Bible, Purpose, Faith, Church, Value, Values

Is the Bible Still Worth Following?

With so many voices, opinions, and trends pulling you in different directions, it’s hard to know what to trust—or how to make the right decisions. Even if you believe in God, it can feel like you’re stuck, second-guessing every step. In this message, you’ll see why the Bible still offers a stronger foundation than anything culture can offer. It doesn’t shift with trends or crumble under pressure—it’s God’s direction for life, from the One who created it. It helps reveal what’s broken, guides your next step, and keeps you grounded no matter what life throws at you.

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MESSAGE NOTES

BUILT DIFFERENT

Biblically Centered

May 18, 2025

Big Idea: Being Biblically Centered doesn’t just mean believing the Bible is true – it means treating it like it is.

Key Points:

God’s Word Is Our Authority

  • The Bible is a unified, historically anchored text composed over 1,500 years by more than 40 authors across three continents – yet it tells one consistent story: the redemptive plan of God through Jesus Christ.
  • Unlike other ancient documents, the Bible is supported by an overwhelming wealth of manuscript evidence.

[Psalm 119:105] “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

[Isaiah 40:8] “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of our God stands forever.”

[2 Timothy 3:16] “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.”

  • In Acts 2:14-21, Peter begins the first Christian sermon by quoting Scripture (Joel 2:28-32).
  • His authority in preaching doesn’t originate with himself but comes from what the Bible says.

[Acts 2:16] “What you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel.”

“Being Biblically Centered means we don’t use the Bible to back up the things we already wanted to do in our lives – we submit our lives to what the Bible already says.”

God’s Word Reveals Our Condition

[Acts 2:23] “But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.”

[Acts 2:32] “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.”

[Acts 2:36-37] “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah! Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?'”

[Hebrews 4:12] “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and bone. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

[Romans 3:23] “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

“The Bible is like a mirror. It doesn’t shame us — it shows us what’s broken so we will want to get it fixed.”

God’s Word Calls For A Response

[Acts 2:38] “Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and [then] be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”

[James 1:22] “Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.”

[Acts 2:41] “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day – about 3,000 in all.”

[Acts 8:36, 38] “As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?’ He ordered the carriage to stop and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.”

“We can’t say we believe God, when we’ve heard the Word of God but won’t do what it says.”

[Romans 3:23-25] “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.”

[Romans 10:9-11] “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As scripture tells us, anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

[Matthew 28:19] “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

Next Steps:

  1. Yield your life to what God says in His Word
    • What area of your life have you been keeping God out of?
    • What has God already shown you that you’ve been slow to obey?
  2. Take your next step
    • For some: reconciliation, an act of service, putting God first in your finances
    • For others: baptism

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Application Questions

  1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
  2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
  3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
  4. How will this message change how you act at home, at work, and in your relationships?

With so many voices, opinions, and trends pulling you in different directions, it’s hard to know what to trust—or how to make the right decisions. Even if you believe in God, it can feel like you’re stuck, second-guessing every step. In this message, you’ll see why the Bible still offers a stronger foundation than anything culture can offer. It doesn’t shift with trends or crumble under pressure—it’s God’s direction for life, from the One who created it. It helps reveal what’s broken, guides your next step, and keeps you grounded no matter what life throws at you.

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