God Is Not Mute

1. God Is Not Mute

2. Hand-Crafted • What type of watch is this? • How did it come into existence? • What does this brand represent? • What does this watch tell us about its maker?

3. Characteristics of the Maker • The watch reveals some things about the watchmakers existence and character: • He has a keen eye, • He has an expert hand, • He appreciates refined precision, etc. • But, does the watch tell us anything about the person of the watchmaker?

4. God Is Not Mute • Thankfully, unlike the watchmaker, God has not left us to deduce all we need to know about Him from His creation alone. • He has revealed specific things about Himself and His plan for the created world in His written Word.

5. God is the Author of Scripture • God’s written Word, the Bible, has: • Approximately forty different authors, • Runs the gamut of history to law, prophecy to poetry, • Includes 66 books written over the span of 1,600 years, • One Author who made every word sure and every truth proclaimed. • Paul reminds Timothy of this vital truth in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

6. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. • What does this passage reveal about itself and every other verse in the Bible? • What did Paul mean when he said “All Scripture is inspired by God”? • What does the Bible’s divine authorship mean to us?

7. Biblical Inspiration • God used men to write the Bible, but He did so without overriding their personalities. • What does this truth say about our own personalities? • In what ways can God use our circumstances and personalities in our proclamation of His truth?

8. God clearly reveals His expectations for humanity • While the Bible is a message for us, it is ultimately a message about God. • Scripture reveals God’s specific word to us regarding what He expects from His relationship with man. • God expects His people to desire His Word and to properly interpret it by putting into practice all He commands.

9. Psalm 19:7-11 7 The instruction of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the commandment of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold—than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey—than honey dripping from the comb. 11 In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them.

10. Sweeter than Honey, More Desirable than Pure Gold • In what ways can God’s instruction revive the soul and make the heart glad? • How does Scripture make us wise? • In what ways can God’s commandments make our eyes light up? • How is there great reward in keeping God’s commandments?

11. God reveals His plan for redeeming the world and bringing glory to Christ • God is not content to be discerned through general revelation; He wants to be known personally. • He doesn’t want us to fumble around through the shadows trying to figure out the meaning of life. He doesn’t expect us to piece things together on our own; He tells us straight out! • He tells us in Scripture where we stand in relation to Him, how we got there, and best of all, how we get out of it into a right standing with Him.

12. Luke 24:25-27 25He said to them, "How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! 26Didn't the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?" 27Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

13. Footprints of Jesus • The footprints of Jesus can be seen throughout the sand of the Old Testament. • Reflecting on Jesus’ revelation to His traveling companions in this passage, what might have been some of the “things concerning Himself” He showed them from the Old Testament?

14. Christ at the Center • All the stories the Bible tells tell the unified story of how God glorifies Himself through the redemption of sinners who are made right with Him through the saving work of His Son, Jesus Christ. • The overarching theme or message being communicated is that God saves sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

15. Aligned with Christ • Through His Word, God specifies His intentions for humanity and His expectations of us. • He shows us how the glory of Christ is the purpose of world history. • We are to respond to God’s special revelation by aligning ourselves with Jesus Christ, God’s expressed will for humanity.

16. God Is Not Mute • He is the Author of Scripture • Through Scripture (special revelation) He clearly reveals His expectations for humanity. • In Scripture, He has revealed His plan for redeeming the world and bringing glory to Christ.

17. Questions to Ponder • What part of my life is working counter to God’s intentions? • Does God’s voice have a presence in my life? • Am I instructed, rebuked, and corrected by the Word? • Is it possible to revere the Word and not read it? • How might one discipline oneself to spend unhurried time in God’s Word?