BACK TO THE BASICS - BIBLE Introduction I. Our wonderful country is internally defeating itself by rejecting the one book that can give it and maintain its victories - the Bible. A. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that a 5th grade teacher violated the 1st Amendment's supposed "Separation of Church and State" by placing a Bible on his desk. 1. Is this what our founding fathers had in mind? 2. We have been sold a "bill of goods" about the Bill of Rights. a. 1st Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances." b. Thomas Jefferson asked that the Bible and the Isaac Watts Hymnal be used in public schools for their reading curriculum. (1) "I have always said, and always will say, that the studious perusal of the sacred volume will make us better citizens." (2) The late Lowell Thomas, a well-known news commentator said, "The Bible is of vital importance in teaching freedom; dictators fear the Bible and for a good reason; it inspired the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence." II. The Bible is the only book that can give us the victories we need in life. III. We have all experienced defeats in life. A. Many have relied on self-help books. B. Many have relied on religious psychology books. C. Many are relying on new-age books. 1. But the Bible is God's Book that will give us victory in life (1 John 5:4; Rom 10:17; 2 Pet 1:20-21). IV. This morning we are going to look at the different victories the Bible can give us: victory in the church, in the home, and in our lives. Body I. THE BIBLE CAN BRING VICTORY TO THE CHURCH. A. The Bible can bring victory to the church over unawareness. 1. The church doesn't have to be ignorant of God's will (Eph 5:17; Eph 3:1-5; 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:3). 2. The church doesn't have to be ignorant of its work. a. The Bible tells us we need to be evangelistic (Mat 28:18-20). b. The Bible tells us we need to be benevolent (Gal 6:10). c. The Bible tells us we need to edify (2 Cor 10:8). 3. The church doesn't have to be ignorant of its uniqueness. a. We must realize that Christ died for His church (Acts 20:28). b. We must realize that Christ has only one church (Eph 4:4). c. We must realize that Christ will return for the church (Eph 5:26-27). B. The Bible can bring victory to the church over unbelief. 1. The Bible describes the seriousness of unbelief (Rev 21:8). 2. The Bible describes the solution to unbelief (John 20:30-31). a. Read, believe, and implement. 3. The Bible describes the unbelievers who became believers. a. Thomas (John 20:25-28). C. The Bible can bring victory to the church over untruth. 1. False teachers are in the world and in the church. 2. False teachers must be identified (Mat 7:15-16). 3. False teachers must be dealt with in a Christian way (Rom 16:17). a. Remember, God's word is eternal and unchanging (1 Pet 1:25). II. THE BIBLE CAN BRING VICTORY TO THE HOME. A. The Bible can bring victory to the home over decadence. 1. God's pattern for the home (Bible) begins with the husband and wife (Gen 2:18, 21-25). a. God's pattern for the home doesn't include homosexuality -abomination. 2. God's pattern for the home (Bible) sanctions the husband and wife being parents (Gen 1:28). a. This physical expression of love in marriage is a blessing for heaven, but outside of marriage it is a curse from hell (Heb 13:4). 3. God's pattern for the home (Bible) demands parental responsibility in that home (Prov 22:6). B. The Bible can bring victory to the home over disrespect. 1. The Bible teaches the husband to respect his wife and children . a. Wife Eph 5:25 <<<->>> Children Eph 6:4. 2. The Bible teaches the wife to respect his husband and children. a. Husband Eph 5:22 <<<->>> Children Titus 2:4. 3. The Bible teaches the children to respect their parents (Eph 6:1-3). C. The Bible can bring victory to the home over divorce. 1. Victory over divorce begins with education (Eccl 12:1). a. We must stop blaming God. 2. Victory over divorce continues with choosing the right mate. a. Beautiful example is Isaac and Rebekah (God and Abraham helped). 3. Victory over divorce settles with working through the problems. a. We must understand that marriage is for life. (1) And only God can release what he has bound. III. THE BIBLE CAN BRING VICTORY TO OUR LIVES. A. The Bible can bring victory to our lives over skepticism. 1. Some question man's origin (Gen 1:27; Eccl 12:7). 2. Some question man's purpose (Eccl 12:13). 3. Some question man's destiny (Mat 25:46). B. The Bible can bring victory to our lives over sorrow. 1. Christianity is a religion of joy (Phil 4:4; 1 John 1:4). 2. Christianity is a religion of comfort (2 Cor 1:3-4). 3. Christianity is a religion of support (Rom 12:15; 1 Cor 12:26). C. The Bible can bring victory to our lives over sin. 1. The Bible defines sin (1 Joh 3:4; 5:17; James 4:17). a. And we have all sinned (Rom 3:23). 2. The Bible defines sin and its consequences. a. First, sin results in death (Rom 6:23). b. Second, sin results in separation (Isa 59:1-2). c. Third, sin results in slavery (Rom 6:16). d. Forth, sin results in destruction (Ezek 18:30). 3. The Bible defines sin and its remedy. a. The blood of Christ is the only cure for sin (Mat 26:28; Eph 1:7). b. The blood of Christ will wash our sins away when we obey His plan of salvation. Conclusion I. Thankfully, the Bible can give us victory in the church, in the home, and in our lives. II. The Bible is the only book that can give us the victories we need in life. III. When my grandmother died, I received her Bible. A. This particular Bible will never help me. ** If you have any questions or if you would like to become a Christian, please let us know. Alan C. Cole 26th St. Church of Christ 101-26th Street Huntington, WV 25703 Phone - (304) 522-0717 E-Mail - Cole8@marshall.edu Homepage - http://mupfc.marshall.edu/~cole8/