SHOULD WE EVEN ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD? Yes!
God’s not afraid of our questions. Jesus asked questions, as did most of the great leaders throughout the Bible; they asked questions of God.
IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE? IS IT ACCURATE?
16 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. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
It was written over 1600-year period by 40 different authors from very different backgrounds. And yet it has this unmistakable thread of continuity that runs through it, from the beginning to the end.
The Bible is without question the most published book in the history of the world.
- Billions have been printed and millions continue to be sold each year.
- Millions of people connect to the Bible through the Internet and Bible apps each day.
The Historical Evidence
- The Bible is not a book of history, but when it mentions history, it’s historically accurate.
- The fact is, in the few cases where there have been contradictions …the biblical account and the historical record … archeological discoveries continue to prove the biblical account to be accurate.
- Renowned Jewish archeologist, Nelson Glueck, who discovered over 1,500 biblical sites, said this, ”It may be stated categorically that no archeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.”
The Manuscript Evidence
- Aristotle and Plato have just 10 manuscripts.
- 14,000 New Testament manuscripts
The Dead Sea Scrolls were found in the caves of Qumran, in the desert, preserved, for 2,000 years, and many of those scrolls contained fragments of the Bible; and in fact the book of Isaiah was found completely intact.
The Prophetical Evidence
- Jesus fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophecies.
- If Jesus just fulfilled 8 of the prophecies.
- 1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
- For the committed skeptic there may never be proof enough, but for those who are genuinely seeking answers, the evidence is clear that Jesus is who he said he was, and he did what the records say he did.
OBVIOUSLY, GOD’S WORD IS RELIABLE AND ACCURATE, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ME?
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:1-3 NLT
Benefits of God’s Word in my life:
- Security in times of uncertainty
- Fulfillment in an era of emptiness
- Productivity in a culture of activity
- Direction in an age of aimlessness
Building on a Solid Foundation
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 NLT
Next Steps for me today…
