Why Read the Bible?
David Ireland
2 Timothy 3:14-17
1.0 Americans Have Mixed Feelings About the Bible
(2 Tim. 3:14-17) P. 843.
1.1 A survey was conducted in 2014 by the American Bible Society in collaboration with the George Barna Research Group. Let me ask you what you think were the results they received for three of the questions.
A) What percentage of Americans are skeptical or agnostic towards the Bible (They say, it's just another book.)?
- 5-10 %
- 11-20 % Answer = 19%
- 21-30 %
B) What percentage of Americans are ''pro-Bible'' and believe the Bible is sacred?
- 45-60 %
- 61-74 %
- 75-90 % Answer = 79%
C) What percentage of Americans report reading the Bible once a week or more?
- 15-25 %
- 26-40 % Answer = 37%
-41-60 %
1.2 My topic today is: Why Read the Bible? I will provide four answers.
2.0 Why Read the Bible?
Answer #1: It's God's Love Letter.
A) God has spoken.
1. The Bible is the Word of God written.
i. The Bible's own words declare this point.
Story: The moment this Bible College professor began his lecture on The New Testament he was rudely interrupted by a student who shouted out, ''The Bible is just a primitive and obscene book.'' The prof asked, ''Can you repeat your comment so that everyone can hear your complaint?'' He did. The teacher said, ''I love your choice of words, primitive and obscene.
You are exactly right. The entire history of redemption is communicated in primitive terms so that all would understand God's love. The Bible reveals a God who hears the groans of all of His people, from the peasant to the philosopher, from the dull-witted to the sophisticated scholar. His message of love and forgiveness is simple enough for the most simplistic of His fallen creatures to understand. Simultaneously, there is enough profundity contained in Scripture to hold the attention of the erudite and scholars for a lifetime.
Source: Knowing Scripture by R. C. Sproul pg. 16.
2. The Bible's singular ...
David Ireland
2 Timothy 3:14-17
1.0 Americans Have Mixed Feelings About the Bible
(2 Tim. 3:14-17) P. 843.
1.1 A survey was conducted in 2014 by the American Bible Society in collaboration with the George Barna Research Group. Let me ask you what you think were the results they received for three of the questions.
A) What percentage of Americans are skeptical or agnostic towards the Bible (They say, it's just another book.)?
- 5-10 %
- 11-20 % Answer = 19%
- 21-30 %
B) What percentage of Americans are ''pro-Bible'' and believe the Bible is sacred?
- 45-60 %
- 61-74 %
- 75-90 % Answer = 79%
C) What percentage of Americans report reading the Bible once a week or more?
- 15-25 %
- 26-40 % Answer = 37%
-41-60 %
1.2 My topic today is: Why Read the Bible? I will provide four answers.
2.0 Why Read the Bible?
Answer #1: It's God's Love Letter.
A) God has spoken.
1. The Bible is the Word of God written.
i. The Bible's own words declare this point.
Story: The moment this Bible College professor began his lecture on The New Testament he was rudely interrupted by a student who shouted out, ''The Bible is just a primitive and obscene book.'' The prof asked, ''Can you repeat your comment so that everyone can hear your complaint?'' He did. The teacher said, ''I love your choice of words, primitive and obscene.
You are exactly right. The entire history of redemption is communicated in primitive terms so that all would understand God's love. The Bible reveals a God who hears the groans of all of His people, from the peasant to the philosopher, from the dull-witted to the sophisticated scholar. His message of love and forgiveness is simple enough for the most simplistic of His fallen creatures to understand. Simultaneously, there is enough profundity contained in Scripture to hold the attention of the erudite and scholars for a lifetime.
Source: Knowing Scripture by R. C. Sproul pg. 16.
2. The Bible's singular ...
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