Yesterday was a quiet day for me, not preaching or taking a service. Same
again next Sunday. But here's an old one, which I'll use again for the
mid-week service on Wednesay..
Bible Sunday (Advent 2)
Epistle : 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
1. THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE 16
"All Scripture is inspired by God:"
a. The Event of Inspiration..
All Scripture IS INSPIRED (Theopneustos) : as God breathed life into inert man
(Gen 2:7). The Scripture authors were inspired (2 Pet 1:21) q.l. (which read)
Inspiration is a fact to be reckoned with..
b. The Extent of Inspiration..
ALL SCRIPTURE is inspired. No scissors-and-paste theology: not "every inspired
scripture is also profitable..." (RV of 1881). All is equally inspired, though
not all equally applicable....
c. The Fount of Inspiration..
All Scripture is inspired BY GOD. "Knowing from Whom you learned it..." 14..
Only God could have witnessed Creation or reported the minutes of the Divine
Council ("Let us make man..."; prologue to Job, etc.)..
2. THE APPLICATION OF SCRIPTURE 15-17
"All Scripture is inspired by God AND IS USEFUL."
a. Useful for its Didactic Intent. 17
"It is useful for Teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and
giving instruction for right living; so that the person who serves God may be
fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed." The wise
Christian sits under Scripture in obedience, not over it in criticism..
b. Useful for its Dominical Content. 15
"Ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are
able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ
Jesus." Christ Jesus is LORD (Dominus). He is the Dominant Theme of all
Scripture. The wise Christian inquires within upon everything to do with
salvation..
c. Useful for its Practical Aspect. 17; 4:2-5
"Do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a
servant of God". There are only two occasions to preach the Good News - when
the time is right and when it is not. The time is not right in the West where
people have itching ears for the myths of the "New Age": Gaia the earth
spirit; pantheism; occultism; anything but God's Truth. The time is not right
in the Middle East where the Quran is the only permitted book. Christ is
coming to judge the living and the dead, and to rule as king. Only He has the
words of eternal life..
_______________________________________________________________________________
In Christ,
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
