The Importance of Bible Grounded Teaching and Thinking

One thing I've really began to grasp this year is the absolute importance that we ground our thinking and teaching in the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 says this, "But as for you, continue in what you have become convinced of, because you know those from who learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

The temptation as a Christian (young or old) is to shy away from the Bible in preaching and leading. We love topics so much, we think, "I want to talk about that!", and many of us love comedian style preachers, and as much banter and as many illustrations and stories as possible. Many of us would have our ideal sermon as a combination of those things. Now I think these things have their places, but notice a key thing missing? The Bible. How can the Bible be missing from a sermon when, "the holy Scriptures... are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" and, "All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work"!?

Can we honestly say that comedy, illustrations and stories are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, are God-breathed and are useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work? Perhaps they can do some of these in part, but they certainly don't have the same weight or authority as the Bible! Not one of them is mentioned here by Paul, and he's not someone I, or any other Christian I know today, can look down on when it comes to evangelism and discipleship.

How should we preach the Gospel? With the Gospel.

But how prominent should the Bible really be in sermons, talks, Bible studies and discussion groups?

Utmost. I don't think I really need to argue this, afterall, "But as for you, continue in what you have become convinced of, because you know those from who learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.""

And this includes stuff with non-Christians, "the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus", it really is self-explanatory. You may be afraid of putting someone off of the Gospel by showing them the Bible, but at the end of the day the Bible is the Gospel, and they're never going to get to know and love it unless you show it to them. Pray that it won't put them off, and be ready to challenge and encourage them, answering their questions, but for flip sake show them the Bible! Definitely in a sermon!

I might write a much better version of this at some point, but I really do think you don't need much more convincing than that.