Big Idea: What you believe about the scriptures is essential to your faith.

What are the scriptures?

1. The revelation of God

Scripture reveals...

• • God’s nature & character
    Exodus 34:6-7
  • God’s mighty acts throughout human history
  • God’s plan of salvation
    John 3:16

2. The story of God
   Luke 24:27
3. The Word of God
   2 Timothy 3:16a

• • The perfect Word of God
    Isaiah 55:10-11
  • The eternal Word of God
    Isaiah 40:8
    Hebrews 4:12
    1 Corinthians 2:10
  • The authoritative Word of God
    2 Timothy 3:16-17
  • The loving word of God
    Romans 5:8

Why does this matter?

• God wants us to know him and to be known by him.
• God has preserved his Word throughout human history.
• The Bible is the only story that can make sense of our story.
• God wants to speak to us today and every single day.

Message Questions

This week we are continuing our Essential Doctrine series by talking about the scriptures. Here is this week’s statement:

God has continually been revealing himself to all of creation from the beginning. This revelation is seen through the beauty and complexity of creation itself, through Jesus, and through the scriptures. The scriptures consist of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, which are the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, authoritative for all of life and practice, and completely trustworthy in everything they teach. 

This Sunday, the big idea is: What you believe about the scriptures is essential to your faith. Passages include Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 136; Isaiah 40:8; Luke 24:27; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 2:10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; and Hebrews 4:12.

Use these questions to discuss the message from Sunday, focusing on how you can grow as an everyday follower of Jesus and how you can go accomplish what Jesus calls you to do.

1. How would you describe the scriptures to someone who has never read them before? How were the scriptures described to you in the past?
2. Have three people read Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 136 and John 3:16. What do these passages reveal to us about who God is?
3. Now have someone read Luke 24:27. What does this verse tell us about Jesus, and how we should be reading the Old Testament? Why do you think this matters?
4. Discuss ways reading the scriptures can help us grow as followers of Jesus. How have you experienced this in your time in the Word?
5. How does reading the scriptures empower us to go be on mission for Jesus? Have someone read 2Timothy 3:16-17. What should the end result be for those who submit themselves under the authority of the scriptures?