1. God’s Word a Strange Thing Hosea 4:1, 6; 8:1, 7, 12

2. 2 Understand & Live God’s Word Requires diligence, 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet. 1:5, 10Requires diligence, 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet. 1:5, 10 –“To exert one’s self, endeavor;” labor, make haste Requires learning, 2 Pet. 3:14-17Requires learning, 2 Pet. 3:14-17 –Habitually educate ourselves, 3:18; Acts 2:42 –Otherwise: Unstable…twist God’s word…destroy our souls

3. 3 Why God’s Word Becomes Strange Untaught, 2 Pet. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:2Untaught, 2 Pet. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:2 –Bible classes, 1 Tim. 4:6, 11, 16; 5:7 –Private study –Guard against sin & live for God, Heb. 4:12 –Tossed about & ruined, Eph. 4:14

4. 4 Why God’s Word Becomes Strange Lack of sound teaching, Acts 8: 30-31Lack of sound teaching, Acts 8: 30-31 –Priests in Israel, Lev. 10:10-11; Hosea 4:4-10 –Bible teaching replaced with story telling & entertainment –Gospel teaching sustains the kingdom, 2 Tim. 2:2 (1 Cor. 14:26)

5. 5 Why God’s Word Becomes Strange Unclear teaching, 1 Cor. 14:9Unclear teaching, 1 Cor. 14:9 –Teacher’s clarity, Jas. 3:1 –Listener’s open heart, Lk. 8:18 –Clarity does not guarantee being understood, Jn. 2:18-22; 8:26-30 –Don’t change message when truth is misunderstood – help listeners

6. 6 Why God’s Word Becomes Strange Babes in Christ, Heb. 5:11-14Babes in Christ, Heb. 5:11-14 –Should not be for long if growing properly, 1 Pet. 2:2 Unstable in faith, 2 Pet. 3:16Unstable in faith, 2 Pet. 3:16 –Not grounded, Col. 2:6-7 –Drink from broken cisterns, Jer. 2:13; 17:13

7. 7 Why God’s Word Becomes Strange Deceived, 2 Cor. 11:1-4, 13-15 (1 Tim. 4:1-3)Deceived, 2 Cor. 11:1-4, 13-15 (1 Tim. 4:1-3) –Personal associations, emotional attachments, distortions of truth, fear... –Accept without investigation (Acts 17:11) –Overriding commitment to truth

8. 8 Why God’s Word Becomes Strange Closed minds, Jer. 6:16-17Closed minds, Jer. 6:16-17 –Bias & prejudice, Acts 7:54-58 –Hardened hearts, Heb. 3:7-8 –Contrast: Open hearts to truth, Acts 2:42; 2 Tim. 4:2-4

9. 9 Why God’s Word Becomes Strange Love to have it so, Jer. 5:30-31Love to have it so, Jer. 5:30-31 –Power over unsuspecting, Rom. 16:17-18 –Result of conceit & self-ambition, Gal. 6:3; Phil. 2:3

10. 10 When God’s Word Becomes Strange Sins of negligence, apathy, unfaithfulness & finally, punishment, Hosea 8:11-12, 14 (4:6)Sins of negligence, apathy, unfaithfulness & finally, punishment, Hosea 8:11-12, 14 (4:6) –Keep open hearts to God’s word, Jas. 1:21-22