session 1: What makes the Bible unique? session 2: Can I be sure the Bible is the Word of God? session 3: Can I really understand the Bible?

Americans (all ages) 33% Literal, word for word 30% Not literal 37% Not Word of God/Other/Don’t know Survey: Is the Bible the Word of God?

Evangelical Protestants Ages 18–29 59% Literal, word for word 29% Not literal 12% Not Word of God/Other/Don’t know Survey: Is the Bible the Word of God?

Survey: Is the Bible the Word of God? What do YOU think?

session 1

1. What does the Bible say about itself? 2 Timothy 3:14–17

2. Who were the writers of the Bible? Old Testament Deuteronomy 13:1–5; 18:15–22 Jeremiah 1:4–10 Ezekiel 3:4–11

Haggai Zephaniah, a descendent of Hezekiah Zechariah Malachi Moses Joshua Eleazar Ezra David Solomon Ezekiel Agur son of Jakeh King Lemuel King Solomon Isaiah son of Amoz Jeremiah Daniel Hosea son of Beeri Joel son of Pethuel AmosObadiah Jonah son of Amittai Micah Nahum Habakkuk

2. Who were the writers of the Bible? New Testament Hebrews 1:1–2 2 Peter 1:16–21 1 Thessalonians 2:13–16; 4:1–2, 8

Paul, rabbi James, half-brother of Jesus Matthew, disciple Mark, disciple Luke, physician John, disciple Simon Peter, disciple Jude

3. Where does the Bible get its authority?

“There are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New. The collusion factor would have been impossible … Speaking at a lecture, author and Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias said the following:

“Go back to the prophet Isaiah writing 700 years before Christ, prophesying his virgin birth; Micah talking about the city where he would be born; Zechariah talking about the way the Messiah would be crucified …

“Take these writers, most of whom were not contemporaries, and you put all the converging lines of evidence...

“Take the hundreds of prophecies and bring them into the Person of Jesus. It would’ve taken an extraordinary stroke of genius to bring that into convergence in one single person.” YET THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT GOD DID. Ravi Zacharias

God is the author of the Bible. It was written down by men led by the Holy Spirit. In it, God gives us all we need for faith and obedience.

So What? Treasuring God’s Word Copyright © 2012 Great Commission Publications. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. This publication contains copyrighted images from Thinkstock Corporation © 2012, and its licensors. Used under license. Survey data: 2007 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, (included in 2010 survey). Duplication of copyrighted material is not permitted. Great Commission Publications 3640 Windsor Park Drive Suwanee, GA