Rediscovering Truth: The Unchanging Foundation of God's Word

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Word Is the Unchanging Standard of Truth

In a world where truth is often seen as relative and ever-shifting, God’s Word stands as the unchanging foundation for all of life. Unlike cultural opinions or personal perspectives that change with time, Scripture reveals truth that is absolute, trustworthy, and eternal. When we anchor our hearts in God’s Word, we find clarity, stability, and a moral compass that guides us through confusion and uncertainty. The Bible is not just one voice among many; it is the revealed truth of God, offering us wisdom, direction, and hope in every season of life. [03:53]

John 17:13-19 (ESV)
"But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth."

Reflection: Where in your life have you allowed cultural opinions or personal feelings to define truth instead of God’s Word, and what would it look like to intentionally anchor that area in Scripture this week?

Day 2: Scripture Is God-Breathed and Equips Us for Every Good Work

The Bible is not merely an ancient book or a collection of human ideas; it is divinely inspired, “God-breathed,” and given to us for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness. Through Scripture, God provides the wisdom that leads to salvation and equips us to live out our faith in practical ways. When we engage with the Bible regularly, it shapes our character, renews our minds, and prepares us to do the good work God has called us to—sharing the truth and love of Christ with a world in need. [22:11]

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ESV)
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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: What is one area of your life where you need God’s wisdom or correction, and how can you intentionally seek out and apply a specific Scripture to that area this week?

Day 3: The Gospel Is the Power of God for Salvation

Salvation is not found in self-improvement, social action, or human wisdom, but in the gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the very power of God to save and transform anyone who believes, regardless of background or past. It is not just inspirational words, but the living message that brings new life, hope, and righteousness to all who receive it by faith. As we embrace the gospel, we are called to live by faith and share this life-changing truth with others. [30:32]

Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the hope of the gospel, and how can you share the power of God’s salvation with them in a loving and personal way this week?

Day 4: Let Scripture Shape Your Habits, Choices, and Interactions

God’s Word is meant to be lived out daily, not just read or heard on Sundays. When we allow Scripture to shape our opinions, habits, and interactions, our lives become a testimony to the truth we believe. This means letting the Bible guide our responses in difficult situations, influence our conversations, and transform our attitudes—even toward those who are hard to love. As we commit to regular Scripture intake and intentional application, we reflect Christ’s love, patience, and forgiveness to the world around us. [41:27]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)
"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Think of a challenging relationship or situation you face—how can you intentionally apply a specific verse, like Ephesians 4:31-32, to your words and actions in that context today?

Day 5: Be a Truth Bearer—Share God’s Word in Love

The world is full of opinions, arguments, and confusion, but what it truly needs is the truth spoken in love. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be truth bearers—sharing God’s Word humbly, compassionately, and without argument. This means looking for opportunities to encourage, pray, and speak Scripture into the lives of others, especially those who are hurting or searching for hope. When we share God’s truth with love and grace, we become instruments of His peace and transformation in a broken world. [44:00]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV)
"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: Who is one person you can encourage or pray for this week by sharing a specific Scripture with them—either in conversation, a text, or a note—and how can you do so with humility and love?

Sermon Summary

In a world filled with noise, confusion, and shifting opinions, it’s easy to wonder what is truly real and trustworthy. Today, we began a journey to rediscover the unchanging foundation of truth as revealed by God—through His Word and ultimately through Jesus Christ. The culture around us often claims that truth is relative, that each person can define their own reality, and that authority—especially religious authority—should be viewed with suspicion. This postmodern mindset has led to a world where truth is constantly shifting, morality is negotiable, and human value is often determined by cultural trends rather than by the unchanging standard of God.

For centuries, theology—the study of God—was considered the highest form of knowledge, the “queen of the sciences.” All other fields of study were seen as servants to this ultimate truth. But as society has dethroned theology, we’ve lost our unifying center. Science, history, and even morality have become disconnected from any higher purpose, and culture itself has become its own god. When God’s Word is no longer our standard, we risk justifying all kinds of evil, as history has tragically shown.

Yet, God has not left us without a foundation. Scripture is not just another opinion or an outdated artifact. It is God-breathed, living, and powerful—able to transform lives and equip us for every good work. Jesus prayed that His followers would be sanctified in the truth, and He declared, “Your word is truth.” The Bible remains relevant, speaking to every area of life—identity, relationships, justice, and more. It calls us to humility, mercy, and love, not just outward rule-keeping but inward transformation.

The challenge is not just to know about the truth, but to live it. This means rebuilding our trust in God’s Word, making it our daily guide, and letting it shape our opinions, habits, and relationships. It means being willing to let Scripture correct us, even when it’s uncomfortable. And it means carrying the truth into the world—not with arguments or pride, but with love, humility, and prayer. God’s Word is not just true; it is the truth. When we stand on it, we become unshakable, able to bring hope and clarity to a confused world.

Key Takeaways

1. Truth is not invented by culture or personal experience; it is revealed by God and anchored in His Word. When we allow shifting opinions or trends to define truth, we lose our moral compass and risk justifying actions that are contrary to God’s heart. The foundation of all knowledge and morality must be rooted in the unchanging character of God as revealed in Scripture. [10:59]
2. The dethroning of theology from its central place in society has led to a loss of purpose and unity in all other fields of knowledge. When God is no longer the reference point, science, history, and even ethics become disconnected and vulnerable to misuse. Only by restoring God’s Word to its rightful place can we regain a sense of meaning and accountability in every area of life. [14:00]
3. Scripture is not just a collection of ancient writings, but the living, God-breathed truth that equips us for every good work. It remains relevant across generations, speaking to the deepest questions and challenges of modern life. Engaging with the Bible is not about having a favorite verse, but about letting God’s Word shape us in every season and circumstance. [24:24]
4. Living by the truth requires intentional, daily engagement with Scripture—allowing it to shape our opinions, correct our errors, and guide our actions. This means prioritizing time in God’s Word, memorizing verses that speak to our current struggles, and letting Scripture inform our responses to cultural issues rather than defaulting to political or social opinions. [37:19]
5. Our calling is not to win arguments or impose opinions, but to be truth-bearers who share God’s Word in love and humility. The world is desperate for something unchanging and real; when we pray Scripture over others, share what God is teaching us, and treat people with compassion, we become living testimonies of the power and relevance of God’s truth. [44:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Why This Series: The Search for Truth
[03:53] - Understanding Postmodernism and Its Impact
[05:51] - The Church’s Silence and the Need for Truth
[09:06] - Theology: The Queen of the Sciences
[10:59] - Consequences of Dethroning Theology
[13:01] - Culture as God and Shifting Morality
[14:00] - Human Value and the Loss of Absolute Truth
[15:20] - The Tuskegee Study: Ethics Without God
[17:06] - Our Depravity and the Need for a Savior
[18:51] - Culture’s “Live Your Truth” vs. God’s Truth
[21:19] - Jesus’ Prayer: Sanctify Them in Truth
[22:11] - Is the Bible Outdated?
[24:24] - Scripture’s Enduring Relevance
[27:09] - The Bible and Modern Life
[29:52] - The Power of the Gospel for Salvation
[31:49] - Invitation to Seek and Live the Truth
[33:00] - Personal, Practical, and Missional Applications
[35:55] - Rebuilding Trust in God’s Word
[37:19] - Daily Scripture Intake and Engagement
[41:27] - Letting Scripture Shape Our Habits
[43:37] - Being a Truth-Bearer in the World
[44:48] - Sharing Truth in Love, Not Arguments
[45:48] - Praying Scripture Over Others
[47:41] - Living Out the Word: Personal, Practical, Missional
[49:05] - Prayer: Anchoring in God’s Unchanging Word
[49:53] - Closing and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 17:14-19 (ESV) — > 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
> 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
> 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
> 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
> 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
> 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ESV) — > 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
> 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
> 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
> 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Romans 1:16-17 (ESV) — > 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
> 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Observation Questions

In John 17, what does Jesus specifically pray for regarding his followers and the truth? ([21:19])
According to 2 Timothy 3, what is the purpose of all Scripture in the life of a believer? ([24:24])
The sermon described how culture often says, “live your truth.” What is the difference between this idea and what Jesus says about truth? ([18:51])
What example did the sermon give to show the dangers of losing an absolute standard of truth in society? ([15:20])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize “sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” in his prayer for the disciples? What does this say about the role of Scripture in a believer’s life? ([21:19])
The sermon mentioned that when theology is dethroned, morality and even human value become negotiable. How does rooting truth in God’s Word protect against this? ([14:00])
Paul says in 2 Timothy that all Scripture is “God-breathed” and equips us for every good work. What does it look like for someone to let Scripture—not culture—shape their actions and beliefs? ([24:24])
The sermon challenged the idea that the Bible is outdated or irrelevant. How do the passages and examples given show the ongoing relevance of Scripture for today’s issues? ([27:09])

Application Questions

The sermon asked, “Where have you allowed culture to define truth instead of Scripture?” Can you identify one area in your life where this has happened? What would it look like to let God’s Word reshape your view in that area? ([33:00])
The pastor encouraged memorizing a verse that speaks to your current struggle or season. What is one verse you could memorize this week, and how could it help you face a specific challenge? ([33:00])
The sermon suggested setting aside 15 minutes daily for Bible reading or listening. What practical steps could you take to make this a consistent habit? What obstacles might get in the way, and how can you address them? ([37:19])
When you encounter a controversial issue in the news or on social media, do you first ask, “What does the Bible say about this?” How could you start making this your first response? ([41:27])
The pastor gave an example of using Ephesians 4 to shape how we respond to difficult people. Is there a current relationship where you need to let Scripture guide your attitude or actions? What would that look like this week? ([42:31])
The sermon challenged us to be “truth-bearers” who share God’s Word in love, not arguments. Can you think of a recent conversation where you could have responded with Scripture or humility instead of opinion or debate? How might you approach it differently next time? ([44:48])
Who is one person you could pray Scripture over or encourage with a Bible verse this week? How will you reach out to them, and what verse might you use? ([45:48])

Sermon Clips

Without God's truth, we have the power to do something, but no moral compass to guide whether we should. When theology is dethroned, morality becomes relative. Without God's word as the standard, morality shifts with cultures, politics, and personal preferences. What one generation calls good, the next calls evil. Practices like slavery, eugenics, or racism were once defended as truth by the best thinkers of their day because they lack submission to God's revealed standard. [00:12:11] (46 seconds) #MoralCompassInGodsWord

When theology is dethroned, human beings are reduced to material objects. Humans are defined only by biology or social function, and this leads to things like devaluing life at its beginning meaning abortion or at its end, euthanasia. It leads to dehumanizing people based on race, class, or ability. Without the truth that we are made in the image of God human worth listen to this, human worth is negotiable. How sad is that statement? [00:13:30] (42 seconds) #HumanWorthInGodsImage

Scripture doesn't offer us a truth. It defines the truth. That's the difference. If you want to know where the church has failed, that's one of the failures right there. Do you carry a truth, or do you carry the truth? Those are two totally different statements. [00:19:18] (23 seconds) #CarryTheTruth

My goal isn't to convince you in one sermon that the Bible is the truth, because I can't change your entire belief system in the time that we have here this morning. Only the Holy Spirit can open your eyes to see that. My goal is simply to invite you in on a journey. Whether you've followed Jesus for years, or you're not sure what you believe yet, I want you to start walking towards the truth, to seek it, to understand it, and when you're ready to live it out. Because when you do, you'll discover that God's word isn't just ancient ink on a page. It's life. It's freedom. It's hope. [00:31:56] (53 seconds) #EngageWithScripture

If you can't give up 15 minutes to read God's Word, then you don't have a faith. You have a hobby. You have a Sunday morning hobby. If we're going to start talking about the truth, and I'm going to try and lead you in and through the truth in this series, these are the things you have to do. You've got to get familiar with it. Don't wait until you feel like it. Don't wait. [00:37:39] (29 seconds) #SeekTruthInGodsWord

Be a truth bearer in a confused world. The world doesn't need more opinions. It needs truth delivered in love. I wish more Christians would follow that. The world doesn't need more opinions. It's got plenty of them. What it needs is the truth delivered in love. [00:43:41] (23 seconds) #ShareTruthHumbly

Here's what I don't want you to do. Don't argue to win. Share scripture humbly and in love. I'm going to let you in on a secret. When you have arguments, there's no winners. Every argument I have ever, quote unquote, won was either destructive to that relationship or destroyed it. Arguments don't benefit anyone. Stop having them. Instead, let's start sharing the truth with the world around us. [00:44:39] (39 seconds) #AnchorInUnshakableTruth

Church, the word of God isn't just something we hear on Sundays. It's the foundation for every part of our lives. Personally, we're called to rebuild our trust in scripture and anchor our hearts in its unchanging truth. Practically, we are called to let the word shape our habits, our choices, and our interactions so that our lives reflect what we believe. And missionally, we are called to carry the word into the world. Not with opinions or arguments, but with truth spoken in love and prayers that bring God's promises into people's lives. [00:47:32] (44 seconds)

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