We’ve made it to the last post in this series, but before we walk out the fifth guiding principle, let’s remind ourselves of the first four:
Guiding Principle #1: What I believe about the Bible affects what I believe about everything else.
Guiding Principle #2: The Bible isn’t a book about good people and bad people. It’s a book about bad people and a really good God. The main character of every story in the Bible is Jesus.
Guiding Principle #3: The Bible is INSPIRED, INFALLIBLE and INERRANT. It was breathed out by God, is completely trustworthy, and perfectly communicates everything God wanted to say without any errors.
Guiding Principle #4: God’s Word has the power to change my life!
GUIDING PRINCIPLE #5
The Bible is the FINAL AUTHORITY and LAST WORD when it comes to what I believe and how I live. The only proper response is HUMBLE OBEDIENCE.
The Bible is the last Word and the final authority – not our feelings. Not our emotions. Not signs. Not wonders. Not a prophetic word. Not a hunch.
God’s Word is the last Word and the final authority on what I believe and how I live. The only proper response is humble obedience.
God has given us this book. A book He literally BREATHED into existence. How we will respond to it?
Taking Action:
- READ God’s Word (Rev 1:3; Matt 4:4).
- HEAR it (Rom 10:17; 1 Tim 4:13; Ja 1:21b).
- MEDITATE on it (Ps 1:1-3; 119:16; Josh 1:8).
- MEMORIZE it (Ps 119:11; Jn 8:32; Rev 12:11).
- STUDY it (Acts 17:11; Pro 25:2).
- APPLY it. Put it into action (Matt 7:24-27).
“The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives… It wasn’t given for our INFORMATION, but for our TRANSFORMATION.”
—Dwight L. Moody
Every answer you need, every re-affirmation and demonstration of God’s faithfulness, every promise that Jesus loves you, every solution for the challenges you are currently facing in life are all found in the Bible.
Read it.
Hear it.
Meditate on it.
Memorize it.
Study it.
Apply it.
Let God’s Word change your life!
I have one more biblical example for you before we conclude the STORY posts…
I long to be like Jeremiah.
When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
—Jeremiah 15:16 NLT
Jeremiah fed on God’s Word. He wanted it’s truth and life in him. He wanted God’s word to strengthen and nourish him.
When Jeremiah made this statement he was in the middle of dark depression and despair. He was so discouraged that he actually wished he had never been born.
His life wasn’t one mountaintop experience after another. He got discouraged and depressed. He doubted God’s goodness.
This is so important…
The Bible isn’t for people who feel strong.
It’s not for people who are perfect and have it all together.
It’s for guys like Jeremiah.
It’s for people like me and you.
If you want to watch the message I preached at A2.CHURCH on STORY: Doctrine of Scripture, you can find it here.
Check back weekly for more messages and posts as we go through our series CREED: What You Believe + Why It Matters.