THE WORD IN THE WORLD

#616                                      THE WORD IN THE WORLD                                                       

 

Scripture  Psalm 68:11; II Peter 1:19,20f                                                              Orig. 1/12/1975

                                                                                                                               Rewr. 7/15/1987

                                                                                                                                                          

Passage:

Psalm 68:11

            11 The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng

II Peter 1:19,20f

            19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.

 

Purpose: Beginning a Wednesday evening study emphasis on themes of Christian growth.

 

Keywords:                  Word of God             New Member             Bible

 

Timeline/Series:         Wednesday evening Bible Study

 

Introduction

            Because of the terrible accident last January, we are not hearing much about space flights.  Soon, however, problems will be rectified  and men and machines will be flying again. 

            We remember, though, some significant consistencies of all prior flights.  Each had on board computers, and land-based ones to control direction and destination.  Mission Control would periodically check references to determine course.  If the space vehicle was any minute degree off target, then correcting information was fed to the on-board computer.

            What we must remember, however, is that there had to be an initially agreed upon source of correct information,  They could not pull numbers out of a hat.  They had to be dependable and readily available.

            In the same way, when we get off target, whether by carelessness, or by social inertia, we need a source of information, dependable, and readily available to correct our flight.  And God has given us His Word.

 

I.          General Background.

            The Bible developed gradually.  Old Testament writing covers the period from Moses (c. 2000 BC) to Artaxerxes I (425 BC)—a Persian ruler.  Septuagint (Seventy) written for large Jewish community in Alexandria, Egypt (in Hellenist Greek) about 280 BC.  Old Testament form:  Torah—Genesis/Deuteronomy; Prophets—Joshua/Kings (early), Minor/Major (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel—late); Writings—Poetry (Psalms, Proverbs, Job), Five Rolls (Song of Solomon, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Lamentations), History (Daniel, Ezekiel, Nehemiah, Chronicles).  Periods of New Testament activity—70-170 AD Circulation of separate writings/oral teachings; 170-303 AD—canon established/continuing debate; 303-500 AD—accumulation of manuscripts useful today for research; to the present—proliferation of translations.

            Old Testament/New Testament alerts to the word.  Psalm 68:11 “The Lord gave the word, great was the company of  those that published it.”  II Peter 1:20/21 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

            Looking briefly at early manuscripts.  Codex Sinaiticus—German Tischendorf at Greek Orthodox Monastery found 129 pages in waste basket; 27 New Testament books plus Shepherd of Hermas—in British Museum.  Codex Vaticanus 350 AD—came to light during Napoleonic Wars; Tragelles1 allowed to study without notes/memorized/1859 Pius IX photograph.  Codex Alexandrinus (450 AD), Matthew missing—gift of Greek Orthodox Patriarch to Charles I in 1627.  Ephraemi Rescriptus2—in 1834 a theology student wrote on Father Ephraem (16th Century Syrian),  the paper was an erased Biblical manuscript.

 

II.         Other Interesting Features

            A verse of form—Luke 11:51 “From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zechariah which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation.”  First book in Hebrew Bible is Genesis. Last is II Chronicles.  Genesis 4:10 – II Chronicles 24:20-21.

            A verse of continuity—See II Chronicles 36:22.  Read Ezra 1;1-3.

 

III.       Place of scripture for Christians.

            II Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”  Doctrine—divine viewpoint, I Corinthians 2:16 “We have the mind of Christ.”  Reproof—the consternation of imperfection; utilization of faith resources; Hebrews 10:38f “Now the just shall live by faith: . . . but we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe unto the saving of the soul.”  Correction—see under reproof.  Instruction in righteousness—Experience achieved through preaching, teaching, personal study; II Timothy 3:17 “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

 

 

Links:

 

1https://christianpublishinghouse.co/2020/06/10/samuel-prideaux-tregelles-1813-1875-how-did-he-contribute-to-new-testament-textual-studies/

 

2https://www.bible-researcher.com/codex-c.html

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STEEPLE DEDICATION, FBC BERNICE, LA

#000                                                                 STEEPLE DEDICATION

                                                                             First Baptist Church

                                                                              Bernice, Louisiana

                                                                 March 15, 1987

                                                                                                                                                                    Orig. Date 3/15/1987

Old Testament Lesson                                                                                                                                                 Mr. Maury Davis

Psalm 27:4-6, 11-14

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Prayer                                                                                                                                                                       Mr. Clifton McIntosh

New Testament Lesson                                                                                                                                     Mr. Kenny Culpepper

I Corinthians 3:9-14

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

Special Music                                                                                                                                                                    Sanctuary Choir

“Come Ye Christians, Be Committed”

Responsive Reading                                                                                                                                                                         Pastor

He said to them, But who do you say that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son  of the Living God.

Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

As the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also in Christ.

For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink in one Spirit.

He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone;

In whom the whole building being joined together, grows into an holy temple in the Lord;

In whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,  holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God  has assigned him.

For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Presentation                                                                                                                                                                                       Pastor

Prayer of Dedication                                                                                                                                                           Watson Goss

Chairman of Deacons

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