Worship Service | February 1, 2026 | The B-I-B-L-E (Part 1: Its Purpose)

The Bible is held up as both the refuge for a heavy heart and the instrument of transformation for a life shaped toward Jesus. The text traces a single metanarrative—Genesis to Revelation—whose unified purpose is to point readers unmistakably to the Son. Scripture is not treated as a disjointed anthology of isolated sayings but as one divinely authored story that prepares, reveals, and instructs: the Old Testament prepares hearts, the Gospels introduce the person and work of Jesus, and the rest of the New Testament explains how to follow him. Hebrews is used as a frame text to show that God “spoke” through prophets and now speaks finally and fully through the Son, who radiates God’s glory, sustains creation, and secures salvation.

The account recognizes honest reasons for a complicated relationship with Scripture—misuse, shaming, and misinterpretation have wounded many—yet also names Scripture’s unique capacity to hold grief (Lamentations), voice hope (Psalms), and provoke moral and spiritual growth. The case for trust in Scripture is set on historically verifiable grounds: the transmission gap between events and extant manuscripts is unusually short, the internal consistency of the Gospels supports eyewitness testimony rather than collusion, and external witnesses from the early church corroborate the gospel tradition. Major historical claims about Jesus—his self-identification with the Father and the resurrection—are presented as historically attested and decisive; the only rational responses to those claims, the talk argues, are to reject them as delusion or accept them as truth.

Finally, the biblical text is offered not merely as an intellectual object but as the living word that answers prayer, anchors hope, and reorients life. Believers are issued a practical summons: encounter the person and work of Jesus by reading Scripture daily, allowing the unified story to form faith, provide guidance, and embolden witness in troubled times. Upcoming teaching will continue exploring whether Scripture is true and how it becomes useful in everyday life.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Scripture is one unfolding story The Bible functions as a single narrative arc written by one divine author through many human voices; each book finds its shape and meaning in relation to the person of Jesus. Reading any passage apart from that metanarrative risks missing its telos—Scripture’s end and aim. Allowing the storyline to govern interpretation creates theological coherence and pastoral wisdom. [31:45]
• 2. Jesus is the Bible’s central aim From the prophets to the apostles, every part of Scripture points toward the person and work of the Son, who expresses God’s character and accomplishes redemption. Focusing attention on Jesus prevents the text from becoming an end in itself and reorients law, promise, and prophecy toward relationship and restoration. This hermeneutic makes moral instruction intelligible and hope credible. [32:50]
• 3. Historical tests support Gospel reliability The Gospels withstand basic historical criteria: a short transmission gap, consistent eyewitness testimony, and corroborating external testimony from early Christian writers. These markers place the New Testament among the most reliably attested ancient documents and ground confidence that the Gospels record genuine claims and events. Trust in Scripture’s truth claims benefits from sober historical inquiry, not mere assertion. [42:37]
• 4. Daily reading reveals God’s voice Scripture is presented as the place where God responds to prayer and where believers can hear guiding wisdom in confusion and grief. Regular, disciplined reading is not just information intake but formation—an apprenticeship to Jesus that reshapes desires, clarifies action, and sustains courage. Committing to daily engagement makes the Bible practically useful rather than merely interesting. [57:54]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:34] - A Heavy Heart and the Scriptures
• [29:16] - A Complicated Relationship with the Bible
• [31:05] - Two Core Questions: True and Useful?
• [31:45] - The Bible’s One Story
• [34:12] - Hebrews Frames the Narrative
• [41:06] - Can Scripture Be Trusted?
• [44:05] - Manuscript and Historical Evidence
• [52:06] - Jesus’ Claims and Their Implications
• [57:54] - Challenge: Read Scripture Daily

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon summary and transcript:

Bible Reading

Hebrews 1:1-3 (ESV)
> Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke in the past to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

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. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the magnificent glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to be turning a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 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.

John 20:30-31 (ESV)
> Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Observation questions

1. The sermon mentions that the Bible can be a refuge for a heavy heart. What specific examples from Scripture are given as places where we can find our hearts reflected or our grief and hope manifested? [29:51]
2. The summary states that the Bible is not a disjointed anthology but one divinely authored story. How does the sermon describe the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the rest of the New Testament in relation to this single story? [35:54]
3. According to the sermon, what are the two core questions we should ask about the Bible? [31:05]
4. The sermon highlights that Jesus is the central aim of the Bible. How does the author of Hebrews describe Jesus in relation to God and creation in Hebrews 1:1-3? [35:07]
5. What historical tests are presented in the sermon as evidence for the reliability of the Gospels? [42:37]

Interpretation questions

1. The sermon suggests that our relationship with the Bible can be complicated due to misuse, shaming, and misinterpretation. How might these negative experiences hinder someone from seeing the Bible as a source of comfort and transformation? [29:36]
2. The sermon emphasizes that the Bible is one unfolding story with Jesus as its ultimate goal. If we read a passage of Scripture without considering its place in this larger narrative, what might we miss about its meaning or purpose? [31:45]
3. The sermon argues that the Gospels are historically reliable based on criteria like transmission gap, internal consistency, and external witnesses. How does this historical grounding impact the way we should approach the claims made about Jesus within the Gospels? [42:37]
4. The sermon presents the Bible not just as an intellectual object but as the living word that answers prayer and anchors hope. What is the difference between viewing Scripture as merely informative versus seeing it as a source of life-shaping guidance? [57:05]

Application questions

1. The sermon acknowledges that many have had complicated or even painful experiences with the Bible. If you've had negative experiences, what is one step you could take this week to begin to reframe your relationship with Scripture? [29:16]
2. The sermon stresses that Jesus is the central aim of the entire biblical story, from Genesis to Revelation. As you read Scripture this week, how can you intentionally look for how each passage points toward Jesus? [32:50]
3. The sermon presents historical evidence for the reliability of the Gospels. Considering this evidence, how might you approach discussions with others who question the trustworthiness of the Bible? [42:37]
4. The sermon challenges us to read Scripture daily, not just for information but for formation. What is one practical way you can commit to engaging with the Bible daily this week, and what do you hope to gain from that engagement? [57:54]
5. The sermon states that Scripture is where we find guidance and wisdom in confusion and grief. When you face a difficult situation this week, how can you intentionally turn to the Bible for comfort and direction? [57:05]