S 04 | Ep 11 | The Bible: What is it?

Main Takeaway: The Bible is inspired (breathed out) by God and is the primary means by which we grow into all that He wants us to be.  Opening Discussion: What is your attitude toward the Bible? Why do you love it? How have you struggled to read and apply it? What is your biggest barrier to Bible reading? 

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ask for volunteers to read v.16 in a different translation)

Summary: Paul uses a word in verse 16 that provides us with one of the richest concepts regarding God’s Word. He says the Scriptures were theo-pneustos (God-breathed). This shows us that the Bible did not come to us passively. God purposefully breathed it out through His human authors. It is not that He simply took what the authors wrote and stamped His approval on it. Instead, He carried them along (2 Peter 1:21) and mysteriously moved them to write His precise words. This means the Scriptures are not merely inspiring (though they are!), but they are instead a divine product from God Himself. He does not breathe on them or through them; He breathes them out, which is why Paul goes on to show how life-giving and powerful they are in our lives. Just as God breathed into the first man and gave him life (Genesis 2:7), He breathes out His Word to us to give us life.

Message Connection: The message this week called us to three different actions regarding the Word: love it, learn it, and live it.  Teaching Point 1: Love it!  Read: verse 16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful…”  Summary: We can stop right here and take in the power of this phrase. The Bible came from God and it is useful (or: profitable). It’s not hard to see why we should love the Bible! It came from our good Father and its value is immeasurably great.   Exercise: Have everyone turn to Psalm 119 and ask different people to read various verses in the psalm. Nearly all of them are about the Word, so it doesn’t matter which one they choose. Read as many as possible, rapid-fire style!  

 Discussion: Do you love the Bible? Why? What does it mean for us to love God’s Word? 

 Teaching Point 2: Learn it! Read: verse 15 “…and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus…”

Summary: Timothy had been in the Word from infancy! This means two things: 1) Kids can and should be in the Bible from a young age. They can learn the Scriptures. 2) The Bible is a lifelong learning experience. Timothy was to continue growing in his knowledge of the Scriptures. We never stop learning.

Discussion: What parts of the Bible do you need to learn more of? What tools have you used for Bible study and prayer in your devotional life? What is one way you can enhance your time in God’s Word?  

Teaching Point 3: Live it! Read: verses 16-17 “…is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Summary: God’s breathed-out Word is meant to help us live. It shows us the way and points us to the Living Word (Jesus Christ). It is the primary means of our growth in godliness, our trust in God’s promises, and our formation into the likeness of Christ.  Discussion: Do you think we are often tempted to read the Word but not obey it? Do we merely attempt to apply the Word for others (“she needs this!”) and not ourselves?  

Pray: Close in prayer by asking God to give us a deepening love for His Word, a desire to learn it, and the grace to live it out.