7 Spiritual Health Checks - 1^st Check.

Introduction

What do Christians look for in a Church when moving to a new area in the U.K.?

Here are 5 of the most popular answers.

1. A Good Sunday school for my children. I could put with a lot if there was a good Sunday School for my children.

2. The right style of worship – the answers differed according to age and theological and church background.

3. Is there anybody like me there? Can I connect with anybody? Does anybody have similar interests etc.

4. Do I like the Pastor, or could I get to like him?

5. Bottom of the list – Is this a Church where I can serve God. Are there any ministries I can get involved with.

However, rarely do people put down on their list the most important thing that is needed in order that a Church should be healthy.

In my opinion the most important thing in a Church if I was looking to move and be a member would be – Is the Bible faithfully preached and taught, both on a Sunday and throughout the house groups and any other mid week meetings.

So my first Spiritual Health Check is - Is the Bible faithfully preached and taught at Emmanuel Baptist Church? Fortunately we have a large number of mature Christians who would demand that it takes place. However it is not an easy task to present God’s word.

The important point in this health check is concerning expository preaching and teaching.

The Challenge here at Emmanuel is always to expect “ Expository Preaching” and teaching. It is not easy to do it week by week and it does take a lot of time in study and preparation. It takes a Pastor, all his available time to do preaching and teaching in this way.?

So what exactly is expository preaching and teaching?

Expository preaching and teaching if you get it right is to educate and challenge your congregation on exactly what the Bible says and to encourage them to obey it.

Surely all preaching and teaching does that? Well not exactly. It is possible to preach and teach what you think the Bible is saying or what point you want to make using the Bible. Sometimes many people would not know the difference so long as they are getting some kind of truth and not heresy. The problem with that is it is not God’s word, it is our word, through the scriptures.

It may be very useful and helpful but it is not expository teaching.

Let me give you an example: I have a book in my library called “ Divorce & Re marriage” In is a very scholarly book and some great theologians have presented the 4 Christian views on divorce and re-marriage. These are No Divorce & Re-marriage, Divorce but no re-marriage, Divorce and re-marriage for adultery and desertion only and finally Divorce and Remarriage under a variety of circumstances.

So we have four top Bible Scholars who say that they have got God’s word on the subject correct. Sadly they can’t all be right. Something in their background and thinking has coloured their experience to persuade them to take a particular line.

It is easy for a preaching or teacher to adjust the word of God to accommodate their congregation. There may be people in the congregation who would be upset if you preached on a subject that personally challenged their walk with God in a certain area. If there is too much of what you think in the message they can easily dismiss it. However if it is “Thus says the Lord”, then they are reacting directly against God and not against you.

This sort of preaching takes a lot longer, there is the historical context to consider, the original language, the context of the book and many other considerations.

It doesn’t need to be boring; there are lots of examples, illustrations and personal applications to be made.

I don’t always succeed but I always try to do expository preaching and for that I must make time. Lots of it!!!!

So why is it important that the preacher or teacher declares God’s word each week?

There are two main reasons.

1. The word of God brings life.

In Genesis chapter one, through the word of God, the world and life was created. You read your Bibles , you know the story. In Genesis 3 we read about the fall of man. God spoke again in Gen. 3: 16. He gave hope to Adam and Eve, the offspring off the woman would crush satan one day.

In Genesis 12, God spoke again, this time to Abraham. God’s people were created because Abraham responded to God’s word.

Just when all was lost and God’s children were in bondage to the Egyptians, God spoke again to Moses. (By Faith he rescued them)

In Exodus 20 God spoke again and gave His Law. It was through God’s word that His people became his special possession.

As you go through the whole of the Old Testament you will see clearly that it is God’s word that is the BIG ISSUE. In fact the phrase “the word of the Lord” or the equivalent is used 3,800 times in the Old Testament.

So God led his people in the O./T. by His word. They heard his word, either through the prophet or leader, they had the written word in the TORAH and they responded in FAITH and acted upon His word.

We are privileged that we have the whole of God’s word today. So we don’t have to make anything up, but we do have to understand it and declare it.

One of the most encouraging passages in this context is Ezekiel 37. The main message is that “LIFE” comes by the word of God.

Sidmouth is spiritually dead but through God’s word, life can come. ( Quote Romans 10:17) We must believe this.

For communication to take place there must be words. Actions are important but can often be miss understood, however words are the best form of communication. (Illustration from marriage)

It must be God’s word in order to speak to us, not the preacher’s word .

2. The second reason that expository preaching and teaching is important is that God’s word has a sanctifying power.

Sanctification is the process whereby God uses His word to separate us from evil and dedicate us to God. The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to do this.

( Example - Faith Mission Bible College – must read Bible twice, two different versions. The course was the Bible and they trusted God to use the word in your devotional life.)

The Psalmist says in Psalm 119: v. 105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” When Jesus was attacked by satan he quoted from Deut. 8: v. 3 “ Man does not live by bread alone.......................

When we read the history of Israel it is clear that when they strayed from God’s word, disaster came, but repentance came when they responded to his word.

A fine example can be seen in 2 Chronicles 34. “Hilkiah” finds the book of the Law, it is read to King Josiah and his immediate response was to tear his clothes in repentance and then read the word to the people.

Finally Jesus prayed in John 17:17 “ sanctify them by the truth, your word is truth.”

The world is trying to shape us into its mould but we must resist and subject ourselves to be shaped by God’s word. The old age problem of the Church being in the world and the world being in the Church can be dealt with if people respond to God’ word and co-operate with the Holy Spirit.

What does this mean for Emmanuel Baptist Church.?

Simply that the word of God must be absolutely central and all our preachers and teachers must be given time to prepare God’s word in an expository manner.

For some of us it may be giving up gardening for a week, or clubs and societies we attend, for me last week it meant not being able to have my cream tea at the ladies meeting afternoon.

End of spiritual health check number one.