Why The Bible Is Different

"So, there are all these different “Bibles” out there, and all these spiritual gurus, motivational “life coaches,” all telling you how to live. And you pile on top of these the advice you are getting every day from TV and the internet, from TV stars and athletes who think that because they are talented and rich, you need to listen to them as they tell you what to think and how to live; and politicians who think they can tell you what to think and how to live. And all of you are probably deluged with advice from your moms and dads, and your brothers and sisters, and your friends as they tell you what to think and how to live. And, every once in a while, they give you some good advice. But, as Jesus' followers, we believe that if their advice contradicts what the Bible tells us … the Bible wins every single time. Right? And to so many, that sounds narrow, quaint, and stupidly arrogant. And … if the Bible was one of many options, they’d be right. But we think the Bible is … infinitely superior because we think the Bible is … fundamentally different. It’s unique, one of a kind. I’ll show you. We don’t treat our physical Bibles with the same kind of reverence as some of theirs. We are not “bibliolaters.” We don’t worship the book – it’s just paper and ink. We do worship the God who speaks to us through it. We’ll get back to that. But … I want to try to explain this morning why we think our Bible is so special, which will explain why we want you to read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and pray it; so, here goes…" Stephen "Doc" Pattison, Lead Minister