Lathem Postell: Good morning, Sam Jones. It's always so good to be in worship with you this morning, to look out and see your smiling faces. It's always good. I I love when we get to see all the boxes up here. An incredible way to do what the band just sang for us about going into the world to tell the world about Jesus.
Right? I think I counted up here, quick math. I'm not a mathematician. Somewhere about 80, 90 boxes. So in pastor math, that's a 100 boxes we've donated right up here to go and tell people about Jesus.
I think we had, by the end of the 8:30 service, we had 70 across the street. And so, with one more service, I expect we'll get close to a 100 over there. So 200 boxes that you are sending out as a church, to to tell people about Jesus. Never underestimate the importance that that has, the impact it might make on somebody's life. This might be the thing that that shows them what someone's been telling them for a long time, that Jesus loves them.
It might plant a seed that years from now grows into faith and salvation. It's it's worth it, and so thank you for that. If you had a chance to to read the cover letter, hopefully, you do that from time to time, you know that I'm excited about our 2025 sermon series. It's hard to believe that, yes, we're only a few weeks away from Christmas, which means we're only really a few weeks away, 6 Sundays or so, until we get to next year, 2025. Hard to believe that it's almost here.
But but next year, we are undertaking a a pretty big task together. It's important, but it but it's big. We're gonna spend 2025 altogether. We're gonna do 1 sermon series. It's gonna be 52 weeks long that we're calling the whole story.
I'm I'm super excited about this. I hope that you will be as well. We're gonna spend 52 weeks going through scripture together. We're gonna start at the beginning. Start with Genesis and go to revelation from, in the beginning, that we see there in Genesis 1 to the final amen that concludes the book of revelation.
We're gonna spend time together in scripture. Now obviously, if you know the Bible well enough, you know that there is not enough time for us. Even if we spend every Sunday on this, there is not enough time in 52 Sundays to get through everything. Just think about it this way. There's 66 books in the Bible.
So even if we spent every Sunday on a different book, we'd fall a little bit short. And and how can you only spend 1 Sunday in Genesis? Right? Or 1 Sunday in the gospel of of Matthew. And so what we're gonna do is, yeah, each week, we're gonna kinda come from a 30,000 foot level.
We're we're trying to understand the whole story. But what I'm gonna challenge you to do is to undertake a a reading plan in 2025. It as it gets a little closer, I'm gonna recommend one for the church. You're you're welcome to use that. I think there's gonna be some benefits to everybody using the same one.
I think that'd be great. If you have one that you normally use and it works for you, use it. But I want you to spend 2025 in scripture. I want you to send it, spend it in God's word. We're going to do that together, each of us in our own homes, and then every week we're going to come back together and spend some time a little bit deeper.
I'm excited for that, and hope that you will earnestly embark on this challenge together. You'll only get out of it what you put into it. So I challenge you to think about doing that. So today, I tell you all of that because today is what you might call a primer. Today is a kickoff.
It's a starting point. A day for us to consider what what next year is going to look like. Right? If we're gonna spend all of next year in the bible, it's good for us to lay a foundation of what that even is. Of what we're talking about.
Of why that's so important. Of what it does for us. How we should approach it. Prepared to receive what God is trying to share with us. And so to do that, to kind of start and lay our foundation, I wanna turn to a passage of scripture together.
So if you have your bibles with you this morning, go ahead and open them to the book of 2nd Timothy. It's not a long, book. Just 4 chapters. We're gonna be in chapter 3. We're gonna start here at verse 10 and and read through verse 17.
If you don't have your bibles with you this morning, it should be up on the screen behind me. But but let us read this word of God together. It tells us this. You, however, know all about my teaching, My way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings, what kind of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. The persecutions I endured.
Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be prosecute will be persecuted, while evil do evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Will you pray with me?
Almighty and gracious God, we thank you for this day and for this gift of your holy scriptures. Lord, continue to use it to speak into our lives. Use it to to mold us and make us into your image, the image of your son, Jesus Christ, for it's in his name that we pray. Amen. Amen.
So again, if we're going to spend all year together going through the Bible, book by book, verse by verse, seeing what it has to say to us, it's probably a good idea for us to at least just have a foundational baseline understanding of what it is. So what's the Bible? You can probably answer that in a couple of ways, but at its core, the Bible is a book of books. 66 books to be exact. It's a collection of of stories written by different authors telling the story of the person of God and His people.
It starts with the Old Testament. 39 stories, of the Israelites that that starts at the beginning of time and and works all the way to the time of Jesus. It tells of God's creation, the rebellion of that creation. It tells us of God's blessing on the Israelites who were blessed so that so that they may go into the world and tell people of this God. And then it also tells us of their unfaithfulness to this task.
It tells us of their rebellion, of their sin. And it shows us as people and almost warns us as people of what it looks like when we choose to turn away from God. So we have the the Old Testament, those 39 compiled stories. And then we have the New Testament. 27 stories that begin with God's incarnation to the person of Jesus.
In the gospels, we find the epitome, of God's faithfulness. Right? So the Old Testament shows us our unfaithfulness. And in the gospels, we see Christ's faithfulness, who lived the life we should have lived, died on the cross for our death, and was raised to do life 3 days later. We see it in the New Testament, the coming of the Holy Spirit, who institutes God's church to continue on the mantle that was given to God's people in the Old Testament, to go into the world, and to bless it on God's behalf.
All of this is being done. Right? All of this is culminating. We start at the beginning, and we're going towards the end. All of it culminating into when Christ will return for a second time to complete his creation, to complete his recreation and create for us a new heaven and a new earth.
Sixty six stories. There's a lot in there, telling the story of God and his people. It's a story that has heartbreak and failure, a story that has love and redemption. That's what the Bible is. But how did we get it?
That maybe the next question you ask. Even if we know what the Bible is, how did it come to be? How how did we get this in this form? Why 66 books? Why not 67?
How was this what the Holy Spirit gave to the church as the revealed Word of God? Well, there's lots that we can answer to that, and we don't have full time for it. But but a basic understanding is as people of Abraham, people in that grand tradition of the Israelites, the Old Testament is the Testament is the collection of writings given to the Israelite people. Again, it was written by many different authors and and different times, but but this collection came to be the the holy scriptures of the Israelite people over the course of a thousand or so years. The New Testament, on the other hand, was written in a relatively shorter period of time.
Maybe, 50 to a 100 years, depending on which scholar you read. 50 to a 100 years after the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. And these 27 books were often written for different purposes. So you had gospels that were written as an account of the life of Jesus to share what had happened, to tell people the good news. That's what gospel means.
Right? It's it's to go and and tell the good news. Some of them perhaps were oral. Some of them were written. There there's even scholars that maybe believe that that the gospel of Luke was a legal defense.
Take Luke and Acts, put them together as a legal defense of Paul in a court of law. It would explain a lot of things about the writing, and and the grammar, and we don't need to get into all of that. So you've got the gospels, and then you've got letters written to sometimes people, like we read from 2nd Timothy. Paul writing to Timothy. Sometimes written to people, sometimes written to churches.
And what began to happen was these letters, these gospels became circulated among the early communities of people called Christians. And so Paul would would write to the Roman church, and the Roman church would would read this letter. They'd transcribe it. They'd share it among their congregants. And then what would inevitably happen, right, somebody from from Rome would go to Galatian, maybe take the letter with them, share it with the church there.
And then they would begin to share it and send that one over to to Ephesus. And slowly and surely, these letters became circulated, not just among the the local churches, but among all of the churches. And so over this 250 years, the the spirit began to inspire us to see that that some of these were different. That that some of these were inspired. That were useful, as Paul says, for all of the things that he talks about.
And and so it was in 3 97 at the Council of Carthage that the church really canonized what the spirit had been doing over that time period. Over this 250 year period to set for us the 66 books that we now know as scripture. That's how we got what we have today. Now there's lots of other questions that we could ask about the Bible, and we don't have time for all of those. And maybe they're bouncing around in your head.
That that doesn't mean they're not good questions. Right? So we talked about, what is the bible? How we got it? You you could ask, where was it written?
Right? There's so many different authors writing in different places. You could ask, well well, where did they write? And we know that that's important because the places we are impact who we are, and they impact our worldview. So so where is the Bible from is is a good question.
You might have even asked who writ who wrote it? I mentioned some of the names. Paul being, an author of a lot of the New Testament, Moses in the Old Testament. Right? All of these different people, we could ask who wrote it, and that's a question that scholars ask.
Was this written by Paul, or was it written by a disciple of Paul? All of those various things. All of these questions we could ask it. And for me, as an aside, the fact that there are so many questions we could ask, actually confirms for me its identity as a divinely inspired text. Right?
Because if I if I wrote something and tried to claim it as of God, you'd quickly find the holes in it, you'd you'd quickly come to see that there's a pretty easy way to answer all the questions. It wouldn't leave you wondering for more. The Bible certainly does. There's all kinds of questions we could ask of, and I hope that you'll ask those questions. But there's one more this morning that I really want to key in on.
To me, it's maybe the most important question of the day. Not what, or how, or who, or where, or when, but why? Why do we have the Bible? It's really a question so basic that we can overlook it, because we take it for granted. Right?
The Bible, it's the guide of the church. They're so closely intertwined, we never stop to think, why did God give us this? We know that he did, but why? What's the purpose behind it? What does God want us to see?
I love that in our scripture for today, in this last letter of Paul to Timothy, he ends with these words on scripture that we we just read a minute ago. It's fascinating to me that these are the words he shares. Because Paul's writing to Timothy, and there's two things that are clear. His his time in ministry is is coming to an end. And so if you read the whole story, what you'll find is is two things become pretty clear.
First, it is that his time on earth is coming to a close. Paul recognizes that that he is soon to die. And then 2, he also acknowledges that he's been attacked. This time, not physically, though that's happened over the course of his ministry. This time, it's been emotional or spiritual.
Go through and read it sometimes. He repeatedly tells Timothy over and over that he's been deserted. And he lists name after name of of people who've decided to not follow the gospel, and instead decided to follow the world. People who who have left the gospel altogether. People who have decided to preach a false gospel.
All of these various things. It's not been an easy part of Paul's life. But then he goes on. Right? And and we know this.
He says, none of this is new though. Right? All all of this is just par for the course for me. And he goes through and he says, Timothy, you you know what I've gone through. We're close.
You know my persecutions. You know my sufferings. You you know the places I've gone, and he lists some, Antioch, Lystra. These places where he's received that persecution. And to make it worse, he's not just describing his own.
He's telling Timothy to get ready for it. You're a minister of the gospel too, Timothy. What I've experienced, you've experienced. If you're a follower of Jesus Christ, he says, you should expect suffering. Timothy, you'll be afflicted.
You'll be deserted. You'll be deceived just as I have been. And so he spends some time setting this up, so that he can give him the parting advice. Again, this is he he thinks maybe the the last letter he'll ever write to Timothy. He knows his time is ending.
He wants Timothy, he says, at the end, come see me, please. Hurry. Come see me because I don't know how much longer I've got left. So he writes to them this parting advice. I'd like to think maybe, just in case you don't get here in time, here's what I want you to hear.
As I move from the church militant to the church triumphant, here are my words of encouragement so that you can continue forth in the grand tradition of ministry that I have started. So here's the words again, think these are the last words that perhaps Timothy will ever hear from Paul, and this is what he chooses to say. Starting in in in verse 14, I want you to hear this again. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. And the important part right here in 16.
All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. That's his parting advice. All scripture is God breathe, and through it, you may be equipped to do the good work of God. He he doesn't give him logistical advice. Hey, Timothy.
If you're if you're gonna go out and and do ministry, if you're gonna go out and serve God, here's kind of the list of things you need to do. He's experienced. Right? He tell them, hey. Here's some mistakes I've made.
Learn from them. Hey. Here's a practice that that I've seen really successful in a lot of the churches that I've started. So why don't you try those as you go around and preach the gospel? Why don't you do this?
Right. Here's a really effective bible study. Here's a really effective sermon series. Use it. Take it.
No. The very last thing he says to Timothy is all scripture is God breathed. It's useful. It goes through teaching, rebuking, correcting, training. It's useful to to lead you in a way so that you might do the good works of God.
The last thing he wants them to see is the vitality of scripture to his walk with Jesus Christ. And it made me think. I was thinking of a story from when Cammie and I had a chance, many of you know, to get to go to Brazil, a month or so, 2 months or so ago. And and when we went, if you've seen I think maybe we've put pictures of this on Facebook. We had a chance to do an excursion where we went and and went snorkeling off the coast of Brazil there in in Rio.
It was incredible. A great time. It was we were supposed to go see turtles, and we saw maybe a couple of those. We got to see some fish. We got to climb up on this island, and see some birds, and some wildlife, and all of these wonderful things.
Some folks got to jump off cliffs. I mean, it was beautiful. It was beautiful. If you've ever done anything like that, you know how beautiful it is to be in God's creation for those moments. But if you've done that you also know that it doesn't mean it's a relaxing time.
It's not easy to swim in the ocean. It takes a lot out of you. It's not easy to climb on rocks and and to go around and do all of these things. And so, to help you, our God gave us some some tools. The tools you might would expect, he gave us some fins, and some goggles, and and some snorkels, things to make it just a little bit easier for us to to swim to the water.
And and I'm not an expert in those things. Right? I'm I'm not normally out snorkeling or, scuba diving or anything like that. So I I put on all the equipment as I think I'm supposed to. I get ready, and I jump in the boat, and there's no amount of telling you that the water's cold that can prepare you for the actual coldness of cold ocean water.
Right? If you've jumped into it before, you understand that. So I've got all the gear on. I'm prepared. But the second I hit the water, I begin to realize it's much colder than I think.
And my body, without even me telling it to, gasps. When you hit the cold water, your body just only to realize that I did not have my snorkel on correctly. Again, I'm not an expert in that. And so I hit the water. I'm not prepared.
It's cold. I gasp, and all of a sudden, I begin to fill with water, not air. Panic begins to set in, and really, I I should say, I'm being a little dramatic here for the point of the story. I mean, I was like 2 feet from the boat. The guy was right there.
I mean, I was maybe barely underwater. Right? I would my life was not in danger in any way, so I don't want you to think I'm some thrill seeker. I was fine. But in that moment, right, when you're under the water, it's freezing cold, you breathe in, and all you get is water, your mind goes to terrible places, you begin to panic, and you don't know what you're going to do.
So in those moments that felt like an eternity, I corrected my snorkel, got it corrected, and breathed in, for the first time in a few seconds, that fresh, clean air. It felt like a lifeline, that, again, everything was going to be okay. I want you to keep that image in your mind as we think about the Bible. Because Paul reminds us God tells us through Paul that God breathed his spirit into the words of scripture. I believe that he might continue to breathe into us today.
Scripture is God breathed. It is inspired. God knew, as he often does better than us. He he knew that there would be moments like those that Paul describes. I don't have to tell you about those.
You've lived them. Moments of persecution, moments of failure, moments of desertion, moments of deceit, of betrayal, and the list goes on and on. But it's not just things that people do to us. It's the things we do as well. God knew that there would be moments of our own failure, of our own rebellion.
Yeah. We were a lot like the Israelites. Moments of our own sin. Moments where we are surrounded so much by the brokenness of this world, it feels as if we can't catch our own breath. The Bible, if you'll use this analogy, is the snorkel that gives us access to the same Spirit of God that has existed from the very beginning.
It's the snorkel that allows us to breathe the breath of life. Because what was it but the breath of God that God used to raise the life and bones of Adam and Eve? What was it but the breath of God that that God breathed into Jesus to raise him from the dead? What was it but the breath of the spirit that Christ used to raise up the church? How would we ever think we could live without that same breath?
I can tell you, if you're looking for life, it's right here. Because what is it if not alive? Open it up for any sort of time and you begin to see that it speaks to us today just as it did to people 100 and 1000 of years ago. I tell you, if you want to live, if you want to truly live, if you want to get out of the crushing spirit of this world, if you want to stop feeling like everything is beating you down, and you're just gonna capsize, and you might even drown, then start here. Because contained within this book is the breath of life.
It is God breathed. I love the way John Wesley puts it. He wrote a commentary, his explanatory notes on the New Testament. Here's how he describes it. He's writing on this passage in 2nd Timothy chapter 3.
Here's what he says. The spirit of God not only once inspired those who wrote it, but continually inspires and supernaturally assists those who read it with earnest prayer. God inspired it and continues to inspire us through it. So as we begin 2025, and I know that feels like a long way off, but I'm telling you it's coming, As we begin 2025 together, my words for you are like those of Paul to Timothy. Continue on in what you've learned.
And and I would add, because he knew Timothy had spent time in it. Look. I would say if you haven't spent time in this, it's a good time to start now. Join us next year. And then he goes on.
Right? These words are good to make you wise for salvation. It can rid you not just of the guilt of sin, but the power of sin in your life. And then, he gives us that list, which I think is almost sort of a warning. Be careful what you endeavor on.
This thing will teach you. It'll rebuke you. It will correct you. Right. Other where's other places in scripture is called a double edged sword.
Be careful with it. You might get cut. Like a surgeon cuts a patient, it's only for your good. Be ready for it. It's gonna teach you, rebuke you, correct you, but it'll train you for righteousness and prepare you that you might do the good work of your father in heaven.
All this is only possible because it is God breathed, God inspired, filled with the Spirit of God. And so my challenge to you, in 2025 and beyond, is get ready, open it up, and breathe in deep the goodness of God's spirit. Let's pray. Almighty and gracious God, we come today recognizing that you are oh so good. Lord, you sent us your son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross.
You sent us your holy spirit to give us our church, and Lord, to inspire for us a book that we could read. A book that contains within it your breath. A book that when we will open it up and and breathe in deeply, we can be filled with your presence. Lord, we thank you for the gift that is your holy word. And so, God, I I pray for each of us.
Pray for those in this room, those who are watching online right now or might come back and watch it at a later date, for each individual person. And I pray for our church. Lord, you have called us in this next year to undergo a journey, to spend a little more time in your word, to to carve out time in our lives, to make this a priority. Because, Lord, we know that in it is you. So God, as we prepare our hearts, we ask that you soften them.
Soften our hearts. Soften our minds. Prepare us to be in dwelled by your spirit. Give us excitement to spend time in your word. Lord, on those days where it gets difficult because it's a long book, you've given us a lot.
There's times where it become arduous, it become difficult, Or give us strength to carry on knowing that doing so is good. And help us, Lord, as we do this to see you. We do all of this to see you, because, Lord, just as you have given us the written word, you've given us your word, which in John 1 is told is at the beginning of time with you. Your son, Jesus, through whom you spoke and created light, created us. Help us God to connect, to grow closer to You, and as we often pray, grow closer and closer so that we might look more like You.
For, Lord, it's in your name, the name of your son, Jesus the Christ, that we offer this prayer. Amen.