3. 1. Everyone is a theologian

4. 2. Every theology is incomplete

5. There is scarcely anything so dull and meaningless as Bible doctrine taught for its own sake. Truth divorced from life is not truth in its biblical sense, but something else and something less. - A.W. Tozer

6. HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US?

7. 1. General Revelation:

8. HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US? 1. General Revelation: Creation

9. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. - Psalms 19:1-2

10. “They were calling out to each other, Holy, holy, holy is the L ORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” – Isaiah 6:3

11. “For what can be known about God is plain to them…” - Romans 1:19

12. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? - Psalms 8:3-4

13. HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US? 1. General Revelation: Creation Conscience

14. “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” – Matthew 7:11

15. HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US? 1. General Revelation: Creation Conscience Common Grace

16. “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” – Matthew 5:45

17. “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” – Luke 6:35

18. HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US? 1.General Revelation: 2.Special Revelation:

19. WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

20. Written over a period of approx. 1,500 years, more than 40 authors, from 3 continents

21. WHAT IS THE BIBLE? 1205 – Stephen Langton

22. WHAT IS THE BIBLE? 1205 – Stephen Langton 1240 – Cardinal Hugo of St. Cher

23. WHAT IS THE BIBLE? 1205 – Stephen Langton 1240 – Cardinal Hugo of St. Cher 1557 – Robert Stephanus

24. WHO WROTE THE BIBLE?

25. WHAT IS THE CANON OF SCRIPTURE?

26. Greek – kanon/Hebrew – qaneh

27. CAN I TRUST MY BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD?

28. AUTHOREARLIEST COPYNO. OF COPIES Homer?643 PlatoApprox. 1,300 yrs.7 AristotleApprox. 1,400 yrs.5 CaesarApprox. 950 yrs.10 TacitusApprox. 1,000 yrs.20 New Testament

29. AUTHOREARLIEST COPYNO. OF COPIES Homer?643 PlatoApprox. 1,300 yrs.7 AristotleApprox. 1,400 yrs.5 CaesarApprox. 950 yrs.10 TacitusApprox. 1,000 yrs.20 New TestamentApprox. 100 yrs.

30. AUTHOREARLIEST COPYNO. OF COPIES Homer?643 PlatoApprox. 1,300 yrs.7 AristotleApprox. 1,400 yrs.5 CaesarApprox. 950 yrs.10 TacitusApprox. 1,000 yrs.20 New TestamentApprox. 100 yrs.About 14,000

31. IS THE BIBLE SUFFICIENT FOR ALL I NEED?

32. Sola Scriptura vs. Solo Scriptura

33. WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT TRANSLATIONS OF SCRIPTURE?

34. “Tied to the stake, strangled by the hangman, and afterwards consumed with fire.” – Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

35. TRANSLATIONS :

36. TRANSLATIONS : 1) Formal-Equivalence (word for word)

37. TRANSLATIONS : 1) Formal-Equivalence (word for word) 2) Dynamic-Equivalence (thought for thought)

38. TRANSLATIONS : 1) Formal-Equivalence (word for word) 2) Dynamic-Equivalence (thought for thought) 3) Paraphrased

40. What does Scripture actually say?

41. What does Scripture actually mean?

42. What does Scripture actually say? What does Scripture actually mean? How should I respond?

43. 1) Start with Jesus.

44. Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. - Hebrews 1:1-2

45. 1) Start with Jesus. Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. - Colossians 1:15

46. 1) Start with Jesus. 2) Check it against Scripture.

47. 1) Start with Jesus. 2) Check it against Scripture. 3) Talk with leaders about it.

48. 1) Start with Jesus. 2) Check it against Scripture. 3) Talk with leaders about it. 4) Exercise discernment communally.

49. Does the word cause people to rebel against God and serve idols? Then it's not from God (Deut 13:1-3)

50. Does it fail to come true? Then it's not from God (Deut 18:21-22)

51. Does the word cause people to rebel against God and serve idols? Then it's not from God (Deut 13:1-3) Does it fail to come true? Then it's not from God (Deut 18:21-22) Does it cause people to see Jesus as Lord? Then it's from the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3)

52. Does the word cause people to rebel against God and serve idols? Then it's not from God (Deut 13:1-3) Does it fail to come true? Then it's not from God (Deut 18:21-22) Does it cause people to see Jesus as Lord? Then it's from the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3) Does it edify Christians and cause unbelievers to worship God? Then it's from the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 14:3, 24-25)

53. “When the Scriptures speak, God speaks.” – Martin Luther