The Good Doctor

How did we come to know and believe the stories of Jesus? Dr. Luke begins his Gospel with a description of how and why he wanted to capture the story of Jesus on paper. Join us for the first message in Inception as we explore the development, reliability and purpose of the Bible.

Passage (read it):

• Luke 1:1-4

Principles (know them):

The development of the Bible:

• A synthesis of human witness and divine inspiration
• 2 Timothy 3:15-16 & 2 Peter 1:21
• Spans 4,000 years; 40 (+/-) authors; 3 languages; multiple genres

The reliability of the Bible:

• 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
• See this week’s suggested daily readings and discussion guide.
• “If we believe what the best sources say about Julius Caesar, then we should believe what the best sources say about Jesus Christ.” – Darrell Bock, Dallas Theological Seminary
• Council of Nicaea in 325 – The church sets the canon (the books of the Bible)

The purpose of the Bible:

• Luke 1:4; John 20:31; 1 John 5:13
• The assurance of your faith and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Practices (do them):

1. Commit to a systematic Bible reading plan.
2. Engage with God’s Word in community.
3. Pray for insight and faith so that the Word may be made flesh in you.

Daily Readings:

Luke begins his Gospel with his motivation and desire for writing this book. There are several other passages throughout the Bible that help us understand how the scripture we read came to be. This week’s daily readings will focus on several of these passages. As you read each passage, pay attention to what the text says about the origins and reliability of the Bible. Ask God to increase your desire for Him and His Word.

Day 1: Joshua 1
Day 2: Psalm 119
Day 3: Jeremiah 36
Day 4: John 20
Day 5: 1 John 5
Day 6: 2 Timothy 3
Day 7: Revelation 10

Suggested Resources:

Books:

Eat This Book, by Eugene Peterson
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, by Gordon Fee and Doug Stewart
Understanding the Bible, by John Stott

Other sermon series (visit the sermon page):

Burning Scrolls (August 23, 2020)
The Holy Hand Grenade (February 16, 2020)
Because: Why We Teach From the Bible in Every Sermon (October 22, 2017)