Epaggelia

Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!

Jesus Christ ~ Luke 11:28

An essential part of being a growing congregation is learning how to react to different attitudes in the world towards the Bible. Peter knew this when he wrote we should “set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, 1Peter 3:15-16

Here are 3 different attitudes responding to the “hope”, we possess as Christ in the Scriptures.

1 – “Whatever it’s glorious truths, the Bible looms as an intimidating, hard-to-understand book full of esoteric names and mystifying practices” – (G. Gallup Jr., “The Next American Spirituality” Jan. 2002). There are five words that are now becoming the mantra of the new millennium: “I’m into spirituality, not religion”… More and more people are viewing the Bible as more about feeling good and not being good, more about stress reduction than salvation, more therapeutic than theological. The world sometimes treats the Bible as being as much about the body as it is the soul, they lose the emphasis God has on the soul and not the body. What should a Christian’s reaction be?

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and _________  ________ will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ~ Mat.7:24  A Rock for what? The body or soul?

2 – “The Bible is outdated, mistranslated and not essential for learning the truth”. Many agnostics are of this view. What should a Christian’s reaction be?

Man shall not ________ by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God ~ Mat. 4:4. Helping people understand how truth is discerned from scripture, see Psalms 119:160.

3 – “You can trust the Bible, but not it’s interpretation”. This false view is sometimes found in the Church and abounds in the denominations. What should our reaction be?

________________ them in the truth; your word is truth – John 17:17

Interpretation is best approached with Peter’s advice in 2nd Peter 1:20-21. Our view of the Bible directly affects how we use the Bible, “Know This First…” (v20) Charles Spurgeon said, “How do you defend the Bible? The way you defend a lion, open up the cage and let it out!” Remember there are two lions in the world, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Gen.49:9-10 & Rv. 5:5) and the roaring lion (1Pt.5:8) Peter says he is seeking to devour any of us. In the Bible, the spirit of Judah’s lion wants to exercise His power and word on your heart and the hearts of others we talk to.

But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Matthew, Mark 8:29 & Luke all record Jesus asking this same question about his identity (Lk. 19:18 & Mt. 16:15)  Even the gospel of John emphasizes the identity of Jesus by highlighting his 7, “I Ams” and is the only gospel that states plainly his purpose for writing based on Christ’s identity, John 20:30-31. This fundamental fact should lead us to ask “How or Why Do We Talk About The Identity of Jesus”?

1. The Most Important Person in Human History, Luke 2:1-4 & 3:1-2. It is very advantageous to be knowledgeable of Josephus, Mara bar Serapion & Tacitus writing about Jesus, and also Suetonius & Pliny the Younger writing about the first Christians.

2. The Perfect Price Paid As Our Savior, John 1:29-35

3. The Perfect Revelation of God The Father, John 12:44-50 & 14:8-11

4. The Perfect Example of Service To Follow, John 13:14-17

5. The Pre-existent Presence in Creation (Logos), John 1:14-18

6. The “I AM” (Bread, Light, Door, Shepherd, Vine, Way, Truth, Life & Resurrection)

7. The Judge, John 12:48 & Acts 10:42-43

How do we relate our own experience of Jesus to others? How has Jesus and his teachings affected our life? How do we talk about our faith in who Jesus is? 

We are witnesses of God with a testimony in our life, 1st John 5:8-11. Many believers in denominations talk about “giving their testimony”, but we don’t talk about Christ affecting our life to the same extent. If not, why not?

Are we guilty of pointing people to the Scriptures, while ignoring what Jesus has done in our life personally?

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The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:28 & Mark 10:45 

Why would a Ransom need to be paid for “MANY” ?

Why would Jesus make this statement in the context of serving others?

When a ransom payment is procured and accepted as payment, what does the Apostle Paul call it? See Hebrews 9:12-15 in the NIV.

R __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 

Where can anyone find it? (see Romans 3:24)

When will our redemption be fully realized and shown to be glorious? (see Ephesians 4:30)

Why do you believe Christ’s blood is so unique, valuable and empowered to actually procure our redemption? (see Eph. 1:7 & Col. 1:14)

According to 2nd Timothy 2:25-26, who has taken people captive?

What should we do about this kidnapping?

What did the Apostle Paul do about it? (See Romans 10:1)

How can Christ guarantee the price of his blood will be applied to your soul forever? 

(see Ephesians 1:13-14)

When do you think you may get the opportunity to talk about “the Price” ?