith is

made plain.

The way of

salvation through

faith in

Jesus is

made plain.

There was an

article just

this week by a

chap called

Brian Tabb

who was

saying that

Jesus is

like a

great optician

because what

Jesus did

with the

disciples,

he was

focusing on

the Emmaus

road,

Luke 24,

but you can

think more

widely as he's

helping his

disciples with

their focus.

All the time

he's wanting

them to see

his identity

and his

saving purpose.

And that's

still Jesus'

desire for us

today that we

would see and

know that at

the center of

the Bible,

at the center

of God's

plan for

history and

for the

nations,

is Jesus,

the only

Savior for

sinners.

God's word is

necessary because

if we didn't

have the Bible

and we wanted

to know about

God, what

would we be

left with?

We'd be left

with vague

spirituality.

We'd be looking

for answers,

but we wouldn't

find the answers

until we find

the word of

God.

Perhaps we,

well, I think

God is like

this.

I hope God

will accept

me because

I'm like

this, but

we'd have

no certainty,

no sure

knowledge.

And so

Kevin DeYoung

says we

need the

revelation of

God to

know God.

And the

only sure,

saving,

final,

perfect

revelation of

God is

found in

Scripture.

That's the

doctrine of

Scripture,

very briefly.

It is

sufficient,

it is

clear,

it has

authority,

and it is

necessary.

Now let's

pause for a

moment.

We've still

got a little

bit of work

to do.

But as we're

catching our

breath,

let's ask the

question,

if that

is true,

what now?

If that

is true,

what does

that mean for

my attitude

to making

time to

read the

Bible,

to coming

to church

and to

being under

God's

Word?

If that's

true,

if it's

sufficient and

clear and

has authority

as necessary,

shouldn't we

treasure it

as the

people of

God?

Shouldn't

we come to

depend on

it?

Shouldn't

we be

committing to

reading it

and to

giving it

first place?

Shouldn't

we want to

learn how

to apply

its truth

to our

life and

to all

of life

and to

the lives

of others?

Shouldn't

we want to

share it

with

others?

The doctrine

of Scripture

is so

valuable because

sometimes our

view of the

Word of God

gets fuzzy,

gets out of

focus,

and the

doctrine of

Scripture

is like

that lens

that reminds

us the

Bible

matters.

It's crucial

to our

life of

faith.

Sometimes

our taste

for the

Word of

God,

if we're

honest,

gets weak.

We'd

rather spend

our time

reading,

watching,

doing something

else.

So we

need the

doctrine of

Scripture

to remind

us that

God's

Word

should be,

ought to be

sweeter than

honey to

us as the

people of

God.

So I

want to

do,

for the

last of

our time

to snow,

is,

I never

use acronyms,

but we're

going to use

an acronym,

second acronym,

we scan,

if you want to

think about the

doctrine of

Scripture,

scan,

but to

think about

the Bible

for everyday

life for a

Christian,

think about

the word

sweet.

Okay,

so five

sweet truths

about the

Bible for

everyday life,

because Psalm

Psalms 19:10

19 verse

10 says,

they are

sweeter,

God's

words are

sweeter than

honey,

than honey

from the

comb.

Okay,

so our

first letter

is S,

and S

stands for

sanctify,

God's

Word

sanctifies,

God's

Word is

what makes

us holy

and clean

as we

sit under

it and

allow it

to change

us.

Jesus

said,

John 17

17,

he prayed

to his

father,

sanctify

them by

the truth,

your

Word is

truth.

So the

truths of

the Bible

are what

God uses

to make

us clean

and holy

for him.

Perhaps

an image

would be

helpful,

the image

of a

doctor.

Say you

go to a

doctor because

you've got

an infection.

Well,

the doctor

there discovers

the infection,

diagnoses the

infection,

gives medicine

to cure.

What does

the Bible

do?

The Bible,

when we

allow it,

exposes

sin and

error.

It convicts

us of

where we

go wrong

and it

shows and

enables a

new way

of life

if we

allow it

to.

It requires

the work

of the

Spirit to

shine the

light of

Scripture.

to convict

us.

It requires

the Spirit

to give us

the power

to obey

what we

read,

to say

no to

sin and

yes to

righteousness.

So if we

want to

grow in

grace,

if we

want to

grow to

be more

holy,

to be

more like

Jesus,

we need

our

Bibles.

And one

of the

things that

the Bible

will always

do,

if we

allow it,

it will

remind us

that God

is worthy

of worship

and God

alone and

not us.

Constantly

be recalibrating

our thinking.

It will

constantly

be reminding

us that

we are

called to

live for

God's

glory and

not our

own.

And it

will constantly

be showing

us the

wonder of

God and

his love.

So our

hearts may

be changed,

so our

lives may

be changed.

So God's

word sanctifies.

God's word

also warns,

and we

have that

also in

Psalm 19

Psalms 19:11

verse 11,

by them,

by those

words of

God is

your servant

warned.

In keeping

them,

there is

great

reward.

The Bible

is very

realistic.

It's very

realistic about

the dangers

that God's

people face,

the danger

of the

devil,

our

adversary,

the deceiver,

the one who

prowls around

like a roaring

lion,

seeking whom

he may

devour.

There is

also,

in the

book of

Hebrews,

the danger

of drift.

The book

of Revelation,

the danger

of becoming

lukewarm

in our

faith.

There's the

danger of

disobedience,

there's the

danger of

disbelief.

And we

need the

Bible so

that we

keep hearing

those warnings

so that we

can check

ourselves and

see where

we need

corrected,

where we

need rebuked.

an image

perhaps to

help us.

Think of

a parent.

Why does

a parent

give warnings?

Well,

on our

best days,

parents give

warnings out

of love.

Don't touch

that,

it's hot.

Don't run

on the road,

it's busy,

you'll get

hurt.

Why do

we correct,

why do we

discipline,

again,

on our

best days?

Because of

love.

We have

a loving

Father in

heaven,

and he

uses the

Bible to

sound a

loving

warning for

us,

to warn

us of

sin,

to warn

us of

judgment,

to warn

us of

the reality

of hell,

to show

us our

need.

We have

a loving

Father who

wants to

correct us

when we

go wrong,

when we

get pulled

towards

idolatry,

when we

get pulled

into rebellion,

to return

us onto

the right

path.

So he

needs our

Bibles,

so that we

are hearing

those warnings,

to avoid

being burned,

to enjoy

the Father's

smile,

and not

the Father's

frown.

So God's

word warns.

But it

also encourages

us,

there's a

wonderful text

in Romans

15,

Romans 15

and verse

4,

where it

says,

everything that

was written

in the past

was written

to teach

us,

so that

through the

endurance

taught in

the scriptures

and the

encouragement

the scriptures

provide,

we might

have hope.

Scripture

encourages us,

Scripture

gives hope,

God's word

calls us to

have hope

in a God

who will not

disappoint.

As people

we're always

looking for

hope.

In just a few

weeks time we're

going to be doing

Hope Explored,

inviting family and

friends to think

about hope,

meaning and

purpose that's

found in

Jesus.

So God's

word encourages

us by pointing

us to the hope

that we have

in Jesus.

So here

perhaps the

image is that

of a coach,

I think,

in the world

of sports.

Those words

that keep you

going when

you'd rather

quit.

Words that

help you

persevere and

that renew

motivation.

And the

Bible is full

of encouragements.

full of

beautiful truths

about our

God.

God is our

refuge.

God is a

strong rock.

God's mercies

are new every

morning.

Our God is a

God of steadfast

love.

Jesus is a

Savior who

will never

leave us

or abandon

us.

In Jesus

there is no

condemnation.

There is

resurrection hope.

There is a

new heaven

and earth.

God's word

is constantly

looking to

encourage us

to keep

on going.

And so we

need the

Bible because

we need that

fresh encouragement

day by day.

The next

E to think

about.

The Bible

enlightens us.

Again this is

Psalm 19

Psalms 19:8

verse 8

where we read

the commands

of the Lord

are radiant

giving light

to the eyes.

in the midst

of moral

darkness and

confusion.

What does

the Bible

do for us?

It shines

a clear light

for us on

how we are

to live in

our families,

in our society,

in our workplaces,

in our church.

Perhaps an

image that's

helpful to

think of a

guide leading

people on a

difficult mountain

pass.

Perhaps the

conditions become

dark but that

guide is up

ahead and he's

got the torch

and he's got

the ropes and

he knows the

way and there's

safety in

following that

path.

There is

safety in

following the

guidance of

God's Word.

We need the

Bible to hear

that voice of

true wisdom.

We know that

we're surrounded

by all kinds of

other voices and

views that

disagree sometimes

fundamentally with

what God's Word

teaches.

And so we

need the

wisdom principles

that we find

in the Bible.

Now we're not

going to find

specifics and

sometimes we can

go wrong because

we come with

very specific

questions.

Should I take

this job?

Should I move

to this place?

Should I marry

this person?

That's not what

the Bible is

concerned with in

the first instance.

It's principles

for how to live a

holy life, how to

live for the glory

of God day by

day and there

are wisdom

principles to

enlighten us that

we need to be

listening to.

And then the

last thing,

God's Word does

many things more

than this, but

here's the last

thing for every

life God's Word

teaches us.

Psalm 119, that

great love song to

the Bible, verse

68, you are good

and what you do

is good.

teach me your

decrees.

The Bible teaches

us, the Bible

trains us to come

with an open

heart, to come

with a willing

heart, to come

ready to listen

to God speaking

by his Spirit

through the Word.

It means the

Spirit is able to

teach us, the

Spirit is able to

transform us.

God's Word is

like a teacher

who brings old

and new truths

to life for us.

And so we are

called to

treasure the

Bible, recognizing

that there's

always so much

more for us to

discover.

Our God is

infinite and

eternal, so we're

never done

understanding the

character of God,

the nature of God,

the promises of

God.

We'll never grow

tired of discovering

the wonder of the

gospel.

we're always

going to need to

hear about

fighting against

sin, about

pursuing holiness,

about living for

future hope.

And so God's

Word teaches

us.

So it

sanctifies us,

it warns us,

it encourages us,

it enlightens us,

and it teaches

us.

all that's

left,

again, to

borrow the

language of the

Bible, taste and

see that God is

good.

I hope that as we

see the importance

of believing the

Bible is God's

Word, as we come

to see that God

teaches us that it's

reliable, it has

authority, it's

true, it's life

giving, that we'll be

encouraged to pick it

up and to read it,

to recognize how

necessary, how vital

and life giving it

is for us.

Two quotes to

finish, one from

Spurgeon, again, to

give us confidence in

the Word of God and

its power to work in

our life and in the

lives of others.

Scripture is like a

lion.

Whoever heard of

defending a lion,

turn it loose, it

will defend itself.

And then Calvin,

Scripture is like a

pair of spectacles,

which dispels the

darkness and gives

us a clear view of

God.

And may that be the

case for each one of

us.

Let's pray briefly.

Lord, we thank you so

much for your Word.

We thank you for what

it says about itself

and what it reveals

about your character

and about your

salvation.

Lord, we pray that

you would give us an

increasing desire to be

people shaped by your

Word.

Give us time to

spend with you.

Give us that

discipline to make the

time.

Give us open hearts to

receive from you that

increasingly we be

conformed into the

likeness of the Lord

Jesus as we are

shaped by your Word.

We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

So we're going to

close the formal part

of the evening

singing Psalm 19.

And then after that,

if you want to stick

around, you'll be very

welcome for a time of

discussion.

And after this, we'll

stick our discussion

questions up.

But let's stand for

Psalm 19, verses 7 to

Psalms 19:7–11

11.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.

Psalm 19.