An Expositional Sermon
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“The Bible Alone”
Theme/Big Idea: Scripture is God’s Word and is authoritative and sufficient for life.
Aim/Appropriation/Application: Ask God to help you see that reading, knowing, and cherishing this book is more important than eating food, even as Jesus quoted Moses (Deut. 8:3), “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4; cf. Luke 4:4)
Outline:
Introduction: How would you respond if God appeared before you and spoke directly to you?
1. What Is the Bible?
A. Paul considers the Old Testament and the Gospel According to Luke/Acts as Scripture (1 Tim. 5:18).
B. Paul considers his own teaching/writings to be God’s Word (1 Thess. 2:13), and hence part of Scripture. See also 1 Timothy 4:1, 6; 6:3-4a; 2 Timothy 2:2). Peter also considers Paul’s writings as Scripture (1 Peter 3:16).
2. What Is the Use of the Bible?
The Bible is profitable / useful for…
A. Teaching
B. Reproof / persuasion (Heb. 4:12)
C. Correction / make crookedness straight / Reformation!
D. Training in righteousness
Application:
A. Read the Bible with excitement and expectation that it is for your good / use / profit.
B. Grow in the Bible, not merely individually, but in the context of a local church / corporately.
C. Read and hear preaching with the desire and expectation for it to change your life. God has designed the Bible to be applicable to our lives and to reform us. Approach the Bible seeking to see how God might reform you.
3. What Does the Bible Do? (2 Tim. 3:14-15)
A. It “makes complete”
B. It “equips for every good work”
C. The “man of God” both pastors and Christians as they are “God’s people”.
Questions for Further Study:
(1) Why is Scripture the only thing that has the power to bind a person’s conscience?
(2) From the Bible, how would you explain that Paul’s letters are God’s Word?
(3) Who is the chief Author of Scripture? (see 2 Peter 1:19-21)
(4) What are the implications of the fact that the Apostles writings are God’s very Word for how we think of the whole Bible?
(5) Do you approach the Bible knowing it is useful to you and relevant to every aspect of your life?
(6) Do you approach the Bible with excitement and expectation that God will change what your life looks like?
(7) Are you willing to let God change what you love, how you think, and the things you do as you read the Word?
(8) Do you desire to be trained in righteousness? The Bible is God’s seminary for training in the gospel, are you enrolled in this school?
(9) How are you seeking to read the Bible and grow in the listening to the Bible with others?
(10) If God’s Word is useful for persuasion both in exposing our sin, but also in persuading unbelievers of the truth of the gospel, how are you seeking to bring God’s Word into your conversations with non-believers?
(11) Do you want to grow as a “man” or “woman of God”? How can you be giving yourself more to our God and King by sitting and listening to His Word?