Core Value 1 - Word Focused Series

Message

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Core Values 1 - Word Focused

There are many jobs which people do in this world which have an essential ingredient.

Painter

• These people have all they need

• Except the paint – painting without paint!

• The painter can even go through all the motions … but nothing is going to change.

• Paint is foundational.

To a painter … paint is essential.

What is the essential ingredient for a Christian?

Let’s read the Bible to find out.

2 Timothy 3:10-17

The essential ingredient for a Christian is Scripture.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

So here are some big questions.

• Do we get excited, and keep on getting excited, about this book?

• Do we believe that God’s Word is a resource for all? All ages. All types. All situations.

• Are we convinced that Scripture is the foundation for our daily, moment to moment, lives?

We should get excited. Because Scripture is foundational.

Scripture is foundational to our daily lives because of its Author … it is God-breathed.

Scripture into being because God pumped Himself into it … the whole book is there because of the breath of God.

Picture

We know important our breath is don’t we. If you have ever been swimming in the ocean and had an occasion when you have been dumped by a big wave you know what it is like to fight for breath. And let’s say that the worst happens and you need mouth to mouth. Even though the life-guard who rescued you is giving you mouth-to-mouth … and putting their breath into you … you will not be alive until you draw your own breath one again. That’s how it works doesn’t it.

The Scripture is God’s breath … God breathed. It is infused with the life of God. Such language is the strongest possible way to show us that Scripture is

not about men putting words into the mouth of God.

not the opinion of one men or a group of men.

God Himself is behind it all.

Since God Himself is behind Scripture it is the standard by which everything else is judged.

In the world of music … and I am thinking particularly of the world of violins … it is recognised that a violin made by Stradivarius is the best. In his life-time he made just over 1100 instruments of which 450 are known to still exist. But there are also many violins which bear the name “Stradivarius” – which were made by a company that copied his design.

If you have a company built model the violin will be worth $1000 - $2000.

If you have an original Stradivarius it can be worth 1 million to 1.5 million dollars.

The difference in price is attributed to the hand of the maker.

The one who made the Scriptures … and then breathed into it … is God.

The all-seeing … God.

The all-knowing ... God.

The all-present … God.

The all-power … God.

This is the God who knows the beginning from the end. He is the One who holds the whole universe together. It’s the same God who made us in His image and who Created us to be in relationship with Himself. And it is the same God who grieves over the fact that there is a break in the relationship between God and man.

God breathes life into the Scriptures because He wants to breathe life into us.

The overall message of the Scriptures is simple.

It is God saying to us, “I am not willing to let you go”.

Adam and Eve messed it all up. God doesn’t let them go … He finds them.

All mankind except Noah messed it all up. God saves us with an ark.

King David messed around with Bathsheba. God doesn’t let them go.

All Israel ends up in Babylon. God doesn’t leave them there.

And Jesus comes. I have come so that you may have life and have it to the full. That is what Jesus says. Indeed Jesus sacrifices His own breath so that God can breathe life into us.

That is the message of the Scriptures. It is all about God breathing every word … every syllable … every jot and title … into the Scriptures. To tell us about life … about living … and about eternal life.

This book is foundational because of the author … the Creator of all things is telling us how we can be in a relationship with Himself. That is enough of a reason to keep the Bible as an essential part of our lives. But there are more reasons given to us by Paul.