01/07/24 But Why Should I Trust the Bible?

Watch this Week's Message

OPENING QUESTION
Have you ever wondered about the Bible's reliability or talked with anyone who doubted its legitimacy? Tell us about that.

​DISCUSSION

1. Have you ever heard someone object to the legitimacy of the Bible? What were their objections?
2. What are some reasons some people say they don't trust the Bible?
3. What are some reasons you trust the Bible?
4. The first reason Pastor Jim shared for trusting the Bible is its historical reliability. He shared several examples of archaeological discoveries that have confirmed events, people, and places in the Bible spanning from Genesis 19 and to 2 Kings 20:20 to John 11:49.
   1. What's the significance of these discoveries? Are there any others that you're aware of?
   2. How does its historical reliability set it apart from the holy books of other major religions?
5. The second reason he shared is its relatability; for example, Ecclesiastes 2:17, Romans 7:15, and Colossians 2:8.
   1. What passages in the Bible have been most relatable for you?
   2. How does its relatability set it apart from the holy books of other major religions?
6. The third reason he shared is its practical helpfulness to everyday life; for example, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 13:1, and Proverbs 15:1. Not to mention the teachings and commands of Jesus, and the "one-anothers" of Paul in the New Testament.
   1. What passages in the bible have been most practical and helpful to you?
   2. How does its helpfulness set it apart from the holy books of other major religions?
7. The fourth reason he shared is that it is inspired by God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
   1. Evidence of its divine inspiration includes the fulfillment of prophecies. Deuteronomy 18:22 says, "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed."
      1. Pastor Jim shared the following examples:
         1. Isaiah’s prediction in Isaiah 44:28 about the coming reign of the Persian King Cyrus—a prophecy that was given two hundred years before the birth of King Cyrus.
         2. Ezekiel’s prophecy in Ezekiel 26 (586 BC) about the destruction of the Phoenician city, Tyre which took place in 332 BC by Alexander the Great.
         3. Daniel's vision of the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome in Daniel 7:6, 8:5–8, 11:2–4 fulfilled over the next several centuries.
         4. And the many biblical prophecies of the Messiah were fulfilled by Jesus!
      2. How does the fulfillment of prophecies like these set the Bible apart from the holy books of other major religions?
   2. Further evidence of its inspiration includes the profound unity of the Bible's message despite its 40 different human authors over the course of 1600+ years on three different continents.
      1. In what other ways do you see the unity of the Bible's message?
      2. How does this set the Bible apart from the holy books of other major religions?
   3. The third piece of evidence that Jim shared about the Bible's inspiration is its human authenticity—there's no propganda in it, difficult stories are not white-washed, people are not presented as being holier than they really were, etc. 
      1. What are some examples of passages where we see this human authenticity on display?
      2. How does this set the Bible apart from the holy books of other major religions?
   4. The fourth piece of evidence that Jim shared about the Bible's inspiration is the fact that the Old Testament was Jesus's Bible, that the four Gospels are all written about Jesus by people who knew Jesus, and the rest of the Old Testament was written by people who were taught by Jesus.
      1. Why is this significant?
      2. How does this set the Bible apart from the holy books of other major religions?

Bottom Line
The bottom line is this:
You can trust the Bible because it is reliable, relatable, helpful, and inspired by God.

Here's statement we all recited together:
"This is the Bible, the Holy Word of God. It is the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct. I believe it. I trust it. I love it!"

PRAYER
Take some time for people to share prayer requests. Then pray. First, thank God for his Holy Word. Then pray for each other's prayer requests.