When was the last time you received a letter that was special to you? How did you respond to that letter? I am certain that you did not rush through reading that letter, quickly skimming it and then setting it aside. Instead, you probably savored every word of that letter, rereading it multiple times before carefully putting it away for safekeeping. Far greater than any letter that we could receive on this earth is the Bible, the word of God. After all, it is God’s very word and should be savored as such. Because it is God’s word, it is fully reliable. We can trust every word found in it.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse or book of the Bible? What is it?
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1. Read Hebrews 4:12. How is the Bible unlike any other piece of writing that we have on this earth, according to this passage of Scripture?
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
2. How have you experienced the power of God’s word as described in Hebrews 4:12 in your own life?
3. Read 2nd Peter 1:19-21. When it comes to the reliability of the Bible, Peter pointed to prophecies found in Scripture. Name some prophecies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled in the New Testament.
2nd Peter 1:19-21
Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. 20Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, 21or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.
4. Name some of the prophecies in Scripture that have yet to be fulfilled. Why can you have confidence in their reliability?
1. Do you think about the topic of the reliability of Scripture often? Why or why not? Why is this topic fundamental to our faith?
2. How does confidence in Scripture’s reliability impact how you will approach it and respond to what you read?
3. Peter describes the words of the prophets as “like a lamp shining in a dark place.” When you think about the prophecies found in Scripture, what particularly brings you hope in this dark world?
What is one way this week you can delight in God’s word? Maybe you can spend more time reflecting on and meditating on His word, focus on keeping your Bible reading streak up on the BuddyCheck App, memorize the Monthly Memory Verse or another verse that is important to you, or start one of the reading plans available in the Sagebrush App. Whatever it looks like for you, share with your group how you can delight in God’s word over this next week. When you are finished, pray. Thank God for the gift of His word, and commit to delighting in it, not just this week but for the rest of your lives.
As we consider the reliability of the Bible, it is important to understand how it came to us today. For example, understanding how the words of the Bible were spoken and recorded will help us better understand Scripture and the words contained in it. Let’s take a few moments to do just that. In our study today, we will see that the Bible is inspired by God, that its God-inspired words were written down by human hands, and that the books of the Bible were written to an original audience but are applicable to all people for all time.
Perhaps the most important question one might have when it comes to understanding Scripture is, “Who wrote it?” You see, the author of any book or letter makes all the difference. It impacts how we read and respond to the words found in the book or letter. Of course, Scripture teaches that the words found in Scripture come straight from God. He Himself is the author, which impacts everything.
1. Read 2nd Timothy 3:16-17.
2nd Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2. Some translations, such as the New International Version, translate 2nd Timothy 3:17 to say, “All Scripture is God-breathed…” What does this translation help you understand about the author of the Bible?
3. If Scripture contains the very words of God, what can we infer about anything we read in Scripture?
4. How should understanding that the words from Scripture come straight from God impact how we read and respond to them?
The remarkable thing about Scripture is that, while it is God’s very word, He gave human beings the opportunity to write down His words to us. He chose human beings to write down what He wanted to say to His people. What a gift that God invited human beings to be a part of sharing His words with us!
1. Read 1st Corinthians 2:11-13, a passage of Scripture penned by the apostle Paul.
2nd Corinthians 2:11-13
No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
2. Describe Paul’s confidence in what he wrote and taught in Scripture?
3. How does the fact that God’s words found in Scripture were penned by human authors impact how you will read and understand Scripture?
4. God did not have to include human beings in recording His Word to us. What does the fact that He chose to include people in writing down His words in Scripture say about His relationship with people?
What many people do not think about as often when they read Scripture is that every book of the Bible was written to an original audience. Some were written to a particular person, a particular early church, or even just the people of Israel. Understanding this helps us better understand the purpose behind each book of the Bible. Of course, although every book has an original audience, the Bible is applicable to all people for all time and meant to be cherished and obeyed by every single person. Sometimes the original audience is explicit. Other times, we have to turn to our study Bibles to find out this information.
1. Read Luke 1:1-4, a passage of Scripture where we learn the audience of the book of Luke and the purpose for which it was written.
Luke 1:1-4
Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
2. Who was the original audience of the book of Luke?
3. Why was the book of Luke written to him?
4. How is the book of Luke applicable to us today, based on what you know about the purpose of the book of Luke?
Because God’s word is, indeed, His very word, it is meant to be obeyed. Break up into groups of two or three and reflect on this call to obey. Is there something in His word that you are ignoring or choosing not to obey? Be brave enough to confess that to the person in your group now, along with how you can take a step toward obedience this week. Commit to helping each other as you seek to obey God’s words to you in Scripture. Finally, pray. Ask God to help you all as you set out to obey Him throughout this week and beyond.
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