God’s Word Is… January 25, 2026 [Part 1]
key points
Message Summary God’s Word is not just a book—it is living, powerful truth meant to be rightly understood, rightly
divided, and approached with a heart that genuinely seeks God. In this message, “God’s Word Is...,” Duane Sheriff teaches foundational truths about how to read the Bible, interpret Scripture in context, and why understanding covenants, divisions, and the centrality of Jesus is essential to spiritual growth. The central thread running through every page is Jesus Christ—the story of humanity's fall, our utter hopelessness without God, and the divine intervention that saves us. When we approach Scripture with reverence and a pure heart, something supernatural happens. The Word becomes more than information - it becomes transformation. It sanctifies us, cleanses our minds like a spiritual washing, and separates us from the darkness of this world. We discover that every sacrifice, every temple ritual, every prophecy was pointing to Jesus. When we understand that God's Word is truth, seed, food, and covenant all at once, we unlock a power that can literally rewire our thinking and redirect our lives.
Key Points The Bible must be "rightly divided" to understand its truth, recognizing divisions between
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Old and New Covenants, law and grace, and understanding context, places, people, and principles. •
Making God's Word final authority simplifies life by allowing Scripture to make decisions.
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God’s Word cleanses and washes believers, separating them from worldly thinking.
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God’s Word has eleven essential characteristics: truth, sanctification, testimony of Jesus, food for spiritual growth, seed that reproduces, covenant binding God's promises, direction for life, equipment for ministry, revelation of God's nature, spiritually discerned truth, and final authority.
Scripture References •
John 17:14-20
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Matthew 4:4
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2 Timothy 2:15
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Psalms 119:11, 105
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John 5:39
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Mark 4:13-20
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Proverbs 4:22
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Isaiah 55:8-11
Study Notes