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Bible Followers Or Bible Fulfillers Part 2
Brian Mashburn
February 19, 2006
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The Bible: Your Guide To Jesus
Here's an email from one of my great friends as he approaches his old, familiar Scripture with a new, different approach:
"The challenge is to look at the text and see what we need to see. The Pharisees looked at the text for the rules...they came up short. In grade school I was shown the examples by my Bible class teachers and they were great stories...that came up short. Now I am challenged to look at the same text and find Jesus. This is a frightening, eye-opening experience. I'm seeing a different man than I have ever seen before. Not because He is different, but because I am seeking in a different way. The text hasn't changed, but the Book sounds different to me. It was much easier to look at the text and see the rules to check off and follow those good examples without having to be...a disciple. It was easier to be a disciple when I thought a disciple was just a believer. But a disciple is a person who has a burning desire and passion to be like his teacher. A person who is following the Rabbi 24/7. That's not so easy."
He finished the thought with this simple, potent, powerful prayer that I want you to allow him to lead you in.
"Lord, give me the energy, passion and desire to be Your disciple."
With that, you have your answer to the question of why God has preserved the writings contained in the Bible. He has given us the Bible in answer to the prayer of my friend. He gives it to us so that we can follow Jesus.
This morning we're going to see that if you approach the Bible for something other than it's intended purpose of making you a follower of Jesus, you will be in danger of creating a religion that God never intended.
The Bible is not trying to get you a set of rules, but get you successfully into the Home of the Ruler.