God's Faithfulness: The Power of Scripture and Community

Devotional

Day 1: The Inspired Writings of the Apostles Were Received as Scripture

From the earliest days of the church, the writings of the apostles were not seen as mere letters or personal opinions, but were recognized and received as the very Word of God—authoritative, inspired, and equal to the Old Testament Scriptures. This recognition was not a later development, but was evident even as the apostles were still alive, as seen in Peter’s acknowledgment of Paul’s letters and Paul’s reference to the Gospel of Luke as Scripture. The early church understood that God was speaking through these men, and they treated their writings with reverence and obedience, knowing that to disregard them was to disregard God Himself. [34:55]

2 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV)
"And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."

Reflection: In what ways do you treat the New Testament writings as truly authoritative in your life, and is there a specific teaching you have been tempted to ignore or downplay?

Day 2: The Writings of the Apostles Were Copied and Circulated by the Churches

The early churches took seriously their responsibility to preserve and share the inspired writings, making copies and circulating them among congregations so that all believers could be instructed and encouraged by God’s Word. This was not left to academic institutions or government authorities, but was the sacred duty of local churches, who cherished the Scriptures and ensured their propagation even in times of persecution. The pattern of copying and sharing the apostolic letters began in the days of Paul and continues to be a vital part of the church’s mission today. [50:51]

Colossians 4:16 (ESV)
"And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in sharing and spreading God’s Word within your church or community this week?

Day 3: God’s Word Is Preserved Through Generations Despite Opposition

Throughout history, God has faithfully preserved His Word, even as enemies have tried to destroy it and as manuscripts have worn out from use. The abundance of ancient manuscripts, the early recognition of the canon, and the continued copying and translation of Scripture all testify to God’s providential care. The Scriptures have survived persecution, neglect, and the passage of time, remaining trustworthy and available for every generation of believers. [56:53]

Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."

Reflection: What does it mean to you personally that God has preserved His Word for you, and how might this assurance change the way you approach your Bible reading?

Day 4: The Local Church Is God’s Chosen Guardian of Scripture

God entrusted the preservation and propagation of His Word not to governments or universities, but to the local church. It is the responsibility of every congregation to cherish, protect, and teach the Scriptures, ensuring that God’s truth is passed on faithfully, even in times of hardship or persecution. This sacred trust calls each believer to value the Bible deeply and to support the church’s mission to uphold and proclaim it. [48:36]

1 Timothy 3:15 (ESV)
"If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth."

Reflection: In what practical ways can you help your church fulfill its calling to be a pillar and protector of God’s truth?

Day 5: Only Christ Can Fill the Emptiness of the Human Heart

No matter how successful, talented, or well-known a person may become, there remains a deep emptiness that only Jesus Christ can fill. As seen in the story of Fanny Crosby, all achievements and experiences are ultimately unsatisfying apart from a personal relationship with Christ. True fulfillment and peace are found not in the praise of people or the pursuit of dreams, but in knowing and following the Lord Jesus. [20:06]

John 6:35 (ESV)
"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'"

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you are seeking satisfaction apart from Christ, and how can you turn to Him today to fill that void?

Sermon Summary

Tonight’s gathering was a celebration of God’s faithfulness, the joy of worship, and the privilege of being together as a church family. We rejoiced in song, shared in prayer for one another—especially for Brenda’s upcoming job interview—and took time to encourage the women of our church to join in the upcoming Bible study. The children were included in every part, and we continued our journey through the life of Fanny Crosby, reflecting on her remarkable talents, her rise to fame, and the persistent emptiness she felt apart from Christ. Her story reminded us that no matter our gifts or achievements, only Jesus can fill the deepest void in our hearts.

Turning to the Scriptures, we explored the profound truth of how God has preserved His Word, particularly the New Testament, through the centuries. While the Old Testament’s preservation is well-documented through the work of priests, scribes, and later the Masoretes, the New Testament’s journey is less about named individuals and more about the faithful, often anonymous, work of local churches. Despite not knowing the names of those who copied and circulated the New Testament, the sheer number of Greek manuscripts—over 5,800—attests to God’s providential care.

We considered how, from the very beginning, the inspired writings of the apostles were received as Scripture by the early church. Peter recognized Paul’s letters as Scripture, and Paul himself referenced Luke’s Gospel as authoritative. The churches not only recognized these writings as God-breathed but also took on the responsibility of copying and sharing them with other congregations. This was not the work of academic institutions or powerful organizations, but of ordinary believers and local assemblies, often under threat of persecution.

History confirms this pattern: early church leaders like Clement of Rome and Polycarp quoted and referenced New Testament books as Scripture, demonstrating that the canon was recognized and cherished from the earliest days. The local church has always been the pillar and ground of the truth, entrusted with the preservation and propagation of God’s Word. This responsibility remains with us today. In a world where access to Scripture can never be taken for granted, we are called to love, protect, and share God’s Word, just as generations before us have done.

Key Takeaways

1. True fulfillment is found only in Christ, not in our talents, achievements, or recognition. Fanny Crosby’s life illustrates that even the most gifted and celebrated individuals experience a deep emptiness apart from a relationship with Jesus. The heart’s deepest needs are met not by applause or opportunity, but by the presence of the Savior. [20:06]
2. The preservation of the New Testament is a testimony to God’s sovereignty and the faithfulness of His people. While we may not know the names of those who painstakingly copied the Scriptures, the abundance of manuscripts and their consistency across centuries reveal God’s hand at work. This should deepen our confidence in the reliability and authority of the Bible we hold today. [30:39]
3. The early church recognized the inspired writings of the apostles as Scripture from the outset. Peter equated Paul’s letters with “other Scriptures,” and Paul referenced Luke’s Gospel as authoritative, showing that the canon was not a late invention but an immediate reality for the first believers. This recognition was not forced or artificial, but a natural response to the Spirit’s work in the church. [39:10]
4. The responsibility for preserving and propagating God’s Word has always rested with the local church, not with academic or political institutions. Through persecution, suppression, and even attempts at destruction, it was ordinary believers and congregations who safeguarded the Scriptures. This legacy challenges us to cherish, protect, and share the Bible with the same devotion and courage. [48:36]
5. The process of copying and circulating Scripture was both practical and spiritual. Trusted manuscripts were used, worn out, and replaced, ensuring the text was perpetuated from one generation to the next. The early church’s diligence in this task means that, even today, we benefit from their faithfulness. Our own commitment to God’s Word should reflect that same reverence and sense of stewardship. [56:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
[05:40] - Prayer for Brenda’s Job Interview
[07:00] - Congregational Singing: “Saved by the Blood”
[10:20] - Fanny Crosby’s Story: Talents and Opportunities
[13:59] - Fanny’s Inner Struggle and Emptiness
[15:50] - Fanny’s Recognition and Encounters
[18:02] - The Void Without Christ
[20:06] - Only Christ Satisfies
[23:51] - Review: Old Testament Preservation
[26:54] - Introduction to New Testament Preservation
[28:59] - The Question of New Testament Transmission
[30:39] - The Evidence of Preservation
[32:37] - Manuscript Abundance and Historical Context
[34:55] - Apostolic Writings Received as Scripture
[39:10] - Paul and Luke: Recognizing Scripture
[41:54] - Apostolic Authority in the Early Church
[44:13] - Early Church Leaders and the Canon
[47:25] - The Local Church as Guardian of Scripture
[48:36] - The Church’s Ongoing Responsibility
[50:51] - Copying and Circulating the Epistles
[53:15] - Historical Evidence of Early Circulation
[56:53] - Manuscript Wear and the Faithfulness of the Church
[58:42] - The Canon and the Council of Nicaea
[59:58] - Our Responsibility Today
[60:48] - Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts
[61:51] - Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV) — > "And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."

1 Timothy 5:18 (ESV) — > "For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and, 'The laborer deserves his wages.'"

Colossians 4:16 (ESV) — > "And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea."

Observation Questions

According to 2 Peter 3:15-16, how does Peter describe Paul’s letters, and what does he compare them to?
In 1 Timothy 5:18, Paul quotes both the Old Testament and another source. What is the second source, and why is it significant?
What instruction does Paul give to the church in Colossians 4:16 regarding his letter, and what does this reveal about how early churches handled apostolic writings?
In the story of Fanny Crosby, what was the “void” she experienced despite her talents and achievements?

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important that Peter refers to Paul’s letters as “Scripture”? What does this tell us about how the early church viewed apostolic writings?
What does Paul’s reference to Luke’s Gospel as “Scripture” in 1 Timothy 5:18 suggest about the process of recognizing the New Testament canon?
The sermon emphasized that the responsibility for preserving and sharing God’s Word rested with ordinary believers and local churches, not with academic or political institutions. Why might God have chosen to use local churches in this way?
Fanny Crosby’s story was used to illustrate a spiritual truth. What does her experience teach us about the relationship between personal achievement and true fulfillment in Christ?

Application Questions

Fanny Crosby had great talent and recognition, but still felt empty without Christ. Have you ever experienced a similar emptiness even when things were going well in your life? What did you learn from that season?
The early church recognized and cherished the writings of the apostles as Scripture. How do you personally treat the Bible in your daily life? Is there a specific way you could show more reverence or consistency in reading it this week?
The sermon highlighted that ordinary believers, not famous scholars, preserved and shared the New Testament. What are some practical ways you can help “preserve and propagate” God’s Word in your family, workplace, or community?
Paul instructed churches to share and circulate his letters. Is there someone in your life who could benefit from you sharing a Bible passage or truth with them this week? How might you do that?
The abundance of New Testament manuscripts is evidence of God’s providence and the faithfulness of His people. Does knowing this increase your confidence in the reliability of the Bible? Why or why not?
The sermon mentioned that the local church is the “pillar and ground of the truth.” What does this mean for how you view your role in the church? Is there a step you could take to be more involved in your church’s ministry of teaching or sharing God’s Word?
In a world where access to Scripture can’t be taken for granted, what is one thing you can do this month to help someone else gain access to the Bible or understand it better?

Sermon Clips

From the very moment that God began writing, began breathing out Scripture through the pen of the Apostle Paul, or through Peter, or through John, or through Luke, isn't it interesting, from the very moment that it happened. Satan ensured that there were those who tried to corrupt the text thereof. [00:37:04] (21 seconds) #SatanicAttemptsToCorrupt

The inspired writings of the apostles were received as scripture. Secondly, I want you to consider tonight, the writings of the apostles were copied and circulated by the churches among the churches. Previously in this series, we looked in depth at 1 Timothy 3.15, and we saw that the local church is the pillar and ground of the truth. Just as the Jewish priesthood was the guardians of the Old Testament text, likewise, the local churches became the guardians of the New Testament text. [00:46:40] (45 seconds) #ChurchesCopyAndCirculate

The guardians of the Bible or the New Testament text of scripture...is not the professors of religion over at Harvard, okay? It's not Yale, it's not Princeton University, Brown University, all these places. They don't care about the scriptures by and large. I'm painting with a large broad brush, I get it. But they're not responsible for the text of the scriptures and to maintain it and to protect it. [00:47:38] (33 seconds) #ScriptureSharingMandate

Who protected it down through the centuries of Roman persecution before 313 AD? Who protected it during the time where Diocletian was persecuting Christians? Who protected it all throughout the centuries that followed when the Catholic Church all throughout the medieval times tried to suppress God's word? Who protected it? It wasn't the universities. It wasn't the Catholic Church or any other institution. It was local churches. [00:48:11] (31 seconds) #ChurchesTrustEachOther

God used the institution of the local church to copy, to preserve, and to circulate the text of the New Testament. Again, in the Old Testament, it was the Jewish priesthood. In the New Testament, it is the local churches. [00:48:42] (19 seconds) #WornOutBiblesReflectUse

If persecution were to come to our country, if we were to lose access to, say, the Internet and digital copies of God's word, who is going to be God's chosen guardians to protect the scriptures? It's not going to be the government. It's not going to be the colleges, the universities, all the educational institutions. It is the local church. [00:49:01] (25 seconds) #CanonEstablishedBy300AD

The churches scattered across America that are teaching and preaching God's word. It is our responsibility to preserve, to love, to cherish, to protect, to circulate, to preach this book. That has been God's design for the last 2,000 years. [00:49:25] (19 seconds) #GodPermitsAutographs

By AD 300, the canon and the text of scripture was certain, and really this was fulfilled much earlier. If you've ever heard of something called the Council of Nicaea, that occurred in 325. The Council of Nicaea did not debate the canon. They did not debate what was the New Testament scriptures. They took it as something that was established and understood. [00:58:42] (29 seconds)

In his infinite wisdom, God permitted the autographs. In other words, that term refers to the original manuscripts penned by the hands of the apostles themselves. In his infinite wisdom, God permitted the autographs to be used or destroyed, but he preserved the very words of scripture through copies made in the centuries that followed. God's word will never be destroyed. [00:59:28] (30 seconds)

``Church family, both the biblical evidence and the historical evidence indicates to us that from the very first days in the New Testament, it was received as authoritative scripture. It was copied and it was made of scripture. It was copied and it was was circulated among the local churches, who took upon themselves this God-given responsibility to safeguard the text of the New Testament. That remains upon us today. That responsibility rests on our shoulders. And if persecution comes, if it happens to be that we have to go underground, we must continue to cherish this book and protect this book. Let's live like that today. [00:59:58] (45 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What evidence confirms the preservation of the New Testament?

How did local churches contribute to biblical manuscript circulation?

Why is the number of Greek manuscripts significant today?