Can You Really Trust the Bible? | Herbert Cooper

- Jesus came, so lost people could be saved. This church is not a cruise ship. We'll be laid by the pool. This is a battleship. And for 23 years, we've been on mission for Jesus. For 23 years, we've been worshiping Jesus, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, reaching lost people, baptizing people, helping people know God and growing God. Discover purpose and make a difference. We've been on the mission of Jesus. For one reason, to see more changed lives. - Welcome to people's church family. Come on, if you're able, will you stand to your feet with us, to our sisters online? If able to ask them, we're gonna say welcome ladies. Come on church family, put those hands together. Let's celebrate the freedom that we have in Jesus. We'll be back for choir. (audience cheering) (upbeat music) ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ I got this revelation ♪ ♪ It's the reason that I praise ♪ ♪ It's a celebration ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Every time I hear your name ♪ ♪ I got this revelation ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ I'll call you down for me ♪

♪ You set my soul on fire ♪ ♪ It's the reason that I can't wait to get to the house ♪ ♪ Joy in the praise ♪ ♪ Lift up a song with the angels and say ♪ ♪ Ain't gotta come to hesitate ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm turning trust to say ♪ ♪ I got dreams ♪ ♪ This is freedom ♪ ♪ Come on, we sing ♪ ♪ I'll tell you I'm not freedom ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ This is freedom ♪ ♪ Oh, I got a new beginning ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ My past has been raised ♪ ♪ It's not just your feeling ♪ ♪ And I won't hold back my face when I get to the house ♪ Join in the praise, lift up a song with the angels in place. Ain't got a time to hesitate, 'cause I'm burning just to say, I'm not free. Thank you all. This is freedom. We're all proud. I found you. I'm not freedom. Yeah. This is freedom. I found you. I found you. I'm not freedom. Oh.

This is freedom. Oh. I found freedom. Oh. This is freedom. Oh. This is freedom. Oh. Oh. Come on, we sing, sing. Ain't no rock. Ain't no rock. Ain't no rock. Gonna cry. Come on, we sing. Ain't no rock. Ain't no rock. Ain't no rock. Ain't no rock. Ain't no rock. Ain't no rock. Gonna cry in my pain. Ain't no rock. Ain't no rock. Ain't no rock. Gonna cry in my pain. I found you. I found you. I found you. I found you.

I found you. Ain't no rock. This is freedom. I found you. I found freedom. Oh. This is freedom. I found you. I found freedom. Thank you, Lord. This is freedom. Oh. This is freedom. Well, today we're celebrating life changes. People follow the Lord in water baptism. You can turn your attention to my left. You're right. Come on. Change lives! Yes! Yes! God, we bless your name. There's no one like you got, yeah! A thousand generations falling down and worshiped to sing this on the pages to the light. The dawn who gone before us, the dawn we'll believe. We'll sing this on the page and to the land. Your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest, Your name stands above their heart. Above all the bones and to be in tall clouds and positions your name stands above their heart. In the angels cry, holy, on creation cries, holy, you are lifted high, holy, holy forever. If you've been forgiven, if you've been redeemed, we'll sing this on forever to the land.

If you walk in freedom, if you bear his name, we'll sing this on forever to the land. We'll sing this on forever and amen and the angels cry, holy, on creation cries, holy, you are lifted high, holy, holy forever. Here people sing, holy, to the King of Kings, holy, you will always be, holy, holy forever. Your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest, Your name stands above their heart. Above all the bones and to be in tall clouds and positions your name stands above their hearts, your name is the highest, Your name is the greatest, Your name stands above their heart. Above all the bones and to be in tall clouds and positions your name stands above their heart, in the angels cry, holy, on creation cries, holy, you are lifted high, holy, holy yeah, here people sing, holy, to the King of Kings, holy, you will always be, holy, holy forever, you will always be, holy, holy forever. God, holy, holy, holy Lord, God, oh my, earthy The morning I shall rise to thee Holy, holy, holy Perciful and mighty Come in three verses, let's betray We honor you, Lord, you're a holy God You're an awesome God, there is an unlike you Father, we love you today, we worship you We give you all the praise and glory that's due to your name Moving our hearts and our lives today in this place As we gather together to meet with you It's in your name we pray, amen, amen Come on, give them praise one more time Yeah, amen But church family, before you're seated We love taking time every Sunday just to connect To get to know each other a little bit

Once you find two or three people around you, shake their hand, learn their names, let's connect church We love you, Lord, you're a holy God We love you, Lord, you're a holy God All right, well welcome to people's church everybody Hey, my name is Rob Champion, I'm the campus pastor here at the Oklahoma City campus Whether you're joining us online or in the house today, we are family We're so glad to have you with us today I do want to just take a moment to welcome all of our first time Yes, come on people's church, would you show them some love today? Welcome to people's church My people's church family, every year you bless students, teachers, and faculty In our school system And this year you were able to bless five different schools I want to read those to you today It was Midwest City Middle School, John Marshall Middle School, Millwood Elementary School Crestview Elementary and Harrison Hill Elementary School And so I want you to check out this video To see the incredible difference you made in the lives of these students and their families Check this out I'm Neil Gore and I'm the family liaison at Harrison Hill Elementary School And I want to say a big thank you to people's church for passing out School supplies and backpacks to every kid that wants them My name is Robin Good and I'm the family liaison at Crestview Elementary School Your congregation generously donated 150 backpacks with supplies to our school We just want to say thank you to your generous donation of providing backpacks for our scholars here at Midwest City Middle School We have a lot of students that couldn't afford a backpack this year Back to school time can be a financially stressful time for many families And by providing those backpacks you really did alleviate a lot of stress And just wanted to say thank you so much to people's church for continuing to support Crestview Elementary You're adding a lot of value and a lot of help to our families, thank you very much

From Midwest City Middle School, we say thank you Thank you people's church, we appreciate the donations Thank you people's church for providing these backpacks for us Thank you Thank you so much for donating these backpacks Thank you people's church Yeah, thank you people's church Yeah, I want to just say a big thank you so that we can bless over 1,200 students and their families with backpacks and supplies. And thank you also for blessing educators and teachers this year. When you give your tithe and give offerings above your tithe, it's making an incredible difference in our community and people's hearts are open to receiving Jesus as their Lord and their Savior. Father, we pray for our students and the families and these five schools for today, but we pray that you would bless them, Father, and that they would have a prosperous school year. They would learn and do well this year, but Father, most importantly, we pray that they would all come to know you and have their life changed by the power of Jesus. In your name, we pray, amen. (audience cheering) - Church family, I'm just so glad that God is all we need, that because of Him, we can live in His abundance of overflow of grace, the overflow of peace, of provision.

Ain't nobody glad about it today. Come on Church, come on Church, come on Church, come on Church. Go, go, go. ♪ I'm living in the old, old, old, old ♪ ♪ Come with body of love ♪ ♪ Walking in the Holy Ghost ♪ ♪ You're more than enough ♪ ♪ I'm walking in your freedom now ♪ ♪ Covered by your grace ♪ ♪ Listen up, healing power ♪ ♪ We have been changed ♪ ♪ Sing blessed the Lord ♪ ♪ Blessed the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh God, show ♪ ♪ I am living in the old, old, old ♪ ♪ Sing blessed the Lord ♪ ♪ Blessed the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh my Lord ♪ ♪ I am living ♪ ♪ I am living in the old, old, old ♪ ♪ While the sovereign one ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ You've given us your name ♪ ♪ You're playing your kingdom ♪ ♪ Home ♪ ♪ Forever ♪ ♪ You live ♪ ♪ How living in the old, old, old, old ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪

♪ How's it not so free ♪ ♪ Where we go to see ♪ ♪ The things are real ♪ ♪ The things are real ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ The things are real ♪ ♪ Oh I'm living ♪ ♪ Blessed the Lord ♪ ♪ Blessed the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh my Lord ♪ ♪ I am living ♪ ♪ I am living in the old, old, old ♪ ♪ Sing blessed the Lord ♪ ♪ Blessed the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh my Lord ♪ ♪ Please ♪ ♪ I am living in the old, old, old ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ Hear it, oh ♪ ♪ When I walk here, oh ♪ ♪ They won't get me cold ♪ ♪ Come on, can we take it to church? ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, take it to church, oh ♪ ♪ Let's hear it come, hear it come ♪ ♪ We've seen you to hear it come ♪ ♪ Can't we know where you're paid ♪ ♪ Because you can't hold power here ♪ ♪ Trust me forever ♪ ♪ Hold me now ♪ ♪ Hold it on all my pain ♪

♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Pour it all over my church ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Pour it all over my nation ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ I put back your life ♪ ♪ Thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ 'Cause you come on ♪ ♪ Thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ 'Cause you come on ♪ ♪ Thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ 'Cause you come on ♪ ♪ Thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ I put back ♪ ♪ Thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ I put back ♪ ♪ Thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ I put back ♪ ♪ Thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ Thank you, Lord ♪ ♪ Come on, I'll see you in the next ♪ ♪ Let's go, Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, my soul ♪ ♪ I am living ♪ ♪ I am living in the old world ♪ ♪ Oh, my soul ♪ ♪ Let's go, Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, my soul ♪ ♪ I am living ♪ ♪ I am living in the old world ♪

♪ I am living ♪ ♪ I am living in the old world ♪ ♪ I am living ♪ ♪ I am living in the old world ♪ ♪ Oh, my soul ♪ ♪ Oh, my soul ♪ ♪ Come on in ♪ ♪ Come on in, you've got some praise today ♪ ♪ I am living in the old world ♪ I'll deliver what a mighty God reserved. Come on in every location. How about the people's church? Quiet! Great job, Father. Come on, how many of you live on choir? Do you live on choir? Man, I love, love, love the choir room. Welcome to church today. It's a great day to lift up the name of Jesus. Welcome to all of our low cases. We're one church in multiple low cases. We welcome you to church today. We welcome all of our guests today. We're so glad to have you here and hope that you'll keep coming and growing in your faith. Are you ready for the word of God today? You're ready. You're ready. You're ready. You're ready. Ready. Ready. Let's dive in. How many of you have ever come?

How many of you have ever bought something online because you trusted the reviews? You aren't familiar with that company. You aren't familiar with the product, but you saw the five-star review. Best purchase I have ever made. Change my life. Or maybe how many of you, you didn't buy something online because you trusted the two-star review? That said, wouldn't recommend? Or you saw that one-star review broke after two days. You're like, "I'm not buying that new." You trusted the reviews and made your decision. Trust changes everything. We make major decisions in life based on what we trust. We ask the trust question when it comes to the news, the bank, the doctors, the plumbers, the social media, even AI. We ask the trust question. Can I trust it? But there's one question that's bigger than all of these questions. And that's, can I trust the Bible? Is the Bible really God's word? Because if I can't trust the Bible, why should I obey it? Why should I build my life and marriage on it? Why should I raise my kids by it? Why should I trust it with my eternity?

If the Bible is just another ancient religious book, then take what you like and leave the rest. But if the Bible is really God's word, then it changes everything. It changes how you live, how you think, how you love. It changes how you forgive, how you spend your money. It changes your priorities. It changes your beliefs, your eternity. And the tension that we have to wrestle with in our culture is we face it so much. We face it when it comes to trusting the Bible is that everybody has an opinion about the Bible. Some people say it's full of contradictions. Others say it has been changed so many times. Nobody knows what it was, what it originally said. Some say it's just a collection of myths. Others say it's full of legends written hundreds of years later. Some people believe science disproves it. History disproves it. Archaeology disproves it. But here's what's interesting. Most people who reject the Bible have never actually investigated the evidence. They heard someone else say, well, the Bible's not true. Or they watched a YouTube video. Or they listened to a college professor. Or they saw a social media clip.

But they've never examined the evidence for themselves. And God is not against us or afraid of us examining the evidence. Matter of fact, the Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter, chapter three and verse 15, always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that you have. And the more Herbert Cooper examines and studies the Bible, the more I trust that the Bible is God's word. It's unlike any other book ever written. It's inspired by God. And I wanna give you 12 reasons why you should trust the Bible as God's word. I've got 29 minutes to give you 12 reasons. So get your phone ready to take some pictures of some of the points. I'm getting ready to teach you this message. I will also give you some resources so you can dive into this subject later. So get your camera ready to take a picture when I give you the resources. I got a lot of this framework and ideas for this teaching from Frank Turic and Norman Geisler. Let's dive in today, the first reason. If someone wrote a biography of Michael Jackson's life in 2026, millions of eyewitnesses could either confirm or deny what was written because it was written so closely to when Michael lived. We could trust the reliability of it because of how early it was written.

But if someone wrote Michael's first biography 500 years after his death, we may could still trust it. But it's easier to trust the biography written closest to when he lived. That's why historians value sources close to the events. And the Bible was written very close to the events it records, not centuries later. Jesus was crucified around AD 30 to 33. The books of the New Testament were written approximately AD 45 to 95. While many eyewitnesses were still alive to confirm or challenge the accounts. That means the majority of the New Testament was written within 15 to 65 years of Jesus's ministry. By comparison, Julius Caesar's wrote the Dalek Wars around 50 B.C. Yet the earliest substantial manuscripts are 950 years later. Plato wrote between 427 and 347 B.C. But the earliest substantial manuscripts are 1200 years later. Aristotle wrote between 384 to 322 B.C. yet the earliest substantial manuscripts are 1400 years later. Historians still regard all of these works as authentic and valuable. But the New Testament's different. By contrast was written within the lifetime of the eyewitnesses and is supported by manuscript evidence much closer to the original writings

than nearly any of the work in ancient history. Christianity did not begin as a legend centuries removed from the facts. It began in the presence of living eyewitnesses who could verify or refute its claims. Let me give you the second reason. I believe the Bible is God's word. Enduring manuscript evidence. One of the strongest reasons we can trust the Bible is the extraordinary number of quality of ancient manuscripts that preserve its message. The New Testament alone is supported by roughly 5,800 Greek manuscripts and over 24,000 total manuscript witnesses. This is far more than any other ancient book in history. The earliest fragment of John's gospel known as the papyrus 52, dates to about AD 125 to 150. Only 30 to 60 years after John wrote his gospel. By AD 200 or roughly 100 to 150 years. After most of the New Testament, I understand this, books were written. Large portions of the New Testament were already being copied and they were being circulated throughout the Roman Empire. By AD 325 to 350, approximately 230 to 300 years after the apostles wrote. You know what Pastor? Why does this matter? Because it allows scholars to compare thousands of copies

from different regions at time periods to reconstruct the original text with a very high level of confidence. Let me give you by comparison. By comparison, Julius Caesar's Gaelic Wars survives in about 10 to 12 significant manuscripts. The works of Plato survive in about seven manuscripts. The writings of Aristotle are preserved in about 49 manuscripts. Think about this. We have thousands of manuscripts of the Bible. The New Testament is the best attested document from the ancient world. God didn't just inspire his word. He also preserved his word. And that's why we can stand here over 2000 years later with confidence that the Bible faithfully communicates what the apostles originally wrote. Let me give you the third reason. I believe the Bible is God's word. I witnessed testimony. or second-hand legends. It's rooted in the testimony of people who either walked with Jesus or carefully investigated the accounts of those who did. Matthew was written by one of Jesus' 12 disciples. John was written by the disciple whom Jesus loved and he walked with Jesus. Matter of fact, John said at first John chapter one and verse one, we proclaim to you

the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the word of life. In Luke chapter number one, verse one through 14, Luke explains that he carefully investigated everything by interviewing eyewitnesses before writing his gospel. Peter writes in second Peter chapter one, verse 16, "For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes. Even the apostle Paul reminds his readers in first Corinthians chapter 15 and verse six that after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to more than 500 people at one time and most of them were still alive. He was inviting skeptics to verify the claim for themselves. Christianity is unique because its central message was proclaimed publicly in the lifetime of eyewitnesses who could confirm the events. Most ancient history is based on later reports with no direct witnesses. Many ancient figures are accepted even with no surviving eyewitnesses. Most ancient biographies were written long after the people died. But the New Testament was written while people who saw Jesus were still alive.

Let me give you the fourth point. Look at your neighbor and tell them we're going to college today. Go ahead and tell them, yeah, yeah, we're going. We're going to college today. Let me give you the four, number four, number four. Internal, external confirmation, external confirmation. That's another reason we can trust the Bible is God's word. It's because it's historical details are repeatedly confirmed by sources outside of scripture like archeology, ancient inscriptions and non-biblical historians. The Bible is not describing a mythical world. That's what some people say. Where it's just mythical, no, it's not describing a mythical world. Scripture is rooted in real history that can be investigated. The more people dig into the ancient world, the more the biblical record is supported rather than disproved. External confirmation doesn't replace faith, but it does strengthen our faith by showing that scripture consistently stands up to historical scrutiny. The Bible is not only spiritually powerful, but historically reliable. Did you realize your Bible has real names of kings, real governors, real priests, real cities, real customs, real battles and real historical events? Again and again, archeology has uncovered

what the Bible recorded centuries ago. Did you realize they've discovered Pontius Pilate's inscription? Caiaphasus burial box. They've discovered Hezekiah's tunnel, the pool of Bethesda. They discovered the pool of Silom, the Tildan inscription mentioning David, the Taylor prism describing Sennacherate's invasion. They've discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls demonstrating the faithful preservation of the Old Testament. Understand, archeology doesn't disprove scripture. It actually confirms it. Number five is this. I believe the Bible is God's word because of enemy confirmation. It's another strong reason that I trust the Bible. It's because even the enemies of Christianity cannot deny the facts. Some of the greatest evidence for Jesus doesn't come from his followers. It comes from his enemies. Roman historian Tacitus confirms Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate. Jewish historian Josephus confirms Jesus, James and John the Baptist were real people. Roman governor Polini, the younger says, Christians were already worshiping Jesus as God. admit that Jesus was executed and was known for extraordinary works.

Now, they simply argue his power came from sorcery instead of God. Even Greek writer Lucian mocked Christians for worshiping a risen Savior. It's pretty amazing, Church, that the people who rejected Jesus as Lord could not deny the historical facts surrounding his life. That's powerful evidence. When your enemy confirms your story, historians pay attention. Even those who opposed Christianity admitted the central events happened when your enemies become your witnesses. That's not coincidence. That's confirmation. Let me give you a sixth reason. I believe the Bible is God's word. And that's embarrassing details. Another strong internal piece of evidence for the reliability of the Bible is that the fact that it tells the truth even when it's embarrassing. Come on, if the disciples were making up this story, they wouldn't have made themselves look like failures. Come on, if you was writing about yourself, come on, you know, you're going to make yourself look good. Yet the Bible shows their failures and weaknesses. Like in Mark 8, verse 17 through 21, they were confused and slow to understand Jesus' teaching. In Mark 9, verse 32, they were afraid to ask Jesus what he meant. In Matthew 28, verse 17, in Luke 24 and verse number 11, some still doubted after the resurrection. In Luke 22, verse 54 through 62, Peter denied Jesus three times. In Matthew 26 and verse 56, when Jesus was arrested, all the disciples deserted him and fled. The gospel writers preserved the weaknesses of the very people who became the foundation of the early church,

showing they were not crafting a polished story, but reporting events that truly happened. Even when those details made them look bad. And here's what's also pretty amazing. The first witnesses recorded in scripture of the resurrection were women whose testimony back in that culture carried little legal weight. You can see this in Luke 24, verse 1 and 11. And if you were inventing the greatest story ever told, you would never say women were the first witnesses, but the gospel writers did not polish the story. They simply told the truth of what happened. A made up story hides its flaws, but the Bible highlights them because the Bible is honest and true. Number seven is this. Why do I believe the Bible is God's word? excruciating deaths. So that's another reason we can trust the Bible and that the resurrection of Jesus really happened is because the people who saw Jesus were willing to suffer and to die for what they witnessed. People may die for something they believe is true, but people don't willingly endure torture and execution for something they know they made up a lot about. And according to early church history and tradition, the apostle faced severe persecution for their faith in Jesus. James was martyred. Peter was crucified.

Paul was imprisoned, beaten, and eventually executed. James, the brother of Jesus, was also put to death for his faith in Jesus. Early church history also tells us that Andrew, Thomas, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon, the Zealot, and Jude all suffered martyrdom because they refused to deny their faith in Christ. These men lost everything for the sake of the Gospel of Christ, yet none of them, ever, ever changed their story. Why? Because they were convinced they had seen the risen Jesus. This matters because it shows that the early Christian movement was not built on convenience or deception, but on conviction, they were willing to die for their faith. This only reinforces the legitimacy of their eyewitness testimony. Let me give you number eight. Let me give you number eight. Expected prophecy fulfillment. It's another great reason why I trust the Bible is because of fulfilled prophecy. I do this all the time. I predict the Dallas Cowboys are going to win the Super Bowl in 2026. I predict it. Just like I predicted it the last 30 years. I'm not prophetic. I'm pathetic. But I still believe it. This is the year.

The Bible is not pathetic. It's prophetic. The Bible contains more than 1,000 prophecies including more than 300 about Jesus alone. The last prophecy about Jesus was written over 400 years before he was born. These prophecies were over an 1100 year period of time. If that were today, it would be like the last prophecy coming over on the Mayflower. Can you imagine five people or even one person giving a prophecy about you 400 years before you were born? They wouldn't know anything about you, your daddy, your mama, your grandpa, your grandma, your great grandpa, your great grandpa. We don't know anything and there were over 300 accurate prophecies about Jesus and these were not vague or general prophecies like he's going to be awesome. They weren't vague prophecies like the Messiah's going to be amazing. No. They were detailed prophecy that were incredibly specific like in Micah 5 and verse 2 where he would be born in Bethlehem or Zechariah 9 verse 9. He would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey or Zechariah 11 verse 12 and 13. He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver or Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 even that he would die by crucifixion centuries before crucifixion was even invented by the Romans. How does this happen? Because the Bible is not merely man's word, it's God's word, Dr. Peter Stoner in his book Science Speaks calculated the odds of just eight of those prophecies being fulfilled by one person is 10 to the 17th power. That's like covering the entire state of Texas two feet deep with silver dollars and then marking just one coin and then blindfolding someone and having them pick the one mark coin on the first try. That's the probability of fulfilling only eight of the 300 prophecies. Church Bible prophecy is not just luck. Coincidence might explain one prophecy but it cannot explain more than 300 of them. The Bible is God's word.

Why do you believe the Bible is God's word pastor? Because it's endorsed by Jesus. A huge reason I trust the Bible is because Jesus trusted the Bible. From time to time I hear people say I love Jesus but I don't trust the Bible. You can't trust Jesus without trusting the Bible because Jesus trusted the Bible. If you're going to trust Jesus you've got to trust what Jesus trusted. Jesus affirmed the Bible as the authoritative word of God. He consistently quoted it, obeyed it and said it theological questions with the Bible. Matthew chapter four verse four through ten. When tempted by the devil Jesus said it is written and quoted Deuteronomy eight three. Deuteronomy six, sixteen, Deuteronomy six, thirteen. In Matthew chapter five verse seventeen and eighteen Jesus affirms the law and the prophets will not pass away in Mark chapter seven verse six through thirteen. Jesus calls scripture the word of God. In Luke chapter twenty four and verse twenty seven Jesus explains all scripture concerning himself in John chapter ten verse thirty four and thirty five. Jesus quotes Psalm eighty two and says scripture cannot be broken in Matthew chapter nine verse thirteen. Jesus quotes Hosea chapter six verse six I desire mercy not sacrificing Matthew chapter eleven verse ten Jesus quotes Malachi chapter three verse one and about John the Baptist in Matthew chapter twelve verse forty Jesus refers to Jonah as a real historical event in Luke chapter seventeen verse twenty six Jesus says he said he believed in Noah in Matthew chapter nineteen verse four Jesus says he believed in Adam and Eve and Matthew chapter ten verse fifteen Jesus says he believed in Sodom and Gomorrah in Matthew chapter nine Jesus quotes Genesis chapter one and two on marriage. In Matthew chapter 21 verse 13. Jesus quotes Isaiah chapter 56 verse seven. And Jeremiah chapter seven verse 11. My house will be called a house of prayer. In Luke chapter 10 verse 26 through 28.

Jesus quoted Deuteronomy chapter six. And Luke chapter in Leviticus chapter number 19 when he said, what is written in the law? How do you read it? Jesus trusted the Bible because the Bible is the Word of God. I trust the Bible because Jesus trusted the Bible. Pastor, you going too fast. Go watch it again on YouTube, it's archived. Number 10, it's endorsed by the disciples. We can trust the authority of scripture because the apostles and the early church leaders consistently endorsed one another's writings as carrying divine authority, not merely human opinion. Example, second Peter chapter three verse 15 and 16 Peter calls Paul's letters scripture. First Timothy chapter five verse 18. He quotes Luke plus Deuteronomy as scripture in Ephesians chapter three verse three through five. It says revelation given to the apostles and prophets Galatians chapter one verse 11 through 12 says the gospel received by revelation of Jesus Christ. Acts chapter two verse four to two says the apostles. Doctrine is authoritative foundation. Second Timothy chapter three verse 16 and 17. All scripture is God, breathe. Second Peter chapter one verse 20 and 21. Prophecy comes from God, not man. Romans chapter three verse two says the oracles of God

entrusted to Israel. Hebrews chapter one verse one and two says God spoke through the prophets. Hebrew chapter four and verse 12 says the word of God is living and active. Acts chapter one verse 16 says scripture had to be fulfilled. First Peter chapter one verse 10 and 11 says the prophets spoke by the spirit of Christ. I simply trust the Bible because Jesus trusted the Bible. The apostles and the early church leaders believed that the Bible was the word of God. Number 11 is this explosive growth. One of the most remarkable pieces of evidence for the truth of Christianity is the rapid and the unexpected growth of the early church. The message of Jesus did not spread in the in places of power or comfort. It began to spread in Jerusalem. The very city where Jesus was crucified and then it spread across the Roman Empire in the face of intense opposition and persecution. Within a few decades the gospel had reached major cities like Rome, Corinth, Ephesus and beyond. This matters because movements built on lies, built on deceptions, built on misunderstanding, rarely survive intense opposition. They should not multiply rapidly under persecution. The explosive growth of Christianity is best explained by the conviction of the early believers that Jesus had truly risen from the dead

and that his message was worth everything even their very lives. Before I give you this last point, let me give you some resources you can study on your own and you can learn more about why Christians believe the Bible is God's word and why it matters. Just take a picture of those resources for all of my students who wanna dive a little bit deeper. Just get your picture, get your picture, get your picture, get your picture of those books and you can get 'em and you can read 'em and you can dive deeper into this subject. Don't just go listen to somebody on YouTube. Don't know what they're talking about. Go do some research yourself. Go do some research, go do some research. Number 12, number 12, number 12. Extraordinary transformation. One of the most compelling evidences for the truth of the Bible and the gospel is undeniable transformation that it produces in human lives. The New Testament doesn't just claim that Jesus rose from the dead. It actually shows what happens when people encounter Jesus. Broken men and women become bold witnesses. Sinners become saints. Fearful disciples become fearless preachers of the gospel and acts. We see ordinary people filled with the Holy Spirit and turning the world upside down.

Peter denied Jesus, but later preached boldly from Wojcah, Oklahoma, born in Culver City, California, whose mom and dad moved to Wojcah and he was abused and he was broken and he was lost and he was addicted and he gave his life to Jesus in a football locker room. He began to read the word of God and God's Word and God's power changed his life. I stand here today at 51 years old and I'm telling you Jesus changed my life. The Bible changed my life. Is there anybody else in the house today that can testify that Jesus and the Bible changed your life. Is there anybody that can say that the Lord has changed my life. I was wicked. I was ratchet. I was nasty. I was filthy. I was dirty. But Jesus and the Bible changed my life. Come on, take ten seconds and give God some praise. Come on, the Word of God. It'll change your life. Jesus will change your life. Ah, that's true. Father, I bless you. I give you the praise. I give you the glory. I give you the honor. Lord, I thank you right now for the power of the Word of God. Let us saturate hearts and minds. Thank you. Let you change in people today. Thank you that somebody today is putting their faith in Jesus. Lord, we thank you that your Bible is true. We thank you, Jesus died and we thank you for the power of your Word and the name of Jesus we pray. Every head bowed, every eye closed for just a moment. Some of you here today, you are far from God. You don't have a relationship with God. You've been drifting away and you're here today and you realize you want Jesus to change and transform your life. You want to turn away from your sin. You want to give your life to Jesus today. Some of you here today, you used to follow God. You used to be passionate for God. He transformed your life one day in the past, but you've drifted away and God's calling you back. And he's saying, today is the day. Re-commit your life back to me today. If you're here today and deep down in your heart, you know you need to give your heart to Jesus. You need to give your life to God. You need to turn away from your sin. You want to go to heaven, not hell. You want to serve God, not the devil. You want to live an abundant life. You want your sins forgiven. If that's you here today, when I count to three, I'm going to ask you to slip your hand boldly and say, today I'm giving my life to Jesus. I'm turning away from my sin. And I'm choosing to give my life to the lordship of Jesus. If that's you here today, when I count to three, would you lift your hand? One, two, three. Would you

lift your hand all over this room? Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I see those hands. Anyone else you say that to me? Thank you so much. Thank you so much. You say that to me? I need Jesus today. If you lifted your hand today, I want you to pray this prayer with me. The Bible says, confess it with your mouth, believe it in your heart, and you will be safe. Pray with me now. Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you today. And I recognize that I'm a sinner. And I recognize that I'm far away from you. And today I thank you, God, that you loved me so much to send your son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sin. Today I make Jesus my Lord. Today I turn for my sin. And I choose to follow Jesus from this day forward and for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. And amen. Come on Church, can we praise God and celebrate with those who said yes to Jesus? You know Church, before we leave today, I'd love for us to just take a moment. Are you just thankful for what God has done in your life, that He saved you? You're thankful for God's word that had transformed your life. Would you stand with me all over this room? And can we just honor God? Can we just lift up the name of Jesus, the one who's holy today? Let's worship Him today. And thank Him today for transforming our lives with the Word of God. Let's sing it together. Above all homes and dominion tall paths Imposition is Your name It stands above Him all Staying Your name Is the height Your name Is the praise is Your name It stands above Him all Above all homes and dominion tall paths Imposition is Your name It stands above Him all And the angels cry Oh, we are creation's cries

Oh, we You are lifted high Oh, we Holy forever We are we both sing We are we both sing Oh, we are we both sing To the King of Kings Oh, we You are always here Oh, we Holy forever No, no, no, no, no Staying Your name It's the height Your name Is the praise is Your name It stands above them all Above all homes and dominion tall paths Imposition is Your name It stands above Him all See Your name Your name Is the height Your name Is the praise is Your name It stands above them all Above all homes and dominion tall paths Imposition is Your name It stands above Him all And the angels cry Oh, we are creation's cries Oh, we

You are lifted high Oh, we Holy forever Oh, we just let Your hands And sing this out here, people sing Hear your people sing Oh, sing a moment Oh, holy To the King of Kings Oh, holy You will always be Holy Holy forever You will always be You will always be Holy Holy forever Yeah, it's the Holy God, amen It's a great God We're family here at People's Church Come on, we'll just shout it with me on three One, two, three We're family Don't bless your church Yeah Your name Is the highest