The Guidance of Scripture
William Graham Scroggie's sermon emphasizes the necessity of Scripture and prayer in receiving God's guidance for our lives.
William Graham Scroggie emphasizes the importance of God's guidance in knowing our duty, highlighting that neglecting the Bible leads to ignorance of the Divine will. He stresses that the Scriptures hold the highest revelation of truth, and it is crucial to seek and obey God's will with a glad and trustful heart. Scroggie reminds the listeners that God promises to guide the meek in judgment and teach His way, but it requires obedience, prayer, dependence, and trust on our part to continuously receive His guidance.
Text
"The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way"
(Ps. 25:9).
We recognize that it is only as God guides us that we can know what our duty is, which is another way of saying that, God guides His people by His Word, interpreted and applied by His Spirit. If therefore, we neglect the Bible, we cannot but remain in ignorance of the Divine will. The shrewdest calculation and the keenest foresight can never be adequate for our supreme need, nor be a substitute for the knowledge of the Divine mind. Just because life is related to truth, and the highest revelation of truth is preserved in the Scriptures, we must discover from them what is the will of God for us, and having discovered it, we must do it, with a glad and trustful heart.
"The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach His way." God will not fail on His part, but we may fail on ours. If we listen at all, "our ears shall hear a word behind us saying, 'This is the way, walk ye in it,' when we turn to the right hand, and when we turn to the left," but if we heed not that voice, we shall continue to wander in perilous by-paths. The mere reading of the Scriptures will not give us guidance for the way; we must obediently seek therein, for our personal need, the will of God and this is done by prayer. If we ask, He will answer, but if His guidance of us is to be continuous, our asking must be the reflection of an attitude towards Him, on our part, of dependence and trust.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The necessity of divine guidance
- The role of Scripture in understanding God's will
- The importance of the Holy Spirit in interpretation
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II
- The consequences of neglecting the Bible
- The inadequacy of human wisdom without God's truth
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III
- The promise of guidance for the meek
- The importance of obedience in seeking guidance
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IV
- The role of prayer in receiving guidance
- The need for a heart of dependence and trust
Key Quotes
“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” — William Graham Scroggie
“If we neglect the Bible, we cannot but remain in ignorance of the Divine will.” — William Graham Scroggie
“If we ask, He will answer, but if His guidance of us is to be continuous, our asking must be the reflection of an attitude towards Him.” — William Graham Scroggie
Application Points
- Make a habit of reading and meditating on Scripture daily to understand God's will.
- Approach prayer with a heart of dependence and trust, seeking God's guidance actively.
- Practice meekness and obedience to ensure you are receptive to God's direction in your life.