1) What Do We Believe? Series

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN?

Text: Luke 1:1

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand - to set forth in order a declaration…

of those things which are most surely believed among us,

So then, Are you sure about what you believe?

Spiritually speaking, when it comes to God – and His plan and purpose for your life,

Do you know what you believe?

This is my question to you today.

God wants us to be sure – and so He reveals the truth of things to us through His Word?

Year of Outreach

For the Lighthouse Baptist Church in New Zealand...

This year of 2021 is really only going to be about two things:

1) Preaching the Gospel to others...and...2) Learning More About What We Believe.

In fact, our Church has declared 2021 to be a “Year of Outreach”

By definition – “Outreach” is about “Reaching Out” to others.

Jesus said in the Great Commission that we are to “Go and teach all Nations” - Matthew 28

He didn’t say that we are to just come to Church and sit,

But that we are to in fact “go – and reach out to others with the truth”.

Matthew 24:14 says - And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached…

in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

How does the Gospel get preached to all nations?...

People like you and I reach out with the truth.

What Do We Believe?

You see, God wants us to be reaching out to share the reality of Jesus Christ with others,

But for us to effectively do that – something needs to happen first...

We need to be sure about what we believe.

And so this is the pivotal question... Do You Know what you believe?

As Children of God - what do we believe about the Gospel?

Because although the Bible declares there is only one true Gospel...

There are many different variations that others believe and practice - wrongly.

And on this note - What do we believe about God ...The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ His son?

What do we believe about all aspects to our Faith...Baptism, and the Lord’s Churches?

Because there are many different thoughts, ideas and religions,

And they all like to have their say - about what they believe to be true.

But what about what God says is true – What is it that you believe?

Big Question – Many Answers

Now this is obviously a very broad question,

And so we are going to have to ask it of ourselves over and over again.

We will need to ask this question many, many times...

Across many, many lessons to really get a grasp of the answer.

In fact, becoming sure about what we believe – may take the rest of the year - maybe longer.

And that is why I want to have these weekly Bible Studies...

We are not going to rush things – we are going to take our time.

Every week through the Scriptures we will explore...

What God has to say about many topics through His Word - Chapter and Verse,

And we will do this to be certain of the truth – and to have surety in what we believe.

Now if 2021 is going to be a “Year of Outreach” for us all,

If are to be doing what God has called us to do...

By effectively be “reaching out” to share the Word of truth with others

We need to first be comfortable in knowing what it is we actually believe.

1 Peter 3:15 tells us to: ...be ready always to give an answer…

to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you.

Be ready to share the hope we have in Jesus Christ with anyone who asks – Peter says.

But How do we get ready? – We get familiar with what we believe

And with the message we will be sharing.

And guys this is what we believe (The Bible) – it’s all about chapter and verse.

This is God’s Word to us and it is all right here.

Text Verse Luke

So Let’s get back into our text here in Luke.

As a point of interest – we know Luke to be one of Jesus disciples.

He was not only used by God to Write the Gospel of Luke, but also of the book of Acts.

Furthermore, it is known to us that Luke accompanied the Apostle Paul at various times

As is recorded in 2 Timothy 4:11… And Paul even refers to Luke

As a “Beloved Physician” In Colossians 4:14.

The term Physican itself in the Greek means “to cure” and refers to “one wo heals”

So Luke was a Doctor by trade - and may well have even treated Paul