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Biblical Illiteracy
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Introduction
1. A growing problem is one of “Biblical Illiteracy”
a. Not just by those in the world
b. Also in the church
c. “Americans revere the Bible – but, by and large, they don’t read it. And because they don’t read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates.” – George Gallup
2. How bad is it? Consider these results from various surveys
a. Fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels
b. Many professing Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples
c. 60 percent of Americans can’t name even five of the Ten Commandments
d. 82 percent of Americans believe “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse
e. 12 percent of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife
f. A survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife
g. A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham
3. “Increasingly, America is biblically illiterate.” – George Barna
4. “Biblical Illiteracy” is like a poison, wreaking havoc in the lives of individuals, in our churches, and in our communities.
Body
I. THE POISON OF BIBLICAL ILLITERACY
A. ITS EFFECT ON INDIVIDUALS
1. God’s people have always been destroyed by lack of knowledge – Hosea 4:1, 6
2. Where there is lack of God’s Word, the people faint – Amos 8:11-13
a. In ignorance they make the wrong choices
b. When they stumble, they do not know where to turn
3. Without a knowledge of God’s Word, a person has
a. No real direction or guidance in life – Psalm 119:105
b. No true joy or peace in life – Psalm 119:111,165
4. How many lives are being destroyed, how many people are stumbling through life, because they do not have the light of God’s Word guiding them?
B. ITS EFFECT ON CHURCHES
1. Churches languish for lack of teachers; teachers are few for lack of knowledge – Hebrews 5:12
2. Churches are led astray by false teachers and false doctrine, for how can the ignorant knows what is false? – cf. 2 Peter 2:1-3
3. How many churches are “dying on the vine”, or into wholesale apostasy because their members cannot discern between truth and error…?
C. ITS EFFECT ON COMMUNITIES
1. Our standards of morality are skewed, where good is evil and evil is good – Isaiah 5:20
a. We slaughter the innocent (abortion), sparing the guilty (no capital punishment)
b. We reward the wicked (movie stars, entertainers), depriving the good (teachers, etc.)
c. Divorce is made easy, adultery looked upon lightly, fornication “an affair, a relationship”, homosexuality an alternative lifestyle
2. The effect of such things destroy our families and communities
a. Evil (pornography, promiscuity) is allowed to spread in the name of “freedom”, ripping families apart
b. Children are deprived the kind of parenting that is their God-given right
c. Leading to juvenile delinquency and greater evils
3. Consider how the moral fabric of our nation and others in the world are becoming unraveled when “everyone does what is right in his own eyes” – Judges 21:25
D. The poison of “Biblical Illiteracy” has infected and sickened our people, our churches, and our communities. Is there an antidote to this poison? Indeed there is, but it requires individual effort
II. THE ANTIDOTE TO BIBLICAL ILLITERACY
A. DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING IN PRIVATE
1. The truly blessed person feeds upon the Word of God daily – Psalm 1:1-3; 119:97-98
2. A systematic practice of prayerful Bible reading as part of a daily devotional
a. Will bring a person closer to God
b. Will gradually increase one’s understanding of the Word of God
c. Will offer strength, comfort and hope that only the Scriptures provide
3. Are you willing to do your part, everyday, in stamping out Biblical Illiteracy?
B. FREQUENT IN-DEPTH BIBLE STUDY WITH OTHERS
1. The faithful Christian realizes the value of mutual edification- Hebrews 3:12-14; 10:24-25
2. Churches often provide the opportunity for Christians to study together
a. In their Bible classes on the Lord’s day, during the week, and in their homes
b. Where they can benefit from the knowledge of other Bible students
3. Are you willing to participate in such activities to stamp out Biblical Illiteracy?
C. PARENTS ACCEPTING THEIR GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY
1. God gave the responsibility of spiritual training to the parents – Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Ep 6:4
2. Church may provide assistance with their children’s classes, and yet…
a. Parents should not abdicate their responsibility to the church
b. Parents should be very much involved in the teaching programs of any church
3. Are you willing to accept your parental duties to stamp out Biblical Illiteracy?
D. PREACHERS FULFILLING THEIR DUTY TO THE WORD
1. Preachers are to give heed to the Word, and to preach the Word – 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5
2. We should expect preachers to be “men of the Book”
a. Preaching and teaching the Word of God, providing exposition of the Scriptures
b. Not entertaining us with “pop theology” and “pop psychology”
3. Are you willing to require that preachers proclaim the Word to stamp out Biblical Illiteracy?
Conclusion
1. I was encouraged to prepare this study reading an article by Albert Mohler (The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It’s Our Problem)
2. I thought his concluding paragraphs to be especially on the mark
a. “Churches must recover the centrality and urgency of biblical teaching and preaching, and refuse to sideline the teaching ministry of the preacher. Elders and churches too busy–or too distracted–to make biblical knowledge a central aim of ministry will produce believers who simply do not know enough to be faithful disciples.”
b. “We will not believe more than we know, and we will not live higher than our beliefs. The many fronts of Christian compromise in this generation can be directly traced to biblical illiteracy in the pews and the absence of biblical preaching and teaching in our homes and churches.”
c. “This generation must get deadly serious about the problem of biblical illiteracy, or a frighteningly large number of Americans –Christians included–will go on thinking that Sodom and Gomorrah lived happily ever after.”
3. Are we willing to get “deadly serious about the problem of biblical illiteracy”? If so…
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” – James 1:21
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Romans 15:04 Why Study the Old Testament? audio
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Text: Romans 15:4
Introduction
1. What benefit is the Old Testament (OT) to the Christian today…?
a. Is the Christian under the OT as a system of justification?
b. Is the OT authoritative regarding the work, worship, and organization of the church?
c. If not, why even bother with reading and studying the OT?
2. It is true Christians are not under the OT
a. Gentile Christians were never under the OT (or Old Covenant)
1) The Old Covenant was made with the Israelites at Mount Horeb (Sinai) – Deuteronomy 5:1-2
2) Not even Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc., were under the Old Covenant – Deuteronomy 5:3
3) Even Gentile Christians were not required to be circumcised or keep the Law – Acts 15:1-29
b. Jewish Christians have been delivered from the OT law
1) Through the body of Christ – Romans 7:1-6
2) By His death on the cross, Jesus brought the OT covenant to an end – Ephesians 2:14-16
3) It served to lead the Jews to Christ, a purpose fulfilled – Galatians 3:23-25
3. Unfortunately, some conclude from this that we need not read the OT
4. Is that the proper attitude of Christians toward the OT? NO!! This attitude:
a. Is wrong, contrary to the teaching of the NT itself!
b. Deprives the Christian of a wonderful source of peace and comfort
c. Prevents the Christian from gaining wisdom and understanding concerning the life that now is, and that which is to come!
Body
I. WHY STUDY THE OLD TESTAMENT? LET’S LOOK AT WHAT THE NT SAIDS:
A. WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING
1. Note carefully what Paul wrote in Romans 15:4
a. Things “written before” (i.e., the OT) were “written for our learning”
b. The OT was written and preserved especially for the Christians’ benefit!
c. The OT provides “patience and comfort”, that we “might have hope”!
2. The OT provides a record of God’s faithfulness, how He kept His promises:
a. To Abraham and the nation of Israel
b. To judge the wicked and avenge the righteous
c. To forgive the penitent, and protect the humble
3. The history of the OT is intended to give us hope that God will keep His promises to us!
B. WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION
1. Paul reminded the Christians at <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.biblemap.org/#Corinth”>Corinth</a> of Israel’s fall in the wilderness – 1 Corinthians 10:1-10
2. Note carefully what he says in 1 Corinthians 10:11
a. The events described may have happened to Israel
b. But “they were written for our admonition…”
c. Again, the OT was written and preserved especially for the benefit of Christians!
3. Other NT writers often appealed to the OT in admonishing Christians
a. The writer of Hebrews, in exhorting Christians to remain steadfast – Hebrews 3:12-19
b. James, in encouraging Christians to be patient in their suffering – James 5:7-11
c. Peter, in warning of false teachers and scoffers – 2 Peter 2-3
4. The history of the OT is intended to serve as a warning to Christians!
C. MAKES ONE WISE REGARDING SALVATION IN CHRIST
1. Paul noted that Timothy had known the “Holy Scriptures” since childhood – 2 Timothy 3:14
a. When Timothy was a child, the only scriptures available was the OT
b. So Paul clearly had the OT in view
2. He said the OT is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” – 2 Timothy 3:15
3. How is this possible? The OT provides:
a. The fall of man and the rise of sin
b. The background and development of God’s scheme of redemption
c. Hundreds of Messianic prophecies which describe what to expect when He comes
4. One cannot hope to fully understand such books of the New Testament like:
a. Hebrews, without an understanding of the Levitical priesthood
b. Revelation, without an understanding of OT prophecy and apocalyptic literature
5. If one is to be wise concerning salvation in Christ, studying the OT is imperative!
D. PROFITABLE TO MAKE ONE COMPLETE
1. Paul writes of the benefit of “All Scripture”, which includes the OT – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
2. Therefore the OT is profitable for:
a. Doctrine – such as the nature of God, man, and sin
b. Reproof and correction – the need for repentance
c. Instruction in righteousness – how to live godly lives
3. The apostles often appealed to the OT concerning Christians’ conduct:
a. Romans 12:19-21; 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1; 2 Corinthians 9:7-10
b. James 2:20-26
c. 1 Peter 3:8-12
4. There is much we can learn from the OT about truth and righteousness!
Conclusion
1. Should we only study Scriptures pertaining to the covenant under which we live…?
a. Should Israel have discarded Genesis, and the first nineteen chapters of Exodus? No!
b. Should we discard the gospels, since Jesus lived and died under the Old Covenant? No!
2. Neither should we ignore the OT, for it provides:
a. The background and setting of the NT
b. Much in the way of learning, admonition, comfort, hope, even wisdom concerning salvation!
3. Be careful not to neglect that which was written and preserved for OUR benefit
a. “For whatever things were written before were written for OUR learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” – Romans 15:4
b. “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for OUR admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” – 1 Corinthians 10:11
c. “ALL Scripture is inspired of God, and is profitable…” – 2 Timothy 3:16
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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