Means
of
Grace
•The Ordinary Means of Grace are Scripture, Fellowship, Worship, Prayer •The ordinary means of grace are in reality extraordinary means of grace
Means
of
Grace
not saying…
•I am
• That you can boil down following Christ into a few externals.
•I am saying…
• If you want to draw close to Christ and grow in holiness, you must do it on His terms with the means of grace He provides.
Means
of
Grace
•You can’t be a dispenser of God’s grace unless you are overflowing with His grace. • Grace deteriorates. It’s like manna, you can’t store it, you need His grace and mercy everyday.
Means
of
Grace
Devoted
to
Scripture
Devoted
to
Scripture
•The reason we devote ourselves to Scripture is because it’s about Christ and His Spirit changes and transforms us through it. • So Scripture is means of pursuing Christ and pursuing holiness (Christ‐likeness).
Devoted
to
Scripture
•The Bible does not allow us to divide relationship with Christ and obedience to Christ. See John 15.
Devoted
to
Scripture
Devoted
to
Scripture
•Sadly, some people sham Christians for making too much of the Bible. • “We worship Jesus, not words on a page”
•Don’t think for a second that making much of the Bible is somehow antithetical to heartfelt communion/relationship with Christ.
Devoted
to
Scripture
•Doctrine (right thinking about God) is not a distraction from Christ. •We do not have relationship/communion with Christ apart from truth about Christ and from Christ (His Word).
Devoted
to
Scripture
“Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” 1 Peter 2:2. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Rom 12:2
Devoted
• EFCA Statement of Faith:
to
Scripture
• We believe that God has spoken in the Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writing, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
Why is the Bible Neglected
I don’t read my Bible because… 1) It seems so irrelevant to my life.
Why is the Bible Neglected
I don’t read my Bible because… 1) It seems so irrelevant to my life. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”. 1 Cor 10:31 “Render service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord”. Eph 6:7‐8
Why is the Bible Neglected
I don’t read my Bible because… 1)
It seems so irrelevant to my life.
2) I don’t have time.
Why is the Bible Neglected
2)
I don’t read my Bible because… I don’t have time.
You can always find time to do that which is most important to you.
Always!
Why is the Bible Neglected
I don’t read my Bible because… 1) 2)
It seems so irrelevant to my life. I don’t have time.
3) I go to church every Sunday.
Why is the Bible Neglected
I don’t read my Bible because… 3)
I go to church every Sunday.
If God’s Word is rightly preached every Sunday it should create a hunger in us.
Why is the Bible Neglected
I don’t read my Bible because… 3)
I go to church every Sunday.
Piper says there are two questions: ‐ How much of the Bible to I need? ‐ How much of the Bible do I want?
Why is the Bible Neglected
I don’t read my Bible because… 1) 2) 3)
It seems so irrelevant to my life. I don’t have time. I go to church every Sunday.
4) I find it confusing.”
Why is the Bible Neglected
I don’t read my Bible because… 4)
I find it confusing.”
It starts out that way for most of us. Repetition is the key to learning and the key to learning is repetition.
Why is the Bible Neglected
I don’t read my Bible because… 4)
I find it confusing.”
‐ Get a good/readable translation. ‐ Get a Good Study Bible (ESV or MacArthur Study Bible).
‐ Read it! ‐ Find a Church that preaches God’s Word. ‐ Pray For the Spirit to give you light!
Devote Yourself To Scripture
•We read the Bible and expect to be transformed and changed and made holy through it. • But remember, that in seeking after holiness we are not so much seeking after a thing as we are seeking a Person. •His Name is Jesus.
