The Sermon Text
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14–17 ESV)
The Main Point of the Sermon
The path of reformation in 2021 will only be found by a Spirit-enabled people who return in thought and deed to the truth and ways found in the word of God.
__________________________________
In chapter 2 of J.I. Packer's book, “Knowing God,” Packer writes the following:
We are, perhaps, Orthodox evangelicals. We can state the gospel clearly; We can smell unsound doctrine a mile away. If asked how one may know God, we can at once produce the right formula: that we come to know God through Jesus Christ the Lord, in virtue of his cross and mediation, on the basis of his word of promise, by the power of the Holy Spirit, via a personal exercise of faith. Yet the gaiety, goodness, and unfetteredness of spirit which are the marks of those who have known God are rare among us – rarer - perhaps, than they are in some other Christian circles where, by comparison, evangelical truth is less clearly and fully known. Here, too, it would seem that the last may prove to be first, and the first last. A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about him. (J.I. Packer, Knowing God)
As we end 2020 and enter 2021 may we be those who, by the power of the Spirit, grow in a little (or much) experiential knowledge of God as we meditate on His word rather than be vaguely satisfied by simply knowing some things about Him.
Psalm 119 is known as the longest Psalm but it is also a Psalm that is jam-packed with declarations of the richness and necessity of the word of God for us. We've created a playlist for you to listen to Psalm 119 this week, split up into six days, on DWELL. You can find it by clicking the "For You" icon and scrolling down to SGC Dayton where you will see "Sermon Response - 2020 Week 52."
Also, as you make plans to read and/or listen to God's word this year, take note of the few options we've collected below. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the pastors at pastors@sgcdayton.org.
Have a great week!
Pastor Steve
______________________________________________Using the SGC Dayton provided DWELL app, choose one of the listening plans below. If you're a member or regular attender of SGC Dayton, click HERE for your free, premium Dwell subscription.
Read through the New Testament in a year, reading Monday to Friday. Weekends are set aside for reflection and other reading. Especially beneficial if you’re new to a daily discipline of Bible reading.
Duration: One year | Download: PDF
Chronological Bible Reading Plan
Read through the Bible in the order the events occurred chronologically.
Duration: One year | Download: PDF
The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan
Four daily readings beginning in Genesis, Psalms, Matthew and Acts.
Duration: One year | Download: PDF
ESV Daily Bible Reading Plan
Four daily readings taken from four lists: Psalms and wisdom literature, Pentateuch and history of Israel, Chronicles and prophets, and Gospels and epistles.
Duration: One year | Download: PDF
Historical Bible Reading Plan
The Old Testament readings are similar to Israel’s Hebrew Bible, and the New Testament readings are an attempt to follow the order in which the books were authored.
Duration: One year | Download: PDF
Robert Murray M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Read the New Testament and Psalms twice and the Old Testament once.
Duration: One or two years | Download: PDF
Straight Through the Bible Reading Plan
Read straight through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Duration: One year | Download: PDF