Source of Truth
Where did your picture of God come from? That question opened the first week of our What Is a Christian? series. It is worth carrying with us beyond Sunday morning.
Our understanding of God can be shaped by many things: our families, church experiences, influential teachers, difficult seasons, and the voices we choose to hear. Some of those influences help us see Him clearly. Others leave us with an incomplete or distorted picture. But how do we tell the difference?
We began this series with a central conviction: The God who made us has made himself known. To know God, we must get to know Him on His terms, not ours. That means we need more than a strong opinion about God. We need a trustworthy source from which to form our understanding of Him. That's where the Bible comes in. Scripture is our source of truth. It is where we must take our cues—not simply to support what we already believe, but to discover whether what we believe is true.
An open heart and an open Bible
In our first sermon, we followed Paul into Athens, where he challenged people’s assumptions about God. He proclaimed the Creator who gives life, cannot be contained by human structures, and calls people to respond to Him. Their existing religious ideas were not the standard by which God would be defined. They needed to receive the truth about Him. (Acts 17:22–31.)
Earlier in that same chapter, we meet a group of people whose response provides a helpful example for our study. Before arriving in Athens, Paul visited Berea. Acts describes the response of people in the synagogue this way:
“They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”— Acts 17:11, ESV
Notice these two words: eagerness and examination. They were willing to listen, but they also investigated. Their welcome of Paul’s message did not replace careful attention to Scripture. That is a posture worth practicing: an open heart, an open Bible, and a willingness to learn. We do not have to choose between receiving teaching and asking honest questions. The important question is what we turn to when we evaluate what we hear. Does this agree with God’s Word?
Helpful voices are not the final authority
As a pastor, I want you to examine what I preach. Not because every sermon should become an argument, but because your confidence in the truth should rest on something deeper than your confidence in me.
Ask where an idea comes from. Read the passage. Look at the surrounding context. Bring your questions. A faithful explanation should help you see what Scripture says, not require you to accept something simply because a pastor said it.
The same applies to the videos we watch, the books we read, the podcasts we enjoy, and the conversations we have in our small groups. These can be valuable helps. But they are helps, not replacements for Scripture.
Our RightNow Media study can prompt good discussion. A sermon can draw attention to something we have missed. Another believer can help us understand a difficult passage. Through it all, our shared commitment must be to listen carefully to God’s Word.
Jesus prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). God’s Word does more than contribute another opinion. It is the truth by which His people are to be formed.
That also calls for humility about our own understanding. Trusting Scripture does not mean assuming that my interpretation of every passage is beyond correction. It means being willing to read carefully, learn alongside others, and submit my conclusions to what the text actually says. Scripture is authoritative. My understanding of Scripture still needs to grow. Understanding the Bible is a lifelong endeavor.
Examining Scripture means allowing it to correct us
This is the hard part. It is possible to say that the Bible is our source of truth while approaching it mainly to confirm what we already think. That's called an "echo chamber." It is much easier to pay attention when Scripture challenges another person's viewpoint. That brings us back to the question from Sunday's sermon:
When Scripture challenges my picture of God, which one gets to change?
This question comes up in every part of this series. It can feel like rebuilding a boat while you're out on the water. Realigning belief to the truth of God's Word will challenge previously held beliefs. God has done this kind of work in my life many times. It is beautiful and frightening at the same time. If you're willing to let the Bible shape your beliefs, you will find yourself moving ever so closely toward the truth! Comfortable? No. Freeing? Yes. "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32)
Make room for the daily discipline
The Bereans examined daily, not merely in response to a compelling speaker.
For this series, I encourage you to use the reading plan as an opportunity to develop that habit. Not as another assignment to finish, but as a regular appointment to listen.
Read the whole passage before settling on a favorite sentence. Notice who is speaking, what is happening, and how the passage fits with the verses around it. Ask what it reveals about God before rushing to decide what it means for you.
Then bring your own assumptions into the conversation. What does this passage confirm? What does it challenge? What response does it call for? You do not need an impressive amount of Bible knowledge to begin. Start with the passage in front of you. Pray for understanding. Write down what you notice and what you do not yet understand. Bring those questions into your group. A useful prayer might be: “Lord, help me receive what You have said, especially where I need to be corrected.”
The goal is to know and follow Jesus
Acts 17:12 tells us that many of those who heard the message in Berea believed. Their examination accompanied a response of faith. That is a key observation. Our goal is not to become skilled at finding fault with teachers or winning religious arguments. Paul reminds Timothy that the sacred writings make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15). We study to know the God who has revealed Himself, trust His Son, and learn to follow Him.
As we continue this series, let’s listen eagerly, ask honest questions, and keep returning to Scripture. Let’s allow it to challenge our assumptions rather than using it only to reinforce them. Our source of truth is not the strongest personality, the most familiar tradition, or the opinion we find most comfortable. It is God’s Word.
The God who made you has made himself known. Will you let Him show you who He really is?
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