How do you know the Bible is the Word of God? That’s a question Christians should be prepared to answer, particularly since we claim to base our lives, and our eternity, on the truths contained in the words of Scripture. In this message from 2 Timothy 3:16, David Platt offers seven reasons we can be confident that the Bible is God’s Word. Whether you’re a Christian looking to strengthen your trust in God’s Word, or a non-Christian who is curious about the claims of Christianity, the spiritual stakes are too high for us to be left wondering about the Bible’s authority. These words have been breathed out by God himself.
What does the passage say?
- According to 2 Timothy 3:16, what is the source of Scripture? What does it mean that Scripture is “breathed out by God”?
- The passage lists four specific purposes for Scripture. What are they, and how are they different from each other?
- What is the ultimate goal of Scripture according to verse 17? What does it mean to be “complete” and “equipped for every good work”?
What does the passage mean?
- How does the concept of Scripture being “breathed out by God” relate to the seven characteristics of reliability discussed in the sermon?
- Why is it significant that Scripture serves multiple purposes (teaching, reproof, correction, training)? How do these purposes work together?
- Consider the phrase “that the man of God may be complete.” What does this suggest about the sufficiency of Scripture for Christian life and growth?
How can we apply this passage to our lives?
- Of the seven reasons for the Bible’s reliability presented in the sermon, which one resonates most with you personally? How might you use this to explain your trust in Scripture to others?
- The sermon references studies showing improved well-being among regular Bible readers. What has been your experience with regular Bible reading? What obstacles prevent you from engaging with Scripture more consistently?
- The sermon challenges us to experience God’s Word more deeply this year than ever before. What specific, practical steps will you take to prioritize Scripture in your daily life? How can this group help support you in that commitment?
- Consider the four purposes of Scripture mentioned in verse 16 (teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness). Which of these do you most need in your life right now? How can you intentionally engage with Scripture in that area?
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Sermon Recap
The sermon addresses the fundamental question of whether we can trust the Bible as God’s Word, and presents seven compelling reasons using the memorable acronym “THEM NO CAP”:
- Timeless Authority
- Historical Accuracy
- Eyewitness Testimony
- Manuscript Reliability
- NO
- Consistency (Internal)
- Authenticity (Supernatural)
- Prophecy (Fulfilled)
The sermon also emphasized that the Bible’s reliability is supported not only by historical and textual evidence but also by its transformative impact on readers’ lives, as demonstrated by recent studies showing significantly higher well-being among regular Bible readers.