The Word & Faith
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Faith, Hope & Love
2 Timothy 3:10-4:5 (ESV)
10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Sermon Outline
The Bible uniquely guides human beings in the fundamental matters of life.
1. What it is.
v15 “the sacred writings”
v16 “all scripture is breathed out by God”
2. Why you need it.
v15 “which are able to make you wise”
v16 “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”
4:3 “people will not endure sound teaching… but… will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.”
3. How it works.
v15 “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus”
v17 “complete, equipped for every good work”
Questions for Reflection
What are the biggest difficulties you have with the Bible?
How well do you feel you know the Bible? What would be next areas of reading or study to make progress in knowing and understanding the Bible?
What are some chief implications of the claim that the Bible is breathed out by God, the very word of God?
Do you meditate on Scripture? Do you read it prayerfully? What is tyicpically your mindset or expectation when reading the Bible?
How can Scripture make you wise? In what ways does it train and shape you for life?
What parts of the Bible (specific books, or genres or types of writing) do you resonate most with? What parts do you least understand or are you least drawn to? Why?
How do you avoid seeking out teaching that simply affirms what you already want to believe? What do you do when you are having difficulty with what you understand the Bible to be teaching? What does an intelligent faith look like as it engages with scripture?
If scripture is able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ, what kinds of things should you be looking for when reading it? How do you handle passages that don’t seem to have any clear connection to Jesus?
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, you have spoken to us in your Word. We have neglected your word because of laziness, pride, and ignorance. We have resisted correction. We have not submitted to your teaching. We have not fully trained ourselves for righteousness. We have instead sought out teaching that suits our own passions. Forgive our foolishness. Speak into our lives with clarity. Train and equip us for every good work. Thank you for Jesus Christ, whom your Word bears witness to, and who brings us forgiveness and the very life we so desperately need. Amen.