The document discusses the doctrine of sola scriptura and how believers and the church should approach understanding and applying the Bible. It emphasizes that the Holy Spirit illuminates believers to understand scripture but believers must test teachings against scripture. Gifts of prophecy, wisdom and teaching from the Spirit should be evaluated based on scriptural agreement.

1. BELIEVERS AND A
CHURCH IN TRANSITION
Sola Scriptura

2. BELIEVERS AND A
CHURCH IN TRANSITION
Promoting ‘Sola Scriptura’:
The Bible Alone

3. THE ALLIANCE STATEMENT OF FAITH
What We Say We Believe . . .

4. We’ll start
here . . .
THE ALLIANCE STATEMENT OF FAITH
What We Say We Believe . . .

6. BIBLE ‘PLUS’ RELIGIONS:

7. BIBLE ‘PLUS’ RELIGIONS:
AN CATHOLICS: B ible plus Church
ROM
tr aditions and infallible papal edicts

8. BIBLE ‘PLUS’ RELIGIONS:
AN CATHOLICS: B ible plus Church
ROM
tr aditions and infallible papal edicts
MORMONS: Bible plus writings of Joseph
Smith

9. BIBLE ‘PLUS’ RELIGIONS:
AN CATHOLICS: B ible plus Church
ROM
tr aditions and infallible papal edicts
MORMONS: Bible plus writings of Joseph
Smith
ISLAM: Qu’ran plus parts of th
e Bible

10. SOLA SCRIPTURA: HOW IT WORKS
SSEMBLY HOLDS THAT GOD HAS
OUR A
LETED HIS WORD , THE BIBLE. THE
COMP
OUR ONE SOUR CE OF DIRECT
BIBLE IS
INSTRUCTION FROM GOD.

11. SOLA SCRIPTURA: HOW IT WORKS
SSEMBLY HOLDS THAT GOD HAS
OUR A
LETED HIS WORD , THE BIBLE. THE
COMP
OUR ONE SOUR CE OF DIRECT
BIBLE IS
INSTRUCTION FROM GOD.
But . . .

12. SOLA SCRIPTURA
But . . .

13. SOLA SCRIPTURA
But . . .
THROUGH
HIS HOLY
DOES CON SPIRIT, GO
TINUE TO D
REGARDIN SPEAK TO
G THE ME US
APPLICAT ANING AN
ION OF TH D
E BIBLE’S
CONTENT.

14. 1.Illumination Our Experience as Believers Reading
God’s Word
A. Who: Christians indwelt by the Holy Spirit
B. The Manner of Illumination: We believers read
God’s living and authoritative Word and the
indwelling Holy Spirit grants us understanding and
directs our application of passages of scripture
C. Role of the Reader: Prayerfully pursue
understanding, double check your understanding
with multiple passages and check your sense of
meaning with other believers
D. Examples: Remember your own experience with
this process!

15. 1.Illumination Our Experience as Believers Reading
God’s Word
A. Who: Christians indwelt by the Holy Spirit
B. The Manner of Illumination: We believers read
God’s living and authoritative Word and the
indwelling Holy Spirit grants us understanding and
directs our application of passages of scripture
C. Role of the Reader: Prayerfully pursue
understanding, double check your understanding
with multiple passages and check your sense of
meaning with other believers
D. Examples: Remember your own experience with
this process!

16. 2.Gift of Prophecy: Moved by the Spirit, individual
believers may disclose the secrets of the heart in
Specifically,
through the
others ( I Cor 14: 24) so that they are called to
operation of
account. Exhortation, edification and consolation
Gifts of the
general. (I Cor 14:3)
the
flow from such gifted believers to the fellowship in
Holy Spirit
...
3.Gifts of Wisdom and Knowledge: Moved by
the Spirit, individual believers may develop a
distinct reputation for biblical knowledge and
spiritual wisdom, edifying the Body by their
offerings of understanding and guidance.

17. 2.Gift of Prophecy: Moved by the Spirit, individual
believers may disclose the secrets of the heart in
others ( I Cor 14: 24) so that they are called to
account. Exhortation, edification and consolation
flow from such gifted believers to the fellowship in
general. (I Cor 14:3)
3.Gifts of Wisdom and Knowledge: Moved by
the Spirit, individual believers may develop a
distinct reputation for biblical knowledge and
spiritual wisdom, edifying the Body by their
offerings of understanding and guidance.

18. 4.Gift of Teaching: Moved by the Spirit,
individual believers may find themselves with an
elevated ability for impart knowledge and spiritual
guidance in a formal setting-teaching!

19. OUR RESPONSIBILITY:
ACT LIKE BEREAN HEARERS OF THE WORD
10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and
Silas away by night to Berea, and when they
arrived, they went into the synagogue of the
Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded
than those in Thessalonica, for they received
the word with great eagerness, examining the
Scriptures daily to see whether these things
were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed,
along with a number of prominent Greek
women and men. ACTS 17: 10-12

20. OUR RESPONSIBILITY:
Noble min BEREAN HEARERS OF THE WORD
ACT LIKE
ded they
were!
10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and
Silas away by night to Berea, and when they
arrived, they went into the synagogue of the
Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded
than those in Thessalonica, for they received
the word with great eagerness, examining the
Scriptures daily to see whether these things
were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed,
along with a number of prominent Greek
women and men. ACTS 17: 10-12

21. OUR RESPONSIBILITY:
Noble min BEREAN HEARERS OF THE WORD
ACT LIKE
ded they
were!
10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and
Silas away by night to Berea, and when they
arrived, they went into the synagogue of the
he
amining tNow these were more noble-minded
ExJews. 11
Scr !
thanrthose y Thessalonica, for they received
iptu e dail in
the word with great eagerness, examining the
Scriptures daily to see whether these things
were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed,
along with a number of prominent Greek
women and men. ACTS 17: 10-12

22. OUR RESPONSIBILITY:
ACT LIKE BEREAN HEARERS OF THE WORD

23. OUR RESPONSIBILITY:
ACT LIKE BEREAN HEARERS OF THE WORD
10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and
Silas away by night to Berea, and when they
arrived, they went into the synagogue of the
Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded
than those in Thessalonica, for they received
the word with great eagerness, examining the
Scriptures daily to see whether these things
were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed,
along with a number of prominent Greek
women and men. ACTS 17: 10-12

24. On ‘testing t
he spirits to
whether they see
are from
God . . .” (I
John 4:1)

25. A.ANYONE TRULY SPEAKING THROUGH THE
AGENCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL REJOICE
TO HAVE US FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE
BEREANS WHEN IT COMES TO EVALUATING
THEIR WORD OF PROPHECY, WISDOM OR
TEACHING.

26. A.ANYONE TRULY SPEAKING THROUGH THE
AGENCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL REJOICE
TO HAVE US FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE
BEREANS WHEN IT COMES TO EVALUATING
THEIR WORD OF PROPHECY, WISDOM OR
TEACHING.
B.ANYONE FOLLOWING THE IMPULSES OF
THEIR OWN EGO OR EMOTIONS IN SPEAKING
FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT OFTEN WILL TAKE
OFFENSE THAT YOU’D DARE QUESTION THEIR
DIRECTIONS!!!

27. C.IN A SOLA SCRIPTURA CHURCH
LIKE OURS, WE BRING ALL OUR
SPIRITUAL ASSERTIONS INTO THE
REVEALING LIGHT OF GOD’S
SETTLED WORD AND THEREBY
TEST OUR ASSERTIONS FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS, TRUTHFULNESS
AND USEFULNESS.

28. APPLICATION
LABORATORY

29. IDENTIFY THE
“The Bible can’t even find any way to explain
this. Not really. That’s why you’ve got to get it by
revelation. There are no words to explain what
I’m telling you. I’ve got to just trust God that
He’s putting it into your spirit like He put it into
mine” (Joyce Meyer From the Cross to the
Throne, cassette tape)

30. BEST INTERVENTION?

31. BEST INTERVENTION?
In conversation after church, Mrs. Wythewisper
dismisses her son’s moving in with his girlfriend’s
family (and bedroom!) with the observation that God
has given her absolute peace of mind about it. She
had been on the verge of a major blowup with her
son about his intentions and about her initial
reluctance to give her blessing (and financial
support!). In her view, she has been a ‘peacemaker’
and has received the blessing God promised to
peacemakers in Matthew 5:9. What will you say?

33. 1.Congratulate her on her tolerance and
understanding.
2.Stare in shocked surprise and change the subject-
quick!
3.Rebuke her sternly (maybe even loudly!) for her
ignorance of God’s Word and her blatant misuse of
it. Turn and leave.
4.Begin a lengthy review of relevant biblical
passages right then and there. This woman needs
a talking to-and quick!

35. 5.Excuse yourself, telling Mrs. W you’ll be right back.
Get the nearest elder or pastor and hurry back to the
site of the crime with support.
6.Note the conversation as a red flag matter for later
thought, prayer and action. Finish the discussion in
a way that does not commit you one way or an other
to the woman’s ideas and part on friendly terms.

37. 8.Affirm that God’s Word does, indeed, offer His
guidance, understanding and comfort in matters
like this. Ask her if she’d like to sit down with you
and (insert name of elder, pastor, teacher,
spiritually mature/experienced christian friend
here: _______________) sometime and explore
all that God has for her and her son.