Matt Chandler - Biblically Serious

There are a few topics that I’ve already communicated, but the one I want to talk about today is that the village church, in whatever form and function it takes in our future, will be a place that’s serious about the Word of God. It’s not just an add-on or a caveat; we are going to be a biblically serious people. I get so fired up about this that I’m surprised I still have a voice. I love the Word of God; I love the God of the Bible, and I am convinced—though I’m not trying to convince you about a book today. Instead, I am trying to invite you into the very heart of God. Did you know that «Avengers: Endgame» made 2 billion dollars in the last nine days, and all the uber fans are celebrating? Here’s what’s fascinating: 21 movies are telling one story. You don’t have to watch all 21 to get the point, but that’s what they did—over the course of the last 10 years, 21 movies are telling the same story, culminating in «Endgame.»

Now, here’s the reality: I don’t know how many of you actually know this, but do you know that the Bible has 40 authors? Actually, it was one—the Holy Spirit—but 40 men penned the Word of God on three continents over the course of 2,000 years. It’s just one story. I love you enough to say this: it isn’t about you. The point is that the Bible is not some kind of self-help book; it’s not a book of advice; it’s not a roadmap for life. It is God’s self-disclosure of Himself. The Bible is about Jesus—Genesis, Jesus; Exodus, Jesus; Leviticus, Jesus; Numbers, Jesus; Deuteronomy, Jesus; Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. It’s God redeeming and saving those who are far from Him because of sin and ransoming them from death. This is the point of the book.

It was written by priests and farmers, prisoners, fishermen, military generals, a cupbearer, and shepherds—they wrote this and gave it to us via the Holy Spirit that we might come alive. Now, let me clarify: I’m not trying to convince you that this is a good book you ought to read. If you want to know a good book, I’ll give you a couple: «Shoe Dog» is an amazing book about Nike, Phil Knight’s memoir about how he started the company. It’s got father-and-son themes, entrepreneurship, risk, business, and leadership dynamics—an amazing book. «Gates of Fire» is a historical fiction about the Battle of Thermopylae. Those are amazing books, but I’m not inviting you into a book; I’m inviting you into the heart of God for us.

If you leave here today thinking, «Oh man, the Bible sounds like a cool book,» you’re missing it. It’s 66 books telling one story, and it’s an invitation into life. You can reject this, go by your gut, or you can surrender to it and find your way into life. I don’t think the Bible answers all questions—right, not some of them, but all of them. If you think, «Well, really, does it answer all?"—like, «What should I have for lunch?"—that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m referring to those questions that lie at the heart of every human being: What is real? What is ultimate? Where do we come from? What’s the matter with humankind? What hope is there for us? The Bible is the only source that answers all of those questions.

So, I want to dive in, and here’s the flow: What is the Bible? What does it do? And how does it work? That’s my plan. So, with that said, let’s look at 2 Timothy, starting in verse 16 of chapter 3. I still can’t believe I said «facemask»; let’s get that out of my system. Here we go, starting in verse 16: «All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.»

I want to pause here. All Scripture is breathed out by God. It is God’s self-disclosure of Himself. That means our Creator has not left us in the dark trying to figure things out. We are not people in a dark universe groping for what might be true or what God might be like; we’re not trying to figure out what this is all about. God has revealed Himself to us. He has shown us who He is, who we are, and how He’s designed the universe to work. We are not deists; we don’t believe that God just fired this thing off and doesn’t care. We believe that He is right in the midst, that He has designed and built it, and He has invited us into life. That’s one of the things going on in the Bible, and I would also like to emphasize that it is not one of many of God’s revelations—look at me, it is His revelation—period.

Now, I am not saying, and I want you to hear me correctly, that God does not still prompt and guide us.