Who's In Charge Here? A Series on Authority
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Authority Bible Study Calendar
Daily Bible Study Menu
A note about online study
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, each new day offers a new opportunity for me to grow in the depth of my love for You and my commitment to living my life in the name of Jesus! For that I am grateful for each new day. I pray that as I go about this days activities that I will take nothing for granted, that I will realize what a great gift it is to be alive and to be able to serve You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and use me in whatever ways will best advance the cause of the Gospel near and far. Thank You again for Your written word, which makes it abundantly clear, that it is through Your Son Jesus, and Him alone that I may have new, abundant and eternal life. These things I pray in His name. Amen.
Bible Verses
2 Timothy 3:15-17
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 straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
Reflecting on God's Word
What would be the result in your life if you lived every moment with the Bible as your final authority for determining matters of faith and living?
What book has most equipped you to do something that is of use and value?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
According to today’s reading what attributes do the Scriptures have that make them authoritative in our lives? (3:15-17)
What do we find out about the Apostle Paul (the author of this letter to Timothy) from reading today’s Scripture? (3:15-17)
What action is anticipated from the lives of those who read this Scripture? (3:15-17)
Understanding God's Purpose for Us
How is possible for a person to be “fully equipped” for God’s work simply by reading a book?
How do you gain the most from reading a passage of Scripture?
Applying God's Word to Our Purpose
What would it look like in your life today if you applied the Scriptures we just read?
Thoughts
Have you ever thought of the Bible as being able to “fully equip” you for every good thing that God wants you to do? That’s what the Apostle Paul told Timothy in today’s reading. So often we think that it’s necessary for us to attend a worship service, or a class, or a LIFE group, or to become part of a ministry team in order to be equipped to do the good things that God wants us to do—and all of those experiences WILL help us to be equipped to do the good things that God wants us to do, but Paul makes it clear that the only thing we need in order to be “fully equip[ped] to do God’s will is His word. Sometimes we want to let others do the hard work of reading the Bible and discerning its truth, rather than doing it ourselves. Sometimes, in fact many times, it may well be helpful to let others do the in depth research into what a particular passage of Scripture mean, but each of us who can read the word of God, and who has the ability to remember what we read, and who can call on the Holy Spirit to apply to word to our lives is called to do so! When we do the promise is we will be fully equipped to do God’s work! What a promise!