The Bible Inspired Of God.

Reading: 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 15 to 17

Ill:

• A pastor was taking a group of parishioners on a tour of the Holy Land.

• He had just read them the parable of the good shepherd;

• He explained to them that, as they continued their tour,

• They would see shepherds on the hillsides just as in Jesus' day.

• He wanted to impress the group,

• So he told them what every good pastor tells his people about shepherds.

• He described how, in the Holy Land,

• Shepherds always lead their sheep,

• Always walking in front to face dangers,

• Always protecting the sheep by going ahead of them.

• He barely got the last word out when, sure enough,

• They rounded a corner and saw a man and his sheep on the hillside.

• There was only one problem:

• The man wasn't leading the sheep as the good pastor had said.

• Instead he was behind the sheep and seemed to be chasing them.

• The pastor turned red. Flabbergasted, he ran over to the fence and said,

• "I always thought shepherds in this region led their sheep — out in front.

• And I told my people that a good shepherd never chases his sheep."

• The man replied, "That's absolutely true... you're absolutely right;

• Only I'm not the shepherd, I'm the butcher!"

This chapter in Timothy is all about good guys and bad:

• Shepherds and butchers;

• Those who care for God’s people and those who would destroy them with false teaching.

• Paul (was a good guy / a shepherd) he is writing to another good guy / a shepherd;

• Called Timothy & he is encouraging him to remain loyal to the teaching he had received.

Quote: Verses 15-17 (N.I.V.)

“….how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”.

Timothy had been taught the Word of God since he was a child.

• I hope he was better taught than the following children!

• True statements about the bible written by children:

• (1). The first book of the Bible is called Guinessis.

• (2). Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark.

• (3). Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the Apostles.

• (4). Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten amendments.

• (5). The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.

• (6). Solomon, one of David's sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.

• (7). When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta.

• (8). Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption.

• (9). The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels.

• (10). The epistles were the wives of the apostles.

• (11). One of the opossums was St. Matthew who was also a taximan.

• (12). A Christian should have only one spouse. This is called monotony.

Quote: Let me quote the reading again this time in The Message:

“14………Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers-- 15why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother's milk! There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another--showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. 17Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us”.

• Timothy had been taught the Word of God from a child.

• By both his mother and grandmother who were Jewish believers (Chapter 1 verse 5).

• They had both faithfully taught him the Old Testament Scriptures;

• The word "those" in verse 14 is plural referring to these women.

• Timothy was to continue in what he had been taught.

• We never outgrow the Word of God.

Ill:

• Menekil II was born in 1844,

• He was one of the greatest rulers in African history and the creator of modern Ethiopia.

• He was captured during an enemy raid and held prisoner for 10 years.

• After escaping, he declared himself head of the province of Shewa.

• He began conquering neighbouring kingdoms;

• And developed them into modern Ethiopia with himself as emperor.

• When Italy tried to take over Ethiopia;

• Menekil’s army met and crushed the Italians at the Battle of Aduwa.

• This victory, as well as his efforts to modernize Ethiopia (schools, telephones, railroads),