Whether you are here in person or engaging from home, we are thankful you have chosen to worship with us today. If it is your first time, welcome! we would love to get to know you better. Would you consider filling out our Next Steps card and let us know you stopped by?

At Grace Family we focus our worship on Sunday to impact our lives every other day of the week as well. We also believe no one is perfect but everyone is welcome to worship God with us. So, no matter where you're from, what you've done, or what your week has been like, let's worship God and learn from His word together today.

How are you being discipled digitally?

The information we consume digitally will have an impact on us tangibly.

My evaluation of digital truth must begin with Biblical truth. 

Colossians 2:8-10

"8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[a] of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[b] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority."

Who is doing the talking?

What is the motivation of the person talking?

Here is what we agree on:

Jesus was not a Christian.

The Bible did not exist when Jesus was here.

We should not worship the Bible.

You should do your own research.

Question 1: How was the Bible we have today actually put together?

The Council of Nicea called by Emperor Constantine in AD 325 did NOT decide what books should be included in the Bible. 

Arianism:

Jesus (the Son) was created by God(the Father).

There was a time when Jesus did not exist.

Jesus was not fully God.

How do we have the canon of scripture today:

1. The Old Testament was established already.

2. Apostolicity - Connection to the disciples.

3. Applicability to the whole church.

4. Correct Doctrine.

Matthew 4:4

"4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,

    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"

Matthew 22:29

"29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God."

Jesus did point to scripture as the authoritative and infallible word of God.

The church did not vote or choose what books would be included, but instead determined what books they had received as the word of God.

Question 2: Is the God of the OT who smites people the same as Jesus in the NT who calls us to love our enemies?

Romans 2:1-9

"You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile."

Romans 3:25-26

"25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus."

God's right to exact judgment for sin is not at odds with Jesus' command to love our neighbors.

Question 3: Is it a good thing if the Bible is fallible?

The short answer: NO!

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

"12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world."

If God's word is only human and fallible, how can we trust any of it?

Takeaways:

Allow scripture to guide your understanding, not commentary from smooth talkers.

You should be skeptical and do your own research.

Always trust a person with receipts more than someone without them.

Is my biblical literacy where it needs to be?

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