WEEK 3 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

The practices that changed me: stories of everyday transformation. Using scripture to encounter Jesus

Introduction:

Scripture can bring God into our lives. Imagine a life where the weight of struggles is lifted, and spiritual stagnation gives way to a flourishing faith. We should approach the Bible not just for information but for transformation, knowing God and desiring to obey Him because there is more here than simply ink on a page; Scripture is able to bring us into the presence of God, the one who put the spinning galaxies into being and whose nail-marked hands are stretched out towards us in love. Other books may speak of God, but the Bible is the primary source for understanding and connecting with God.

Something To Talk About:

Scripture is God’s word. Certainly. But why does that matter? What does that mean for us? These questions are not abstract. If we read the Bible due to some to-do list we might miss a powerful weapon to know Jesus and live the Christian life.

The Bible is Complex: The Bible is complex due to its length, diverse authorship spanning centuries, various literary genres, and the historical and cultural contexts in which it was written. Understanding its complexity requires acknowledging its human element alongside its divine inspiration, recognizing that it’s a collection of interconnected narratives rather than a single, easily digestible text. The Bible is not a single book but a collection of 66 books written over approximately 1,500 years by various authors. The sheer volume of text and the vast timeline involved contribute to its complexity. But it is not too complicated for you. It’s not inaccessible, it’s not impractical, it’s not impossible to understand, it’s not only for spiritual superhumans. It is for all of us.
The Bible is God’s: The Bible is God’s and what the Bible is about. Christians believe the Bible is the Word of God due to its divine inspiration. Divine inspiration refers to the idea that God spoke through the authors of each book in the Bible. The people God chose to write down His words were from all sorts of different backgrounds. Some were shepherds, some were kings, some were fishermen, some were close followers of Jesus, and some we don’t even know exactly. But no matter who was speaking the message or writing the book, the One who was doing the speaking and the writing was God himself—the writers were His messengers. This view is supported by passages like 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which states that all Scripture is “inspired by God” and is reliable because it is God’s.
The Bible is contextual: The Bible is a book of books—sixty-six to be exact—divided into two large sections called the Old Testament and the New Testament. The New follows the Old. When you first read the Bible, you can assume its books were ordered chronologically. But the Bible’s primary purpose is to help us know Christ and His salvation. Both Testaments step off the chronological timeline when doing so best supports this goal. God’s message of salvation matters more than mapping out history in order. Much of the time, the Old Testament prophets didn’t realize the fullness of what they were writing. When the prophet Habakkuk wrote, “but the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God” (Habakkuk 2:4), he didn’t know his words pointed to the gospel of grace by faith in Christ. He didn’t know his words revealed a glimpse of what God had concealed—that salvation came by faith in Christ alone. After the resurrection, Jesus explained to two of His followers how all the Scriptures pointed to Him. “Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). “All the Scriptures” meant all of the Old Testament.
The Bible is personal: The Bible was written for you. And God wants you to take it personally. The Bible can be considered personal because it speaks to individual lives and experiences, offering guidance, comfort, and encouragement for personal growth and faith. It’s not just a historical or theological document; it’s a source of living wisdom that believers can apply to their own lives. The Bible is seen as God’s message to individuals, not just a general text. Passages can be personalized as if God is speaking directly to the reader. The Bible describes a personal relationship with God, highlighting His love, grace, and provision for individuals. The Bible offers practical advice and comfort for daily life, addressing personal struggles and offering hope.

Discussion Questions:

How does studying scripture help us understand Jesus’s character and actions?
What specific passages or stories in scripture have most impacted your understanding of Jesus?
Does knowing scripture increase our faith and trust in Jesus, and how does it lead to transformation in our lives?
How does the Bible’s portrayal of Jesus’s life, teachings, miracles, and death impact your understanding of who He is?
In what ways does the Old Testament foreshadow Jesus, and how does this help us understand His role as the Messiah?
How does the Bible’s teaching on the Holy Spirit guide and empower believers to live a life that reflects Jesus?
What does it mean to “know Christ” on a deeper, personal level, and how does scripture facilitate this?
How can we apply the principles of scripture to our daily lives, and what are the practical implications of those applications?
How does the Bible’s instruction on loving and serving others guide our interactions within the church and with the broader community?
How can we encourage one another to engage with scripture and grow in our knowledge of Jesus?
What specific passages or stories in scripture have most impacted your understanding of Jesus?
What are some ways you can cultivate a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus through scripture?

Take one thing home with you:

Most people enjoy reading a good book. Reading offers a variety of benefits and pleasures, including entertainment, learning, relaxation, and the ability to explore new worlds and perspectives. The Bible is more than a good book. It is the single most important book ever written, an eyewitness account of historical events of such magnitude that they have shaped the world in which we live.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”