1. EVERY
SCRIPTURE
2 Timothy 3:16
Adapted from a Davon Huss sermon
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2. 2 Timothy 3:16 NET Every
scripture is inspired by God and
useful for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in
righteousness, 17 that the person
dedicated to God may be capable
and equipped for every good work.
3. Whatever you do, be sure to read this
year‟s runaway bestseller. No, you don‟t
have to wait until December to learn which
book will sell more copies than any other
will in the year 2012. We already know
which one it will be. It‟s the same book that
was #1 in 2000 through 2011… and in the
1990s, „80s and in every year over the past
century or centuries.
4. About 40 different people from a wide
variety of places and occupations
contributed to the writing of this book over
a period of 1,600 years. Few of them knew
any of the others. Many of them had little or
no access to the writings of the rest.
Someone did the math & figured out of the
66 smaller books there are, 1,189
chapters, 31,173 verses and 807,361
words.
5. And yet, the 1,200 pages of their work
come together in a stunningly united whole.
It‟s as though one great mastermind was
behind it all.
Within this book you will discover hundreds
of specific predictions, except for those yet
to be fulfilled. 100% of them have come
true.
6. So great is the scope of this book, so
profound its message, that literally millions
of additional books have been published in
praise of it, or in careful analysis of its
content. No other book can make that
boast.
It is the most-read, most revered, most-
quoted book of all time. It has inspired
more songs, more paintings, more
sculptures, more poems, more plays and
more movies than any other has.
7. No one can be said to be truly educated
until they have obtained a first-
hand, working knowledge of its contents.
Over thousands of years, hundreds of
millions of men, women and children have
met together each week in-groups
small, medium and large to pour over its
meaning and to align their lives with its
teachings.
8. Many of them make it a point to spend a
portion of each day mining its depths for
additional treasure.
What is the title of this bestseller?
The Bible
No other book could sustain that kind of
interest, could bear that kind of scrutiny,
and leave its readers coming back for
more.
9. It has been translated into more languages
than any other book, having been read,
studied and memorized by people of every
race, color, persuasion, personality and
culture on the planet. Even now, the few
isolated tribes that remain without a written
language are working with translators to
codify their verbal utterances one-by-one,
so that they can soon hold in their hands a
copy of this precious book in their own
tongue.
10. How could mere human beings author a
book of such perfection and power? The
obvious conclusion is that they must have
had help. One of its authors reveals that its
every word is "inspired by God." Wow. That
explains why this book is in a class by
itself. If you‟ve never read it all the way
through… or if you‟ve never experienced it
in one of its modern translations, I
encourage you to make this your highest
priority.
11. With more than 6,000 styles and
presentations to choose from, you
shouldn‟t have too much difficulty obtaining
a copy that perfectly fits your budget and
personality. If you do not already have
one, we can provide you with one. My two
personal favorites are the New English
Translation and the New International
Version.
12. Why begin with 2 Timothy 3:16.? Why? If
we don‟t believe, know, this verse as truth
it, does us little good to read any of the
other 3:16s or any of the Bible.
In my house T-shirts at the bottom of the
drawer are like silverware on the bottom of
the stack: unused. Taking from the top of
the stack is a natural human response.
13. Apparently some of the world‟s best stuff
lies unused on the bottom where people
seldom go.
For the next few months we are going
where people seldom go. We are going to
be challenged to explore beyond our
comfort zones with the 3:16‟s of the Bible.
This verse is well known, but it is a good
springboard to speak about how we need
to study and read and memorize and
know, become familiar with the Bible.
14. Why should I get to know the Bible?
Because it is full of three things from
2 Timothy 3:16.
Inspiration
inspired by God, God breathed. His
words, His thoughts, His plans, etc. God‟s
inspiration. Full of supernatural words.
2 Peter 1:21 NET for no prophecy was ever
borne of human impulse; rather, men
carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from
God.
15. These words are from God. Men are not
perfect, but this is the beauty of the Bible.
The very purpose of the Spirit‟s supervision
was to keep men who could err from doing
so. These are men‟s words so God used
the words that these men knew to
communicate His truth.
16. Spiritual Words
David said, “The Spirit of the LORD spoke
through me; his word was on my tongue.” 2
Sam 23:2 NIV
It is amazing that God has taken words like
redeem or pardon or sanctification and has
given them such spiritual meaning. Many
of them were terms of law and business.
17. Savior’s Words
Jesus is described as the Word. The final
and ultimate Word from God. Our Savior
spoke when he was on the earth but He
still speaks through the pages of this book.
All Scripture is inspired by God. What is
God communicating in our day? Same
message as when this book was
completed.
18. What is Scripture?
Is some of this Scripture? Is most of this
Scripture? It is all Scripture, but is it all
inspired by God? Is this plus more
Scripture? Many people have many ideas
to discredit the Bible. Add or take away
from this book. These books have stood
the test of time. True, right and holy.
Are the books in the New Testament
considered Scripture? Take a look at what
the Apostle Peter said.
19. 2 Peter 3:15 NET And regard the patience
of our Lord as salvation, just as also our
dear brother Paul wrote to you, according
to the wisdom given to him, 16 speaking of
these things in all his letters. Some things
in these letters are hard to
understand, things the ignorant and
unstable twist to their own destruction, as
they also do to the rest of the scriptures.
20. This one incidental line, the rest of the
scriptures, links Paul's writings with
scripture. This is thus one of the earliest
affirmations of any part of the NT as
scripture. Peter's words were prophetic and
were intended as a preemptive strike
against the heretics to come. (NETnotes)
21. People for two millennia have been refuting
and overthrowing this book, and yet it
stands today as solid as a rock. Its
circulation increases, and it is more loved
and cherished and read today than ever
before. People make about as much
impression on this book as a man with a
tack hammer would on the Pyramids of
Egypt.
22. When a French ruler proposed the
persecution of Christians in his realm, an
old warrior said, "Sire, the Church of God is
an anvil that has worn out many hammers."
The hammers of infidels have been
pecking away at this book for ages, but the
hammers are worn out, and the anvil still
endures.
23. If this book had not been the book of
God, men would have destroyed it long
ago. Emperors and popes, kings and
princes and rulers, scholars and
intellectuals, have all tried their hand at it;
they die and the book still lives.
(Hastings)
24. Full of information
For doctrine, teaching about life. Knowing
right from wrong. Knowing truth from error.
In our day, we determine truth by public
opinion. If we did that throughout the
ages, slavery, infanticide, prostitution, etc.
would still be acceptable. We have to base
our lives on something. If we do not have
some base, we will be blown this way and
that without any direction.
25. If we stand for nothing, we will fall for
anything. (Sound like a country song
you‟ve heard before?) Knowing reality
from deception. What is real?
Knowing God‟s Word from man‟s word.
Human wisdom fails.
God helps those who help themselves.
Each tub has to sit on its own bottom.
Cleanliness is next to godliness. Familiarity
breads contempt.
26. God‟s Word is always right and never fails.
In the early morning, when the light just
begins to break forth from the night, we can
barely make out the form of large objects;
when we do, we see little definition. Yet in
less than an hour, the definition is
there, and objects much smaller in size
begin to take shape.
27. Then in another hour or so, even the
smallest of objects become clearly defined-
soon the bright light of day will even reveal
objects as small as dust particles floating in
the air. So, too, the Word of God is
progressive in its revelation.
28. What seems unclear at first is soon visible
with study. Continued study sheds more
light on the subject, so much so that even
the youngest are stunned by the detail
revealed. Wonder of wonders, the light of
revelation continues to grow with study.
29. Instruction
Rebuking
2 Timothy 4:2 NET Preach the
message, be ready whether it is convenient
or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with
complete patience and instruction.
If you want to rebuke someone, please use
the Bible. Nothing else will work!
30. Correcting
Psalms 119:105 NIV Your word is a lamp
to my feet and a light for my path.
Upon human observation, many things
seem level.
Upon human observation, it seems that
scales are right.
How would you feel if your butcher were to
have incorrect scales? Your butcher
says, "Oh, who cares?
31. So the inspector said that it was a pound
off?"
No, you would want it to be corrected.
Many times in our lives we get a little off
course when compared to the Word of
God. When it is pointed out to us, we need
to take steps to correct the problem.
32. Training
Psalms 119:9 NIV How can a young man
keep his way pure? By living according to
your word.
Don‟t know what to do? Go to the Bible and
God will help you! All of us need
instruction. In many homes around
Christmas, Dad waits until the last minute
to assemble the gifts. In a sleepy stupor,
Dad looks at the picture on the box and
says that will be easy.
33. Without reading the directions, he starts to
put it together. He is done and uses the toy
to make sure that it works properly. It
doesn‟t work at all. What happened? He
didn‟t read the directions. According to the
picture he was right but according to the
directions he was wrong. The pattern that
he was using was not the full instructions.
34. We often build our lives the same way. It is
easy to model what we see in
movies, TV, friends and family. But that is
like looking at the picture on the box. It is
not the real instructions. Our lives are built
around the directions that we use to build
them.
35. The Word of God, the Bible, is the
instruction guide for building our lives and
when we see something other than the
Bible we may get something that almost
looks the same but lacks the completeness
that was intended.
Just like the toy assembly project that
looked good from the outside but failed to
function as it was designed, many of us
have failed lives because we do not use
the full instruction of the Bible.
36. Now the question is to what end do we
have Scriptures inspired by God?
2 Timothy 3:17 NET that the person
dedicated to God may be capable and
equipped for every good work.
When we come to the Bible and let God
speak to us, it changes us - it makes us
complete and transforms us.
37. One way the Bible transforms us is through
our understanding. Romans 12:2 NET Do
not be conformed to this present world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, so that you may test and approve
what is the will of God — what is good and
well-pleasing and perfect.
When we let the Bible guide our
thinking, our minds are renewed and
transformed, so we begin to actually think
like God thinks.
38. But there is another level by which the
Bible transforms us: by a spiritual work, a
spiritual blessing which God works in us as
we come to the Bible and let Him speak to
us. This is a spiritual work that goes
beyond our intellectual understanding. With
great spiritual power beyond our intellect:
39. The Bible gives us eternal life. 1 Peter 1:23
NET You have been born anew, not from
perishable but from imperishable
seed, through the living and enduring word
of God.
The Bible spiritually cleanses us.
Ephesians 5:26 NET to sanctify her by
cleansing her with the washing of the water
by the word,
40. The Bible gives us power against Satan.
Ephesians 6:17 NET And take the helmet
of salvation and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God.
The Bible, God‟s Word, brings spiritual
power to heal our bodies. Matthew 8:16
NET When it was evening, many demon-
possessed people were brought to him. He
drove out the spirits with a word, and
healed all who were sick.
41. The Bible brings us spiritual strength.
Psalm 119:28 NIV My soul is weary with
sorrow; strengthen me according to your
word.
The Bible has the power to spiritually build
faith in us. Romans 10:17 NET
Consequently faith comes from what is
heard, and what is heard comes through
the preached word of Christ.
42. Because of this spiritual level on which the
Word of God operates, we don't have to
understand it all to have it be effectively
working in our lives. Many people get
discouraged because they feel they don't
get much when they read the Bible on their
own and so they give up. We must work to
understand the Bible the best we can, and
read it thoughtfully and carefully, but it
benefits us spiritually even when we don't
understand it all intellectually.
43. A critic once wrote a letter to a magazine
saying, "Over the years, I suppose I've
gone to church more than 1,000 times, and
I can't remember the specific content of
even one sermon over those many years.
What good was it to go to church 1,000
times?"
44. The next week, someone wrote back:
"Over the past many years, I have eaten
more than 1,000 meals prepared by my
wife. I cannot remember the specific menu
of any of those meals. But they nourished
me along the way, and without them, I
would be a much different man!"
The Bible will do its spiritual work in us, if
we will let it.
45. Paul began the chapter warning Timothy
about dangerous times. Some Christians
are swept away by these perilous times
and some others go into hiding. Neither
option is right for us. We are to stand
strong and stay on the Word of God.
(Guzik)
46. Paul makes a final point. The study of the
Scriptures trains a man in righteousness
until he is equipped for every good work.
Here is the essential conclusion. The study
of the Scriptures must never be selfish,
never simply for the good of a man's own
soul.
47. Any conversion which makes a man think
of nothing but the fact that he has been
saved is no true conversion. He must study
the Scriptures to make himself useful to
God and to his fellow-men. No man is
saved unless he is on fire to save his
fellow-men.
(Barclay's Daily Study Bible)
48. Join me and let‟s look to the Bible for our
instruction. Turn aside from the temptation
to just figure things out for yourself or follow
some worldly pattern. Don‟t settle for
something less. Make sure you build and
rebuild your life according to the full
instructions! In Timothy, Jesus is the
mediator between God and man. Without
Jesus we have no one in heaven to plead
our case. We are under wrath because of
our sins.
49. Jesus took the sins of the world to the
cross. He died for ALL the people of the
world, not just you & me. We must help
others find His salvation. Matthew 28:19
NET Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20
teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And remember, I am with
you always, to the end of the age." The
eternal life of those around us depends on
US!