The Challenge to Change

I have been thinking the past few days about change. More specifically, the rut we find ourselves in after listening to sermon after sermon, Bible study after Bible study, and doing Bible reading after Bible reading. All of that is good, necessary, and helpful. BUT, what if I get used to it and nothing happens?  What if there is no change from any of it? What if I am going through the motions? 

Example: on Sunday, at our church, we heard a sermon from Philippians 4 about camaraderie. That's not a topic I would normally see or think about from reading verses 21-23 about greetings. But it made me think about how I greet people (probably even some of you!). Are my greetings sincere and caring, or are they nonchalant and meaningless? How do I need to change what I do? 

Example: Recently I was teaching about using the Psalms to guide your prayer time. Actually, you can pray through any scripture passage, not just the Psalms. I have done it the past couple of years, though not as faithfully as I should. I get in a rut, and get satisfied with what I know or what I have been doing. When that happens, I'm going to get into trouble, spiritually.I will stop growing.

Maybe you can only do one or two Psalms and use them for prayer. Or maybe continue with your own plan of Bible reading, but use that Bible reading to inform your prayer requests for yourself and for others.

What do I need to do, then? Every time I hear something from the Bible or read my Bible, I should look for something that can be improved in my spiritual growth. Or I'll get into a rut. There's ALWAYS room for improvement. I need to watch out for being satisfied, or thinking everything's fine with what I'm doing. Change is needed. All the time. That's what Romans 12:2 is about: being transformed (changed) by the renewing of our mind. There is more to say about those words from Paul. God does the changing (passive voice, which means that God is doing the change work). It is a command, not a suggestion; the word implies an outward change, meaning in our actions.

Of course, we do cooperate with God's work. In Philippians 2:12 we are told that we are to work out our own salvation, but that God is at work in us it is a command, not a suggestion; the word does imply an outward change, meaning in our actions. So think about what you can be or should be doing when you hear the Word. Don't be satisfied.

We just finished celebrating Independence Day (also called 4th of July), but remember it's independence for our nation that is celebrated, not independence from not having to change. We are DEPENDENT on Christ. We serve Him. We need to constantly grow in Him. That usually means some changes need to be made. What changes will you be making? Be asking yourself that question every time you read God's Word, hear God's Word, are taught God's Word, memorize God's Word, or meditate on God's Word. It's a challenge! Will you accept that challenge? That's what obedient followers of Christ will do.

Are You Ready to Listen to God's Word Proclaimed? Part 5

The church is constantly in danger of being exposed to false teacher. It is important that listeners be able to discern whether the teaching they heard is biblical. We saw the reason for preaching the word last time in 2 Timothy 4:3-4. People want to be entertained and feel good. They will reject sound teaching, turn away from the truth, and turn toward false teaching.

So that makes it important for preachers to preach the Word, as well as for listeners to listen to the Word in a way that helps them become strong in their faith. Let’s focus on 1 Timothy 4:6-7 to see the importance of our own work in listening to the Word.  

First, we have a need for NOURISHMENT  Here is the context of the verses we are studying. Paul has just stated that there will be people who will “fall away from the faith” in what he calls “later times”. This will happen as the result of false teaching. So he tells Timothy that he will be a good servant when he shows the Church what will be happening.

The next phrase says he is “constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” Timothy was a student of the Word! God was feeding Him. The word used for nourish is the opposite of atrophy, a wasting away of part of your body due to a lack of nourishment or feeding. So Paul is saying that Timothy has been nourished by continuing to follow the teaching he had been given while growing up and working with Paul (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).

By the way, the word for “good” (describing servant) and “sound” (describing doctrine) are the same, and it speaks of the quality of something. He was an excellent servant because he was following excellent teaching. That sounds like good advice. We need to always look for good spiritual nourishment rather than spiritual junk food! Paul talks to Timothy and Titus about “sound” doctrine or teaching several times, but usually with another word that means healthy (hygiene is the Greek word for “sound” in 1 Timothy 1:10; 6:3; 2 Timothy 1:13; 4:3; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1-2). It is obvious that Paul was concerned about the kind of teaching the church was receiving. There has always been a great need for discerning listeners as well as sound teaching.

Second, we have a need for EXERCISE  The nourishment we receive from God’s Word does not come easily, however. In verse 7 Paul tells Timothy of the need to “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” Other translations use the word “train”. But probably the best way to understand this word is from the good old King James Version: exercise. In English, we have the word gymnasium from this Greek word. It has the idea of a constant, strenuous workout.  You would be working up a good sweat! We need to go to God’s gym, and the equipment we need for our workout is the Word of God.   

Just as most people have a goal in mind with their physical exercise, when it comes to listening to God’s Word, we also want to focus on a GOAL. Paul tells us that the goal is GODLINESS, the opposite of what was being produced by  false teachers based on what Paul says elsewhere (1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 2:14-18). Jerry Bridges defines ungodliness as living your life with little or no thought of God. You don’t think of His will, His glory, or your dependence on Him. So the Christian who is getting the good exercise needed is going to be working towards Christlikeness. Sometimes we seem to be working more towards the goal of worldlikeness (a new word I made up! Think Romans 12:1-2). God needs to be the focus of our life.

Think about the nourishment and exercise you need, not just as a listener of the Word, but also as a student of the Word. That’s not just a once-a-week deal, but a constant, serious, in-depth time to dig into what God has revealed to us in Scripture.

Are You Ready to Listen to God's Word Proclaimed? Part 4

The topic in the fourth chapter of Expository Listening by Ken Ramey is the problem of hearing what needs to be heard. Some people just want to hear an entertaining message and feel good. They aren’t interested in being challenged with their lifestyle. If a preacher goes in that direction, then the listeners will be receiving false doctrine. Indeed, many of them will not even hear the gospel. From 2 Timothy 4:1-4, we see some principles that are helpful for the listeners as well as the preacher. We will look at the commands to the preacher, and see how they might be turned into commands to the listeners.

First, if the preacher has to preach, then the listener has to listen.  That sounds so simple! Paul said in verse 2: Preach the Word. The “Word” is obviously the same message that was proclaimed as inspired at the end of chapter 3. To preach it means that you are acting as a public messenger to announce an important message. If it’s public, then we will be listening with others, meaning we will be in church. If it’s important, and if it’s from God Himself, then the listener better be careful to listen to what is being said. So Paul might say to the church where Timothy was located (Ephesus), “Listen to the Word”. Don’t go looking for something that will just amuse you. You want to be challenged. So here is our command: Listen to the Word. It’s urgent. It’s important. Start listening.

Second, if the preacher has to be ready all the time, then the listener has to be ready all the time. The next command to Timothy was to “be ready in season and out of season”. What do they mean to Timothy? The word “ready” suggests the idea of standing at the ready. A soldier has to be prepared at all times. He does not just prepare for one battle, but for any battle. That requires a preacher to be a student of the Word constantly, a man who walks with God throughout the week. So how about the listener? Are you always ready to hear God’s Word? In fact, are you hungry for it, wanting to get the best message that will challenge you in the way you live?

Third, if the preacher has to reprove those who hear, then the listener has to be receptive to reproof. Timothy is commanded to confront the people with the truth. It may be that their lives are not consistent with Christlikeness. Possibly there has been acceptance of false teaching. Such things need to be corrected. What does the listener need to do? Listen for areas in his life or doctrine that are not consistent with God’s Word. You actually have a desire to see areas that need to be corrected.

Fourth, if the preacher has to rebuke, then the listener has to be receptive to rebuke.  This is the follow-up to reproof. Once the false doctrine or sinful living has been exposed, people need to be challenged to be changed. Expository listeners want to change. They look for problems in their lives or weaknesses that need to be strengthened. Rebuke is not a threat to them; it’s an opportunity to grow.

Fifth, if the preacher has to exhort, then the listener has to be receptive to exhortation. What is exhortation? It is the same word translated as encouragement and comfort. Someone is coming along next to you to help implement the needed change. Often that is in small groups or with just one other person. This is a more positive ministry of assisting someone in bringing about positive change in their life. Listener, are you looking for something that you need to start doing in your life? When you hear the Word, look for something you need to do that you have not been doing. It may be something new, or it may be something you used to do, but you have left it behind.

Are You Ready to Listen to God's Word Proclaimed? Part 2

In reading through chapter 2 of Expository Listening, the parable of the sower is used to explain how the Word of God (seed) is received when it is preached. The context indicates that this reception basically had to do with hearing the gospel message of salvation, but by way of application, we can see that the same can be true when anything is taught from God’s Word. There are four different ways that we might respond.

First, Rolled Eyes: A Stubborn Heart  We might ignore the Word proclaimed.  Some people come to church, hear a sermon, but it doesn’t do them any good. It is specifically stated that the devil comes and takes the message away from them. Such a person is unsaved. The message of salvation needs the involvement of the Holy Spirit to take the Word, bring conviction, and give them repentance and faith (both of those are gifts, by the way!).  

Second, Teary Eyes: A Superficial Heart  We might “make a decision”.   The second type of soil is the kind where the seed finds a place to get some roots started. Such a person can hear the message, and they even respond to it in a positive way. They get excited about it! They appear to be truly impacted to the point that there is some type of change taking place. But such change does not last. When things get tough (“time of testing”), so dies the change. It disappears, just a memory. True, it is difficult to be consistent over the long haul, but there was no “long haul” with such a person. There is no lasting fruit, if there is any at all. It wasn’t heart change. This person was not saved.

Third, Distracted Eyes: A Strangled Heart  We might make some changes in our life.  This type of hearer appears to last longer than the second. There is even some fruit for a period of time, just as it takes weeks awhile before they begin taking over in a garden. They build up over time. The one who hears the Word of God can show some fruit for a while. But eventually, something becomes more important to them than the Word. They get distracted. They are deceived by a pursuit for more wealth. They become pleasure-seekers. The times in which they live have captured their attention, and they drift away, like Demas (2 Timothy 4:10). This person who showed such promise was not a believer at all, but a“make-believer”.

Fourth, Focused Eyes: A Soft Heart  We make changes that have a permanent impact on how we live. Then there is the person who not only is a hearer, but a doer (James 1:22). He hears the Word of God and puts it into practice, not just for a brief time, or even for an extended time. There is consistent, habitual action. There is fruit that is evident. And the fruit is abundant. It is clear to all who look at this person that there is a changed life. This is the only one of the four types of hearers that is truly born again.

We should be careful not to judge the amount of fruit that others are showing in their life (“I have more fruit than you!”). Their fruit may look different than our fruit. But there WILL be fruit if they are truly saved. If your life is evidenced by a continual response to God’s Word like the first three soils, then it is time to examine yourself, to see if you are in the faith (1 Corinthians 13:5). At the same time, however, we should always be striving to produce more fruit as we grow.

That brings up another point: growth. True believers do grow, just like plants will grow as they are fed with what is needed. We should always seek opportunities for more growth (by getting more of the Word), but we should continually producing more fruit. In people’s lives, the fruit may change. At one time, you may have been an aggressive evangelistic, or a faithful teacher of the Word. Later, your fruitfulness may be in more personal work, impacting smaller groups, or perhaps just one or two people. But there is still fruit.

Are You Ready to Listen to God's Word Proclaimed? Part 1

Ken Ramey wrote an excellent book called Expository Listening where he talks about how to listen to God's Word being preached. Over the next few posts, we will be looking at what the Bible says about hearing God’s Word. There is a big emphasis on not just hearing, but also obeying it, practicing it, doing it. We will be studying some of those passages, and applying those principles to our personal sermon listening. But we will begin this study with establishing a Biblical audiology: the study of hearing God’s Word (p. 10). Why should we do it? He provides four reasons, which I have slightly modified into five reasons.

First, God gave His Word to us. Two passages are important to review. In 1 Timothy 3:16, we are told that God’s Word is inspired, literally, “God-breathed”. They are the very words of God. Of course, that means that the teacher has a serious responsibility to be faithful in proclaiming, but it is also a serious responsibility for the listener to hear it. In our study we will focus on what it means to actually “hear” God’s Word.

In 2 Peter 1:20-21, we find out that scripture came to the writers as they were moved by God, which tells us the “how” of God breathing out His Word. What we hear when listening to an expository message, is God’s Word. Of course, human teachers are subject to error, but as they are faithful in preparing and presenting the Word of God to their audience, it will be their intent to accurately present God’s message. We do well when we act like the Bereans (Acts 17:11)

Second, we have not obeyed God’s Word. This was the practice of the first people God created. They knew God’s Word, and they chose to disobey it. The same is true of every human being ever since. Ephesians 2:1-3 describes the sinful condition of every person: we are all dead in our transgressions and sins. Romans 5:12-21 makes it clear that this is the result of Adam’s sin.

Third, God has saved us with His Word. Numerous places in the Bible tell us it is the Word of God itself that brings us salvation. 1 Peter 1:23 is very clear: “you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” Romans 10:17 also tells us that our faith comes from the Word. In this verse (“faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ”), the “word” is actually referring to the spoken word (rhema) in contrast to the message (logos).

Fourth, God enables us to understand His Word. Being a child of God gives us the privilege of the ministry of the Spirit of God. Jesus taught His disciples in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth. In 1 Corinthians 2:11-13 we are told that the Holy Spirit who gives us the ability to comprehend those things that God wants us to know.

Fifth, God blesses us when we listen to His Word. This is the part that we may intellectually know, but we end up ignoring. We do a lot of listening. We hear a lot of sermons and Bible teaching from many different sources. But we are told that we are only blessed if we “do” them. Consider Luke 11:28. And when Jesus was told that His family was outside, he said, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:21).

When the Bible talks about “hearing” the Word of God, it is clearly implied and often explicitly stated that it comes with the responsibility to do something with it. As we continue our study on this topic in the weeks ahead, that will be our emphasis. When we are finished, we will hopefully be different types of “listeners” than we have been in the past. We will not only listen, but we will be prepared to listen, and we will do something about what we heard.

Are You Ready to Listen to God's Word Proclaimed? Part 3

The third chapter of Expository Listening deals with being prepared to hear God’s Word. The author again uses the picture of farming to compare how we listen to God’s Word. The field that is hard is not ready for the seed. The heart that constantly ignores the message or just listens without taking action becomes hard and will not be fruitful. Here are some Biblical insights we can use to get our hearts ready to hear God’s Word.

1. Understand the purpose of coming to church. When we meet together, whether it is in an RMG, small group, or a Sunday service, it is not for our benefit. Hebrews 10:24 teaches a primary goal for the time together. Literally, it says, “Let us think carefully about one another towards the stimulating to love and good works.” It’s about the other people who are part of our group. Verse 25 goes on to say that we are deserting them (“not forsaking”) when we fail to come. That word is translated “deserted” twice in 2 Timothy 4. People need us to be there! The opposite of desertion according to this verse is encouragement, which means you come alongside them to offer them help. Think about physical presence when you think of being an encourager. These verses teach that we are obligated to take our eyes off of self and focus on how we can help others.

2. Meditate on God’s Word daily. Meditation is more than just reading the Bible. It is spending time with the Bible, probably just a few verses. It is a time when you think about what God is teaching you for how you ought to live. It is about finding a way to change your life. Psalm 1:2 says that the “blessed man” is doing it “day and night”. The result of such practice is fruitfulness. I loved reading the story of William Wilberforce who memorized Psalm 119 and then recited it every day as he walked to his office, where he fought against the slave trade in England. Bible memorization is one of the best ways to practice meditation, since you can do it anywhere, even when you don’t have a Bible with you. Spending extended time with the passage of scripture that will be taught in the Sunday message will be especially helpful as you come to church and listen to the message from the pulpit.

3. Get rid of sin that will prevent you from being hungry for God’s Word. Listening to God’s Word requires a heart this prepared, and that means it is clean. 1 Peter 2:2 commands us to have a longing for God’s Word, just like a baby has a longing for milk. But that longing is preceded by getting rid of sins that have been a part of your life. You’re not hungry for the good food if your filled up with junk. Make sure that you go to God in confession before ever going to His Word for instruction.

4. Pray daily for God’s Word being taught. The apostle Paul asked for churches to pray for him as he continued his ministry of the Word (Colossians 4:2-4 and Ephesians 6:19-20). Pray for the one who is teaching, that he will be “clear” (Colossians 4:4), and that the Holy Spirit will speak truth into the lives of the people (John 16:13). 

Also, Paul was in constant prayer for the people of the different churches where he had preached. It was often a prayer of thanks to God for how He had been at work in them, but it was also a prayer for God’s continued work in their lives. Consider the value of praying for others that you know with the words of Colossians 1:9-12. Pray that you and others who will be hearing the message will have these results in their lives as they hear God’s Word. 

Book Review: One Forever

Christian. Believer. Saved. Disciple. All of these are words that people use to describe a person who is a Christian. Here is a term that is used frequently in scripture: in Christ. In his book One Forever, Rory Shiner explores what the Bible means when it says the Christian is “in Christ.” With a subtitle of The Transforming Power of Being in Christ he wants to show us how such a term is “graspable, substantial, and, above all, liveable.

     How does Shiner do that? He begins at the beginning: Creation, when God created man and woman, which Paul uses in Ephesians 5 to picture our relationship to Christ. He then proceeds to take us to the incarnation of Christ where we see the union of God become united to man through the coming of Christ.

     Those first two chapters set up the great truth of being in Christ is seen everywhere in the New Testament. Shiner points out important pictures that show a relationship of Christ with the believer: the vine and the branches, the body of Christ, as well as the “one flesh” picture already mentioned. 

     This is followed by a wonderful chapter on justification, the important doctrine of being declared righteous in the “righteous court of God” (p. 45). He then uses the questions found at the end of Romans 8 to show that our union with Christ is eternal. Nothing can separate us from Christ.

     That brings us to the all-important topic of sin in the Christian life. Our union with Christ is our “defence against the playground bullies of sin and temptation” (p. 56). In chapter 5 he goes to Romans 6 to find that we have new life because we have been crucified with Christ.

     The final two chapters then deal with our union with Christ as it relates to the Church and the Resurrection. In the chapter on the Church, Shiner turns to 1 Corinthians 12 to talk about the relationship we have with one another as the body of Christ. He makes a great conclusion when he says, “So, here’s a practical suggestion for growing in union with Christ: show up to church. I mean really show up. Go expecting to be a gift to the body, to bless the body, to love the body, and so to love Christ.” (p. 74) I couldn’t have said it better.

     The resurrection chapter takes us to 1 Corinthians 15, showing how we are united to Christ also in His resurrection, with the practical conclusion of being “steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:5). Shiner challenges us in light of our resurrection of Jesus and our future hope to be engaged “passionately, with your whole heart. With single-minded devotion. With everything you’ve got.” (p. 87).

     This book is short, easy to read, and helpful for all Christians. I especially like the description that Shiner provides (click here to see the description on video) when he compares our relationship to Christ to a passenger in an airplane. After using terms that we might use to describe our relationship to Christ as being under Christ, inspired by Christ, or following Christ, he says this:

Of course, the key relationship you need with the plane is not to be under it, behind it or inspired by it. You need to be in it. Why? Because by being in the plane, what happens to the plane will also happen to you. (p. 34)

     I like that idea. Trusting Christ means that we are united in Him. “And we are in him, so that whatever is true of Jesus is also true of us.” (p. 35) I would encourage you to read it and share it with someone else. It makes a great discipling tool for a new Christian or a book that you can read together with another one who is “united with Christ” like you are. Your life just might be transformed! Here is a link to purchase the book: One Forever

Book Review: One to One Bible Reading

Bible reading made simple! That’s another title for an excellent little book that is actually called One to One Bible Reading. The subtitle says it well: a simple guide for every Christian. That is exactly what you will find as you read it. By the way, it’s also an easy read. You will finish it in one sitting! The author is David Helm, a pastor in Chicago, and what you will read is the result of his own personal ministry of Bible reading with others.

The basic message of the book is that every Christian can read the Bible with another person and gain understanding of God’s message. The early part of the book establishes the purposes of reading one to one: evangelism, discipleship, training, and relationship. You can do your reading with someone who is not a Christian, someone who is a new Christian, someone who needs training for ministry, or someone with whom you wish to strengthen your relationship. The focus is on God’s Word.

Helm then gives two different approaches to studying the Bible with the other person. One approach, the Swedish Bible Study approach, using simple diagrams of a light bulb, question mark and an arrow to highlight areas where a person is either impressed by something in the passage (a light bulb), has a question about something he/she does not understand (a question mark), or sees a specific application to their life (an arrow). These items are then discussed between the people involved.

The second approach uses COMA questions, where the readers focus on specific questions relating to Context, Observation, Meaning, or Application. This approach is a more advanced and in-depth way of studying the Bible.

The appendix of the book gives you some general questions to ask for the various genres that you find in the Bible (narrative, poetry, expository, prophesy, etc.). These questions are also available through the publishers website for free to be printed as needed (much better than copying the pages from the book!). The questions are based on the COMA Bible study method.

Allow me to share with you my own personal experience using the One to One Bible Reading approach. I have used it in small groups as well as one to one. I have used it with my wife. Though I have tried both approaches to studying the Bible with someone else, the COMA method has been particularly effective in getting to the meaning and application of the passage after determining context and doing the important work of observation.

I have been blessed by the insights I have gained as I shared thoughts with those who are reading with me. It does not require a great deal of preparation (you can do all the work when you are together or in advance, your choice!), nor does it require one person to be the teacher and the other a student (both are students, learning together!). Yes, there will be times when you will want go deeper by studying other resources (commentaries come to mind), but there is plenty of “gold” to mine right there in your Bible.

This book is an excellent tool to be used for evangelism and discipleship. I cannot give it any higher recommendation. Get a hold of a couple of the books and share it someone else so that you can begin the life-changing process of allowing God’s Word transform your life and the life of someone important to you.