A Call: Teach The Bible

The last basic type of message is to read the Bible passage and make it come alive with the details of people, places, events and doctrinal truth. Words, phrases, and difficult statements from the passage are explained. If we look back at Paul’s encouragement to Timothy, we discover that Paul challenged Timothy to emphasize teaching and not exhortation when he said, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching . . .” Notice that Paul challenged Timothy to “give attention,” “take pains,” “pay close attention” in his teaching. This requires more than two hours on a Saturday night preparing for Sunday morning while watching television. This requires more than piecing together a series of stories, jokes, and personal comments. It requires a study of God’s Word and a commitment to mature the saints through solid, biblical teaching of the Word of God. Reading and exhortation should join preaching and teaching, but they should not be the core of the message. Paul’s emphasis was the teaching of Scriptures.

Yet, many pastors and teachers avoid the third type of message in favor the first two approaches. The third approach requires more time and effort. No wonder Paul said, “take pains,” and “pay close attention.”

New Trend. The September 2006 issue of Christianity Today has a feature article titled, “Young, Restless, Reformed” by Collin Hansen. Collin indicates that a number of churches scattered across the United States are emphasizing the sound, solid teaching of the Bible. The churches have many young adults in their twenties and early thirties. One such church is Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C. The pastor is Mark Dever. Collin visited the church and describes what he experienced,

I visited Capitol Hill Baptist in January. The church kicked off with Sunday school, which really should have been called Sunday seminary. Class options included a survey of the New Testament, spiritual disciplines, and a systematic theology lesson on theories of the Atonement. (Hansen, Collin. Young, Restless, Reformed. “Christianity Today.” Sept.. 2006. p. 38)

Collin explains that the pastor is serious in his study and teaching of the scriptures. The pastor’s sermons are 55 minutes long. Hymns are emphasized, and the church is packed out with the under 30 crowd. This story is being repeated in key parts around the United States. But it is the under-30 crowd that appears to be interested. The thrust of Collin’s article is that the new emerging under 30 crowd wants to know the Bible and doctrine. They are serious. They are hungry for truth - the Word of God. They are hungry for God. They want to know about God.

Conclusion. Some churches have heard the alarms and have responded. Not everyone is interested in the solid teaching of scripture, but not everyone wants to know God either. What type of church should we look for? We should look for pastors and teachers who teach the Bible and who do not just give illustrations and an application. We should look for churches that are serious about teaching the entire Bible. Only then can we be strong in our faith. Only then can we know the character of God and discover hidden treasures about Him. Do you have a hunger to know God? If so, then seek to know the Bible. But remember the goal is to know God through a study of the Bible.