Bible
Church Ministry
Bible
Church ministry, what is it? The answer to the question depends on
the one answering. Since I am writing this blog I, obviously, will
answer. I believe Bible Church ministry is built on two priorities.
The priorities are of equal importance and significance.
The
two priorities are;
Gathering
to Proclaim God’s Word
Going
to Proclaim God’s Word
This
blog entry will focus on the first of the two priorities. Jesus made
it clear that one of the three essential commands that He gave to the
apostles, and through them to the church, is to teach disciples “to
observe (keep) all things that I have commanded you.” (Mt.
28:20) From the very inception of the church priority was placed upon
building believers in the faith – the body of revealed truth
contained now in the Old and New Testament. It is absolutely vital
that the church remain focused and committed to building saints in
the faith.
The
expectation that the apostles gave to those whom they trained was to
teach the whole counsel of God to the saints. Each and every truth
revealed in the New Testament is part of the spiritual diet that is
necessary for healthy saints. Therefore, every local church should be
diligently teaching God’s Word. To do otherwise is wrong.
Let me ask this
question. What other organization is going to teach God’s Word? The
answer is no other organization does or will teach God’s Word. This
responsibility is unique to the church. It is the church, the Body of
Christ that must focus on and accomplish this task.
Every
believer who walks into an assembly of believers needs to be fed and
nourished with God’s Word. Paul used the metaphor of food to
describe the spiritual diet of believers. Believers need to weekly
come to the feast of God’s Word and receive a well-balanced meal.
Who are we, servants of Christ, to decide that certain points of
teaching, doctrine or theology are to be avoided? Who are we to say
that some truths of the New Testament are unclear and thus to be
avoided – such as the many texts which speak of Christ’s return.
Many churches do not go there and thus deprive their congregants of
vital food.
I
conclude by saying that every believer needs to know that when they
assemble together with their fellow believers they are going to be
built up in the faith through the expositional teaching and preaching
of God’s Word. Bible Church ministry embraces this vital priority.
