Scripture Guidance: The Authority of the Way of the Cross The Way of the Cross Series [6] Selected Scriptures October 20, 2013 Pastor Paul K. Kim

RECAP & OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT SERIES September 15 – December 1 1.Why Choose the Way of the Cross? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.Our Vision: The Convergence of the Way of the Cross 3.Saltiness: The Quality of the Way of the Cross 4.Congruence: The Integrity of the Way of the Cross 5.Counter-Culture: The Mindset of the Way of the Cross __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6.Scripture Guidance: The Authority of the Way of the Cross 7.Spirit Dependence: The Power of the Way of the Cross 8.Real Transformation: The Fruit of the Way of the Cross 9.Authentic Community: The Love of the Way of the Cross __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10.Seven Core Practices: The Strategy for the Way of the Cross

THE 1ST-CENTURY ANSWER TO THE 21ST-CENTURY DIFFICULTIES [2 Timothy 3] “...in the last days... people will be... you, however,...” – 2 Timothy 3:1-17 A Warning: Be ready for the “times of difficulties”! (vs. 1-5)  In self: lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive...  In family: disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable...  In society: slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God  In religion/spirituality: having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

THE 1ST-CENTURY ANSWER TO THE 21ST-CENTURY DIFFICULTIES [2 Timothy 3] “...in the last days... people will be... you, however,...” – 2 Timothy 3:1-17 A Warning: Be ready for the “times of difficulties”! (vs. 1-5) True Guides: Don’t follow the false guides—follow the true guides. (vs. 6-14)  Don’t follow false teachers who are misleading/confusing people.  Follow the true guides in both “teaching and conduct (belief & practice)—i.e., Paul’s teaching & conduct including his aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, sufferings).

THE 1ST-CENTURY ANSWER TO THE 21ST-CENTURY DIFFICULTIES [2 Timothy 3] “...in the last days... people will be... you, however,...” – 2 Timothy 3:1-17 A Warning: Be ready for the “times of difficulties”! (vs. 1-5) True Guides: Don’t follow the false guides—follow the true guides. (vs. 6-14) True Source: Seek to be guided by Scripture, the source of true guidance. (vs.15-17)  Why? All Scripture is God-inspired—i.e., it is inerrant/infallible.  Scripture is also profitable. How? For salvation, teaching, reproof, correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

When the church ceases to treat the Bible as a final standard of spiritual truth and wisdom, it is going to wobble between maintaining its tradition in a changing world and adapting to that world, and as the wobbles go on, uncertainty as to what is the real substance of faith and the proper way of embracing it and living it out will inevitably increase. J. I. Packer

MISSIONAL COMMUNITY: LIVING AS CHRIST’S SENT-PEOPLE IN THE WORLD [JOHN 17] If Scripture is God’s Word, then it has the SUPERSEDING AND FINAL AUTHORITY over...  Human opinions/authorities (“according to the leading experts…”)  Culture/trends/majority (“the latest trend is…”)  Pragmatism/consumerism (“what works well is…”)  Traditions/convention (“following the habits of the yesteryears…”)  Personal experiences/feelings (“what feels true to me is…”)  Religions/self-help literatures (“the proven principles are…”)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEEK SCRIPTURE GUIDANCE AS CHRIST’S CHURCH? 1)It means to ELEVATE YOUR VIEW of Scripture in all aspects of your life, community, and world (as your supreme authority). 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. Psalm 119:18  Why? A high view of Scripture leads us to a Scripture-centered worldview—i.e., “God-centeredness” in all things.  The issue for most people is not reliability but relevance of the Bible; but this is actually a problem of the man-centered view.  As Christ’s church, we are to acknowledge the supreme authority of Scripture in all matters of our belief and practice.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEEK SCRIPTURE GUIDANCE AS CHRIST’S CHURCH? 2)It means to SATURATE YOURSELF with the Word of God in all arenas of your life, community, and world. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Colossians 3:16a Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7  Scripture must be treated not only as reliable (“Scripture- based”) but also as essential (“Scripture-saturated”) in all.  Hence, we must put Scripture in the center—not because we worship it but because God speaks and guides us through it.  As Christ’s church, we are to let God’s Word saturate our minds and gatherings as a tangible way of Scripture guidance.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEEK SCRIPTURE GUIDANCE AS CHRIST’S CHURCH? 3)It means to SUBMIT AND OBEY what Scripture says concerning all areas of your life, community, and world. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1:38 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love. John 15:10a  As we receive Scripture, our posture ought to be like Mary’s—“let it be to me according to your word” with a glad heart.  Why? The Word of God will not transform/guide us until our hearts humbly submit to it and willingly obey Scripture.  As Christ’s church, we are to have a priori submission and a wholehearted obedience to the whole counsel of Scripture.

How Should We Receive Scripture? So what is the way in regard to Scripture? How do we receive this text? Here's how: by listening and responding and submitting. "Let it be to me according to your word" is the way I read this text. Our reading of this text is a personal listening to a personal God. We listen to God speak our lives into being. We listen to the story that provides a narrative shape and meaning to a life of following Jesus in the conditions of the world. It is a prayerful, relational, obedient listening. But that's not the American way of reading. Too many of us read only for information, for know-how, to better ourselves, to prepare for a job, for a profession. When we need a break from that, we read for diversion, for entertainment. — Eugene Peterson

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.What would it mean for me to elevate my view of Scripture as the supreme authority in all areas of my life? As CrossWay Church? 2.In what ways can I saturate myself more with the Word of God in all areas of my life? As CrossWay Church? 3.What would be my first steps toward submitting & obeying what Scripture says—like Mary—in all areas of my life? As CrossWay Church?