“This Is Us” series communicates what it looks like to follow Jesus in the context of this faith community.

• Baptism is a necessary prerequisite into a church family
• Acts 2 says that believers are added to a church family
• Grace Church is a gathering of Jesus followers consistently called to take our next step.
• What is your next step? It depends? What values drive you?

Start with the struggle between what drives our decisions.

• What areas of our lives are not biblically centered?
• Some of us don’t know what the Bible says about sexuality, finances, reproduction, finances, parenting, etc.

TEACHING:

What if the Bible is just like the Quran or the Book Of Mormon?

I believe in the resurrection because of the historical evidence.

• It was written about during the lifetime of eye witnesses
• 2 Tim 4, Paul tells Timothy to bring “the letters”
• If there had been one mistake or lie, it would have been disproven. But it grew even more.

The Bible is a historically reliable document.

• All of archaeology backs the Bible
• All extra-biblical sources confirm

What if it’s been changed?

Bibliographical Test

Plato – 7 copies – 1200 years

Aristotle – 49 copies – 1400 years

Homer – 500 copies – 500 years

New Testament 24,000 copies – 25 years.

The evidence says its exactly the same.

Matthew 7:24-27  – “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. ²⁵ Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. ²⁶ But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. ²⁷ When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Isaiah 40:8 – The grass withers and the flowers fade,
    but the word of our God stands forever.”

Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

Proverbs 2:6 – For the Lord grants wisdom!
    From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Psalm 119:130 – The teaching of your word gives light,
    so even the simple can understand.

Psalm 119:105 –Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path.

Luke 11:28 – Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

James 1:22 – But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you

Joshua 1:8 –  Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Quick Bible Study Guide:

Read John 1:16-17 – From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.^[a]17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

1. What does it say?
2. Why does this matter to me?
3. What do I need to do now?
4. Pray.