The Importance of God Word Part 1
What the Bible is All About
Sunday, July 7, 2024
I. The Importance of the Word of God
A.Introduction – The Big Three
1. Like food, water and air are essential to your physical body. There are three essentials and disciplines to your spiritual growth: prayer, worship and God’s Word.
a.(ref. Prov. 27:19 NIV)
B.What the Bible is All About – Overview
1. The Bible was written over a period of 1600 years in over 12 countries on 3 continents by 40 people in 3 different languages (OT – Hebrew; NT – Greek / Aramaic).
a. The Bible was written by poets, prophets, farmers, kings, soldiers, shepherds, princes, priests, historians, fisherman, tax collectors, scholars, businessmen and doctors; and they all tell the same story.
~(2 Tim. 3:16-17 AMP) God-breathed
~(Heb. 4:12 NLT) word of God is alive
~(Matt. 4:4; John 6:63)
b. The Bible is God’s written revelation of His will to humanity. It’s the instruction manual inspired by the Creator of the universe and all creation.
~(Josh. 1:8)
2. Old Testament (OT) vs. New Testament (NT)
a.Testament means covenant, agreement or pact.
b.OT tells the story of a people (children of Israel);
NT tells the story of a person (Jesus).
c.OT centers around Abraham & Moses;
NT centers around Jesus & the Holy Spirit.
d.OT gathers around Mount Sinai;
NT gathers around the cross.
e.OT shows the wrath of God against sin;
NT shows the grace God for sinners.
f.OT writes the law on Tablets of stone.
NT writes the law on our hearts.
~(Jer. 31:31-34 NIV)
3. The 66 books of the Bible (39 OT/27 NT) are not arranged in a completely chronological order but in categories.
a.The 39 books of the OT can be grouped:
~5 books of Law
-Genesis – Deuteronomy
~12 books of History
-Joshua – Esther
~5 books of Poetry & Wisdom
-Job – Song of Solomon
~17 books of Prophets: 5 Major/12 Minor
-5 Major: Isaiah – Daniel
-12 Minor: Hosea – Malachi
b.The 27 books of the NT can be grouped:
~The gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
~The Acts of the Apostles: Historical record of the 1st century church.
~The epistles: 21 books: Romans – Jude
~The Revelation of Jesus Christ: Prophecy of the last days and eternity.
4. The story of the Bible:
a.The creation
~Man in the garden (paradise)
~Satan, sin, the fall, and corruption of mankind
b. The flood (Noah)
c. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
~Joseph, favored son, pit, prison, to palace
~Joseph dies, new Pharaoh, slavery
d. Moses, the Law, the wilderness 40 years
~Joshua in the promise land
~Once in the promise land they depart from God
~God sends judges, kings and prophets
-(Jer. 31:31-34 NIV)
e. NT – Jesus birth, life, death & resurrection
~Enter the Holy Spirit, church birth
~Rapture, tribulation, Return of Christ, judgment
f. Eternity with Christ in Paradise
5.(Rev. 21:2-4 NIV)
[Pastor Lee Stokes]