Insight

Let’s look at what building the future on Biblical Truth looks like from a practical point of view.

It looks like Daily Bible Reading – Psa 119:11 “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Commit yourself to a regime of daily bible reading. The church I lead is currently reading through the bible in 90 days. The point of the exercise is to establish a personal habit of posturing oneself before God’s Word and be transformed by the renewing of our thinking. You are not a bad person if you miss a days bible reading but if your relationship with Christ is going to grow strong, then like any important relationship, you and I need to stay in regular contact.

It looks like Preaching through Books of the Bible – In the early days of my preaching I tended to preach series based on felt needs rather than through book after book of the bible. In some seasons of a church’s life it’s good to touch on evident needs within the congregation but there is nothing like letting the bible speak for itself as you unpack what God’s ideas are to us. For many months we have worked through the Book of Acts and just recently we worked through the Letter of James and titled the series “Real Christianity”. This pattern of preaching is going to be a more regular feature of my ministry.

It looks like Teaching God’s Word to your Children – If you are a parent, you will know the importance of instilling within your kids values that will help them in their lives as they grow. There is no more important value to instill than a love for God and his word. You can’t force a kid to love God but you can set an example to them, pray for them and teach the bible to them. After most evening meals in our house, the kids get their devotional bible and we read a short passage and then pray for each other. It’s fun and all 3 of my kids look forward to listening to the bible story and sharing prayer requests with each other.

It looks like Ordering your Church’s ministry by God’s Word – Paul said to Timothy in 1 Tim 3:14-15 “I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.” I’ve observed church’s adopting philosophies of ministry that reflect more of a corporate business model then a biblical model. The Scriptures give us clear guidance on how we are to approach eldership and deacon roles and what the various elements of church life should emphasize and include. The latest book may be helpful but it cannot replace the divine authority of God’s Word. It’s Christ’s church and he wants it ordered according to his Word.

It looks like doing Theology in Community – Because of the individualistic emphasis in our culture many western Christians develop their theology in isolation, not in community. It is important to do the hard work of shaping your theology through reading and personal study but we must also ‘flesh out’ our theology in the real world of community. As we rub shoulders with each other and hear each other’s reflections and perspectives on Scripture, it helps us to gain clarity on our own theology. I don’t think God intended our theology to be clinical and only reserved for the classroom. It needs also to be applicable to our daily lives. For us we prayerfully teach, study and discuss the Scriptures in connect groups on a weekly basis.

It looks like Meditating, Memorizing and Obeying God’s Word – God’s Word must get into our thinking and into our hearts for it to be transformational in our lives. Hearing truth is good, obeying truth is better. One must lead to the other. James 1:25 “The one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

Lead the Change!