24/10/04 'Bible Sunday' Year C 10 a.m. Family Service Luke 4:16-24

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: `Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.' " 24"I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

Introductory talk :Have a 'treasure hunt' for pieces of paper hidden around church with pictures on one side, Bible verses on the other. Maybe have these on acetate/Power Point when they are found and brought forward by the children.

2 Tim. 3 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ( Picture of wind/God breathing )

HEB 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ( Picture of sword )

Eph. 6 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ( Picture of sword )

PS 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. ( Picture of lamp/torch )

PS 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. ( Picture of heart )

JN 17:13 " 14 I have given them your word 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ( Picture of present/gift/judge for truth? )

The Bible and the Holy Spirit. v18.

The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible. The Holy Spirit was upon Jesus to enable Him to minister for God. We need the Holy Spirit to help us to understand the Bible and to live for God.

See sheet, teach as memory verse? 2 Tim. 3 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

If we want to know what God's will is then we need to study the Bible helped by His Holy Spirit who lives in every believer. Think. The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible. The Holy Spirit lives in us. We have the key to understanding the Bible within us!

The Bible and Jesus, verse 21.

The prophecy of Isaiah was written over six hundred years before Jesus was born, but it looked forward to what Jesus would do... 18, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour

The Bible is full of predictions by God about Jesus given hundreds of years before Jesus' birth. From before the beginning of time God knew He would have to come to earth as a man to save humankind from their rejection of Him.

The Bible and authority.

Jesus accepted Bible as having divine authority. We read of this in verse 18 when he quoted the book of Isaiah. We also observe how Jesus saw the Bible as authoritative when he was tempted by the devil. Paul clearly believes in the authority of the Bible, in 2 Tim. 3 16 he writes how we need it to guide us in our lives.

Our response?

Thank God for the Bible.

Read it. Don't start at Genesis but one of the Gospels, perhaps Mark which is the shortest.

Set a regular time aside every day when you can read uninterrupted for say, 15 minutes. Before you do ask God to help you to understand the passage you are about to read and help you put into practice what you have learned.