April 18, 2010

“I Read the Bible...”

Psalm 119:97-100, 103-105; II Timothy 3:14-4:5

But I mainly went to hear God’s Word; to hear the Bible read and explained. Then I became a pastor and for the past 26 years I have had the challenge of reading and explaining the Bible for others.

      For me, it was a thrill to hear the faithful, clear preaching of Rev. Morgan at Westerly Road, then his son Dave Morgan at Windsor Chapel, Peter Moore at FOCUS, and Rich Schoenert at North Shore. I was also terribly disappointed and confused by the preaching of a few other pastors along the way. I won’t decry them by name, but some would read a passage from the Bible and then preach the sermon with no reference to God or Jesus or what was just read. Some would go on with their latest opinions in psychology or politics.

      In our Book of Order (part of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church), it says, “The preached Word or sermon is to be based upon the written Word. It is a proclamation of Scripture… The sermon should present the gospel with simplicity and clarity” (W-2.2007). I may not be as brilliant as either the great preachers I’ve read or heard; or as creative as the preachers who miss the gospel and pursue their own flights of fancy. But I strive and hope and pray that my sermons are faithful to God’s Word. I hope I preach with simplicity and clarity.

        There seems to be a sickness among some (perhaps many) mainline Protestant preachers that stems from academia. “Publish or perish.” You’ve got to come up with something new! For preaching, that might be creative but it’s probably not faithful. Paul wrote to Timothy, “As for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of.” Paul began his urgent chapter on the Resurrection (I Corinthians 15), “I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand… For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day.”

      There were errant preachers and teachers in the first century and in every century since; as there are in the twenty-first. Peter, John and Paul all address this problem in their letters. Peter wrote: “There will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies… they will exploit you with fabricated stories” (read II Peter 2). John wrote: “I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray” (I John). “Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world” (II John). And Paul wrote: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1).

I. FILL IN THE BLANK survey

      That’s why I choose to take my direction from the Bible, God’s Word written. As a pastor, that’s where I’ve always hoped to lead the church. Which brings us to this morning’s FILL IN THE BLANK survey. Please take it out, fill it out with me and turn it in. This will help me and all of our ministries in the church lead the congregation in reaching out with God’s Word to our community.

1. I read from the Bible on my own: ____ every day;

     ____ at few times a week;   _____ rarely;    ____ never.

2. I find the Bible difficult to understand:

     ____ often;  ____ sometimes;  ____ I usually get it.
3. I use a devotional guide (like Our Daily Bread; Upper Room)

    to suggest what passages from the Bible to read and enjoy the

    insights from the writer:

             ____ usually;    ____ occasionally;    ____ no;

                        ____ no, but would like to.  

4. I have a “study” Bible with notes that help me understand it:

          ____ yes;       ____ no;          ____ no, but would like one.

5. I participate in a small group Bible study:

     ____ yes, at church;  ____ yes, in a home;  ____ no;

                           ____ no, but would like to.

6. I can articulate the basic message of the Bible in a brief,

    understandable way:

              ____ yes;         ____ no;       ____ somewhat.

      Here are a few ways the Bible gets a bit twisted. Actual adults said these things: “Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree… The First Commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple… Lot’s wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night… Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the Ten Amendments… Among them were ‘Humor thy father and mother… Thou shalt not admit adultery…’ David fought Goliath and the Finkelsteins, a race of people who lived in biblical times… Jesus taught the Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others before they do unto you…’ One of the Twelve Decibels was St. Matthew who was a taxi driver.” Very funny, but oh how sad!

7. I would be interested in leading (or help lead) a Bible study

    out in the community in a public place

             (like Starbucks, the Library, a laundrymat, a park):

              ____ yes;      ____ no;        ____ maybe.   

8. I would attend an extended class on the Bible and its content

     taught by a qualified person (pastor or layperson):

           yes, ____ 12 weeks;   ____ 36 weeks;    ____ 52 weeks;

                                        ____ no thanks.

Name ____________________________ (optional)

Phone or Email ______________________  (optional)

II. The Value of Reading the Bible (II Timothy)

      So, let’s now have a look at the value of reading, studying, discussing, sharing God’s Word. Paul assures Timothy (and us), “From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

      “Able to make you wise for salvation.” Just think what an amazing gift this is: the Bible; the primary way that God speaks to us; his Word. American educator and philosopher Mortimer Adler wrote that the one time people read for all they’re worth is when they are in love and are reading a love letter. In his classic How to Read a Book he says that they read every word several ways: between the lines and in the margins; the whole in terms of the parts and parts related to the whole; sensitive to context, insinuation and implication; the color of words, order of phrases, and the weight of sentences; they read carefully and in depth. Imagine reading portions of the Bible as a “love letter” that the Eternal Lover of our souls has given to us so that we can better know him and his purposes.

      God’s Word is useful for “teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training.” This is what people love about the Bible and hate about the Bible. It tells us amazing things about love and life, grace and goodness. But it also tells us where we are wrong, where we have missed the mark, where our opinions are right or wrong. I have many times heard others say that the Bible, Bible-believers, Christianity itself are too narrow; narrow-minded. But frankly, narrow can be a good thing.

      Someone likened it to every runway at airports around the world. No passenger wants the pilot to miss the narrow runway and land a few yards off the mark in a field or in water or in a row of houses. That narrow ribbon of pavement is really the way that leads to a safe, comfortable landing. Reading, knowing and living God’s Word guides us not only to a safe flight but a safe landing. Remember Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). So Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate.”

Conclusion

      I sure hope that each one here this morning came to worship God, to praise and honor Christ. But I also hope that you come to church and invite others to come with you to hear God’s Word; to be guided, supported, comforted, encouraged and challenged in life and faith. For where the Word is read and proclaimed, our risen Lord Jesus, the living Word, is present as the inward witness of the Holy Spirit reaches us. So, read the Bible, study it, share it.

Let us pray together.