What Does the Bible REALLY Say? PowerPoint Slides from this Sermon   THE POINT: God is calling us to a higher standard of excellence in handling His Written, Spoken, and Acted Word.   THE BIBLE CAN BE UNCLEAR 2 Peter 3:14-16 (NIV) Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.   I’VE ALWAYS BEEN TAUGHT… Mark 7:13 (NIV) [Jesus speaking] “…Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."   SCRIPTURE IS IMPORTANT 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT) All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.   Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.   WHAT DO THESE BIBLE WORDS MEAN?  “The Scripture”,  “The Word of God”,  “Church”,  “Pastor”,  “Apostle”,  “Enter God’s Kingdom”   WHAT DOES THE BIBLE REALLY SAY? ·          Commands & Instructions o          To Israel o         To New Testament Believers o         To specific individuals ·          Historical Events o          To learn what to do o          To learn what not to do Poetry & Prayers

JUST BECAUSE THEY DID IT IN THE BIBLE, DOESN’T MAKE IT GOOD  Polygamy, Prostitution, Murder, Suicide, Slavery, Choosing church leadership by rolling dice   JUST BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T DO IT IN THE BIBLE, DOESN’T MAKE IT BAD ·         Calling the leader of a local congregation the “pastor” ·         Seminaries and professional clergy ·         Having “Communion” during a public assembly ·         Christmas plays ·         Church weddings   THINGS THE BIBLE IS UNCLEAR (or BALANCED) ABOUT ·         How a local congregation is to be structured ·         The role of women in ministry ·         Exactly what is sin and what isn’t ·         Just what happens when we die   HOW DO WE APPLY THE BIBLE? ·         We honor God by obeying the commands, knowing that God’s grace and the blood of Jesus covers what we cannot do. ·         We develop principles from the anecdotes. ·         We use the poetry and prayers as a foundation of our praise and worship. ·         We understand the difference between the above. ·         Some doctrines are absolutes because the Bible clearly commands or insists upon them. ·         Some practices are advisable because the Bible gives pretty clear evidence that they are pleasing to God. ·         Some practices are done within a particular church movement or denomination because that is the practice agreed upon by leadership.  They’re not claimed as commands, but they’re “how we do things here”. This is an important part of “discipleship”.   WHAT THEN SHALL WE DO? ·         During your personal Bible study, look out for doctrines or ideas that are traditions, rather than commands. ·         Ask yourself, “Does this verse really say what I’ve always been taught it says?” ·         Look out for things that “feel” sinful, but aren’t AND things that don’t “feel” sinful, but are.