A Sermon on the Bible
Key Text: Ps. 119:105
Introduction
- From ancient times, sailors have made voyages guided by the stars
- The challenge of sailing was spatial disorientation
- In the sea, there are no fixed reference points. Everything changes, but the stars have apparent fixed positions in the sky.
- The Bible is our God-given guiding star
- Like those sailors of old, we need fixed reference points in matters of doctrine, morals, ethics, faith and others.
- Only the Bible provides such guidance
Discussion
- The grass withers and flowers fade, but the word of the Lord abides forever ( 40:7, 8)
- Empires and civilizations rise and retire like the waves of the sea, but the Word of God abides forever.
- Uniqueness of the Bible:
- God breathed (2 Tim. 3:16)
- Unity
- Remarkably preserved
- Transformative (information/transformation)
- Why given? (2 Tim. 3:15-17)
- Makes us wise for salvation
- Teaching; rebuking; correcting and training in righteousness
- Thoroughly equips for every good work
- Preparing for every good work
- A guiding light (2 Peter 1:19-21)
- Two cases:
- When Joshua, trusting his own understanding and set aside the Bible, was deceived by the Gibeonites (Joshua 9).
- He should have known better because he had been clearly mandated to follow the Bible with no rationalizations and deviations (1:8; cf. Deut. 7:2).
- Like Joshua, we are bound to fall into the devil’s traps the moment we overlook the Word of God.
- On the contrary to Joshua, Jesus was victorious, guided by the Word (Matt. 4:1-10). So can we.
Appeal
- The Bible on your shelf is good, and the one in your hand is better, but the best is the one in the heart.
- Take time to hide His word into your heart, that you may not sin against Him (Ps. 119:9-16).
- Let the Bible be your guiding light throughout your life.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for your Word. Open my eyes so that I ay read and understand wonderful things out of it. May it be my guiding light as I sail through this life. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen!