PREACHED: OL,
“WHY WE TREASURE THE BIBLE”
INTRODUCTION:
1Ü Have
you ever dreamed of being a treasure hunter?
A. As
a child, most of us probably fantasized…
1. You may have read,
B. All of us know the meaning of “X marks
the spot…”
C. Several years ago, Paul Harvey included a
segment on treasure hunters off the coast of
1. Portended more treasure…
D.
E. I love the discovery channels programs on
“treasure hunters…”
2Ü Jesus
talked about treasure.
A. Matt 13:44-46. “The kingdom of
heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up.
Then, in his joy, he goes and sells all
that he has and buys that field. Again the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
man in search of fine pearls, who on finding one pearl of great price, went and
sold all that he had a bought it.”
B. In order to find any treasure you have to
have a map that gives you the directions to where it is hidden.
1. The Bible is the map to the treasure of
the kingdom!
2. Psa
119:105. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” V 130. “The unfolding of your words gives
light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” V 162. “I rejoice in your word like one
who finds great spoil (treasure).”
3Ü The
tragedy of our time—lost the map!
A. ANDREW JACKSON: “The Bible is
the rock upon which the Republic stands.”
B. WILLIAM MCKINLEY: “The more profoundly
we study this wonderful book and the more closely we observe its Divine
precepts, the better citizens we will become and the higher will be the destiny
of our nation.”
C.
D. THOMAS JEFFERSON: “I have always
said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will
make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands…The Bible makes the best
people in the world.”
E. GEORGE WASHINGTON: “It is
impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible…”
4Ü Why
should we treasure the Bible?
DISCUSSION:
1Ä Inspired
message of God to man -
A. I
Cor
Eph 3:3-5. “The mystery was made known to
me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can
perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ…revealed to his holy apostles
and prophets by the Spirit…”
A. Eph
3:6. “This mystery (inspired by the Spirit and
revealed to the apostles and inspired teachers and penned in the scriptures) is
that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body and partakers of
the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
1.
a. II
Cor
A. II
Tim 3:15-17. “All scripture is breathed out (inspired) by God and is
profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
4Ä Contains
Good News
A. I
Pet
1.
Paul said to Timothy, “Preach the word…” (II Tim 4:2)
a.
But he also said—Rom 1:15,16.
B. The
good news of Jesus:
1. Prophesied – O.T.
Living,
dying, resurrected and ascended – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
His
instructions on how we become a child of God and how we should live
Acts – III John
Read Acts 2:36-47.
Our
victory over sin, death and the enemies of righteous – Revelation
Coming
again to take us to glory – Constant message of the N.T. – John 14:1,3
CONCLUSION:
1? In the Christian Hymns II, are the words of
this beautiful old hymn:
“Like a
Star of the morning in its beauty,
Like a Sun
is the Bible to my soul,
Shining
clear on the way of love and duty,
As I
hasten on my journey to the goal.
‘Tis a
Light in the wilderness of sorrow,
And a Lamp
on the weary pilgrim way,
And it
guides to the bright, eternal morrow,
Shining
more and more unto the perfect day.
It shall
stand in its beauty and its glory,
When the
earth and the heavens pass away;
Ever
telling the blessed, wondrous story,
Of the
loving Lamb, the only