2026.04.26 Sermon Notes: Can I Trust The Bible?

Westside Family Church

Can I Trust The Bible?

2026.04.28

How do I know God Hears My Prayers

Pastor Jonathan Hansen

 

Notes: 

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

The Best-Seller We’ve Never Read. The Bible is the quiet backbone of Western civilization. It literally formed the culture we are living in. And most of us have no idea.

Whether we realize it or not we are living in a world that has been shaped and formed by the Bible. Partly because it is the most widely read and distributed book in the history of the world…It’s had a big influence! And partly because the ideas contained in the Bible are from God and they are actually the best ideas for how humans can flourish and function in the world.

Notes: 

1. Supernatural Unity + Fulfilled Prophecy “All Scripture is God-breathed,” 2 Timothy 3:16

When you really start to study Scripture, you begin to notice how the whole thing is connected. This verse reminds you of that verse. You remember that reference to the Old Testament. It's stunning.

• 66 books

• 40+ authors

• 1,500 years

• 3 continents, 3 languages

• One story of redemption that all points straight to Jesus from the earliest chapters of Genesis, all the way to the final chapters of the book of Revelation.

Humans could not do this. The Bible itself is a miracle.

Notes: 

The Nicene Creed is as follows:

"We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen." United States Conference of Catholic Bishops+2.

The Bible is filled with prophecies from the OLD TESTAMENT which are thousands of years old. Telling us with scary levels of accuracy what is going to happen in the future.

Birthplace in Micah 5:2: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah…from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel…”Virgin Birth in Isaiah 7:14: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”Triumphal Entry in Zechariah 9:9: "Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey…"The Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:5,9: "But he was pierced for our transgressions…and by his wounds we are healed…and with the rich in his death."No Broken Bones in Psalm 34:20: "He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken."

Mathematician Peter Stoner calculated the probability of just eight of the prophecies being fulfilled in one person by chance. The odds? 1 in 10 to the 17th power. 100,000,000,000,000,000. 1 in one hundred quadrillion.

No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation…but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:20–21

Notes: 

1. Supernatural Unity + Fulfilled Prophecy

2. Historical Reliability

Manuscript Abundance. We have over 5,800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, with over 20,000 total in various languages.

Instead of relying on a single copy, God allowed His Word to be reproduced again and again, protecting it from loss and preserving its message through generations.

Notes: 

1. Supernatural Unity + Fulfilled Prophecy

2. Historical Reliability

3. “The Bible Was Just Made Up…”

If humans were inventing a religion to gain power or look like heroes, they wouldn't write it like this.

You don't write yourself into the story looking like a fool if you're trying to start a worldwide religion. You want people to trust you, not laugh at you.

Embarrassing Honesty. The disciples look like fools half the time—they doubt, they flee, they argue about who's the greatest.Women as First Witnesses. The first witnesses to the resurrection were women. In that culture, a woman's testimony wasn't even admissible in court. If you were inventing a lie, you'd pick "credible" male witnesses. You only include the women if that's actually what happened.Countercultural Ethics. Humans don't naturally come up with Matthew 5:44, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," and Matthew 23:11, "The greatest among you shall be your servant."

Humans write myths about men becoming gods. God wrote a book about becoming a man to save the world.

Notes:

1. Supernatural Unity + Fulfilled Prophecy

2. Historical Reliability

3. “The Bible Was Just Made Up…”

4. We Have to Come to the Bible on It’s Terms

The Bible is a spiritual book. If you approach it only with your intellect, you'll get information, but you'll miss the the point entirely you’ll miss the entire reason that it was written…To raise you to new life to transform you and set you free to give you knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, and to fill your heart in mind with the glory of God.

Approach with a Heart of Faith. Jesus said in John 6:63, "The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life."

Notes: 

Impact + Invitation. Listen to what this Book does:

It is alive. 

Hebrews 4:12, "The word of God is alive and active...judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

It contains the words of life Mike Peter said to Jesus where else have we to go? You have the words of eternal life."It sets us free. 

John 8:31–32, "If you hold to my teaching... you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 

It renews our minds. 

Romans 12:2, "Be transformed by the renewing of yourmind..."

It heals and restores. 

Psalm 107:20, "He sent out his word and healed them..."

It is the doorway to Jesus. 

John 6:63, 68, "The words I have spoken... are spirit and life...

You have the words of eternal life."It guides our next right step. 

Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." 

It equips and matures us. 

2 Timothy 3:16–17, "All Scripture is God-breathed... so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped..."

It endures forever. 

1 Peter 1:23–25, "You have been born again... through the living and enduring word of God."

It is a weapon against the enemy. 

Ephesians 6:17, "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

It produces faith. 

Romans 10:17, 

"Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

It must be obeyed. 

James 1:22–25, "Do not merely listen...do what it says," and 

Matthew 7:24–27, "Everyone who hears these words...and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

You don't master this Book; this Book lovingly masters you.

Notes: 

Call to Action: The 30-Day Experiment

Read one chapter a day.Underline it, mark it up, highlight it.Obey one thing. 

Don't do it for a "feeling." Do it because God promised that His Word produces fruit. Watch Him renew your mind, heal your heart, and re-root your life.

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