Valley Real Life
Obstacle Course - MAPS for the Reliability of the Bible
Locations & Times
VALLEY REAL LIFE
1831 S Barker Rd, Greenacres, WA 99016, USA
Thursday 6:30 PM
Today we are launching a new sermon series, Obstacle Course, where we will be addressing issues that stand in the way of faith and our relationship with Jesus.
What is faith? (Hebrews 11:1)
What informs your faith? Church, followers of Christ, the Bible…
(Romans 10:17).
One of the best ways to bolster one’s faith in God is to get to know Him better by reading His Word, the Bible. I’ll spend some time a bit later giving you some tools on how to get the most out of your Bible reading.
What is faith? (Hebrews 11:1)
What informs your faith? Church, followers of Christ, the Bible…
(Romans 10:17).
One of the best ways to bolster one’s faith in God is to get to know Him better by reading His Word, the Bible. I’ll spend some time a bit later giving you some tools on how to get the most out of your Bible reading.
What’s the primary purpose of mankind? To honor God and enjoy a relationship with Him forever.
How can we please God if we don’t know Him?
· How can we get to know Him if we don’t spend time with Him?
· If we don’t spend time with Him how are we going to recognize His voice?
· How can we hear His voice if we are not exposed to God’s Words… (Holding up the Bible) …This is God’s Word—He has spoken to us!
2 Timothy 3:16-17
How can we please God if we don’t know Him?
· How can we get to know Him if we don’t spend time with Him?
· If we don’t spend time with Him how are we going to recognize His voice?
· How can we hear His voice if we are not exposed to God’s Words… (Holding up the Bible) …This is God’s Word—He has spoken to us!
2 Timothy 3:16-17
I fear we don’t listen or expose ourselves to God’s Word like we should because we struggle to believe the acts of God & words of God that have been written down for us to be true. We explicitly or implicitly question the reliability of the Bible.
“How do we know the Bible we have is God’s Word?” or “How reliable are our modern translations?”
God’s Word has been questioned ever since the dawn of the human race.
God’s Word has been, is being, and will be attacked.
“…no other book has been so chopped, knived, sifted, scrutinized, and vilified. What book on philosophy or religion or psychology…has been subject to such a mass attack as the Bible?”
-Bernard Ramm – Apologist & Theologian
“How do we know the Bible we have is God’s Word?” or “How reliable are our modern translations?”
God’s Word has been questioned ever since the dawn of the human race.
God’s Word has been, is being, and will be attacked.
“…no other book has been so chopped, knived, sifted, scrutinized, and vilified. What book on philosophy or religion or psychology…has been subject to such a mass attack as the Bible?”
-Bernard Ramm – Apologist & Theologian
We have to understand and be able to explain why the Bible is of divine rather than human origin.
The wealth of information available to support the reliability of the Bible can make it hard to find a good place to start when trying to explain why the Bible can be trusted. To aid this process and to provide a helpful memory tool, we will use the acronym “MAPS” developed by Hank Hanegraaff. Remember the word MAPS and you will have a pathway to charting the Bible’s reliability.
M – Manuscripts relates to the tests used to determine how good our modern copies are.
A – Archaeology considers the archaeological evidence that supports the reliability of the Bible.
P – Prophecy addresses the predictive nature of the Bible.
S – Statistics reveal the high degree of improbability of the Bible being of human origin.
The wealth of information available to support the reliability of the Bible can make it hard to find a good place to start when trying to explain why the Bible can be trusted. To aid this process and to provide a helpful memory tool, we will use the acronym “MAPS” developed by Hank Hanegraaff. Remember the word MAPS and you will have a pathway to charting the Bible’s reliability.
M – Manuscripts relates to the tests used to determine how good our modern copies are.
A – Archaeology considers the archaeological evidence that supports the reliability of the Bible.
P – Prophecy addresses the predictive nature of the Bible.
S – Statistics reveal the high degree of improbability of the Bible being of human origin.
It is important to note that where the Bible can be tested it can be trusted.
The Bible is God’s love letter to us. It’s our instruction manual for life.
If the Bible is true, and it is, what does this mean for you and I?
It means…
· We need to read it! Establish a time, a place, and a plan.
· We need to do what it says! Apply God’s truth to life.
· We need to share it!
And the next time someone denies the reliability of the Bible, remember the MAPS acronym and you will be equipped to defend its divine origin.
What are your next steps in reading and sharing God’s Word?
The Bible is God’s love letter to us. It’s our instruction manual for life.
If the Bible is true, and it is, what does this mean for you and I?
It means…
· We need to read it! Establish a time, a place, and a plan.
· We need to do what it says! Apply God’s truth to life.
· We need to share it!
And the next time someone denies the reliability of the Bible, remember the MAPS acronym and you will be equipped to defend its divine origin.
What are your next steps in reading and sharing God’s Word?
Community Group Questions
A Week in Review
How did your priorities change this past week?
Group Opener
What issues or doubts stand in the way of trusting and being in relationship with Jesus?
Study Questions
How do you define faith? (Hebrews 11:1)
Who or what informs your faith? (Romans 10:17)
Would you consider yourself a student of God’s Word? Why or why not?
What intrigues you about the Bible? What intimidates you?
Besides digging into God’s Word, what are some ways you bolster your faith in God?
When have you experienced the most growth in your relationship with Christ?
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. What does this passage say about Scripture?
Why is it important that the Bible be “God-breathed” or divine verses of human origin?
How has your perspective of the Bible inhibited or enhanced your walk with Jesus?
Briefly summarize what the acronym M.A.P.S. represents.
Which of the evidences for the reliability of the Bible impacted you the most? How come?
Where do you see yourself using M.A.P.S. to explain the reliability of the Bible?
When it comes to studying the Bible, what has been your pattern?
Between reading the Bible, doing what it says, and sharing it with others, which is your strength and which is your weakness? Why?
What will you do differently this week and the weeks to come in order to increase your faith and grow your relationship with Christ?
A Week in Review
How did your priorities change this past week?
Group Opener
What issues or doubts stand in the way of trusting and being in relationship with Jesus?
Study Questions
How do you define faith? (Hebrews 11:1)
Who or what informs your faith? (Romans 10:17)
Would you consider yourself a student of God’s Word? Why or why not?
What intrigues you about the Bible? What intimidates you?
Besides digging into God’s Word, what are some ways you bolster your faith in God?
When have you experienced the most growth in your relationship with Christ?
Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. What does this passage say about Scripture?
Why is it important that the Bible be “God-breathed” or divine verses of human origin?
How has your perspective of the Bible inhibited or enhanced your walk with Jesus?
Briefly summarize what the acronym M.A.P.S. represents.
Which of the evidences for the reliability of the Bible impacted you the most? How come?
Where do you see yourself using M.A.P.S. to explain the reliability of the Bible?
When it comes to studying the Bible, what has been your pattern?
Between reading the Bible, doing what it says, and sharing it with others, which is your strength and which is your weakness? Why?
What will you do differently this week and the weeks to come in order to increase your faith and grow your relationship with Christ?