1. Consistency Provides Connection

Daniel 6:10; Ephesians 4:1; Galatians 6:9-10

2. Consistency Builds Confidence

Deuteronomy 22:9-10; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Matthew 12:25; James 1:17

3. Consistency Creates Closeness

Song of Solomon 4:1, 3, 7; James 4:8

4. Consistency Clarifies Communication

1 Corinthians 15:57-58; James 5:12

5. Consistency Grows Consecration

Genesis 12:1-3; Romans 3:23

Lesson 2—The Inspiration of the Scriptures

Definition of Inspiration

“God’s superintendence of human authors so that, using their own individual personalities, they composed and recorded without error His revelation to man in the words of the original autographs.”

-Charles Ryrie

“Plenary Verbal Inspiration”

Plenary — Full or all

Verbal — The words

Inspiration — God-breathed

#9 - The MERIT Of Faithfulness

Matthew 25:14-15

• The Man Embarked

• The Servant Employed – 2 Timothy 2:24-25

How Can I Hear “Well Done Thou Good And Faithful Servant”?

1. Remember That There Is A Trust COMMITTED

Matthew 25:14-15; 2 Timothy 2:24-25; 1 Timothy 6:20

2. Remember That The Trust Is To Be ADVANCED

Matthew 25:16-17; Proverbs 3:13-14

3. Remember That The Trust Can Be NEGLECTED

Matthew 25:18; James 5:3

4. Remember That The Trust Will Be ACCOUNTED

Matthew 25:19, 20; Zechariah 4:10

● A Good Account Of Faithful Servants

Matthew 5:21-22

God Rewards The Faithful In Two Ways:

- They Will Be A Ruler Over Many Things – 2 Timothy 4:8

- They Will Enter Into The Joy Of The Lord – Matthew 25:21; Hebrews 12:2; Psalm 101:6; Proverbs 28:20

● A Bad Account Of Unfaithful Servants – Matthew 25:24-27, Zechariah 4:10

Adult Bible Class

Some Facts About The Bible:

• The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years by over 40 different authors

• The Bible was written in several different countries on 3 continents

• The Bible was written primarily in 2 different languages (Hebrew-OT and Greek-NT)

• The Bible touches on hundreds of topics but has one united message

The Purpose of the Bible: To reveal God’s truth to mankind

How God Reveals Himself:

1. General Revelation

a. Nature — The beauty, order, complexity, and intricacy reveal a powerful and wise God

b. Conscience — Every man has an inner sense of right and wrong (morality)

2. Special Revelation

a. Jesus — Jesus is the perfect revelation of God

b. The Bible — Without the Bible we might believe there is a God but we would not know who He was, what He expected of us, or how to get to know Him

Message #8 – The MANIFESTATION in Faithfulness

1 Thessalonians 5:23; Ecclesiastes 3:18

1. The Explanation

• The DISHONESTY of the Shrewd Steward – Luke 16:1; Proverbs 18:9; Numbers 32:23

• The DISCHARGE of the Shrewd Steward – Luke 16:2; James 1:14

• The DISCERNMENT of the Shrewd Steward – Luke 16:3-7

2. The Application – Luke 16:8

Four Principles of Faithfulness With Our Resources:

1) The Things of This World Are Temporary – Luke 16:9; 2 Corinthians 5:1

2) The Things of This World Are to be Used and Not Abused – Luke 16:10,11; 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Three Most Common Abuses of God’s Resources:

• Spending God’s Tithe

• Spending More Than We Have

• Spending Future Income

3)The Things of This World Are Not Ours – Luke 16:12

4) The Things of This World Are Indicators of Our Allegiances – Luke 16:13

Message #7 – The MEANS in Faithfulness

1 Corinthians 4:2; Matthew 25:21; Revelation 3:7-13; Isaiah 40:25; Mark 1:23; Psalm 130:3, 35:27

How the Church in Philadelphia Defined “Faithfulness”:

1. They Acted SPIRITUALLY

Rev 3:8; Luke 12:32; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:18-19; Isaiah 44:3

2. They Followed OBEDIENTLY

Rev. 3:8; John 14:23; Psalm 119:142; Psalm 33:4

3. They Stood LOYALY – Rev. 3:8; Lamentations 3:22-24

4. They Endured PATIENTLY – Rev. 3:10; Isaiah 50:6-7; 1 Corinthians 16:9

Message #6 – The MAXIMUM in Faithfulness

Revelation 2:8-11

Three Loving Cautions:

1. A Foreknowledge – Rev. 2:8,9; Isaiah 41:4; Romans 2:28

2. A Forewarning – Rev. 2:10; John 16:33

3. A Fore-arming – Rev. 2:10-11

Three Aspects of Our For-Arming:

• A Limited Circumstance

- Two Parts to ours Limited Circumstance’s

o It Will Not be for Everyone – Rev. 2:10; Philippians 2:27

o It Will Not be Forever – Rev. 2:10

• A Lavish Compensation – Rev. 2:10

- Two Parts to God’s Lavish Compensation:

o The Sureness of the Reward – Rev. 2:10

o The Suitableness of the Reward – Rev. 2:10

• A Loving Comfort – Rev. 2:11; 1 John 5:4-5

The Four Criteria Faithfulness:

1. The DISTINGUISHING of a Faithful Christian

1 Cor 4:1; Acts 20:19; Luke 1:2; Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 4:10; Psalm 119:89-90; 2 Corinthians 4:1-2

2. The DICTATES of a Faithful Christian

1 Cor 4:2, 4:17; Matthew 24:45-46

3. The DISPLAY of a Faithful Christian

1 Cor 4:3; Luke 17:1; Galatians 1:10; 2 Samuel 24:14; 2 Corinthians 10:18; 1 Cor 4:4

4. The DISCERNMENT of a Faithful Christian

1 Cor 4:5; 10:31

Faithfulness Means Loyalty in Four Areas:

1. Prayerfulness

2 Thessalonians 3:1; Psalm 125:2

Two Specific Requests of Faithful Prayer:

- For the Success of the MESSAGE

That the word of the Lord would spread rapidly.

2 Thessalonians 3:1; Psalm 147:15; 1 Samuel 3:19; 2 Timothy 2:9

That the word of the Lord would be honored deeply.

- For the Safety of the MESSENGERS

2 Thessalonians 3:2

 

2. Fearlessness

2 Thessalonians 3:3

 

3. Steadfastness

2 Thessalonians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:2; Matthew 28:20

 

4. Godliness

2 Timothy 3:5

Faithfulness Means Loyalty in Four Areas:

 

1. Loyalty in ADHERENCE

Numbers 12:7 Nehemiah 9:7-8 Daniel 6:4 Proverbs 20:6, 29:14

 

2. Loyalty in DILIGENCE

3 John 1:5,6

3. Loyalty in REVERENCE

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 Isaiah 25:1 Titus 2:10

 

4. Loyalty in PERSEVERANCE

Hebrews 3:2Exodus 17:12