Grace & Truth: Hearing the Word
Pastor Kent Landhuis
THEME - God’s word establishes all things.
TEXT - Nehemiah 8:1-12
1. God’s Word establishes reality,
• Genesis 1:1-3
• Nehemiah 8:1-6
2. God’s Word establishes truth.
• Psalm 33:4
• Proverbs 30:5
• John 17:17
3. God’s Word establishes hope.
• Nehemiah 8:7-12
• 2 Timothy 3:16
NEXT STEPS
1. Read your Bible.
2. Do what your Bible tells you.
3. Rejoice! (Have a feast.)
GO DEEPER
What is “Sola Scriptura?” Sola scriptura is a Latin phrase meaning "by Scripture alone" and is a foundational principle of the Protestant Reformation. As Protestant Christians we believe that the Bible is the final, infallible authority for Christian faith, doctrine, and practice. The Bible, as the Word of God, is sufficient to guide believers in matters of faith, salvation, and life. Human traditions, creeds, and councils do not (and cannot) hold the same level of authority.
Key Aspects of Sola Scriptura
1. Final Authority: The Bible is considered the ultimate source of truth and the final court of appeal for all theological matters.
2. Sufficiency: Scripture alone contains all that is necessary for a Christian to know about God's will, salvation, and godly living.
3. Infallibility and Inerrancy: Believers hold that the Bible is God-breathed, infallible, and without error, making it a reliable and unchanging source of guidance.
4. Rejection of Other Authorities: We believe that the Bible stands above traditions or teachings that claim equal or higher authority than the Bible.
Historical Context - Sola scriptura was a central rallying cry during the 16th century of reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox. They emphasized that true faith is derived from Scripture alone.
Biblical Context - “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” ~2 Timothy 3:16-17