Membership at a Distance?

Tonight I was looking up a church out of state for a trip I might possibly be making in a few months and noticed on their web page that they promoted people worshipped with them worldwide via the internet. They even had a testimony of someone from another state who moved and yet had been "worshipping" and "members" of this church for the past two years via the internet. Seeing this made me have to pose the question, is this really membership? Can someone truly be a member of a church via the internet when they are hours away? Is this truly beneficial to the "member" or does it simply look good for church statistics? Membership into the body of Christ was not intended to be done at our convenience or simply on our own terms. In order for us to truly be in communion with a church body, where we are held accountable and partake in the Lord's Supper and baptism and sit under the correct teaching of the Word, we must be present with the body. To me it degrades what it is to be the church and endangers the "members" if they are allowed to simply "worship" via the internet without truly being a part of the body. Not only is this dangerous for the "member" it is also dangerous for the pastor. The book of Hebrews makes it clear that the pastor is responsible for those under his care. It seems impossible to me for the pastor to ensure the spiritual growth, accountability, and discipline a member needs when they are only present via the world wide web. My advice to people who are "members" of a church in this way; get involved in a local church that teaches the word and you can truly be in fellowship with fellow believers in deep meaningful relationships. My advice to any pastors out there who have members who are hours, possibly states, away that are still claiming membership to your church, do the loving, shepherding thing and point them to a biblical church body in their area.

Is God's Desire Our Desire?

This morning I was listening to a recent chapel message from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary by Dr. Danny Akin looking at 1 Timothy 2:1-7. Upon hearing this message, one verse and theme of the message jumped out to me and caused me to dwell deeper into it. In verse 4 of 1 Timothy 2, Paul states that God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth." It would be safe to say that the majority of Christians would back this statement and would even say that is their desire as well. Upon hearing this I was challenged and convicted with the question "Is this really my desire?" Do I honestly, truly desire that all men become saved? Do you? Before we can honestly answer that, we must first evaluate ourselves in some areas of our life to see if they match up with our "desire." The first aspect of our life is our we truly evangelizing those around us with the good news of the gospel? Are we seeking out opportunities to tell people of the truth of their sin and the grace and forgiveness that comes through Christ? Do we seek out people and take full advantage of our relationships and interactions with them in a way that says "My desire is for all people to be saved?" But there is also a second aspect of our life that we must look at, are we willing to give up all to see people saved, no matter who or where they are. Verse 4 states that God desires "all people to be saved." God doesn't just desire that people in your hometown, your school, or just in America be saved, but ALL people. This means that God's desire is for every person, regardless of race, location, or language to come to know Him and be saved through Christ. What we must truly grasp if our desire is to be that of God's is our role in people coming to salvation. We cannot save people, only God can do that, but we are the instruments that God has chosen to tell of His saving grace. Are we willing to give up everything, our hopes, dreams, careers, in order to take the gospel to all people that they may be saved. Are we willing to leave our comforts and our families to truly go? Does our life reflect that we truly "desire all people to be save," or does our life reflect that this is nothing more than a cliche phrase that we Christians like to use?

The Purpose of the Recession

As we enter this time of a financial recession we are all worried about what may be and wondering why this is happening. As believers we must trust in God and His Sovereignty, and seek His purpose in this. There is nothing better I can say than what John Piper said in his latest sermon. Here is the link to the message, I encourage you all to watch it.

What is the Recession For? John Piper

The Age of the Bachelor

My wife occasionally watches the popular TV show "The Bachelor" from time to time and when she does I watch it with her. The more I watch this show, the more I dislike it and what it reveals about our culture, and teaches about love and marriage. This show promotes that "love" is some emotion or feeling that you "fall" into and "fall" out of. It teaches that marriage is so nonchalant that you can chose the person you are going to marry by having an elimination challenge. This show is the epitome of how our culture views love and marriage. Love seems to be something we come in and out of frequently, and something that is solely based on what we want. Love and marriage are portrayed as something that should be catered to you and what the other person can give you. The entire message of this show seems to go against everything that the Bible teaches about love and marriage. These are not avenues for us to meet our desires, but rather an avenue to meet the needs of those we love. As Gary Thomas states in his book "Sacred Marriage," marriage is not so much for your happiness as it is for you holiness. Would we as Christians seek to find our view of love and marriage from God and not from the world, for as John says "God is love" (1 Jn. 4:9).

The Role of the Bible in our Lives

This is a sermon I had to do for class, thought I would include it here. Let me know what you think. It's written to preachers, but the truth of this sermon applies to everyone who claims to be believers of it.

The Importance of the Bible in the Life of a Preacher

2 Timothy 3:14-17

CTT

Paul wrote 2 Timothy 3:14-17 to command Timothy, in light of growing evil, to continue in the truth of the Word of God by reminding him of Scripture’s role in salvation, it’s inspiration from God, and of its profit in the areas of teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

CTS

To be effective ministers of God we must place keep the Word of God at the center of our ministry.

Introduction

“I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy Word, and will make it a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, and will hide it’s word in my heart that I might not sin against God.” We all know this as the pledge to the Bible. We have all said it, we all know it by memory. I recall fondly growing up in church and citing this during opening assembly of Vacation Bible School. Chances are all of us would gladly stand up and boldly proclaim this declaration, stating our allegiance and commitment to the Word of God. But do our lives reflect this declaration? As pastor what role does the Word of God play in our lives? The better question is what role should the Word of God have in our lives as pastors. Today as we look at 2 Timothy 3:14-17 we will see that in order to be effective ministers we must place the Bible at the center of our ministry and acknowledge that it makes people wise for salvation, that it comes directly from God, and that it is profitable to make us complete to accomplish the task before us. Turn with me now to 2 Timothy 3 as we look at verses 14-17 to see what Paul says about the role of the Bible in the life of a preacher.

Read Text

Setting the Context

Paul is writing this letter to his beloved son in the faith Timothy from a Roman prison. This is during Paul’s second imprisonment and Paul knows his death is coming soon.[1] Paul is giving his final instruction to the one he calls his “son in the faith” in 1 Timothy chapter 1. These being his last words, we can be assured that Paul considered these words to be of utmost importance. So what final instruction did Paul give to Timothy? When we look at our text for today we can see that Paul commands Timothy to continue in the Word of God. In the verse previous to this Paul warns Timothy that people of the world will grow in evilness and will go from bad to worse. Timothy however, is commanded to live differently. As a minister of God, Timothy was to respond in contrast the these “imposters”[2]. But how does Paul tell Timothy to live differently? What command does he give him? Paul commands Timothy to continue in the Sacred Scripture that he has learned since childhood. This term sacred Scripture in this context refers to the Old Testament. Since Timothy had learned these scriptures since childhood, as was custom in the Jewish faith, this has to be the Old Testament as the New Testament would not have been available.[3] Paul gives two reasons that Timothy should stay in the Word, the first being the ones from whom Timothy had learned.[4] In chapter one Paul references two sources of Timothy’s education, his mother and grandmother. No doubt Paul was also referring to himself in the ones that had taught Timothy the Scriptures. The second reason that Paul gives is Scripture itself. In these verses we are going to look at today we see that Paul commands Timothy to remain in the truth of Scripture because it makes people wise for salvation, it comes from God, and it makes him as a minister complete.

1. The Bible is important in the life of the preacher because it leads to Salvation

Explanation

The first truth about scripture that Paul reveals to Timothy is that it gives wisdom to make one wise for salvation. What Paul is revealing here is the fact that scripture reveals the wisdom that is necessary in order for one to come into salvation.[5] It is only in the truths of Scripture that one can find the truth that will lead one to the truth of Christ death and resurrection and to a faith in Him. In the midst of a vast array of false teaching and evil doers proclaiming their “truths,” Paul reinforces the fact that none of these truths will lead one to salvation, but rather it is only the truth found in Scripture that can lead one to a saving faith in Christ. This goes along with what Paul says in Romans. In verse 17 of chapter 10 of Romans Paul states that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of Christ.” Paul is commanding Timothy to remain in the truth of Scripture for this very reason. Paul doesn’t say that faith comes by the wisdom of the preacher, or of songs, or schemes, or of fancy. Often we put our trust in methods, or marketing schemes to get numbers to come forward and to make a profession of faith. Paul’s truth also applies to us. We must make sure that we are putting our trust in the truths of Scripture to lead to salvation, not on our own wisdom.

We must also remember what Scripture Paul is referring to here, that being the Old Testament. Paul proclaims that it was the Old Testament revealed the truths that lead Timothy to salvation. Often we limit the New Testament to being the only part of Scripture that can lead us to salvation, after all that’s where Jesus was born and was crucified. But Paul here proclaims that it was the Old Testament that lead Timothy to salvation.

Illustration

We see how scripture, including the Old Testament, can make one wise for salvation illustrated perfectly to us in Acts 8:26-40, where we find the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Here God leads Philip across the path of an Ethiopian eunuch, who is found reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip then approaches him, ask him if he understands what he is reading, and then proceeds to explain the text to him. This results in the eunuch coming to salvation. Philip didn’t go through a particular witnessing program or come up with some cleaver way to manipulate the eunuch, but rather he simply proclaimed the truth found in Isaiah, and through the eunuch was made wise for salvation. Like, Paul is proclaim to Timothy that the truths of Scripture will make one wise for salvation.

Application

Paul’s truth was not limited to a single first century preacher named Timothy, but it also reaches to everyone who is a minister of the Word of God, and in fact to all believers. As preachers of the Word of God, we must ask ourselves, in what are we putting our confidence to lead others to salvation. In the midst of a church environment where a new gimmick seems to come in front of us everyday claiming to be the next new way to fill our pews and “save people,” we must keep our faith in the wisdom that comes from scripture alone. In a world that teaches the Bible is an outdated book, we must hold tight to the truth that it is the truths of Scripture that makes one wise. We must remember that the Bible is important in our lives as preacher because it has the truths to make those in our pews and those we encounter in the street wise for salvation.

2. The Bible is important in the life of a preacher because it comes from God.

Explanation

Next Paul reminds Timothy that the Scriptures should be held to because they come from God. Look at what Paul proclaims here in verse 16. Here he states that all scripture is God-breathed. The ESV renders this phrase “is breathed out by God” while the NASB renders it “inspired by God.” The word used come in the original language is Theopneustos, which means literally breathed out by God. This word comes from two Greek words merged together. The word Theo is the Greek word for God and pneustos which means to breathe out.[6] This is the only time this word is used in the New Testament. The question comes up here again what is meant by scripture. This is a different word that Paul used in verse 15, so what is meant by this? Is this limited to only the Old Testament, or does it include the New Testament. When we look at other passages in scripture we can see that this term does include the New Testament. In 2 Peter 3:16, Peter refers to Paul’s writings as “scripture.” Paul here is proclaiming that all scripture is inspired by God, both Old and New Testaments.

The ordering of this verse has also been disputed. Does the text read “All scripture is inspired by God” or “ All scripture inspired by God is?” The difference is huge. If it reads the latter, then that would imply that there are scriptures that are not inspired by God, and this would render scripture useless. If this is the case then we have no way of knowing what is from God and what is not. However, looking at the context of this verse, and the way that Paul views scripture in other parts of the Bible, we can see that it is absurd to think that Paul would teach that certain parts of scripture were not inspired.

If scripture comes from God then we must also conclude that all scripture is true. As Solomon says in Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” If God is true and cannot lie then we must assume that every word breathed out by Him must be true as well. But it is worth noting that Paul says that scripture is inspired by God, not the interpretation, matching what Peter says in 2 Peter 1:20 when he states that prophecy is not from one’s own interpretation. We must remember that scripture has one true meaning, and as preachers of God’s word, we must seek to proclaim only the truth that God intended, not just what we want it to say.

Illustration

As pastors we are constantly reading books. Whether it is books on theology, or pastoral helps, or commentaries, it seems that I am constantly in a book. But I am very curious about what books I will read, or better yet I am very curious as to what authors I will read. If I know an author to be untrustworthy or to exaggerate the truth or to be extremely biased, I will avoid the book for no other reason than the fact they this particular author penned it. You see a book is only as good as the person who authored it. If the author is trustworthy, then the work he produces has his character attached to it and can be trusted as well. Likewise, Paul here points out that God is the author of all Scripture. As we have seen in our own lives and we see in other parts of scripture God is the most trustworthy. God is always truthful, always trustworthy; therefore, the words that He breathes carry His character and can be trusted as well.

Application

If we are going to claim to be preachers of the Word of God we must fully accept this truth of God’s authorship of scripture. We must teach the Word of God with much fear and trembling, acknowledging that it is the very breath of Almighty God Himself. We must acknowledge that there is only one intended truth and work to discover this. There is no power or use in a preacher standing up and giving His opinion or his “own interpretation” of what the text says. If this Word comes from God and is His revelation to His people, then we as His messengers must put the work into studying and discovering the one God intended meaning that is in the text. It easy to just stand up and to give a good motivational speech or to just say something we heard someone else say, but it takes work to discover what God has already said. Today it seems that people are flocking to the profession of being a pastor. Often people joke about how we only work a day and a half a week, and I’m afraid some men go into this calling because they believe a part of that is truth. Being a preacher is not an easy, comfortable job. Not counting the pastoral obligations, just the preparation of the message of the Word should be enough to be a full time job. We must not take this task lightly. We must commit ourselves to seek the truth of God that is found in scripture.

3. The Bible is important in the life of the preacher because it makes him complete.

After proclaiming the source of salvation, Paul then goes into giving the usefulness of scripture. Paul proclaims to Timothy the truth that the profits of scripture will make him complete and enable him to accomplish the task that God has laid before him. To make this point Paul reveals to Timothy four profits of scripture, those being teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

The first profit that Paul gives is that scripture is profitable for teaching. This term is not referring to the process of teaching, but rather to the doctrine that is given to believers through the word of God.[7] Paul is revealing to Timothy that he doesn’t need to search anywhere but the Bible to find sound doctrine. There were many “wise” people surrounding Timothy who were presenting new but false ideas. Paul therefore reveals to Timothy that scripture alone is the source of sound doctrine. There is no need for him to seek it anyplace else. This profit of teaching not only applies to the preacher but also to his congregation. The Bible alone is what the preacher should use to teach his people sound doctrine. Timothy was not to use any new inventions or new ideologies to teach his people or himself, but to rely on the Word of God.

Paul then states that scripture is profitable for rebuking, which is a term that presents the idea of rebuking in order to convict of misbehavior or false doctrine.[8] Paul reveals that in reading and studying the Word of God, Timothy will have his faults and wrong beliefs corrected. When he is taught by the Word of God, he will see the unyielding truth and God and will be confronted with the aspects of his life that do no match up. This goes along with the writer of Hebrews where in chapter 4 when he states, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” This idea of rebuking goes beyond the preacher and, like teaching, moves to his congregation. Timothy stands in the midst of a plethora of false teaching, and Paul tells him that it is the Word of God that will expose these lies. Timothy is not to rely on his own wisdom or debating skills, but to rely on the truth of the Word of God to expose all falsehood.

Thankfully, Paul doesn’t stop there. Paul then moves on to proclaim that scripture is also profitable for correcting. Yes the Bible reveals our faults, but it doesn’t just leave us in our error, but it reveals the correct way that we should live. After Timothy’s faults are exposed, the Word then restores him back to correct living. Likewise it is through the word of God that Timothy is to correct the false teaching that surrounds him. Again, Timothy is not to rely on his own wisdom or strength, but to rely on the truth of scripture to correct these false teachers and bring them into right doctrine. This correction is the whole purpose of the former purpose of rebuking. The Bible doesn’t point out our faults just for the sake of pointing them out. God reveals His truth to us, convicts us through it, for the sole purpose of correcting and restoring us to what we are intended to be.

Paul then goes on to say that scripture is profitable for training in righteousness. This term was originally used to describe the training up of a child, but in this context refers to disciplining of all people in order to lead to a holy life. If Timothy will remain in the truths of scripture he will be trained to live as he should. After going through the work of being taught, the pain of being rebuked, and the joy of being restored and corrected, Timothy is then trained to live a life of righteousness.

Paul then shows the purpose in these four profits of scripture, that the man of God, or the minister of God, may be “competent, equipped for every good work.”[9] The NASB translates that term competent as adequate and the KJV translates it perfect. The term implies perfection, or one in whom no fault is found.[10] Paul then goes on to give the reason for this perfection, that being to accomplish the work of God. Paul says that through scripture, the minister of God is equipped for the task laid before him. If Timothy does not allow himself to be taught, rebuked, corrected, and trained in righteous by the Word of God, then he will not be prepared capable of fulfilling the task that has been given to him. To forsake the Word of God means to forsake the call that has been given to you as a preacher. Regardless of how well you can speak, how well you can care for people, or how good you are at coming up with a good talk, without being engulfed in the word of God and allowing it to profit you in the way that Paul explained, you will not be able to accomplish what God has called you to do.

Illustration

At times I can be very forgetful; it seems I always forget where I place things. My wife even went as far as to get a hook to hang by the door for me to hang my keys because I am always forgetting them. However, I don’t always utilize this hook like I should. I still place my keys at random places and then forget where I place them. The other day this happened to me. I went outside to get in my car and head to the office, only to reach in my pocket and realize there were no keys to be found. So I go inside to the hook, no keys. I tear the house apart looking for my keys; for you see my car is completely dependent on the key to perform its function. The gas tank can be full, the oil changed, everything else exactly as it needs to be, but without the key my car cannot perform the task it was created for. Without the key, it’s just a nice piece of metal. So are a pastor and his Bible. Everything else can be there; seminary education, great speaking ability, great personality, but without the word of God in your life you will never be fully equipped to accomplish the task that God has laid before you as a pastor.

Application

Therefore as a preacher of the Word of God, we must commit ourselves to the Word in order to be fully equipped to accomplish the task that God has given us. We must, without compromise, set aside time every day to study the Word of God and allow ourselves to be taught by it. We must humble ourselves and allow ourselves to be convicted, and then continue in the Word of God to allow ourselves to be corrected. We must put forth the work in our studies and in our personal time with God to be trained to live in righteousness. We as pastors cannot ignore the Word of God and expect God to use us. We can’t rely on our own strength and power and expect something to come of our work. Sure, it’s true that you might can do this for a while. You may be thinking to yourself “ I hardly spend any time in the Word and yet my ministry is successful.” And that’s true your ministry, from a worldly stand point may be successful. But according to this text, if you continue to ignore the Word of God you will not be able to accomplish what you have been called to do. Sure you might can fill the pews, but that’s not what we are called to do as a ministers of the Word. We are called to teach our people the truths of God and call them into action. If we ignore the Word of God in our lives then we cannot do this. We must acknowledge that it is only through the Word that we are complete.

Conclusion

Through Paul’s letter to Timothy, we are reminded that the Bible is important in the life of the minister because it makes us wise for salvation, it comes from God, and it makes us complete. Imagine what your ministry could be if you accomplished the way God wanted you to, through the truths of His Word. You have seen what you can do doing it your way, now imagine what you could do it you placed the truths of Scripture at the center of your personal and pastoral life. Imagine the change that God would bring in the lives of your people when His Word is taught correctly. Imagine the change it would bring in you. As pastors we must commit to the study and application of the Word of God in our lives, and commit to doing the work of teaching it to our people. So the next time you are tempted to be lazy and just teach what you think, or to ignore the Bible in your own life, remember this text. Remember from whom Scripture comes and for what purpose it came. Today would you commit to the study of the Word and its application to your life?

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[1] S.M. Baugh, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 479.

[2] George Arthur Buttrick, Interpreter’s Bible: Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews (New York, Nashville: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1951), 504.

[3] Thomas D. Lea and Hayne P. Griffen, Jr., the New American Commentary:1,2 Timothy, Titus (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992), 234.

[4] William D. Mounce, Word Biblical Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 1999) ed. Bruce M. Metzger, 563.

[5] John Calvin, The Crossway Classic Commentaries, ed. Alister McGrath and J.I. Packer, (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 1998), 154.

[6] Walter L. Liefeld, The NIV Application Commentary, ed. By Terry Muck, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 279.

[7] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Timothy (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1995), 154.

[8] MacArthur, 157.

[9] Ralph Earle, The Expositors Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981), 410.

[10] John Calvin, 156.

David Crowder

Last night my wife and I went to see David Crowder in concert in Greensboro. I have seen him multiple times in concert but last night was reminded of how great of a show he and his band put on. The combination of musicianship and authenticity are refreshing to see and here. It is nice to be at a concert and see an artist who is honestly there to glorify God and lead others to do the same more than he is to glorify himself. If you don't listen to David Crowder or have never seen him in concert I would encourage you to do so.