I can’t think of a single sentence within a book that contains more implications for pastors than this one: “God’s Word, working through God’s Spirit, is God’s primary instrument for growing God’s church.” It’s from Jonathan Leeman’s book Word-Centered Church, and it’s one of the most important concepts to work out in our ministries.
High View, Low Practice
Many of us have a high view of Scripture, but that view doesn’t work itself out in our churches.
We tend to follow the example of others, so our beliefs don’t always translate into our practice. We believe in the power of God’s Word, but if we’ve been exposed to pastors that don’t translate this belief into the culture of the church, we’ll probably struggle too.
We believe 1 Timothy 4:13, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,” but don’t read extended passages of Scripture in our public worship. We affirm 2 Timothy 4:2, “Preach the Word,” but sometimes preach sermons loosely based on the text before us. Most tellingly, our Bibles remain closed in our elder’s meetings and small groups.
Practice a high view of Scripture, and you’ll be fighting against cultural currents. But nothing is more important for the kind of ministry that glorifies God and that sees people changed for eternity.
High View, High Practice
We need churches with a high view of Scripture, and with practices that translate this belief into action. Leeman is right: “One thing is necessary in our churches—hearing God’s Word through preaching, reading, singing, and praying.”
Here are some ways I’m learning to translate a high view of Scripture into practice.
- Listen to biblical preaching. Since we learn by example, we’re wise to listen to preachers who are masters at preaching it. Once you get an appetite for good biblical preaching, it will ruin you for anything else.
- Visit churches that live out a high view of Scripture. I love learning from good churches that do a good job of translating a high view of Scripture into practice. I visited one a couple of years ago. I didn’t learn anything new, but their example challenged and encouraged me.
- Read Scripture publicly. I’m amazed at how hard it is to find a church that includes the public reading of Scripture as a main element of worship. One of the best ways to raise the value of Scripture is to devote time to reading it well each Sunday in our services.
- Preach it. It goes without saying, but let’s not assume the importance of preaching Scripture. Commit to preach God’s Word and nothing else. Base the main point of the sermon on the main point of the text.
- Raise its value. Ask people to bring their Bibles to church and open them during the reading and preaching of Scripture. (Electronic Bibles are fine, but it’s easy to get distracted by other notifications and apps.) Remind people that the authority of a preacher is derivative: it’s present only as we faithfully preach God’s Word. Tell them to evaluate your message against the text. Encourage people to develop the habit of reading and listening to Scripture at home. Build your small groups around God’s Word.
- Use the Bible in leadership meetings. Regularly consult God’s Word as the elders and leaders meet to oversee the church.
“God’s Word, working through God’s Spirit, is God’s primary instrument for growing God’s church.” I don’t know of many sentences that pack as much of a punch for today’s church. If Leeman is right — and I think he is — then it changes everything about how we operate in our churches.