MESSAGE NOTES AND INDIVIDUAL/GROUP REFLECTION QUESTIONS, 1/12/25

When it comes to faith, everyone has doubts. What are yours? Questions and doubts are not the enemy of faith. They’re the path to a deeper faith. Whether a longtime Christian or brand new to faith, we are hoping you realize that our compassionate God is not afraid of the hard questions you have and you don’t have to be either.

This week, we will focus on the question: Is the Bible true? 

CONNECT

  1. What is your history with the Bible? When did it become meaningful to you? What roles does it play in your life today?  And if you could ask God any question about the Bible, what would it be?

REFLECT  

  1. What does it mean to you that the Bible is described as “inspired by God” in 2 Timothy 3:16-17? How does this influence your trust in Scripture? Though we don’t have original manuscripts, how does knowing that over 66,000 copies of portions of OT/NT manuscripts have been found?

  2. How do you reconcile passages in the Bible that seem to portray God differently, such as the contrast between Deuteronomy 32:40-42 and Matthew 5:43-47 with regards to the treatment of others?

  3. How do you respond to difficult passages in the Bible, such as those involving violence, judgment, or challenging cultural norms (women, slavery, LGBTQ)? What perspective helps you engage with these passages?

  1. As a Covenant Church, we affirm the centrality of the word of God. We believe the Bible is the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct. The dynamic, transforming power of the Word of God directs the church and the life of each Christian. In our heritage, we have often asked, “Where is it written” to emphasize this approach. What are your thoughts about this way of viewing the Bible?

  1. What does it mean to read the Bible for transformation (Romans 12:2) rather than just for information? When have you found Scripture to be a “lamp to your feet and a light to your path” (Psalm 119:105)? What examples come to mind?

  1. If being in the Word each day is beneficial to our souls, what has worked for you and what has been challenging? What step(s) do you need to take to make the Word more a part of your daily life?

PRAYER

Holy and loving God, thank you for breathing your Holy Word into the hearts of your believers so long ago. Thank you that the Old Testament historians, psalmists, and prophets, and the New Testament apostles took the time to write down the words you inspired in their hearts so that we, too, may grow to know you and draw near to you in faith. Help us to give Your Word authority and greater integration in our lives. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

RESOURCE

“Wrestling with Doubt Finding Faith” – Adam Hamilton

GUIDANCE FOR READING THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
“Teach me, Lord, the way of Your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.” (Psalm 119:33)

BIG PICTURE
We must remember that the big picture of this endeavor is to know God more and be transformed through His word.  God is not very interested in us simply checking off that we have read all 66 books in roughly 365 days. He wants to meet with us as we read and reflect on the Scripture readings each day. He wants us to be changed to be more like Jesus in our daily thoughts, words, and activities.

PRACTICAL TIPS
I’ve heard from a lot of people that they’ve tried reading through the Bible in a year before and didn’t finish it. That’s happened to me, too, so I wanted to share four tips that may help us all finish well:

  • Regular time & place: Having a regular time and place where you will do your Bible reading is helpful. It provides a steady routine for this endeavor. Think through when and where you will do your Bible reading.
  • Divide up the readings: You may want to do some readings in the morning, some at midday, or some before bed at night. This makes it easier to complete all the readings in the day without having to slog through all of them at once.
  • Read with someone: Reading with a friend or spouse not only keeps you accountable to someone, it is also a great way to think or pray through what you have read with another.
  • Listen to it: If you have time in the car or while working out, you may want to listen to some of your readings on audio. This allows you to take in God’s word through your ears and not just your eyes.
  • Focus on one: I was encouraged to hear that John Stott, a great Christian thinker, read through the Bible annually, but usually only picked one reading per day to dwell on in greater depth. I have found it helpful to do the same, choosing one reading a day – maybe one entire book, like the Gospel of Matthew to start – that I will think and pray through, while simply reading straight through the others each day.

IF YOU FALL BEHIND
If you fall behind in your readings, don’t give up! Here are some things you can do:

  • Add one extra reading per day until you catch up
  • Set aside an extended time one night or on the weekend to read a longer stretch
  • Start at the current day’s and agree with yourself to finish the other readings

PRAYER
In all of this, pray. Pray that God would help you be disciplined. Pray that God would help you hear from Him as you read. Pray that God would transform you to be more like Jesus. And pray all of those things for the others who are reading each day as well.

RESOURCES

www.bibleproject.com (search “bible reading plan”)

www.youversion.com  install YouVersion Bible App

www.bible.com (search “bible reading plan”)

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