"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
This morning, I listened to a Q & A session from a Ligonier conference, and a question was asked about the public reading of God's Word. The panel of speakers - consisting of R. C. Sproul, John MacArthur, Sinclair Ferguson, and Robert Godfrey - all agreed that it is extremely rare in modern evangelicalism for passages of the Bible to be read as part of worship services. Some pastors might quote Scripture, sure, but they don't see it as a priority. That has often been our experience. When we were visiting churches a few years ago, we asked one pastor why his church never had Bible readings, and he was quite surprised by our question. The only answer he could offer was that it had never been part of their service. (In our estimation, they were more interested in the musical component of the service.) Apparently, many Christians do not believe in the power of God's Word to transform lives, nor in the importance of its centrality to worship.
John MacArthur shared this illustration from his church. Some years ago, a leader of the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade named Robert was dying of AIDS. He was scared and asked one of his friends if he knew of any church that could help him. The friend suggested Grace Community Church, so Robert attended a Sunday morning worship service and sat at the back of the church. After the service was over, Robert approached John, saying that he had heard in the Psalm that John read that God's grace would deliver him, and he wanted to be delivered from his sins. As they talked, Robert said that there was only one thing about the service that irritated him...the long speech that followed the Psalm. He was convicted by the Word and couldn't wait for the sermon to end, so he could talk to John about his spiritual condition. He received Jesus as his Lord, was baptized, and had a powerful testimony for the few remaining weeks of his life. The Bible is clear...it is living and powerful, and holds the power unto our salvation and sanctification.
that is an amazing story, and funny in a way, too. :) (how he found the long speech irritating). It's helpful for people like me who often struggle with consistent Bible reading-- this is a reminder of its Power to speak, even when my power to listen is somewhat limited. Thanks for posting it!
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