The World's Greatest Book

The past month we have celebrating the ministry of the Sunday school. The Sunday school ministry is focused on studying the greatest book in the world. I want to begin by giving you a test to determine the strength of your Bible knowledge.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?

A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?

A. Pharaoh’s daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he got married?

A. Ruth-less.

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?

A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury.

A. David’s Triumph was heard throughout the land.

A. Honda...because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?

A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What is one of the first things that Adam and Eve did after they were kicked out of the garden?

A. They raised Cain.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?

A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Q. Which Bible character had no parents?

A. Joshua, son of Nun.

(From Christianstories.com: provided by SermonCentral)

None of us could pass this test. However, you do need some Bible knowledge in order to get the joke behind the answers. I want to complete our Sunday school emphasis by doing a simple message about the importance of Bible study. I cannot get too technical in this sermon. There is inadequate time. There have been volumes written about the subject of Bible study. There have been many books written about Bible study methods. When I was in seminary, there were entire courses devoted to the study of the Bible. I cannot do justice to this subject in one simple message. My goal is to encourage and challenge you to examine your growth as a Bible student.

For a text I want to read two passages from II Timothy. To begin I want to read II Timothy 3:15-17. “the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

This is my outline. First, I want to remind you of the Bible’s origin. Second, I want to discuss the Bible’s purpose. Finally, I want each of us to examine our commitment to the study of the Bible.

I. Let me remind you of the Bible’s origin.

A. The Bible is a gift from God. Notice verse 16. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” A gift is something we cherish. I read about a man in Kansas City who was severely injured in an explosion. Evangelist Robert L. Sumner tells about him in his book The Wonders of the Word of God. The man’s face was badly disfigured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands. He was a new Christian, and one of his greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the Bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the Bible in braille. Much to his dismay, however, he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been destroyed by the explosion. One day, as he brought one of the braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters and he could feel them. Like a flash he thought, I can read the Bible using my tongue. At the time Robert Sumner wrote his book, the man had "read" through the entire Bible four times.

(Robert L. Sumner, The Wonders of the Work of God. Provided by Sermon Central)

Do you cherish the word of God? Consider the words of the Psalmist.

“How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth.” (Psalm 119:103).

“I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold.” (Psalm 119:127).

B. The Bible was inspired by God. The phrase inspired could be translated “God breathed.” God breathed His ideas into the formulating of this book. Some people reject the Bible on grounds that it was written by men. We should understand that God supernaturally breathed His ideas into the heart of those who wrote the pages of this book. The Bible is God’s primary means of communicating with us.

Charles Spurgeon declared, “If God has spoken, listen! If God has recorded his words in a Book, search its pages with a believing heart…; but if you regard it as the Book of God,... study the Bible daily. Treat not the Eternal God with disrespect, but delight in His Word.”