Tag Archives: Sufficiency of Scripture

Roots of the Faith – The Sufficiency and Necessity of Scripture

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Over the next few months we will be digging deep into God’s Word to learn more about key biblical truths that are foundational to our Christian faith. My goal is not just to give information, but rather information that will change the way we live our life. I am calling these truths the Roots of the Faith.

Helpful Resources for this Study

50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith – Gregg R. Allision

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine – Wayne Grudem

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth – John MacArthur & Richard Mayhue

The Sufficiency and Necessity of Scripture

Sufficiency of Scripture

The sufficiency of Scripture means that Scripture contained all the words of God he intended His people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it now contains everything we need God to tell us for salvation, for trusting Him perfectly, and for obeying Him perfectly. (Wayne Grudem)

Necessity of Scripture

Necessity is an attribute of Scripture whereby it is essential for knowing the way of salvation, for progressing in holiness, and for discerning in God’s will. (Gregg Allision)

The Importance of Scripture

  • 2 Tim 3:16-17
  • Psalm 119 (some many verses!)
  • Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 6:6-7; 12:32
  • Proverbs 30:5-6
  • Romans 10:13-17
  • Matthew 4:4

We believe the Bible is inerrant

  • without error.

We believe the Bible is infallible

  • unable to be wrong or mislead. Never wrong.

Allow Scripture to guide your life

  • Scripture enables us to know Him (Salvation)
  • Scripture enables us to live for Him (Sanctification)
    • IT IS ENOUGH.
    • We need nothing else
  • We need to answer the questions of the day through the “lens of Scripture”
  • How to think about an issue
  • What to do in a situation
  • Psalm 32:8 – Instruct, Teach… the way you should go.
  • It will not answer every question we may ask, but it will answer the questions that pertain to my salvation and holiness!  How to know and live for the Lord.
  • Deut 29:29 – Secret things belong to God

Search Scripture for answers

  • We need to answer the questions of the day through the “lens of Scripture”
  • Not feeling
  • Not impressions
  • Not advice from the experts
  • Search the Word

Do not add to Scripture

  • Rev. 22:18
  • Book of Mormon
  • Traditions of the Church
    • Pope
  • Modern day prophet/new word
  • Adding legalistic requirements

Roots of the Faith – “Spiritual Disciplines: Bible Study”

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My notes for Wednesday night, Sept 18th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. Our study over the next few months will be “The Roots of the Faith.” This study will focus on key biblical truths that will transform our thinking and allow us to faithfully live out the Christian life. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

 Over the next several weeks we will be walking through the following Spiritual Disciplines:

  • Bible Intake
  • Prayer
  • Worship
  • Evangelism
  • Serving
  • Stewardship
  • Fasting
  • Silence and Solitude
  • Journaling
  • Learning
  • Perseverance in the Disciplines

Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Revised and Updated. (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress; Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2024)

The book that will guide our study: GET IT AN READ IT!!!!! We have a few available at church.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life – Amazon Link

Central Idea
 
No spiritual discipline is more important that the intake of God’s Word. Nothing can substitute for it. There is simply no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture. Only as we read and study the Bible can we appropriate what God has for us. We do this through hearing, reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on Scripture and by applying what we learn to our daily lives.
 
The Importance of Bible Intake
 
In the Bible we learn the ways and will of the Lord.  We find in Scripture how to live in a way that is pleasing to God as well as best and most fulfilling for ourselves.

Studying God’s Word

2 Timothy 2:15

Hebrews 4:13

The Word is:

  • Alive – The Author is alive. His Words are alive
  • Powerful – Strength, Change, Accomplishes its purpose.
  • Sharp – Lays open our soul.

Psalm 119:1-176

Have a plan (DO IT!)

  • Start with a Chapter (start small and grow)
    • Read intro material for the particular book
    • The author. The audience. The theme (study bibles have this info)
  • Read everyday. Make it part of who you are.
  • Write down your questions.
  • Find the answers.

Bible Study Tools

Roots of the Faith – Spiritual Disciplines: Bible Intake part 1

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My notes for Wednesday night, Sept 11th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. Our study over the next few months will be “The Roots of the Faith.” This study will focus on key biblical truths that will transform our thinking and allow us to faithfully live out the Christian life. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Spiritual Disciplines

  • Bible Intake
  • Prayer
  • Worship
  • Evangelism
  • Serving
  • Stewardship
  • Fasting
  • Silence and Solitude
  • Journaling
  • Learning
  • Perseverance in the Disciplines

The book that will guide our study: GET IT AN READ IT!!!!! We have a few available at church.

Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Revised and Updated. (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress; Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2024)

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life – Amazon Link

Bible Intake


Central Idea
 
No spiritual discipline is more important that the intake of God’s Word. Nothing can substitute for it. There is simply no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture. Only as we read and study the Bible can we appropriate what God has for us. We do this through hearing, reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on Scripture and by applying what we learn to our daily lives.
 
The Importance of Bible Intake
 
In the Bible we learn the ways and will of the Lord.  We find in Scripture how to live in a way that is pleasing to God as well as best and most fulfilling for ourselves.
 
Questions to Consider
 
How do we grow in our knowledge and understanding?
Colossians 1:9-14
 
How does God speak to us? How do we know God’s will?


 Hearing God’s Word

Romans 10:17; Luke 11:28; 1 Timothy 4:13

  • Preaching/Teaching
  • Corporate Worship
  • Private listening (podcasts, online)


Reading God’s Word

2 Tim. 3:14-17

  • Find the time
  • Find a reading plan
  • Find at least on word, phrase, or verse to meditate on each time you read

Studying God’s Word

Psalm 119:1-176

  • Study Bibles
  • Commentaries


 

Luke 4:1-13 – The Temptation of Jesus

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My sermon notes for Sunday morning, Feb 12th.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Luke 4:1-13

INTRO

  • Spirits leading in the “wilderness”
  • Battle with good and evil (Jesus and Satan)
  • Importance of the Word
  • Jesus is in the wilderness… The Exodus.  They failed but Jesus did not. Jesus is the TRUE ISRAEL
  • Jesus demonstrated His Lordship, and we can learn from Him!
  • God does not temp people only Satan
    • Lures to do evil
  • People can test God
    • Our sinful desires to do that which is against the things of God
    • Daring God to prove Himself

The Devil

  • Diablo – Accuser (in the court room)
    • God is not. Jesus is not
  • Tempting Jesus to act apart (independently) from God
  • Offering shortcuts to living a faithful life of trust and obedience.
  • The devil will use the same tactics to tempt us.
  • Notice what Satan brings into question when he tempts Christ, just as he will tempt us to sin against God. 

Our Needs – vv. 3-4

  • If you are the son of God
    • Questioning who Jesus is
  • Putting immediate needs over eternal purposes
  • My needs or God’s will
  • Physical nourishment/Spiritual nourishment

Our Worship – vv.5-8

If you, then, will worship me

  • Giving to Satan what belongs to God.
  • Our allegiance, worship
  • We glorify Him as we live under His LORDSHIP

Our Faith – vv. 9-13

  • If you are the Son of God
  • Satan twists Scripture to test God.
  • Not trusting in the truth and promises of God’s Word

Truths to Consider

Temptation is not sin

Temptation will come to everyone.

We must learn to resist.

  • We do not rebuke, but RESIST (just say NO)
  • Ephesians 6:13
  • James 4:7
  • 1 Peter 5:8-9

We utilize spiritual weapons (Follow the example of Jesus)

  • Prayer – Luke 3:21
  • God’s love – Luke 3:22
  • Power and presence of the Spirit – Luke 4:1

Q & A with Pastor Jon “Can we trust the Bible” part 2

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Q & A with Pastor Jon is a teaching time utilized to answer questions that I have been asked over the course of my ministry. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Wednesday at 6:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Are there any errors in the Bible?

Can I really understand the Bible?

Is the Bible enough for knowing what God wants us to think or do?

INTRO

  • A couple of weeks were considered the TRUSTING of God’s Word. Tonight, I want us to continue that study.
  • A major source of info for this study was Wayne Grudem Systematic Theology.  Go to pastorjonbeck.com – Reading List and Bookstore

The clarity of God’s Word

We can understand the Bible.

Deut. 6:6-7 – “teach them, talk of them.”

Psalm 19:7 – “Making wise the simple”

Ps. 119:130 – “it imparts understanding to the simple”

  • The simple person is one who lacks sound judgment and prone to making mistakes.
  • God’s Word is so understandable, so clear, that even the simple are made wise by it.
  • This is of great encouragement to all believers…we all can read, study, and understand the Word of God.

“The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God’s help and being willing to follow it.”  Wayne Grudem

The necessity of God’s Word

The Bible is necessary for salvation and spiritual growth.

Rom. 10:13-17

  1. One must call upon the Lord to be saved
  2. One can only call upon Him if they believe in Him
  3. One cannot believe in Him unless they hear the Gospel
  4. One cannot hear the Gospel unless someone tells them
  5. Saving faith comes by an individual that has responded in faith to the proclamation of the Gospel.

The sufficiency of God’s Word

God has given us all we need to live an obedient life

“The Bible contains everything we need God to tell us for salvation, for trusting Him perfectly, and for obeying Him perfectly.” Wayne Grudem

  • We need to search scripture for answers – What does God want us to know about doctrinal issues and life?  Depending on the Bible for our answers not men and ministries.
  • We are not to add to scripture – We are not to add anything to the Word of God nor are we to search for additional writings of equal value. (Example – The Book of Mormon)
  • We are not to count outside guidance equal to scripture – An inner impression, peace, or feeling is never to be more authoritative than the Bible.
  • We should remember that God has given us all He intended us to have in His Word – Deut. 29:29 – “the secret things belong to God.”  We need to be content with what God has revealed of Himself and His ways. We too often look to the other sources for the life questions that we have.  Be satisfied with what the Bible teaches about all of life and begin to live it out.