6/9/13 2 Timothy 3:14-16 God's Word in Our Lives

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1 & 2 Timothy: Growing Up In The Faith

Week 4: God’s Word in Our Lives

June 9, 2013

 

GETTING THINGS STARTED

  • How long can you stand on just one foot and maintain your balance?
  • What if the ground or floor under you began to shift or buckle?  If you didn’t have a firm foundation, how long could you stand on one foot without falling?
  • When builders construct homes, they pour a foundation before actually building the structure.  What would happen if you attempted to build a house without a solid foundation?

 

A house is only as strong as its foundation.  If the foundation is on soft ground, the house will sink and settle over the years, ruining its structural integrity.  Foundations are important.  And the bigger the building, the bigger the foundation has to be to support the weight of the structure.  When it comes to our lives with Christ, our foundation is absolutely essential.  The more we mature, the stronger our foundation becomes.  What is the foundation of our life with Christ?  Let’s dig in to find out!

 

 

Read 2 Timothy 3:14-16 (nlt)

14But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught.  You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16All 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 this passage, Paul is encouraging Timothy to do two things: follow the example Paul and other Christians set for Timothy, and follow the teachings of Scripture.  It is Paul’s instruction about holding tight to the example of Scripture that we’ll focus on in this lesson. It is as timely a message now as it was 2,000 years ago when this was written.

 

You have many different ways to encounter God and to discover God’s ways and truths. You can see God in creation.  You can be lead and empowered by the Spirit.  You can experience God in corporate worship or when serving others.  You can see the fruit of a life with God through interactions with mature Christ-followers.  But the Christian journey is not complete without studying God’s Word.  In fact, this is the reason we have been given the Bible, in order that God might reveal Himself to us.

 

Let’s spend a few minutes exploring these verses to see how we can build stronger lives of faith through God’s Word.

 

 

1. The Bible is a reliable, dependable foundation for our lives

 

  • What books or sections of the Bible do you enjoy reading most, and why?  Where do you find the greatest inspiration and encouragement in the Bible?
  • What are some ways you have seen God’s Word prove to be true and reliable?
  • How and when did you first learn about the truths of the Bible?  Who introduced you to what you could discover in God’s Word?
  • What role do the people in your life who believe in and follow God’s Word play in helping you come to believe that it’s true and reliable?

 

The Bible must become the very core of our relationship with God.  This is what the Bible was intended for: to lead us closer to God through our knowledge of God and God’s ways. But we don’t get there overnight.  While the Bible is true and valid and inspired by God, our belief in God’s Word as the foundation for our lives is often arrived at through a process of seeking to know God’s Word more, having its truth illuminated by the Holy Spirit, and living out experiences that confirm God’s Word as foundational.

 

 

2. Our faith is built through our knowledge of God

 

  • Think about the people you most trust.  How did they earn your trust?  Did it happen overnight?  Explain.
  • How have you developed your faith and trust in God?  How has God proven to be faithful and trustworthy?
  • What are the main ways we get to know God?
  • How does reading the Bible help us discover more about God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness?

 

We can’t follow what we don’t know.  The salvation made available through Christ is made known to us through the Bible.  The rich life of purpose and faith made available to all who follow Christ is articulated in Scripture.  The saving knowledge we have of God comes through the Bible.  If we don’t grow in our knowledge of God through God’s Word, we miss out on so much.

 

 

3. The Bible provides wisdom for all areas of life

 

  • Which purpose of Scripture in verse 16 do you like best, and why?  Which do you like least, and why?
  • Have you taken advantage of opportunities to help other people discover the truths of the Bible—in other words, to use God’s Word for the purpose of teaching?  Why or why not?
  • How does the Bible help us realize what is wrong in our lives?  How have you seen this happen in your life?
  • How does God’s Word provide a simple “attitude check” for you?  How does it keep you on the right path?
  • How does God’s Word take us from a childlike faith into a mature faith?

 

As we think about our lives, there really is no other standard to live by other than God’s Word.  It is completely sufficient and capable in leading us in all aspects of our lives.  It is the lens through which we view the world and our place in it.  If we desire to develop a deep faith, it can’t be done apart from a knowledge and application of the Bible.

 

 

ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION

Psalm 119:101-103 (nlt)

101I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word. 102I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well. 103How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.

 

 

  • Read Psalm 119:101-103. What does it mean to avoid the evil path in life and instead choose God’s path?

 

  • How can we make sure our paths are directed by God’s Word?

 

  • What does it mean to say that God’s Word is sweet to your mouth? How closely does this describe how you view the Bible?

 

APPLICATION

  • Look back at 2 Timothy 3:16, where Paul listed purposes of Scripture.  Which one is the most active in your life right now?

 

  • Which aspect of Scripture is most missing in your life?  How can you grow in this area?

 

  • What is the biggest challenge you face when it comes to reading the Bible?

 

  • Why is it hard sometimes to take what you read and apply it to your life?  What steps can we all take together to be able to address these obstacles?

 

 

SUMMARY

The Bible is the foundation of our relationship with God.  It is more than that, though.  It is the plumb line for our lives as followers of Christ.  It guides our interactions with others and provides us with a lens through which to see the world.  It’s also a tool with which to direct and redirect our spiritual growth.  This lesson will focus heavily on 2 Timothy 3:16, examining the specific language Paul used to talk about the useful role Scripture plays in our lives.

 

 

My prayer for you:

Colossians 1:9-10 (nlt)

9So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you.  We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.  All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

 

For Keeps [Memory Verse]

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 (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT).

 

 

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