1. Facts for Faithful Followers
Basic truths (‘doctrines’) that every Christian should know!

2. Last week’s Memory Verse
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come”.
John chapter 16, verse 13

3. Facts for Faithful Followers
Investigation 2 WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

4. A verse to remember
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 16 & 17

5. We need to know where all this doctrine comes from!
We rely on the Bible as our principle source of information
about God
about the way he works
We rely on the Bible as the ultimate source of information
about truth
Why?

6. The Bible is an amazing Book!
was written in two Languages: Hebrew & Greek.
contains a library of 66 books.
was written by over 40 different authors.
was written over a period of about 1600 years from 3600 to 2000 years ago.
has survived unscathed and unchanged.

8. The Bible is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative!
All parts of Scripture and all subject matters are inspired (plenary)
The Bible is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative!
breathed out – God’s life is in it
We believe in Verbal Plenary Inspiration Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16
What does this mean?
Every word is inspired by God.
What about the words of Satan?
Were the Bible writers like robots?
It’s for our good (it’s breathed in our direction!)
Even the choice of words is inspired (verbal) - not just concepts or ideas
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

9. How can we be sure it’s inspired?
Jesus' Testimony. Matthew 4:1-10; John 8:55
Apostles' Testimony. 1 John 2:5; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13
Unity of Message. e.g. Romans 4:1-3
Circulation.
Timelessness.
Preservation.
Fulfillment of Prophecy.
Changed Lives.
Jesus said “Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word”.
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.  This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
[Do you think what I’m telling you is new? No! It’s the same message: even years ago the scriptures said:] ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’.
If anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.

10. We’re confident about the quality of transmission1
Written by Isaiah, c 700 BC 2
Essenes copied onto ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’, c 100 BC 3
Masorite version (many copy cycles from original), c 1000 AD 4
Today’s versions, AD
We’re confident about the quality of transmission
e.g. Book of Isaiah
Little change in all we can track

11. The Bible is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative!
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
So we believe the Bible is ….
without any error.
infallible.
authoritative (will the Bible answer every question ?). 2 Timothy 3:16.
truth (it doesn’t just say things that are true – it defines truth).

12. The Bible is clear (!), necessary & sufficient!
Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
The Bible is clear (!), necessary & sufficient!
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
We also believe the Bible is ….
clear (to the spiritual person) Psalm 19:7; 1 Corinthians 2:14
necessary for salvation & Christian living Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:15
sufficient for salvation & Christian living. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

13. Speak, O Lord, as we come to You To receive the food of your holy word
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You To receive the food of your holy word. Take Your truth, plant it deep in us; Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,

14. That the light of Christ might be seen today In our acts of love and our deeds of faith. Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us All Your purposes, for Your glory.

15. Teach us Lord full obedience, Holy reverence, true humility
Teach us Lord full obedience, Holy reverence, true humility. Test our thoughts and our attitudes In the radiance of Your purity.

16. Cause our faith to rise Cause our eyes to see, Your majestic love and authority. Words of power that can never fail; Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

17. Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds; Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us. Truths unchanged from the dawn of time, That will echo down through eternity.

18. And by grace we'll stand on Your promises; And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us. Speak, O Lord, 'til your church is built And the earth is filled with Your glory.
Stuart Townend & Keith Getty, Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music, CCL No

19. over to Dave …..

20. Question Time !
When did you first encounter the Bible? How did you feel?
Why is it important that the Bible is the foundation for our beliefs?
What are some purposes of the Bible? See Psalm 119 v105, 1 Timothy 3v15, Romans 15v4, Matthew 4v Anymore?
Think of one issue to which the Bible speaks clearly, and one it doesn't. How does this affect your reaction to these issues?

21. Prayer Time ! Thank God for the Bible, his word to us.
Thank God and pray for those who translate and distribute the Bible (e.g. Bible Society, SU, Gideons etc).
Thank God and pray for God's Spirit to help us value and understand it.
Thank God and pray for those who teach it.
Pray for any personal matters which arise in group!

22. Memory Verse
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 16 & 17

23. Take Home!
Each time you pick up you Bible this week, what will you want to think in the light of today’s study?
?Write it in the space in your file and use it to remind yourself throughout the week

24. Facts for Faithful Followers
Next time …… …… God