Perhaps
the most needed area in church ministries today is Bible training. Paul
instructed young Pastor Timothy to preach the Word, not preach about
the Word. The lack of biblical knowledge among today's believers is
astonishing. And, at the same time, it appears, at least to this pastor, that
there is a great "want-to" to learn the Word by parishioners. Why do I
say that?
Wednesday
nights, when I had a solid hour to teach the Word, the attendance was good but
could have been better. Still, I believe people do want to learn the Bible and
that’s why the faithful came.
The responsibility
is clearly on church leadership to provide the training, the responsibility on
receiving it is on the congregation.
Why is
such training important? Because according to Hebrews 11:6; we cannot
please God without faith. Where does faith come from? Romans 10:17; "So
then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The
more of scripture a person truly knows, the more faith is generated in his or
her heart. So much of today's church world is geared to music and worship.
Certainly
those are positive virtues, but we also must have solid expository preaching
and strong, strong teaching
of the Word.
I
suspect if pastors would spring a surprise test on biblical knowledge in a
Sunday morning service, they just might be shocked to see how few of their
congregants could truly pass it. Such a showing might be a clear reason why
some of those dear people have a problem with their faith.
Make
yourself available to the teaching God is providing and your faith will build.
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