January 7, 2018

Consult the Owner's Manual

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Series: Navigating the New Year Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Navigating The New Year:

Consult The Owner’s Manual:

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Who or what helps you to navigate life? 

(To download and print blank sermon notes to complete while you listen, click HERE.)

Why Do I Need The Bible?

  1. To help me Know God
  1. To teach me the Truth
  1. To show me how to Live
  1. To give me Strength

How Do I Utilize “The Owner’s Manual”?

  1. Use the Bible to get Knowledge

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)

Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?" (Mark 12:24)

Goal: That I will know the Word of God

How? By Reading it

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures” (Matthew 21:42)

  1. Use the Bible to gain Perspective

Seeing life from God’s point of view

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Goal: That I will understand the Mind of God

How? By Studying it

For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10)

2 Vital Aids to Studying the Bible:

  • Write it down
  • Talk it over
  1. Use the Bible to develop Convictions
  • Opinion: Something I will discuss or even argue about
  • Conviction: Something I believe so strongly that it shapes my behavior

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

People who deeply impact the world are people of deep convictions!

Goal: That I will share the Values of God

How? By Meditating upon it

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

Meditation: Repeatedly thinking about something

  1. Use the Bible to direct my Actions/Choices

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7)

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

Goal: That I will do the Will of God

How? By putting it into Practice

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24–27)

Ultimate Goal:  That I will Become like Christ

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29)

  • Live like Jesus lived (Character and Conduct)
  • Love like Jesus loved (Relationships)
  • Leave Behind what Jesus left behind (Mission & Purpose)

“The Bible was not given for our information, but for our transformation.”  D.L. Moody

My Commitment to God’s Word

Recognizing that the Bible is an essential tool that God wants to use to help me to navigate life, by God’s grace I will incorporate God’s Word into my life more powerfully by:

  • Reading through the New Testament this year
  • Regularly reading, reflecting and writing down what God is teaching me through the Bible
  • Participating in a Bible Study group
  • Committing to put into practice whatever God commands through interaction with the Bible
  • Other: 

other sermons in this series

Jan 28

2018

Discover God's Purpose in Your Problems

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12–13, 1 Peter 4:19 Series: Navigating the New Year

Jan 21

2018

Train with Your Personal Coach

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: John 16:7, John 16:13 Series: Navigating the New Year

Jan 14

2018

Connect to Authentic Community

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: James 1:22–25 Series: Navigating the New Year