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Church of the Nazarene

Burning Questions: Do You Actually Believe The Bible is True (The Word of God)?

Burning Questions: Do You Actually Believe The Bible is True (The Word of God)?

“The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” -Charles Spurgeon

Locations & Times

Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg

1871 Boyers Rd, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, USA

Sunday 9:00 AM

Sunday 10:30 AM

Week 1:
Would a loving God really send someone to Hell?
Today we are addressing the question:
Do you actually believe the Bible is true (the Word of God)?
The Bible - also known as the Holy Bible, God’s Word, the Scriptures is:
-a collection of 66 books
39 books of Hebrew Scripture known as the Old Testament
27 books we call the New Testament
-written by 40 authors
-over a period of 1,500 years
-on 3 continents
Two answers we may give, that are not well grounded, when ask "Why do you believe the Bible is true?"
1. Because that's the way I was raised
2. I tried it and it changed my life
“I choose to believe the Bible because it is a reliable source of historical documents written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They report supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies and claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.” - Voddie Bachaum
Peter’s preaching is not based on something he made up, but on both his firsthand experience of Jesus and the truth of Scripture (fulfilled prophecy).
RELIABLE SOURCE OF HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
After applying the same criteria to the Bible as other ancient documents it is clear that the Bible is the most accurately preserved and verified document of the ancient world.
WRITTEN BY EYEWITNESSES DURING THE LIFETIME OF OTHER EYEWITNESSES
- 2 Peter 1:16-18
- Luke 1:1-4
-1 Corinthians 15:5-8
-1 John 1:1-3
REPORT SUPERNATURAL EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN FULFILLMENT OF SPECIFIC PROPHECIES
- 2 Peter 1:19
Scripture—particularly the words of the prophets—and Peter’s own experience confirm the truth of his teachings
CLAIM THEIR WRITINGS ARE DIVINE RATHER THAN HUMAN IN ORIGIN
- 2 Peter 1:20-21
Being that the writings are divine rather than human in origin it answers our deepest longings and questions.
What is truth?
Does life have purpose?
Is there a God? Can I know Him?
Is there anything beyond this life?
Perhaps one of the greatest challenges for the Western Christian today is the temptation to take the Bible for granted.
There is a difference between believing the Bible is true and living like the Bible is true
4 practices to understanding and living God's Holy & inspired words found in the Bible:
1. Begin with PRAYER
2. Read it in COMMUNITY
3. Read it DAILY
4. S.O.A.P.
-Scripture
-Observation
-Application
-Prayer

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