BRUSHFIRES | WEEK 1

A Discipleship Series from Brushwood Press | BrushwoodPress.com

Core Doctrine:

Biblical Authority – Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura)

​

Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (CSB)

 

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

 

 

Book Context:

 

Paul wrote 2 Timothy as his final letter before martyrdom, passing the torch of gospel ministry to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy. The letter is deeply personal, urgent, and fearless. In Chapter 3, Paul warns of a growing culture of deception and drifting hearts. In the midst of chaos, Paul anchors Timothy’s hope in the unchanging, God-breathed authority of Scripture—his only sure guide for life, ministry, and endurance.

 

Core Doctrine Explanation:

 

The doctrine of Biblical Authority—or Sola Scriptura—teaches that Scripture alone is the supreme and final authority for faith and life. It doesn’t mean Scripture is the only source of truth, but it means every other truth claim must be tested by it.

 

Paul makes it clear: Scripture is not human wisdom. It is the very breath of God, carrying divine power to teach, rebuke, correct, and train us in righteousness. Scripture is sufficient—not lacking, not outdated, and not in need of improvement. It is the anchor that holds fast when emotions shift, cultures change, and opinions collide.

 

Without Scripture as the ultimate authority, we are left adrift in a sea of competing voices. But with it, we are equipped—not just to know truth, but to live it, love it, and pass it on to the next generation.

 

 

Danger of Not Holding to the Core Doctrine – Week 1: Biblical Authority – Scripture Alone

 

When Scripture is no longer our supreme authority, something else will quietly take its place—our feelings, traditions, experiences, or the opinions of the loudest voices around us. And the drift away from God’s voice is rarely dramatic at first. It usually looks reasonable, compassionate, even wise. But the result is devastating: we lose the ability to know what is true.

 

When the Word of God becomes negotiable, Christianity becomes customizable. Faith becomes a matter of preference instead of obedience. And the gospel becomes a suggestion rather than a summons from the King.

 

Sometimes the danger comes with good intentions: trying to make the Bible more approachable, less offensive, more relevant. But when we soften the edges of Scripture to make it easier for sinners to accept, we are no longer speaking God’s words—we are speaking our own. In the end, we are offering people a god who cannot save, because he is a god of our own invention.

 

Without biblical authority, the church loses her courage. She becomes silent on sin, timid in suffering, and powerless in mission. But when Scripture is honored, trusted, and obeyed, the church shines with clarity, conviction, and compassion—even when the world misunderstands her.

 

To deny the authority of Scripture is to put ourselves in the place of God. But to embrace it is to come under His voice, to live under His wisdom, and to walk in His freedom.

 

Conversational Evangelism:

 

Many people today believe truth is subjective—based on personal feelings or experiences. A simple question can open a gospel conversation:

 

“Where do you turn when you’re not sure what’s true?”

 

When they answer,

gently point them to the stability of God’s Word.

​

You can ask,

 

“What if there was a truth you could trust,

even when your feelings change?”

 

This opens the door to share how Scripture

is not just ancient wisdom

—it is living, active, and the trustworthy

voice of God Himself.

 

 

 

Call to Action:

 

This week, examine where you tend to lean on your own understanding instead of standing on Scripture. Are there areas where your feelings have more authority than God’s Word?

 

Take time to recommit to hearing, trusting, and obeying Scripture. Let the Word have the final say—not just in what you believe, but in how you live.

 

 

Fire Starter Question:

 

When was a time in your life when Scripture corrected a belief or feeling you once trusted—and how did it change you?