The Word of God gives Christians guidance, direction and a path for how to live. The Bible is a source of truth that can profoundly change and impact your daily life. In the third of a series of messages entitled “Comfortably Numb: The Cure For Spiritual Leprosy,” Pastor Troy Murphy focused on the Word of God. Here are some highlights:
*God’s word is alive and active (Hebrews 4: 12, 13), not simply a collection of writings. It exposes our hearts and intentions. It rips open who we really are. It makes you recognize your own sin.
*We need to allow God’s word to expose our own issues (2 Timothy 3: 16-17). The fight is in your own life first. God doesn’t need us to defend truth to the outside world. He needs us to defend the truth in our own lives. It's less about the world and more about our own holiness.
*The Word trains us in righteousness. This is not a morality contest where we can arrogantly claim, "I’m not as bad as them.” We need to let God do work in our own heart. Regular doses of Scripture reading make us realize we are broken.
*Saying we don’t read the Bible because we don’t understand it is not a valid excuse. There’s enough that we do understand that sharpens us and humbles us, such as learning how to love people that don’t love us back. There’s plenty in the Bible that is no mystery for us to understand, such as forgiveness, love, grace, mercy and helping the poor.
*We need to read the Bible humbly. You need to come to scripture with open hands and an open heart, ready to listen to what God has to say. Don’t come to the Bible using it as a way to justify your position. You need to approach it with this question: What is God saying to me?
*There are two extremes in the approach to Scripture. The first is people who don’t read the Bible because of ignorance or laziness. The other side of the spectrum is people reading the Bible to collect information to hold over others, which is an arrogant approach. God never intended us to intellectually bash others over the head with a bible.
*We need to know why we’re reading the Bible. Check your motives. Long to know God’s story that the Bible tells and allow it to sharpen and undo you. John Stott said it this way: We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.
*We need to read the Bible regularly. It’s like soaking up moisture to replenish our dryness. It is a guide for your way home. It’s a plumb line to give you a sense of clarity on your journey. Being too busy is no excuse. You’re too busy not to read the Bible daily.
*We are to read the Bible systematically. Joshua 1:8 says to meditate on it day and night. Know the context and let the words get digested into your spiritual system.
*We are to read the Bible collectively. A Bible study shouldn’t merely be gathering more knowledge. Instead, we should study it together and dialog with others about meaning and purpose and impact for your life.
*Knowlege about the Bible is not the end all. You can know all the Bible information and not know God. The Scripture points to Jesus. If the Bible is not pointing you to live like Jesus, go back and ask why you are reading it. The Bible isn’t to be worshipped. The Bible should point us to the one to be worshipped.
Discussion questions
What does it mean to you to read the Bible humbly?
How is it possible to know what the Scripture says and not know God? What is the difference between reading and digesting the Bible?
What is your main purpose for reading the Bible?
Do you have any techniques or methods that help you read the Bible regularly?
