We just completed a week We just completed a week of Vacation Bible Schoolof Vacation Bible School

• We spent each night talking We spent each night talking about the Bible. about the Bible.

• We saw how God’s Word We saw how God’s Word changes the lives of people. changes the lives of people.

• We discovered that the more we learn We discovered that the more we learn about the Bible, the more we want “about the Bible, the more we want “to to go”go” and tell others about this awesome and tell others about this awesome Book.Book.

• And why . . . because God’s Word offers And why . . . because God’s Word offers hope for today and for eternity.hope for today and for eternity.

The Centrality The Centrality of God’s Wordof God’s Word

• As followers of Christ, the Bible stands at As followers of Christ, the Bible stands at center stage of what we believe and teach.center stage of what we believe and teach.

• It provides directions for living life.It provides directions for living life.• It gives guidance on finding eternal life.It gives guidance on finding eternal life.• Hebrews 4:12Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living For the word of God is living

and active. Sharper than any double-edged and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God’s Word Is . . .God’s Word Is . . . • I. I. God’s Word is TrueGod’s Word is True..

(John 17:17)(John 17:17)• II. II. God’s Word is ComfortingGod’s Word is Comforting..

(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)• III. III. God’s Word is SurprisingGod’s Word is Surprising..

(Psalm 105:4-5; John 20:30-31)(Psalm 105:4-5; John 20:30-31)• IV. IV. God’s Word is Life-ChangingGod’s Word is Life-Changing..

(Ephesians 2:11-14a)(Ephesians 2:11-14a)• V. V. God’s Word is for EveryoneGod’s Word is for Everyone..

(Psalm 145) (Psalm 145)

Let’s Go!

Let’s Go!

Let’s Go!

Let’s Go!

Let’s Go!

God’s Word Is TrueGod’s Word Is True

• John 17:17 (Page 805)John 17:17 (Page 805)• Sanctify them by the truth; Sanctify them by the truth;

your word is truth. (NIV)your word is truth. (NIV)• Colossians 1:5 calls it “the word of truth.”Colossians 1:5 calls it “the word of truth.”• Psalm 33:4 Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD is For the word of the LORD is

right and true; he is faithful in all he does. right and true; he is faithful in all he does. (NIV)(NIV)

• We can trust in God’s Word. It is TRUE!We can trust in God’s Word. It is TRUE!• We can rely upon its teachings, knowing We can rely upon its teachings, knowing

they will not mislead us.they will not mislead us.

Let’s Go!

The Miraculous Nature The Miraculous Nature of the Bibleof the Bible

• The Bible is referred to in many different The Bible is referred to in many different ways. We speak of it as God's Word, the ways. We speak of it as God's Word, the Good Book, the Holy Scriptures, and the Good Book, the Holy Scriptures, and the Sword of the Spirit. It is also known as the Sword of the Spirit. It is also known as the Book of books and the Living Word. Book of books and the Living Word. Some call it simply THE Book, for nothing Some call it simply THE Book, for nothing else seems necessary. It stands alone, else seems necessary. It stands alone, towering above all other writings. towering above all other writings.

• God’s Word is MIRACULOUS!God’s Word is MIRACULOUS!

The Miraculous Nature The Miraculous Nature of the Bibleof the Bible

• 1. 1. It is miraculous in its originIt is miraculous in its origin -- -- coming to us by divine inspiration. coming to us by divine inspiration.

• 2. 2. It is miraculous in its durabilityIt is miraculous in its durability -- -- outlasting the opposition of its critics outlasting the opposition of its critics and surviving the attempts of its and surviving the attempts of its enemies to exterminate it. enemies to exterminate it.

• 3. 3. It is miraculous in its resultsIt is miraculous in its results -- -- transforming the lives of those who read transforming the lives of those who read and believe it. and believe it.

The Miraculous Nature The Miraculous Nature of the Bibleof the Bible

• 4. 4. It is miraculous in its harmonyIt is miraculous in its harmony -- -- agreeing in all its parts, even though agreeing in all its parts, even though written over a period of 1600 years by written over a period of 1600 years by about 40 different authors. about 40 different authors.

• 5. 5. It is miraculous in its messageIt is miraculous in its message -- -- telling of many occasions when God telling of many occasions when God supernaturally intervened in the supernaturally intervened in the affairs of men to accomplish his affairs of men to accomplish his redemptive purposes. redemptive purposes.

The Miraculous Nature The Miraculous Nature of the Bibleof the Bible

• 6. 6. It is miraculous in its preservationIt is miraculous in its preservation -- maintaining its accuracy and reliability -- maintaining its accuracy and reliability down through the centuries. down through the centuries.

• Yes, the Bible is Miraculous, BUT Yes, the Bible is Miraculous, BUT much, much more, the Bible is TRUE!much, much more, the Bible is TRUE!

• You can trust it.You can trust it.• It is reliable.It is reliable.• It will stand forever into eternity (It will stand forever into eternity (Psalm Psalm

119:89; 1 Peter 1:25119:89; 1 Peter 1:25). ).

God’s Word Is God’s Word Is ComfortingComforting

• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (Page 858)2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (Page 858)• 33 Praise be to the God and Father of  Praise be to the God and Father of

our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of compassion and the God of all comfortall comfort, , 4 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from comfort we ourselves have received from God.God. (NIV) (NIV)

• Comfort = Comfort = paraklesisparaklesis – – parapara (along side) + (along side) + kaleokaleo (to call) (to call) —Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary—Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

Let’s Go!

God’s Comforts UsGod’s Comforts Us

• When you call upon the Lord, He comes.When you call upon the Lord, He comes.• Are you hurting?Are you hurting?• Do you feel discouraged or Do you feel discouraged or

in despair?in despair?• God is waiting for you to call upon Him.God is waiting for you to call upon Him.• He is the God of “ALL COMFORT.”He is the God of “ALL COMFORT.”• He would like to comfort you.He would like to comfort you.• Give Him your troubles. Give Him your cares Give Him your troubles. Give Him your cares

and He will sustain you. (and He will sustain you. (Psalm 55:22Psalm 55:22))

God’s Word Is God’s Word Is SurprisingSurprising

• Psalm 105:4-5 (Page 451)Psalm 105:4-5 (Page 451)• 44 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek  Look to the LORD and his strength; seek

his face always. his face always. 55  Remember the wonders Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.judgments he pronounced. (NIV) (NIV)

• Think of the Creation and of Re-Creation.Think of the Creation and of Re-Creation.• Think of answers to prayer.Think of answers to prayer.• Think of miraculous events.Think of miraculous events.• You will be amazed and constantly You will be amazed and constantly

surprised by how wonderfully God works!surprised by how wonderfully God works!

Let’s Go!

God Can Do Great God Can Do Great Things!Things!

• John 20:30-31 John 20:30-31 3030 Jesus did many other  Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this disciples, which are not recorded in this book. book. 3131 But these are written that you may  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.life in his name. (NIV) (NIV)

• Christ is still in the Christ is still in the miracle-working business.miracle-working business.

• Ask God to surprise you with Ask God to surprise you with what He can do in your life. what He can do in your life.

God’s Word Is God’s Word Is Life-ChangingLife-Changing

• Ephesians 2:11-14a (Pages 869-870)Ephesians 2:11-14a (Pages 869-870)• 1111  Therefore, remember that formerly you Therefore, remember that formerly you

who are Gentiles by birth . . . were separate who are Gentiles by birth . . . were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in promise, without hope and without God in the world. the world. 1313  But nowBut now in Christ Jesus you in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. near through the blood of Christ. 1414 For he  For he himself is our peace (NIV)himself is our peace (NIV)

Let’s Go!

When God Comes When God Comes into a Life . . .into a Life . . .

• He changes it . . .He changes it . . .• You become a new creation in Him.You become a new creation in Him.• He remakes and remolds you after He remakes and remolds you after

His image.His image.• What was destined for destruction What was destined for destruction

is destined for an eternity with Him. is destined for an eternity with Him. • God wants to change you!God wants to change you!• God wants to remake you . . . To work in God wants to remake you . . . To work in

your life . . . your life . . . WILL YOU ALLOW HIM WILL YOU ALLOW HIM ACCESS?ACCESS?

God’s Word Is God’s Word Is for Everyonefor Everyone

• Psalm 145 (Page 470)Psalm 145 (Page 470)• 11 I will  I will exalt exalt you, my God the King; I will you, my God the King; I will

praisepraise your name for ever and ever. your name for ever and ever. 22  Every day I will Every day I will praisepraise you and you and extolextol your your name for ever and ever. name for ever and ever. 33 Great is the LORD and most worthy of  Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 44  One generation will One generation will commendcommend your works your works to another; they will to another; they will tell tell of your mighty acts. of your mighty acts.

Let’s Go!

God’s Word Is God’s Word Is Worth SharingWorth Sharing

• 55  They will They will speak speak of the glorious splendor of of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will your majesty, and I will meditatemeditate on your on your wonderful works. wonderful works. 66  They will They will tell tell of the power of your awesome of the power of your awesome works, and I will works, and I will proclaimproclaim your great deeds. your great deeds. 77 They will c They will celebrateelebrate your abundant your abundant goodness and joyfully goodness and joyfully singsing of your of your righteousness. righteousness. 88 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,  The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. slow to anger and rich in love.

God’s Word Is God’s Word Is Worth SharingWorth Sharing

• 99 The LORD is good to all; he has  The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. compassion on all he has made. 1010 All you have made will  All you have made will praise praise you, O you, O LORD; your saints will LORD; your saints will extolextol you. you. 1111  They will They will telltell of the glory of your kingdom of the glory of your kingdom and and speakspeak of your might, of your might, 1212 so that all men may know of your mighty  so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. kingdom.

God’s Word Is God’s Word Is Worth SharingWorth Sharing

• 1313 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has promises and loving toward all he has made. made. 1414  The LORD upholds all those who fall and The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. lifts up all who are bowed down. 1515 The eyes of all look to you, and you give  The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. them their food at the proper time. 1616  You open your hand and satisfy the You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. desires of every living thing.

God’s Word Is God’s Word Is Worth SharingWorth Sharing

• 1717  The LORD is righteous in all his ways and The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. loving toward all he has made. 1818  The LORD is near to all who call on him, The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. to all who call on him in truth. 1919  He fulfills the desires of those who fear He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. him; he hears their cry and saves them. 2020 The LORD watches over all who love  The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 2121  My mouth will My mouth will speak in praisespeak in praise of the of the LORD. Let every creature LORD. Let every creature praisepraise his holy his holy name for ever and ever. (NIV)name for ever and ever. (NIV)

God’s Word Is True & God’s Word Is True & So Are the PromisesSo Are the Promises

• Are you in need of comfort .Are you in need of comfort . . . Then . . Then seek out God and call upon Him.seek out God and call upon Him.

• Are you in need of a miracleAre you in need of a miracle . . . Then . . . Then ask God to provide for you as only He can.ask God to provide for you as only He can.

• Are you wanting to changeAre you wanting to change . . . Then seek . . . Then seek God and ask Him to help you.God and ask Him to help you.

• Are you wondering if the promises of Are you wondering if the promises of God’s Word are for youGod’s Word are for you . . . Then place . . . Then place your faith in Jesus, becoming one of God’s your faith in Jesus, becoming one of God’s children, and then trusting the Father to children, and then trusting the Father to provide. provide.