1. TAKING ISSUE WITH GOD! IS THE BIBLE RELEVANT TODAY? 2 Timothy 3: 15 -16, Hebrews 4:20, Psalm 119: 11, 105.

2. RELEVANT: Having a bearing on or connection with the matter at hand, pertinent: e.g. what small companies need is relevant advice. Meaningful or purposeful in current society or culture. Having practical value or applicability.

3. UNIVERSAL RELEVANCE PERSONAL RELEVANCE

4. AUTHENTICITY OF SCRIPTURE Copies of the New Testament that are just two generations older then when the originals would have been written (140 years). In the sheer volume of copies of the new Testament is what gives weight to its credibility. Homer’s Iliad has fewer than 650 Greek manuscripts copied 1000 years after Homer’s original. 2 earliest biographies of Alexander the Great were written more than 400 years after his death, and yet classical historians still consider them to be trustworthy. Another very strong link is volume of copies in different languages very early in the New Testament publication.

5. 2 Timothy 3:16-17: ” All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul & spirit, between joint & marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts & desires.” Mahatma Ghandi: “You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilisation to pieces, turn the world upside down, and bring peace to a war-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing than a piece of literature.”

6. PERSONAL RELEVANCE

7.  The Bible is only relevant only if it is true and you have need of it There must be more to life than this!? What is my life all about? What am I here for? Why can’t I seem to do the good that I want to do? How can I stop that habit/addiction that’s ruining my life? Why do I always stretch the truth? What happens when I die?

8.  The Bible is only relevant only if it is true and you have need of it AND you act on the truth of it.  Matthew 7:24 -27  Romans 12:2  Hebrews 4:12 D. L. Moody: “ The Bible wasn’t given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.” We are RICH! Ephesians 1:3!

9. Are you reading the Book? How is it impacting your life? What has God challenged you about this morning?