For those of you who have been avid readers of my SGM Newsletters, you might find yourself asking “Why does Julie always list so many Scriptures in her monthly Newsletters??” From a very young age, I was exposed to THE SCRIPTURES and their importance in coming to know God, so in answer to that asked or unasked question, I will respond with the following list of Scriptures:
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.
John 5:39
Now these Jews (the Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
Acts 17:11-12
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:3
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
1 Corinthians 2:13
But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
Galatians 4:30
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling (dividing) the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
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.
2 Timothy 3:14-15
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 3:16-17
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:19-21
As the present overseer of Small Group Ministry, it is so very important to me to always delve into what the Scripture says on any particular topic. We use many different presenters in our SGM studies and there may be times that they misspeak, make interpretive mistakes, be altogether wrong in some of their statements, or be correct but misinterpreted by the listener. We all have a filter through which we hear and process information and we are all in a process of spiritual growth as we study God’s complex Word a.k.a. the SCRIPTURES. Even the Apostle Peter admits that the Apostle Paul’s words are hard to understand:
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen 2 Peter 3:15-18
Let this be our intention as we study THE SCRIPTURES together. If you are interested in joining a small group, watch for information on the SGM board or contact:
Julie Schiller – SGM Coordinator | MISchillers@comcast.net | 517-750-7494