Larry Siegle · II Kings 22:8-13
Link to sermon video: When the Word is Lost – L Siegle
THE SEARCH FOR B.I (BIBLICAL INTELLIGENCE) III
“When the WORD is Lost”
(II Kings 22:8-13)
Series: The SEARCH for B.I. (Biblical Intelligence)
Thesis: The EASY way is not always the BEST way.
INTRODUCTION
1. We are continuing a series of messages that explores the DEPTH of our desire to KNOW God. Christ.
2. The title of the series is THE SEARCH FOR B.I. (BIBLICAL INTELLIGENCE)
3. The title of our message today is: “When the WORD is Lost”
WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE DO NOT DO
1. The word “cult” has become prerogative term for just about any religious group or “church” that provides any form of guidance or direction for our lives.
2. The website “Checklist of Cult Characteristics” gives this list:
a. The group is focused on a leader who demands ‘unquestioned allegiance or commitment.”
b. The group is preoccupied with bringing in “new members”
c. The group is preoccupied with “making money”
d. Questioning, having doubts, or disagreements, with the leadership is not allowed or even punished.
e. The leadership creates feelings of guilt in the members in order to control them.
3. First, it is not my responsibility as a Minister to tell you what to think, or how to think…we are all in submission to the authority of God’s Word.
a. There is not 100% agreement within the congregation about everything that is said or taught in our Bible classes or from the Pulpit.
b. Everyone who attends and who belongs to this congregation has the responsibility to study and to consider the principles of what is taught (Acts. 17:10-12).
1) The Greek word rendered “fair-minded” (NKJV) is eugenes is translated as “open-minded” (ERV), or “receptive” (ISV) or “noble-minded” (NASB) and calls attention to their attitude of heart toward understanding and accepting the testimony of Scriptre—they wanted to ‘believe right’ and to make sure of the truth.
2) Paul gives a “list” of characteristics for those in Thessalonica and one that includes the need to “test all things” (I Thess. 5:21), and the word for “test” is dokamadzo that means “to test as metal is tested, to prove, to discern, to examine or scrutinize” and then once it is ‘tested’ to “hold firmly” meaning to “possess, retain, grasp” and is a nautical term, “to land on” (anchor).
3) Once one is convinced of the validity of something to ‘maintain’ that the very essence of truth.
4) Paul warned of those “ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth” (II Tim. 3:7). One day they believe one thing, the next day their opinion changes to something else (Eph. 4:13, 14).
4. Truth is a “constant” that does not change (culture, social practices, from one nation to another, based on politics or whatever happens to be popular at the time.
1) The Bible draws a clear line between those things relevant to the people, places, times, and circumstances of both the inspired writers and also of those who were the original audience to whom the Scriptures were first directed.
2) From the text today we can determine the essence of the meaning and the eternal principles to be understood from within the text (I Cor. 8:1-13)—foods that were being sacrificed to “idols” (not common practice today).
a) Some believers during the first century continued to observe certain Old Covenant practices (Rom. 14:1-23).
b) The issue of the “head covering” (I Cor. 11:1-16)—the temple prostitutes often shaved their heads and Paul draws a distinction that was to separate believers from the pagan practices.
BIBLICAL INTELLIGENCE IMPLIES HAVING A SENSE OF “FOCUS” ON THE “FUNDEMENTALS” OF THE FAITH
1. The church of the first century, revealed in the book of Acts and in the letters written during that time presents the picture of the church in “transition” with the Old Covenant in the process of “passing away” while the New Covenant
was in the process of “being established (II Cor. 3:11-18).
a. We are not trying to reestablish the church that was in “transition” but rather to look at the “glorious church” (Eph. 5:27) that has been redeemed and is complete “in Christ”
b. The Old Covenant was associated with an old “heavens and earth” (Rev. 20:11), while the New Covenant is pictured as a “new heavens and a new earth” (II Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 21:1-4).
c. Therefore, our focus is on those principles associated with fulfilled faith now living forever in the presence of God.
OUR CENTRAL FOCUS IS WHAT WE BECOME IN OUR IDENTITY
1. Having Biblical Intelligence involves knowing what our “identity” as believers really is and how we can begin to walk each day as part of God’s “new creation” (II Cor. 5:17).
2. From the Day of Pentecost following the resurrection and ascension of Christ the “church” (Matt. 16:18) He promised to “build” began to experience the provisions of the message and meaning of redemption.
a. The elements of “the law” “the sin” and “the death” had lost their power and authority through the inclusion of the elements of “justification” “sanctification” and “glorification” for the “one body” of Christ (Eph. 1:15-23).
b. The “gates of Hades” could not “withstand” or “overpower” the church (Matt. 16:18)—the time of the “harvest” had arrived (Matt. 13:24-30) and the work of ‘gathering’ Jew/Gentile into the kingdom had begun through the
preaching of the gospel (Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 24:47; Matt. 28:18-20).
3. The growth of the kingdom would be gradual (Matt. 13:31,32). Christ is the “root” from which the “seed” would begin the process of both numerical and spiritual growth.
a. This congregation can also experience growth as long as we maintain Christ as our central focus (the root), and in planting the “seed” of the Word of God in our community (Luke 8:11).
1) It is not about fancy programs, or having entertainment during the worship assemblies.
2) It is about connecting with the hearts and minds of people and having a willingness to demonstrate love, benevolence, care and concern for our friends, neighbors, and our community.
3) Jesus and His apostles always met people where they were, discovered their situations and provided what was necessary to share with them the message of “everlasting life” in the kingdom of God.
4. There is such an ongoing sense of frustration and confusion in our world today that providing genuine answers to questions people have will open doors of opportunity for us.
THE GOSPEL
1. Learning the first principles of the “gospel” is the key to reaching others and helping them to fully understand and to appreciate what God’s “purpose of the ages” (Eph. 3:11) really is.
a. We must affirm that God exists and rewards those who seek after Him (Heb. 11:6)—both in this life and beyond.
1) There is such a negative attitude about “religion” today because of all of the abuses that have manifested over the centuries.
2) There is a negative impression caused by all of the conflicting doctrines that are believed and practiced throughout historic Christendom—thousands of denominations that claim to follow the principles found in
the Scriptures (I Cor. 14:33).
3) God has called the “church” to maintain unity “in the Spirit” (Eph. 4:1-3), and in the unity “of the faith” (Eph. 4:11-16). There must be solidarity in that we come to “speak the same thing” (I Cor. 1:10).
2. The stated goal of the historic “restoration movement” was to stand together on the authority of God’s Word and to find unity and agreement in both faith and practice but without allowing it to ‘drift’ into legalism in drawing lines, or
in liberalism in adopting an ‘anything goes’ mentality—there is a true balance
a. In the coming weeks and months we are going to have some meetings where the congregation can make plans of how to reach out to the community around us in a genuine, practical way.
b. We are going to discuss various ways to minister to the needs of each other in the church to provide encouragement for those who are sick, or have other needs—the exciting goal is to take ‘small steps’ for
increasing our participation in these efforts.
CONCLUSION
1. In the OT, the nation of Israel, over the course of time had somehow lost their devotion to God’s Word to the point that it had become lost “in the house of God” (II Kings 22:8-13).
2. The Cortland Church of Christ must develop a sense of vision and purpose in order to move in the direction God wants us to go.
3. We have a core group here whose love and devotion to the Lord and to His kingdom is beyond question and from which genuine growth will take place in the coming months.
Outline (Word document): The_B.I_series_III.docx