August 21, 2008

  • 10 LIFECHANGING CHOICES [#4]



    Based on an outline by James MacDonald

    Choose the Bible as God's Word  [Authority Choice 2]
    Matthew 4:4; 8:5-13
    Eric Fehrman -     taught 7/09/08 to Jr & Sr High

    (1.) Gods Word is the "Blueprint" for Life
      • TURN TO Matthew 4:4;
      • Do we understand how monumental it is that Jesus had all the resources of the Godhead at His disposal for which to do battle with Satan and He chose the Bible?!... 3 times, EVERY time, He goes to the Scriptures!

    (2.) God Word contains the Prescription for everything that could ever make you happy in this world.
      • 5 Things We Find In Gods Word
        >  HEAVEN  Psa 118:17
        >  HOPE  Psa 118:18
        >  HELP  Psa 119:105
        >  HEALING  Psa 118:23
        >  HAPPINESS  Psa 1:1-2
     

    (3.) Gods Word is Supernatural
      • Preservation!
      • Unique among Ancient Literature
      • Historical / Archeological Accuracy
      • Scientific Accuracy
      • Hundreds of Perfectly Fulfilled Prophecies
      • Unity and Consistency in All its Teachings
      • Insight Into the "Big Issues" of Life
      • Uniqueness of the Gospel Message (Grace vs. Karma)
      • Testimony of Millions of Changed Lives
      • Testimony of Jesus Himself

    (4.) Gods Word Is My Authority, I Choose It
      • TURN TO Matthew 8:5-13
      • Some Scriptures to consider...
        >  2 Pet 1:21; 
        >  2 Tim 3:16
        >  Matt 24:35 (see also Mt 5:18)
      • Gods Word is sufficient, authoritative, it contains the Wisdom of the Creator of the universe on how everything in life works! 
      • Have you made the choice to recognize the authority of the Scriptures over every aspect of your life?...
        >  just b/c you are a Christian doesn't mean that you've done that
        >  just b/c you are in church doesn't mean that you've done that
        >  just b/c you are have a bible, carry it, or even read it sometimes doesn't mean that you've done that
      • 5 Things Christians DO with the Bible (instead of choosing it as their authority)
        >  treat it as a BUFFET
        >  treat it as HELPFUL but NOT NECESSARY
        >  treat it as a LEGALISTIC DUTY
        >  treat it as an ALGEBRA EQUATION
        >  treat it as a HOBBY
      • Choose the Bible as your authority, as a priority in your life! 
      • Gods Word is my authority when...
        >  It can STOP me and CHANGE my directions...
        >  It can CORRECT me...
        >  It is my TREASURE... (2 Pet 1:3)

    CONCLUSION
      • READ Psalm 19:7-11
      • What do I do with the Bible?
        >  Read it
        >  Study it
        >  Memorize it
        >  Meditate on it
        >  Share it / Teach it

    ILLUSTRATION: A grandmother left her bible for her grandson to have after her death.  She filled it with crisp 100 dollar bills between each book as a reminder to him of the value of the Scriptures.  Considering the Bible as worthless he tossed in on a shelf where it sat for most his life... many years later he gave the Bible to a neighbor who discovered the hundreds of dollars left by his grandmother.  Every Bible is full of treasure... don't let your life go by without discovering it.