Embracing the Bible: Love, Learn, Live
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to our new series, "Reading It Right," where we delve into understanding the Bible correctly. Yesterday was a beautiful day of service, and I want to thank everyone who participated. This series is crucial because many people today have varied and often misguided perspectives on the Bible. Some see it as outdated or irrelevant, while others cherry-pick parts they like, creating their own version of faith. This confusion is exacerbated by social media, where biblical content is often taken out of context. Our goal is to help you read the Bible correctly, understand its true meaning, and fall in love with it.
The Bible is not just any book; it is the book of books, a holy book that has stood the test of time. Written over 1,600 years by 40 different authors from various walks of life, it tells one continuous story without contradiction, pointing to God as its ultimate author. Jesus emphasized the life-giving power of His words, and we should approach the Bible with the same reverence and love.
To truly love the Bible, you need to make it personal. Get a physical Bible, mark it up, and make it your own. This will deepen your relationship with the Word of God. Reading the Bible should not be a mere religious routine but a passionate pursuit. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is entirely about the Bible, highlighting its importance.
Here are three simple ideas to help you read the Bible right: love the Word of God, learn the Word of God, and live the Word of God. Loving the Bible means defending it against criticism and making it a cherished part of your life. Learning the Bible involves listening to sermons, reading it daily, and having a Bible reading plan. Living the Bible means applying its teachings in your daily life, using it as a tool to fight spiritual battles and navigate life's challenges.
In conclusion, our attitude towards the Bible should be one of love and reverence. Make it a habit to read and study the Bible, and let it guide your life. As we embark on this series, let's commit to falling in love with the Word of God and allowing it to transform us.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Bible as the Book of Books: The Bible is not just any book; it is the holy book, written over 1,600 years by 40 different authors from various backgrounds. Despite this, it tells one continuous story without contradiction, pointing to God as its ultimate author. This miraculous continuity underscores the divine nature of the Bible. [09:21]
2. Making the Bible Personal: To truly love the Bible, you need to make it personal. Get a physical Bible, mark it up, and make it your own. This personal connection will deepen your relationship with the Word of God and make it more meaningful in your life. [19:15]
3. Loving the Word of God: Our attitude towards the Bible should be one of love and reverence. Defend it against criticism and make it a cherished part of your life. This love for the Bible will inspire you to read and study it more deeply, allowing it to transform you. [21:47]
4. Learning the Word of God: Learning the Bible involves listening to sermons, reading it daily, and having a Bible reading plan. Set aside time and a specific place for Bible reading, and consider using tools like Bible software or study guides to deepen your understanding. [28:45]
5. Living the Word of God: Applying the Bible's teachings in your daily life is crucial. Use it as a tool to fight spiritual battles, navigate life's challenges, and grow in your relationship with God. The Bible provides real tools for real life, offering guidance and strength in every situation. [39:22]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:25] - Introduction to "Reading It Right" Series
[03:47] - Misconceptions About the Bible
[05:06] - The Impact of Social Media on Biblical Understanding
[06:29] - The Importance of Biblical Literacy
[07:58] - Overcoming Frustration with the Bible
[09:21] - The Bible: The Book of Books
[12:29] - The Life-Giving Power of Jesus' Words
[15:21] - Making the Bible Personal
[19:15] - Loving the Word of God
[21:47] - Defending the Bible
[28:45] - Learning the Word of God
[39:22] - Living the Word of God
[42:09] - Bible Memorization Exercise
[45:12] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[47:45] - Next Steps and Offering
[48:48] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. John 6:63 - "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."
2. Psalm 119:97-98 - "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies."
3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "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."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus say about His words in John 6:63? How does He describe them?
2. According to Psalm 119:97-98, what benefits does David say come from meditating on God's law?
3. What are the purposes of Scripture as outlined in 2 Timothy 3:16-17?
### Interpretation Questions
1. In John 6:63, Jesus emphasizes that His words are "spirit and life." What might this mean for how we approach reading the Bible? [12:29]
2. Psalm 119:97-98 speaks of loving and meditating on God's law. How can this practice make someone "wiser than their enemies"? [20:37]
3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 mentions that all Scripture is "God-breathed." How does this understanding affect the way we view and use the Bible in our daily lives? [25:01]
### Application Questions
1. The sermon emphasized the importance of making the Bible personal. Do you have a physical Bible that you cherish? If not, what steps can you take to get one and start marking it up? [15:21]
2. How can you incorporate a habit of reading the Bible daily? What specific time and place can you set aside for this practice? [31:18]
3. The sermon mentioned the importance of defending the Bible against criticism. Have you ever felt the need to defend your faith or the Bible? How did you handle it, and what might you do differently next time? [21:47]
4. Reflect on a time when you applied a specific teaching from the Bible to a real-life situation. How did it help you navigate that challenge? [39:22]
5. The sermon suggested using the Bible as a tool to fight spiritual battles. Can you think of a current struggle where you can apply a specific Bible verse for guidance and strength? [40:42]
6. How can you make Bible reading a passionate pursuit rather than a mere religious routine? What changes in your attitude or approach might help you fall in love with the Word of God? [19:15]
7. The sermon encouraged having a Bible reading plan. Do you currently follow one? If not, what plan can you start to ensure you are consistently engaging with different parts of the Bible? [32:40]
Devotional
Day 1: The Bible as the Book of Books
The Bible is not just any book; it is the holy book, written over 1,600 years by 40 different authors from various backgrounds. Despite this, it tells one continuous story without contradiction, pointing to God as its ultimate author. This miraculous continuity underscores the divine nature of the Bible. The Bible's unity and consistency across centuries and cultures highlight its divine inspiration and authority. It is a testament to God's unchanging nature and His plan for humanity. Understanding this helps us approach the Bible with the reverence and seriousness it deserves, recognizing it as a reliable and authoritative guide for our lives. [09:21]
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV): "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
Reflection: How does recognizing the Bible as a unified, divinely inspired book change the way you approach reading it? Can you commit to reading a specific book of the Bible this week to deepen your understanding of its continuous story?
Day 2: Making the Bible Personal
To truly love the Bible, you need to make it personal. Get a physical Bible, mark it up, and make it your own. This personal connection will deepen your relationship with the Word of God and make it more meaningful in your life. When you engage with the Bible in a personal way, it becomes more than just a religious text; it becomes a source of comfort, guidance, and inspiration. Personalizing your Bible by underlining, highlighting, and writing notes can help you remember and reflect on God's promises and teachings. This practice can transform your Bible reading from a routine task into a passionate pursuit. [19:15]
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: Have you made your Bible personal? If not, what steps can you take this week to start marking it up and making it your own? How might this change your relationship with God's Word?
Day 3: Loving the Word of God
Our attitude towards the Bible should be one of love and reverence. Defend it against criticism and make it a cherished part of your life. This love for the Bible will inspire you to read and study it more deeply, allowing it to transform you. Loving the Bible means valuing it as God's communication to us and recognizing its power to change lives. When we love the Word of God, we are more likely to prioritize it in our daily routines and defend its truth against skepticism and criticism. This love can lead to a deeper, more transformative engagement with Scripture. [21:47]
Psalm 119:97 (ESV): "Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day."
Reflection: Do you truly love the Word of God? What are some practical ways you can show your love and reverence for the Bible in your daily life?
Day 4: Learning the Word of God
Learning the Bible involves listening to sermons, reading it daily, and having a Bible reading plan. Set aside time and a specific place for Bible reading, and consider using tools like Bible software or study guides to deepen your understanding. Consistent learning and study of the Bible are essential for spiritual growth. By dedicating time each day to read and study Scripture, you can gain a deeper understanding of God's will and wisdom. Utilizing various resources, such as commentaries, study guides, and Bible software, can enhance your learning experience and help you grasp the deeper meanings of the text. [28:45]
Joshua 1:8 (ESV): "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."
Reflection: What is your current Bible reading routine? How can you improve it to ensure you are learning and growing in your understanding of God's Word?
Day 5: Living the Word of God
Applying the Bible's teachings in your daily life is crucial. Use it as a tool to fight spiritual battles, navigate life's challenges, and grow in your relationship with God. The Bible provides real tools for real life, offering guidance and strength in every situation. Living the Word of God means putting its teachings into practice, allowing it to shape your decisions, actions, and attitudes. By living according to Scripture, you can experience the transformative power of God's Word in your life and become a light to others. [39:22]
James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to apply the teachings of the Bible more faithfully? How can you start living out God's Word in practical ways today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Some people think that the Bible is just old, and irrelevant, and boring, and has nothing to offer. Some people think that the Bible promotes hate towards certain people groups, and therefore they don't want to have anything to do with it. Some people feel comfortable picking and choosing from the Bible. Like I'll pick up and agree with the parts that I like, and I'll leave the parts that make me uncomfortable." [02:25] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Bible is the number one most read, number one most printed and distributed book in all of human history. In fact, years and years ago, the New York Times bestseller list just started leaving off the Bible from the bestsellers because every single year it was like all of the latest novels and highest selling nonfiction and then the Bible. It just by far blows everything away." [09:21] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "One of the miracles that point to the existence of God is the continuity of scripture. Like you look at other religions that are out there in the world, like my friend who was the Buddhist, Mormon, Hindu. And if you were to study the different holy books that are valued and treasured by other religions, all of them are written by one person." [10:56] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When you're in a fight, what you don't need is just another positive thought. When you're in the midst of negative emotions and you feel things coming against you and you're spiraling in your thinking, like this is depression, this is anxiety, I'm having dark thoughts. What you don't need is just some like positive Instagram influencer to tell you it's gonna be all okay. Follow me and I'll give you all kind, I'll give you what you need." [40:42] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The Bible is God's autobiography. The Bible is God's love letter to humanity. The Bible is not just a book. When you are reading the Bible, you're literally reading the DNA of Jesus and written form, and it should inspire your love." [25:01] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "What I've found, on an increasing level over the years here at Sun City, is people are longing to understand, how do I read the Bible right? How do I know that when I read it, I'm understanding what it really means? And the point of this series is not to get up here on a platform and tell you, I read the Bible right. Listen to me. The point of this series is to help you, give you some biblical principles and some Bible scholars." [06:29] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you make your Bible personal, it will become more meaningful. I remember thinking growing up that, like, the pages and the binding of the Bible were somehow holy, because growing up, the kind of Bibles that we had in our churches always lived under the pews, and they said the Holy Bible right on the front of them, and it was just the sense of, like, don't crease the pages. Don't let there be any folds." [19:15] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you want to read the Bible right, you got to approach Scripture. With a love. Like, this is the Word of God. This is the gateway to my love relationship with Jesus. It's the best. And I want to start again with Psalms chapter 119. Now, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the whole Bible. It's got 176 verses, and the whole chapter is about the Bible." [19:15] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The reason that you study the Word of God is so you can fall in love with Jesus more and more and more and more. That's why we study. It's the point of it all. And here's the last big idea, is we're going to love the Word of God, we're going to learn the Word of God, and then finally we're going to live the Word of God. We're going to live it." [38:03] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When you're sad, the Word of God can minister to your sad soul. And when you're angry, the Word of God can come and bring your anger into alignment with the will of God. And when you're worried, the Word of God can come and calm your anxiety. And when your kids won't stop, you're not being crazy. God can give you a word that you could speak and you can quote and you can keep your mind focused on God in the midst of all that craziness." [39:22] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
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