Who first taught you the Bible?  I can recall my parents telling me Bible stories at bedtime, but I have a clearer memory of a Sunday School teacher named Nancy Bailey.  I grew up in St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Crystal Lake, Illinois, in the late 50's and early 60's.  Nancy Bailey was my Sunday School teacher for several years, 5^th grade thru 8^th grade.  We read about Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and about the Journeys of St. Paul as a missionary.  We learned why it might be dangerous to say in the Lord's Prayer "OUR Father", as the priest always introduced it saying "And now we are BOLD to say..."  Maybe you have a fond memory of a parent or Sunday School teacher who first made the Bible come alive for you.

     In our reading today from Paul's second letter to Timothy, part of Paul's jail correspondence, he is at the end of his life, giving his final wisdom to the young leader he has mentored.  Paul is urging Timothy to continue firmly in the study of the Scriptures which are inspired by God and instruct us for salvation through Jesus Christ.  Paul first meant the writings of the Old Testament, but very soon after Paul, the early church decided that the books of the New Testament were similarly inspired by God, also able to train the people of God in righteousness, equipping them for good works.

     In every Eucharist here Sunday by Sunday, we spend the first half of our service in The Liturgy of the Word, that is, the Scriptures.  No other writings are comparable to them for the story of salvation.  They lead us to trust in God who grants us forgiveness, personal transformation, and eternal life.  We cannot be saved by our own wisdom.  The Bible alone communicates a saving wisdom through faith in Jesus Christ; of no other writings can that claim be made.  The Bible is a book of meeting, a place where humanity comes into contact with God, through the words of the Scriptures.  We do not come to hear the Scriptures for information, but we come to them in search of a relationship, a transforming relationship with God, the source of truth, light, and life.

     Scripture is like a multi-faceted jewel that can yield ever new insights for us, at different times in our lives.  We may know the story of a Scripture, but we are different people every time we come to hear it, and the Holy Spirit of God can communicate new insights to us anytime we pick it up and read.

     I continue to recommend the Forward Day by Day booklets for your daily prayer and Bible reading.  I know I have said this before.  But it is so important for living Christ-centered lives, to be practicing the faith we profess, to let ourselves get into the Bible text, and let the Bible texts get into us.  Today there are new Forwards starting in November.  Re-commit yourself to a practice of daily Bible reading and prayer; you will be rewarded.

     Every priest and deacon at their ordination commits themselves not only to the study of the scriptures and daily prayer, but also they must sign a written document that says they believe the books of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God and "to contain all things necessary to salvation."  If there was one book to have on a desert island, it would be the bible!

     Paul warns Timothy and us to beware of our hunger for novelty, which has always been with humanity.  "For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears... to suit their own desires...."  Sometimes I admit I want to be up with the latest scholarship or newest book.  But anything new must be weighed against the sound doctrine and revealed truth of the scriptures as the church has received it.  The bible already contains everything necessary for salvation.  And every renewal of the Church has always been grounded in the Scriptures. 

     I will close with Paul's summary at the end of today's reading:  "As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully."  As we continue to serve people in ministry from St. Margaret's, may we ever ground ourselves in the Word of God, ever fresh, ever new, a lamp for our feet showing us the path to walk.  AMEN.