Chapter 2: God Speaks

American Christianity confesses the Scriptures are true.

• This is false, it does not confess Scripture is true
• This is true! It confesses Scripture is true

American Christianity struggles with saying that the Scriptures are:

• Clear, that they have clarity
• Inerrant, without any errors
• Inspired by God
• Infallible, unable to be wrong

What is wrong with studying the Bible by asking, "What does this text mean to you"?

• It makes the Scriptures sound like they have errors
• It makes the Scriptures sound like they are not clear
• It makes the Scriptures sound like they are sufficient enough
• It makes the Scriptures sound like they do not have any errors

If a person is reading the Bible, looking for a new revelation of the Holy Spirit or new information from Holy Spirit speaking to us personally, then they are making the Scriptures seem like they are not:

• Sufficient enough to give us all the information we need
• Inerrant, so we need the Holy Spirit clear things up
• Clear enough for me to understand what God is saying
• Inspired by God

American Christianity fails when reading the Bible because it says that God's Word does not have power unless a believer acts upon what the Bible says. That is to say, the Bible has no power, unless a person acts on what God says. American Christianity fails to see the Bible as:

• Sufficient
• Clear
• Infallible
• Efficacious (effective)

American Christianity describes the Bible as a "life instruction book". By saying the Bible is an instruction manual, it has made the Bible:

• Only about the Law and God's commands
• Only about God's revelation and Holy Spirit
• Only about the Gospel and God's forgiveness
• Only about God's Work

If we view the Bible as an instruction manual, what will we miss out on?

• The law, God's commands
• God's guidance
• God's promises and the comfort He wants for us
• What to do in my daily life

Instead of asking, "What is God telling me to do today?", a person should ask: (select two)

• What is God teaching me about Himself?
• Where are the promises and comfort?
• What has God commanded me to do today?
• What does God expect of me right now?