July 15th, 2026
by Micah Bosworth
by Micah Bosworth
We live in a world filled with competing voices. Every day we're told what to believe, how to live, what success looks like, and where to find truth. Culture shifts. Opinions change. Trends come and go. And even our own hearts can lead us in conflicting directions!
So where do we turn?
Our third core value is this: The Bible Is Our Authority.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17
The Bible is unlike any other book. While it was written through human authors over the course of centuries, it is ultimately God's inspired Word. It is His revelation of Himself, His will, and His plan of redemption.
Because it comes from God, it carries His authority. This means we don't stand over Scripture, deciding which parts we like or dislike. Scripture stands over us. It shapes our beliefs, corrects our thinking, confronts our sin, and teaches us how to live in a way that honors God.
When our opinions conflict with Scripture, Scripture is right. When culture changes, God's Word remains the same. When our feelings pull us one direction and God's Word points another, we trust His wisdom over our own. The Bible isn't merely one source of truth among many. It is our final authority for life and faith.
So where do we turn?
Our third core value is this: The Bible Is Our Authority.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17
The Bible is unlike any other book. While it was written through human authors over the course of centuries, it is ultimately God's inspired Word. It is His revelation of Himself, His will, and His plan of redemption.
Because it comes from God, it carries His authority. This means we don't stand over Scripture, deciding which parts we like or dislike. Scripture stands over us. It shapes our beliefs, corrects our thinking, confronts our sin, and teaches us how to live in a way that honors God.
When our opinions conflict with Scripture, Scripture is right. When culture changes, God's Word remains the same. When our feelings pull us one direction and God's Word points another, we trust His wisdom over our own. The Bible isn't merely one source of truth among many. It is our final authority for life and faith.
The Bible Reveals God
The Bible isn't most essentially a book of rules, a collection of heroic stories and myths, or an encyclopedia to find answers for every question we could think to ask.
The Bible is the story of God's redemptive work throughout history, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures reveal who God is. It reveals His holiness, His justice, His mercy, His faithfulness, and His love. Every page ultimately points us toward Christ.
Jesus Himself taught this!
“Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” — Luke 24:26-27, 44-45
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” — John 5:39
This means that reading the Bible isn't merely about gaining information. It's about knowing God more deeply. The more we understand His Word, the more we understand His character, His purposes, and His heart for His people.
The Bible is the story of God's redemptive work throughout history, culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures reveal who God is. It reveals His holiness, His justice, His mercy, His faithfulness, and His love. Every page ultimately points us toward Christ.
Jesus Himself taught this!
“Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” — Luke 24:26-27, 44-45
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” — John 5:39
This means that reading the Bible isn't merely about gaining information. It's about knowing God more deeply. The more we understand His Word, the more we understand His character, His purposes, and His heart for His people.
The Bible Transforms Lives
But God didn't give us His Word primarily so we would know more. He gave it so we'd become more like Christ.
The Scriptures expose areas where we've believed lies. They correct our thinking, reshape our priorities, and lead us toward lives marked by holiness and wisdom.
James reminds us that the goal is to do more than just hear God's Word. The goal is doing what it says.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” — James 1:22–25
Knowledge alone doesn't produce maturity. Obedience does. Every time we submit ourselves to God's Word, the Holy Spirit uses it to transform us from the inside out.
The Scriptures expose areas where we've believed lies. They correct our thinking, reshape our priorities, and lead us toward lives marked by holiness and wisdom.
James reminds us that the goal is to do more than just hear God's Word. The goal is doing what it says.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” — James 1:22–25
Knowledge alone doesn't produce maturity. Obedience does. Every time we submit ourselves to God's Word, the Holy Spirit uses it to transform us from the inside out.
The Bible Must Be Taught Faithfully
If the Bible truly is God's Word, then our responsibility isn't to improve upon it. Our responsibility is to faithfully teach it.
That's why we're committed to teaching Scripture clearly, accurately, and in its proper context. We don't want to use isolated verses to support our own ideas. We want to understand what God intended to communicate and faithfully explain His Word.
One of the best ways to do that is by preaching and teaching verse by verse through books of the Bible. Walking through entire books helps us understand passages in their context. It prevents us from skipping difficult subjects or dwelling only on our favorite topics. It allows God's Word (not the preacher) to determine what we study.
The believers in Berea modeled this kind of posture. When Paul preached to them, they didn't blindly accept his words simply because he was an apostle. Instead, they eagerly received the message while carefully examining the Scriptures to see whether what he taught was true. (see Acts 17:11)
That is the kind of culture we want to cultivate! We don't want people to believe something simply because a pastor said it. We want them to know God's Word well enough that they can faithfully discern truth for themselves. Healthy churches aren't built on charismatic personalities. They're built on people who know, love, and submit to the Scriptures.
Our desire is never for people to leave impressed by a sermon. Our desire is for people to leave understanding God's Word more clearly than when they arrived.
That's why we're committed to teaching Scripture clearly, accurately, and in its proper context. We don't want to use isolated verses to support our own ideas. We want to understand what God intended to communicate and faithfully explain His Word.
One of the best ways to do that is by preaching and teaching verse by verse through books of the Bible. Walking through entire books helps us understand passages in their context. It prevents us from skipping difficult subjects or dwelling only on our favorite topics. It allows God's Word (not the preacher) to determine what we study.
The believers in Berea modeled this kind of posture. When Paul preached to them, they didn't blindly accept his words simply because he was an apostle. Instead, they eagerly received the message while carefully examining the Scriptures to see whether what he taught was true. (see Acts 17:11)
That is the kind of culture we want to cultivate! We don't want people to believe something simply because a pastor said it. We want them to know God's Word well enough that they can faithfully discern truth for themselves. Healthy churches aren't built on charismatic personalities. They're built on people who know, love, and submit to the Scriptures.
Our desire is never for people to leave impressed by a sermon. Our desire is for people to leave understanding God's Word more clearly than when they arrived.
The Bible Leads Us to Lifelong Discipleship
No one ever graduates from needing God's Word! Whether you've followed Christ for fifty years or fifty days, God's Word continues to teach, encourage, convict, strengthen, and mature His people. That's why discipleship must always be rooted in Scripture.
Faithful discipleship can involve passing along opinions or experiences. But it goes deeper than that for the Christian! It is helping one another understand God's Word, apply it faithfully, and grow into the likeness of Christ.
This is one of the reasons we are committed to verse-by-verse discipleship. Rather than building our lives around isolated topics or personal preferences, we want to continually submit ourselves to the whole counsel of God. As we walk through Scripture together, we learn not only what God has said, but how to read, understand, and faithfully apply His Word for ourselves.
As believers, we never stop learning. We never stop growing. We never stop submitting ourselves to the authority of God's Word. Because the goal isn't just to know the Bible. The goal is to know the God of the Bible and to become more like His Son.
Faithful discipleship can involve passing along opinions or experiences. But it goes deeper than that for the Christian! It is helping one another understand God's Word, apply it faithfully, and grow into the likeness of Christ.
This is one of the reasons we are committed to verse-by-verse discipleship. Rather than building our lives around isolated topics or personal preferences, we want to continually submit ourselves to the whole counsel of God. As we walk through Scripture together, we learn not only what God has said, but how to read, understand, and faithfully apply His Word for ourselves.
As believers, we never stop learning. We never stop growing. We never stop submitting ourselves to the authority of God's Word. Because the goal isn't just to know the Bible. The goal is to know the God of the Bible and to become more like His Son.
The Bible Is Our Authority
In a world where truth is constantly being redefined, God's Word remains unchanging. It is trustworthy because God is trustworthy. It is true because God cannot lie. It is sufficient because God has given us everything we need for life and godliness.
“Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” — Psalms 119:89
“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” — Isaiah 40:8
“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue," — 2 Peter 1:3
This is why we say, "The Bible Is Our Authority."
We stand on the truth of God's Word as our final authority for life and faith. We are committed to knowing it, teaching it clearly, and living it out through faithful, verse-by-verse discipleship.
“Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” — Psalms 119:89
“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” — Isaiah 40:8
“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue," — 2 Peter 1:3
This is why we say, "The Bible Is Our Authority."
We stand on the truth of God's Word as our final authority for life and faith. We are committed to knowing it, teaching it clearly, and living it out through faithful, verse-by-verse discipleship.
Posted in Mission and Vision
Posted in Core Values, Bible, God\'s Word, Authority of Scripture, Discipleship, Christian Living
Posted in Core Values, Bible, God\'s Word, Authority of Scripture, Discipleship, Christian Living
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