Throughout this series, we have been examining some of the questions Jesus asked during His earthly ministry. That may seem a little unusual at first because we often think of Jesus as the One who provides answers. People came to Him with questions about God, life, eternity, forgiveness, marriage, money, and countless other subjects. Yet when you read the Gospels carefully, you discover that Jesus frequently responded to questions by asking questions of His own. In fact, one scholar estimated that Jesus asked more than 300 questions during His ministry. He understood something that every good teacher understands: answers can inform the mind, but questions have a way of revealing the heart.

When Jesus asked a question, it was never because He lacked information. He already knew the answer. Instead, His questions invited people to examine themselves. They exposed assumptions, uncovered motives, and forced individuals to confront truths they might otherwise avoid. And the same is true today. The questions Jesus asked two thousand years ago continue to echo into our lives because they are not merely questions for the people in the story; they are questions for us.

Billy Graham was arguably one of the most respected Christian leaders of the twentieth century. When he passed away, during his funeral service, his son, Franklin Graham shared something significant to those of us whose vocation and calling is to preach. He said one of the defining characteristics of his father's ministry was his absolute confidence in the Word of God. He recalled countless occasions when his father would stand before thousands of people, hold up his Bible, and simply declare, "The Bible says..."

For generations of Christians, that phrase was the foundation of preaching. The preacher's authority wasn't found in his personality or his opinions. It wasn't found in his education. It wasn't even found in his experience. The authority came from one simple conviction: "The Bible says."

And yet today, there are rising voices - even from those who preach - suggesting that this phrase "The Bible says" should be cast aside because it is essentially outdated. Some preachers claim that since modern people are suspicious of authority, when we appeal to Scripture AS authoritative in one's life, we are in danger of creating barriers rather than bridges to faith. There is one prominent modern-day preacher who has even suggested that portions of the Bible, particularly the OT, are outdated, embarrassing, or largely irrelevant to modern believers.

So which is it? Is the Bible still relevant? Does it still matter? Can we still confidently say, "The Bible says"? Or has the Bible become little more than a religious artifact that we respect but rarely open?

This morning we are beginning a brand-new summer sermon series that we're calling "Questions Jesus Asked* (And We Must Answer)."

When most people think about Jesus, they think about His answers. They think about His teaching, His miracles, His parables, and the incredible wisdom He shared with those around Him. And certainly, Jesus gave some remarkable answers.

But what many people don't realize is that Jesus was also a master question-asker. In fact, when you read through the Gospels, you discover that Jesus asked questions everywhere He went. Some of them were simple questions. Some were uncomfortable questions. Some were questions that cut straight to the heart. He asked questions like, "Why are you afraid?" "Who do you say that I am?" "Do you want to get well?" "Where is your faith?" and "Do you love me?"

And here's what makes those questions so powerful: Jesus wasn't asking because He needed information. Jesus' questions are rarely about information. They are about revelation.

He asks questions not because HE needs answers, but because WE do. And Jesus' questions are powerful in that they reveal what is happening in our hearts. They expose our fears, our assumptions, our priorities, and sometimes even our idols. In many ways, spiritual growth begins when we become willing to answer honestly the questions Jesus asks.

So throughout this summer, we're going to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen carefully to some of His questions. Because if we're willing to wrestle with them honestly, they have the power to transform us.