FBCWest 714 | The Word
Recorded On: 05/31/2026
Bulletin
Hymn # 190 “Softly and Tenderly”
SCRIPTURE READING – Matthew 11:28 - 30
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC – Pru Hungate
Praise and Worship
“Endless Light”
“God so Loved”
“Your Promises”
Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“The Word”
PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
Hymn #142 “Wonderful Words of Life”
Acknowledgements and Announcements
Sermon Notes
2 Timothy 3:16
2 Peter 3:14 - 16 It is God breathed Paul’s writings are Scripture
1 Peter 1:24 & 25 Lasts forever
1 Peter 2:1 – 3 Long for it
Psalm 119:9 -19 Helps to keep it and never forget it
Psalm 119:105 It is a light to our way
Romans 15:4 Gives hope and encouragement
Hebrews 1:1 – 3 God spoke through Jesus who is God
Scritpures
Transcript of Service
Many Bible teachers will tell you that you should read the scriptures frequently, perhaps even daily. Well, that's a good idea. We're going to talk today that not only is reading good, but we should be studying the scriptures. And why studying the scriptures is so important to our development. So I encourage you to listen to why studying the word is so important. When it comes to the Bible, there's a lot of people who have different views of the value of it. You have some people who have never read the scriptures, you'll have somebody who will say, well, I've read the Bible once.
And then most Christians will say that we try to read the scriptures and we're not as disciplined as we ought to be. And then you'll have people who say, I read the scriptures every day. Reading the scriptures is very important. But I think we should move past that into study the scriptures, because you can't succeed anything unless you develop a system to study things. So for instance, if I wanted to understand and master physics, simply reading a book on physics will not allow me to master the concept. Most disciplines, whether it's mathematics, the law, whatever has their own vocabulary, has their own way of thinking that has their own concepts and developments. The Bible is the same way. And so if you don't understand vocabulary, if you don't understand the history, if you don't understand the various aspects of it, then you may miss the true meanings.
So for instance, and the book of Hebrews talks about certain things that happen in the books of Genesis. If you don't understand the well understanding of Genesis, then you miss some of the teachings in Hebrews. And so we should study the scriptures. And I'm going to tell you several instances why it's so important. So the first scripture that I want to take a look at as scriptures is so important is found in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16.
It says, first of all scriptures is inspired by God. So notice it doesn't pick in shoes. It says the whole Bible is inspired by God by God.
The author, if you will, of the scriptures is God. There is no one more well qualified to talk about what God is expects and who God is than the God who's inspiring the writing of the scriptures. We like to think about certain people who are experts in a field and will rely on those experts. Well, if God is the author of the scriptures, then we should take that statement to heart and say, I need what God is saying because it's God saying it, not some expert who says something about it. It's God. And it says that it is profitable for teaching. It has value understanding of where to go so that you can. So that others might understand the scriptures.
The better for a roof and for correction so that when we see ourselves on the wrong path or doing the wrong thing or making needing to make corrections, the scriptures are the way we can do that. We can understand that we are. Path or for training and righteousness.
Well, that's kind of the goal is that we want to be like Christ. He is the one who's our righteousness, but we want to live a life like him to emulate him. And so we.
Understanding and. Studying the scriptures, we can be trained for that righteousness, just like it requires training, whether it's an academics or athletics, the more you train and something, the better you become at it. And. More value thing to. To acquire and to understand is what God has told us. For you see. There is.
An understanding that the scriptures even says that it is obvious that there is a God. Who is look at the universe, look at the stars, look at the expanse, look at the ocean and the waves, look at the multiplicity of life on earth, look at the complexity of even the human cell. All of these things are statements of that there is a God. And tell us who God is. It simply tells us that he's powerful.
That he's. Omniscient. It tells us these things, but it doesn't tell us the qualities of who God is. It is his word inspired by others that tells us. God, a merciful God, a forgiving God, one who.
Doesn't tolerate if you will sin, but has provided a way for us. To be cured of the most. Greatest illness of mankind. The scripture tells us exactly who God is. By studying that, we then understand who God is, all the better. But currently, while I said all the scriptures in modern times, there are people who don't like Paul's writings because they think Paul is a little more.
Limitating his culture or whatever, and they don't like Paul. Peter and Paul had some differences. As a matter of fact, Paul rebuked Peter one time for. Being subject to those who were of the Jewish portion of the Christianity and separated himself from the Gentiles and Paul corrected him. So if there was someone who would have a hostility towards God, it would be Peter. That's what Peter says about Paul in his writings. And second Peter chapter three verse 14 through 16 says this.
Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by him in peace, spotless and blameless. And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So our beloved brother Paul, according to wisdom given to him, wrote to you as also.
All in all of his letters, speaking in terms of those things in which some things are hard to understand, which the untought and unstable the thought as they do also the. Pictures to their own destruction. Peter is saying the letters of Paul is scriptures.
You may not agree or disagree with the writing of the scriptures. But if God is the one who is breathing that scripture and even agree with Paul, it is still scripture. And so whether we like it or not in a space that there are aspects of the scriptures. That is difficult for giving everyone loving people doing the various things you go. In my situation, it's different.
So there are times when the scriptures can be hard to do, but simply because they're hard to do doesn't mean they're not scripture. So again, why is it studying the scripture? Well, first Peter one chapter one verse 24 and 25 says this. All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls off.
But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this also freaks to you. It is saying that the word of God is not transitory. It's not temporary. It is eternal. It is.
Unfailing. It is forever. We could study. Science. We could study geography and do all these different studies. But as we gain more knowledge, sometimes those theories are no longer theories because more evidence has disproved them.
But even at best studies that we study ultimately doesn't change who we are. Well, we might know more about sociology or psychiatry. It doesn't deal in a permanent because science likes to modify and change. But the word of God endures forever. And so it's the one thing that we can. Study and come to grips with and to understand. That doesn't change tomorrow. No new expert comes and says, oh, we had this formula for that equation was wrong.
The word of the Lord endures forever. So it is something that has value of permanence. And we're not wasting our time by studying it. First Peter chapter two verse one. Therefore putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy in all slander like newborn babies long for the pure work of pure milk of the word so that by it you make grow in respect to salvation. He said we should desire the word of God as much as a baby desires milk and when a baby gets hungry, what does it do? It cries until it is satisfied with milk.
But we can't be willing spiritually to be emaciated because we don't desire the work, the word like pure milk. And so again, that desire should be within us to not be satisfied with just. Or just a little bit, but that pure milk of the word so why so that we make grow in respect to salvation. And we might understand more deeply and appreciate more fully what God has done for us. And we know that he has saved us and his word.
That understanding that we have been saved but it also gives us that understanding that he has saved us but hasn't just left us that he's going to continue to to grow us and to justify us. And to ultimately glorify us. It allows us to grow and if you don't study the word, you're not going to grow as a believer. I've heard pastor say that the word of God will keep you from sin, will keep you from the word of God. Peter saying, our desire should be so much just like a baby that we will not be content unless we get that word so that we might grow in salvation. And then he adds up by by saying this. I've tasted the kindness of the Lord. Why is the word so special?
Because we've understood through it and by what God has done. How kind and merciful that he is. We have tasted a lot of your children. Parents try to get their children to eat various foods for the first time and as children we usually. Just assume that it's taste bad and we don't want to try it. But it was a food that when we tasted as children, we discover that it tastes good. That we enjoy it and we want to eat more typically kids like hamburgers and they don't want to eat steaks.
They get to a certain age and they go. Steak is much better than a hamburger and all of a sudden now you're hoping they'll eat hamburgers because steaks are so much more. Expensive Peter saying once you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. Then you're going to want the word of God all the. Because you understand just who he is and what he's done for you. And he's going to taste it. God's kindness.
We then want more of his word. There's another reason that we should study the word and not simply read it. And nine through nineteen is this.
How can a young man keep his way pure? So how is it that we can conduct our lives honorably without sin? And a sense of honorable towards others by keeping it according to your word. Say one of the ways that we can stay sinless that we can avoid the traps is that we keep our ways according to his word. Well, how do we know how to keep his ways by studying determining that God has set up guard rails if you will for us. All too often people think well God has all these rules and regulations because he doesn't want us to have any fun.
No God wants us to have an abundant life. He wants to have us a joyful life. And I think that's the reason why God has set up a guard rail. That there are certain things that if we get off the path can be devastating. Now I've used this before and I'll probably continue to use it. But when you're like in a mountain highway and where there's ravines and whatever you'll find guard rails to prevent you from going off over the side and have.
Not for you to bump up against it, but to prevent you from going over the edge. But so often we as people we want to bump up against the guard rails testing them. Thinking that that's it was a problem is if going up that mountain road. The guard rails pretty soon your vehicle is going to have all kinds of dense. And maybe even a flat tire.
Fumping against the guard rails that God has said for us isn't good for us prevents us perhaps from going over into the ravine. But the best way to have. O life a beautiful life is to keep it according to his words. It says with all my heart I have thought you. Do not let me wander from your commandments.
I'm seeking the promise and I'm seeking God. If I wander from your commandments that takes me in the wrong direction. So I seek you with all my heart. But I don't want to wander from your commandments. We study those commandments where we should act. Your word I have treasured in my heart.
That I might not sin against you. So notice two things. One, the sum is the value of God's word is so much that I've treasured it.
I'm not a person who I am. If you don't study the word then how is it that you treasure that word? You come to a more complete understanding when you treasure something. You value it. You hold on to it. You want to keep it. And the advantage is that it says because I treasure your word in my heart.
Let go of that word that are your softest words. It says I'm not speaking about this word. Then it says examine the word, and sometimes you may not sin against you. It case me on that narrow path or I don't sin against you, God. Blessed are you, O Lord. And what is God done? Not only has he given us his word, but he's also given us the Holy Spirit that might help us to understand and to learn God's plans for us. So he says, God, you're blessed.
Teach me what a wonderful is God. With my lips, I have told you told of all the ordinances of your mouth. I know the word of God so well that I can repeat it, that I can tell others from, if you will, my of that.
So he says, study the word. So much so that you know the word of God, and you're having to look it up, that I can have confidence to simply speak what God has said. Voice in your way of your testimonies as much as in all riches. Notice again, the psalmist is saying, I rejoice in what God has testified in the scriptures. I don't know how you that much more than how sad when all too often we prefer riches to the word of God. I will meditate on your precepts and regard your ways. Again, notice, it didn't just simply say, well, I'll read your scriptures and do my five minute devotion and I've done. He goes, no, I will meditate on your precepts.
I will meditate on what you're teaching, what you're trying to advise me. I will think about it. I will meditate it. So you can, if you will, read the scriptures, and then that should not be the end of it. You should, throughout the day, wonder and contemplate, what is God trying to say? How is it that that teaching can be applied to my life and make me a better believer? And regard your way.
Again, we're seeking to please God, not men, so he goes, by meditating on what God is telling us, I can regard the way you want me to go. I shall delight in your statutes. I shall not forget your word. I have used the New American Standard Bible since about probably the late 70s, long time.
And sometimes, though, when I recall a verse, some of the words will come from the King James, because I read those early on and they kind of stuck with me. So sometimes, when I'm trying to find a verse, I'm picking out the wrong word and the concordinance, because the King James and the Alexander may have a different word. But by understanding the scriptures, they can impact your lives for decades. Because I shall delight. I enjoy it. It's not a dream to study your word, your statutes.
And I shall not forget your word. And hopefully, as we study the scriptures, and we are subject to temptation or whatever we go, wait a minute, God, something to say on this, and I'm not going to forget it, I'm going to remember it. Deal, balance it with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Again, notice, he keeps going over and over. The word of God, as clearance. The word of God, I delight. The word of God keeps me on the right path. The word of God, I'm focused on the word of God, and I'm focused on the word of God.
And that is the word of God. It's the word of God. You are all doing it. And I understand that. Is that, which is bound to fall in your servant, that I may keep, may live and keep your word. I just don't want to be one who does that I may be hold the wonderful things from your law. That's probably one of the reasons why people who don't have faith, when they read the Bible, when they read God's Word, that they get nothing out of it because they see their blind.
The Psalmist is saying, I want God to open my eyes so that I might be hold, that I might understand, that I might recognize the wonderful things from your law. All too often we say, they'll show not and we go, and what he doesn't want me to have fun or enjoy my life, he's going, wait a minute, if I truly understand with my eyes, the wonderful things in God's law, that I will truly understand that is done for my benefit. I'm a stranger in the earth, do not hide your commandments from me. He's saying, I am no longer fit for this world. I have so put the Word of that has changed me, that I live differently, that instead of riches, I desire God's Word, I desire His Presence, rather than saying or whatever. So go, do not hide your commandments. May I see that, and even though I may be different, keep my eyes on what you've commanded.
Another reason that the Word of God is important and should be studied, not just read, is found in Psalms 119, 105. It says, your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. If you are asleep and you need to get up for some reason and you don't turn on the light, there's a risk that if you put something that has fallen on your path, you may trip over it and stumble or maybe even fall. That's what happens when you're in the dark, or you may hit something that you weren't expecting. And if you don't have shoes on and jams your toes, and you hurt, you're saying, God's Word is that lamp to my feet that I may walk in the right path without stumbling, without stripping, and without stubbing not only my toes, but my life.
That Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. It's not simply giving me light for the close up, but I can see the path more clearly because it is the light to my path. No wonder people aren't quite sure what's happening or what's God's doing or whatever, because having not studied the scriptures, they don't use that light to be a lamp to the light. To be a lamp to their feet to make decisions on how they should proceed or whether they should proceed at all. It's a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. If you get nothing out of this message than that, God's Word has great value for the here and now. So, this is about the Word of God in Romans 15, verse 4. For whatever was written in earlier times, it was written for our instruction.
You'll hear a lot of people say, well, I'm a Christian, I'm a new Testament believer. Well, the problem was that if, and what was written before and earlier times and the Old Testament, you don't get the full instructions. So, we are to read and study the entire Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament. Probably the unfortunate thing about calling it old, think of something old, we think, well, this is new and improved, it's better. Without the whole Council of God, you don't understand the full instructions.
As I said earlier, Hebrews talks about things that happen in Genesis. You don't read Genesis, you're missing the instruction about Abram had faith and how what Sarah did and what Jacob did, all of these people who lived in the, and their lives were recorded in the Old Testament, or written not just to tell us a story, not just to have some type of share things, but it's written there for our instruction that we might learn from their mistakes and their successes, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope. Now, notice, and the perseverance and the encouragement of this, if you don't study the Scriptures, then no wonder we don't persevere. No wonder we have hopelessness because the Scriptures and its instructions in God's Word gives us both that sense of, we can keep on keeping on, because that in us, nothing separates us from the love of God. It gives us that encouragement to keep on keeping on, and it gives us that hope that this is not all that there is. And the last Scripture that I want to use in Hebrews chapter 1 verses 1 through 3. And it says this, God, after he spoke long ago to the fathers and the prophets, and in many portions, and in many ways, and these last days has spoken to us and his son, only appointed air of all things to whom he made the world.
And he is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his nature, and it pulls all things by the Word of his power. When he had made purification of sin, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. The Word of God was spoken to us in these last days through Jesus. And that Word spoken to us tells us that Jesus is the exact representation of God. If you want to know who God is, then study Jesus.
If you want to understand what God studied Jesus, if you want to understand what God is doing in the world, study Jesus because he is the exact representation of the radiance of his glory. And God spoke in the gospel of John. It says, in the beginning was the Word, was with God, and the Word was God.
Then later he says, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. So basically God is saying, you want to know who I am? See that word? That word is Jesus. Is that person that God is expressing who he is? His love, his mercy, his teaching?
That's who he is. And so understanding Jesus gives us an understanding of exactly who God is. We should understand what God is saying. About that pure Word of God comes to us and a man, God, named Jesus, Joshua. Who was the I.M.?
And we invest the whole point of the Scriptures. Because Jesus, even himself says, you look for eternal life, you look in the Scriptures. And in them speaks of me.
He, Genesis and Exodus, and Leviticus and Numbers and Bouterronomy, and all the other Old Testament prophets. And you see the New Testament in the gospels and the letters. The whole point is pointing to Jesus who points us to God. He is the wonderful words of life. Now a God's people said.
The Word of God