The Bible: Not Just for Kids

I don't know when this happened or how, but it seems that we are living in a generation with adults who think that Bible study is not as relevant as it used to be. People think it is a great idea for their children to be in Lads to Leaders, but they themselves may not be interested in leading. People think it is super for their kids to go to VBS, but they themselves won't attend the adult classes that same week. And folks want their kids to have memory verses and they want them to learn the books of the Bible, yet many of our older folks do not memorize verses, and they cannot give you the list of 66 books or the minor prophets or judges of Israel like they once could.

Let me tell you - (those of the adult generation) - the Bible is not just for kids. It is God's intention that you, "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Pet. 2:2). We are further instructed as we age to "...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18). The key words in these verses are "desire," "grow," and "knowledge." We must continue to have that innocent desire to build a relationship with God. We must grow in the knowledge of God, which can only happen through diligent study (2 Tim. 2:15).

It a sign of spiritual immaturity, and certainly the work of Satan, for adults to be distracted from the thing they need the most: a personal, working knowledge of the holy Scriptures. But as long as "grown-ups" are happy with wandering through the foyer for worship and Bible periods, being casually late to class, and are not even concerned with attending Bible class or having their own personal time for Bible study, this problem of our adults being less educated on the Bible than our children are is going to persist.

It is absolutely wonderful to see adults taking an interest in the spiritual lives of the younger generation. But don't lose focus! The older generation must be equipped to lead the younger. We must be studying and preparing now. Many of us are becoming that older generation much sooner than we suppose. Every generation has a responsibility to know the word of God and to keep it.

There is never a time to quit studying God's word. Adults, pick it up again and God will bless you more than you have ever dreamed. The Bible is most certainly for children...all children everywhere, all the time. God be praised that we are all, by His grace and according to our obedience, regardless of age, children of God.

"I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word" ~ Psalm 119:16

Where Visitors Go To Die

Having been raised in the church from infancy, and having been a located gospel preacher for 15 years, I have learned that there is a place where visitors and sometimes even members go to die. I was less than 10 years old the first time I ever went doorknocking, and about that same age the first time I participated in a weekly visitation program. I was afraid. I was weak. I was imperfect - I am still all of these things. The point is that there is really no excuse for not reaching out to people who need the Lord and His church.

There is a place where visitors go to die right in our church buildings. If you wanted to do a study on it in your local congregation, you would locate the spot. Visitors sit there, and nobody speaks to them. They got unlucky. They just happened to sit in that part of the building where some of the members only talk to their friends after services. They just happened to sit in that part of the building where members beat them out the door as soon as amen is said. They just happened to sit in that part of the building where there are members who have never decided to obey the great commission. Forget going into all the world...these members won't even go across the pew.

As a preacher, I am going to let you members out there know that I am looking for visitors on Sundays. Jesus died for our visitors, too. I may not talk to you every week because I am looking for lost sheep. If you would join me then we could make sure that there are no places in our building where visitors go to die. It may not be what you want to hear, but I know exactly where some of the "dead spots" are in our current building. And unless things change I hope that visitors don't sit in those particular places.

Move off "your pew" and make a place for a visitor. Invite a visitor to eat lunch with you after services. Introduce yourself and tell each visitor you are glad to see them. Invite every visitor to come to Bible class and show them how to get there.

There is a place where visitors go to die. Make sure that it is not next to you. You are accountable.

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all..." ~ Galatians 6:10

Reservoir or Pipeline?

I went to a minister's worskhop this past Monday and was blessed with both instruction and fellowship from several of my preaching brethren. During our devotional period David Lipe taught from 2 Timothy 2:2 - "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

As he discussed the charge to spread the message, the content of the message, the challenge within the message, and the character of those who teach the message, he asked a simple question - "When it comes to our relationship with the gospel, are we a reservoir or a pipeline?"

Too many Christians are like the Dead Sea. They are reservoirs that do nothing but hold the life offering Jordan stream. They never give it, but they always receive it. Although they have been blessed, by their inactivity they refuse to be a blessing to others.

Christians must choose to be more like the Sea of Galilee. Mankind sustains life by its constant qualities, and from it there is a perpetual spring that blesses every land to which it flows. There is nothing that the Sea of Galilee has that it refuses to share.

The gospel was never meant for reserviors. It was given to us that we might be pipelines from God to man. Each of us should examine our own relationship with God based on our willingness to carry out the great commission. If you are a part of a church of 200 - you should have 200 evangelists. It you are a part of a church of 400 - you should have 400 evangelists.

The gospel is not just for church members and visitors on Sundays before lunch. The gospel is for everybody, everywhere, everyday!

Are you a reservoir or a pipeline?

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation..." ~ Romans 1:16

If I Were Every Christian...

When a person is baptized into Christ, they put on Christ (Gal. 3:27). Unfortunately, too many people take Him off almost as soon as they put Him on. There is a great misunderstanding in the religious world about salvation. It is not a one-time event, but a lifetime commitment (Phil. 2:12).

Each one who has obeyed the gospel needs to constantly examine their relationship with God (2 Cor. 13:5). One of the greatest and most pratical ways to test the level of our faith is to measure the stature of the church in relation to my personal dedication to her success. If I were every Christian, how well would the church be doing?

If I were every Christian, what would the attendance be each Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening, Bible class?

If I were every Christian, how many people would be invited to worship?

If I were every Christian, would the contribution go up or down year by year?

If I were every Christian, would the sick or hurting or absent always get a call or a visit?

If I were every Christian, how much benevolence would the church be doing?

If I were every Christian, what would be the general response to the preaching and teaching of the gospel?

If I were every Christian, how much food would be prepared for fellowship meals, funerals, and those in need?

If I were every Christian, would there even be any fellowship beyond worship services at all?

If I were every Christian, would the church be happy, encouraged and growing, or depressed, skeptical and dying?

If I were every Christian, would the gospel be in the community, or would it just stay at the building?

"And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." ~ Luke 14:27

It All Depends on What You Can See

The King of Syria was perplexed. How was Israel's King outsmarting him? Israel continually avoided attack. Syria's king soon realized that the prophet Elisha was helping. So he sent spies to capture Elisha in the town of Dothan.

As morning came and Elisha's servant went outside, he saw the entire Syrian army encamped around the house. There were horses and chariots, a great host, so with terrific fear the servant ran inside and cried to Elisha, "What shall we do?"

Elisha's reply was surprising - "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (2 Kings 6:16). The servant did not understand, so Elijah then prayed, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." "Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17).

God brought victory and deliverance to Elisha and Israel that day. God's armies were always there with Elisha, but it took faith to see them, to know that God was near.

2012 has arrived. Our future is renewed and yet unknown. There will be both good and difficult days, victories and defeats, gains and losses.

But God is with us! Therefore, anything is possible. Although we may be weak, God is omnipotent! Our only true limitation is the degree of our inability to believe in what God can do. The vision we need is not what human eyes can view. It is our inward faith in God that guides us and makes the unthinkable a reality. It all depends on what we choose to see.

We can change the world this year if we want to. God is here, He is alive, He is poweful, and He is active. Make no mistake. It is not God we are waiting for. We are really waiting for ourselves.

"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things..." ~ Psalm 119:18

Convenience

This is a difficult article to write. I have been wanting to express this thought, but it is so hard to find the correct words. This needs to be understood. But I want to be loving and kind.

We live in a time of convenience. Products are more consumer friendly than they have ever been. Technology has advanced to the point that you don't even have to do anything anymore to get things done - you can just talk to it or touch it with the end of your finger and it an instant - whalah!

Life has become so convenient that people don't know how to be incovenienced. Two minutes in line is too long. Waiting for your computer to go to the next screen better not take more than a second or you will want to throw the whole thing out the window. Our cars have heated seats and dual temperature controls. I am not even scratching the surface here...

All of these blessings also pose a great danger. We allow our attitudes to be changed from those of charitable work and service to the need to be served. Our approach to God as a society is changing. We want the church to serve us, and we will be at worship and love God as long as He doesn't ask too much.

On Sunday, December 25th, 2011, there will be churches all over the country who will be more concerned about what is convenient than what is commanded. Some will not even have worship, because they don't want to make it a "hardship" for people on Christmas Day.

How ironic that people are so concerned about how Christmas falling on Sunday may effect their plans! It was not convenient for Jesus to leave heaven and come to earth. It was not convenient for Him to be born in a manger. It was not convenient for Him to die on a cross. God has done everything for us - going so far beyond what was convenient to save our sinlful, wretched souls. This was an act of love, for love not only know how to be inconvenienced, but it endures and sacrifices without limits.

In the midst of this Sunday holiday, I wish for all of you the happiest and healthiest season together. Love God enough to show Him that you are not going to do things at your convenience. Love God enough to honor His commandments.

"Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, 'Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.'" ~ Acts 24:25

Pure Joy

Joy is defined by Webster as "intense gladness." I like to think of it as an irremovable smile. Sometimes that smile is outward, but it is even better when it remains inward. Joy is the unmatchable feeling of happiness that comes from a spiritual understanding within our hearts that lies beyond expression.

When you think of what brings pure joy, isn't it interesting that it rarely has anything to do with yourself? Pure joy is seeing your young children laughing and singing and dancing. Pure joy is watching people who are less fortunate have the greatest Christmas of their lives. Pure joy is witnessing a husband and wife obey the gospel together and change the entire spiritual future for themselves and for their family.

What brings God joy? He rejoices over us for good, to bless us (Deut. 30:9). He rejoices in His perfect works (Psa. 104:31). He rejoices when sinners repent (Luke 15:7, 10). He rejoices when we know and do His will and thus have joy in ourselves (John 15:11). When we begin to rejoice about the right things we can acknowledge that we truly have been transformed to be more like the God who made us.

Simply put, to have the love of God is to feel the joy that is experienced in causing and witnessing the happiness and prosperity of others. There is no joy that can compare with the joy we receive from changing lives. This is what God did for us. How great is our God, who has decided to share with us this ministry, which brings into our hearts and into our lives - pure and eternal joy!

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." ~ 3 John 1:4