Just a few years after Jesus appeared and spoke words of life here on earth, Peter had to defend the integrity of the Word of God. He said, "We have not followed cleverly devised myths...but were eyewitnesses to his majesty...We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place." (2 Peter 1:16, 19).

If Peter had to make such a defense of God's Word so close to the time of Christ, what about the believers of today some 2,000 years after the events of the Bible? How can we be certain that the Bible of today isn't some "cleverly devised myth" as so many in our world believe?

This message seeks to examine the physical evidence for the integrity of the actual text of the Old and New Testaments. From the standpoint of evidence, can we be certain that the words we read in our bibles today are the words inspired by God so long ago? And should there be evidence in favor of this, is that all we need to fully trust in the written Word?

Put on your investigative hats as we explore these and other important questions about our faith and practice in light of the Bible of today, yesterday, and forever.

Just a few years after Jesus appeared and spoke words of life here on earth, Peter had to defend the integrity of the Word of God. He said, "We have not followed cleverly devised myths...but were eyewitnesses to his majesty...We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place." (2 Peter 1:16, 19).

If Peter had to make such a defense of God's Word so close to the time of Christ, what about the believers of today some 2,000 years after the events of the Bible? How can we be certain that the Bible of today isn't some "cleverly devised myth" as so many in our world believe?

This message seeks to examine the physical evidence for the integrity of the actual text of the Old and New Testaments. From the standpoint of evidence, can we be certain that the words we read in our bibles today are the words inspired by God so long ago? And should there be evidence in favor of this, is that all we need to fully trust in the written Word?

Put on your investigative hats as we explore these and other important questions about our faith and practice in light of the Bible of today, yesterday, and forever.

Hebrews 11:1 asks that, in our approach to God, which includes our approach to the Bible, that we value both evidence and faith. This is one of many paradoxes, or apparent contradictions, whereby we are to enter into and embrace the presence and reality of God.

To better understand this, this sermon looks at another paradox: the person of Jesus, himself. Jesus is God come into this world as a human being. He was, and is, fully divine and fully man. But Jesus isn't just known as "God made flesh," he is also the "Word made flesh." So to understand this mystery in Jesus is to understand the Word of God, the Bible itself.

Within the incarnation of God's living Word, we find the inspiration for God's written Word. Through Jesus, we can approach the Bible depending upon both faith and evidence, divinity and humanity, mystery and reason. Through Jesus and the testimony of the Holy Spirit, our confidence in the written Word becomes sure.

Hebrews 11:1 asks that, in our approach to God, which includes our approach to the Bible, that we value both evidence and faith. This is one of many paradoxes, or apparent contradictions, whereby we are to enter into and embrace the presence and reality of God.

To better understand this, this sermon looks at another paradox: the person of Jesus, himself. Jesus is God come into this world as a human being. He was, and is, fully divine and fully man. But Jesus isn't just known as "God made flesh," he is also the "Word made flesh." So to understand this mystery in Jesus is to understand the Word of God, the Bible itself.

Within the incarnation of God's living Word, we find the inspiration for God's written Word. Through Jesus, we can approach the Bible depending upon both faith and evidence, divinity and humanity, mystery and reason. Through Jesus and the testimony of the Holy Spirit, our confidence in the written Word becomes sure.

How strongly do you trust in the source and integrity of the Scriptures? Do you trust in the whole Bible as your chief authority for faith and practice? Or do you only trust in parts of the Bible, having certain pet Scriptures or sections while ignoring or doubting others?

By what criteria does either your trust or skepticism in the Scriptures come? Are you a person who trusts more in evidence, what is seen or can be tested from within the physical world? Or are you someone who trusts more in faith, that which is unseen, heavenly, and mysterious, that which cannot be tested or approved by human means?

This message, part 1 of 2, makes the claim that to trust in the Scriptures we must live in an apparent contradiction, a paradox where we elevate both evidence and faith, or better said, the evidence of faith.

This is the only way to please God and to see his written revelation revealed for what it truly is: the infallible, authoritative, inerrant, sufficient, life-giving, and trustworthy Word of God for us and mankind.

How strongly do you trust in the source and integrity of the Scriptures? Do you trust in the whole Bible as your chief authority for faith and practice? Or do you only trust in parts of the Bible, having certain pet Scriptures or sections while ignoring or doubting others?

By what criteria does either your trust or skepticism in the Scriptures come? Are you a person who trusts more in evidence, what is seen or can be tested from within the physical world? Or are you someone who trusts more in faith, that which is unseen, heavenly, and mysterious, that which cannot be tested or approved by human means?

This message, part 1 of 2, makes the claim that to trust in the Scriptures we must live in an apparent contradiction, a paradox where we elevate both evidence and faith, or better said, the evidence of faith.

This is the only way to please God and to see his written revelation revealed for what it truly is: the infallible, authoritative, inerrant, sufficient, life-giving, and trustworthy Word of God for us and mankind.

As demonstrated last week, Jesus, and our faith in Jesus, are the ultimate foundation for the Christian individual and for the church. But the words of Jesus and obeying those words are also foundational. And so the Word of God, the Bible, becomes the gateway whereby we can rest and grow upon the foundation of Christ.

How much do you trust in the Bible as a foundation for your life? Many people as lifelong Christians would swear the Bible is foundational. But is it? Is it possible that you may not be able to articulate or defend why the Bible is foundational? To yourself or others?

Do you take the Bible for granted at times? Are there gaps in your knowledge of its truths? Have you asked yourself the hard questions about its integrity and trustworthiness, or do you simply trust in the Bible with a type of "blind faith"?

This short sermon series will make an introductory pass at instilling in you, or at least reminding you, why you can trust in the written Scriptures completely, how you can strengthen your confidence in the Bible's original source, the integrity of God's communication within its pages, and in your ability to translate the power and effectiveness of God's living Word to those in your life who need to know its truths.

To stand upon the rock of Christ you need to stand firm upon his Word. How firm is your foundation?

As demonstrated last week, Jesus, and our faith in Jesus, are the ultimate foundation for the Christian individual and for the church. But the words of Jesus and obeying those words are also foundational. And so the Word of God, the Bible, becomes the gateway whereby we can rest and grow upon the foundation of Christ.

How much do you trust in the Bible as a foundation for your life? Many people as lifelong Christians would swear the Bible is foundational. But is it? Is it possible that you may not be able to articulate or defend why the Bible is foundational? To yourself or others?

Do you take the Bible for granted at times? Are there gaps in your knowledge of its truths? Have you asked yourself the hard questions about its integrity and trustworthiness, or do you simply trust in the Bible with a type of "blind faith"?

This short sermon series will make an introductory pass at instilling in you, or at least reminding you, why you can trust in the written Scriptures completely, how you can strengthen your confidence in the Bible's original source, the integrity of God's communication within its pages, and in your ability to translate the power and effectiveness of God's living Word to those in your life who need to know its truths.

To stand upon the rock of Christ you need to stand firm upon his Word. How firm is your foundation?

After the completion of the morning's sermon, Pastor John made the announcement of his resignation as pastor of Union Christian Church, and his plans to serve until December 15th, 2019.

Where do we find our stability and growth as Christians in the church?

Most often, we'd respond to this question with the correct answer, which is that our stability and growth come from God. But in practice, like the members of the church at Corinth, we too often look for our main stability through human means, primarily through the human leaders and ministers in the church who are with us wherever we choose to worship.

But as we see in the writings of Paul in 1 Corinthians 3, and in the story of Jesus asking his disciples in Matthew 16, "Who do you say that I am?", our chief foundation for stability and growth must come from Jesus Christ. And not just Christ, specifically, but from our faith and confession in the crucified and risen Christ.

Only when our lives are founded upon the rock of this heavenly confession, can Christians and the church ever hope to grow strong and prosper. Human leaders and ministers are definitely a vital part of God's church, but they shouldn't be the source of our ultimate peace and hope as we look to the future.