Times without number I remember folks would come to my office for pastoral guidance and out of that counseling session I would see their
depth of biblical knowledge; in far too many cases it was very shallow. Many knew some Bible stories and most had a few favorite promises
from God, but few really possessed a real grasp of the Word. I want to see this changed.
The first place I go to solve this problem is to the pulpits of our churches. I contend that if pastors and teachers are doing their jobs the
people they lead will grow in knowledge of the Bible and in usable, practical wisdom given by the Holy Spirit. Of course, even when they
adequately do their jobs in the pulpit it is still up to the saints to understand and use what they are taught and to study for themselves,
rightly dividing the Word of faith. Nevertheless, it is good for us to focus on the Elders that we might not err in this regard.
My wife and I had an occasion to visit a church recently on a Sunday morning. One of the things that struck me as odd was that during our
walk to the sanctuary from the parking lot how few Bibles I saw in the hands of those attending. There were Scripture references in the
Order of Service in the bulletin, and the pastor used several Bible references during his brief sermon. The sermon had some good points
and was well administered. However, I left the service feeling a little dry, perhaps even a little hungry. Why? I was thirsty and hungry for the
Word of God. It is my opinion that the pivot point of the worship service is the Word of God.
Interestingly enough, years ago a visitor approached me after a Sunday morning service in our church and here was his question: “Why do
you do so much reading from the Bible and quote so many Bible verses during your sermon?” The question struck me as odd. I told him that
our church was built on the Word of God and the Bible was the central focus of our lives and of every worship service in our church. I do
not know what his church background was, but perhaps he had grown accustomed to sermons like the one we heard that was lacking in
real biblical substance.
So, Pastor, how much Scripture should you use in a given sermon or teaching? Of course, the answer to the question rests solely with the
Holy Spirit who orchestrates each of your services, and each one is going to have a difference than all others. I might say that I have sat
through some sermons in which so many biblical passages were used that we all grew weary of turning pages, and the effectiveness of the
teaching was hindered because of it. So somewhere between too little and too much is probably the right amount of Truth to deliver in any
given pulpit session. If the teaching is verse-by-verse from a text passage, some other supporting verses/passages may be in order to
make certain points and add validity to your doctrinal statements. If you are teaching topically, I suggest one primary verse or passage for
each of your main sermon points. (it is not advisable to use more than 3 or 4 primary sermon points) You also should use scriptural
references anytime you are expounding on a doctrine; this adds credibility to your declarations and also helps to develop the saints in
where it is located in the Bible. A sermon or teaching in the church is a good time for the saints to practice finding passages and verses;
they get used to using their Bibles and this makes it far more likely they will study the Bible at home.
Pastor, allow me to emphasize the need for you to substantiate any doctrinal statement you make during a teaching or sermon with a direct
Scripture. God’s people must know the truth, and they must learn to discern the truth from error. The only way to develop this ability in them
is to marry them to the Word of God. Your opinion on a given subject doesn’t really matter very much. Their personal opinions also don’t
really matter much. What matters is what God thinks about it, and He has graciously given to us all His thoughts on every subject that really
matters in life. As you repeatedly support your declarations of doctrine with Scripture, you will teach your people by example that the
source of all truth is the Bible. This will benefit them greatly in that it will help to eliminate the possibility they will be deceived in the future
by some well-meaning but ignorant preacher and by charlatans bent on their destruction. Remember: knowledge of the truth is what makes
your people free and keeps them that way.
For the sake of instruction, I will demonstrate how to substantiate my doctrinal statements. For example, if I make the statement: “God is
still in the healing business today.” I immediately invite the congregation of believers to join me in Romans 8:11. (There are of course many
verses I could use in this regard) It is not enough that I (the pastor) said this statement, what is important is that God said it. Or, if I tell my
people: “God has already done for them all that He needs to do!” I immediately focus their attention on II Peter 1:3. The key here is that you
must be able to back up your profound doctrinal statements directly from the Word of God.
One admonition I might give at this point is to be cautious about trying to approach the study of the Word too intellectually and with too
much analysis. I often hear preachers try to give “the real meaning” of a certain word or passage in the Bible. They audaciously attempt to
rise above scholarly translators in order to make their particular point to reinforce some pet belief they have. This is not good. You are
probably like most of us preachers in that the sum total of our training in seminary or Bible School in Hebrew and Greek is quite limited. We
own reference books that help us in the original languages, but in the final analysis, we pale by comparison to most biblical translators.
Therefore, use several versions and/or translations of the Bible to help get to the root meaning of words and thoughts, but avoid re-writing
the Bible for your own purposes. One of the dangers of “hyper-analyzing the Bible” is that the folks in your congregation will watch you do
this and they will begin to lose confidence in the Bible as it is written. Before long they too will read into the Holy Bible whatever fits them.
This is a real problem that has already taken seed in the Church, and it is one that we ministers must address within our own realms of
authority.
Pastor, one very important aspect of your pastoral role is to develop in your people a love for the Bible and a reverence for it. Allow me to
share something funny that happened to me when I was ministering in Guatemala years ago in a non-denominational church. I gave my text
passage and before I could start reading my text, suddenly the whole congregation leaped to their feet. I continued reading even though I
could not for the life of me understand what had been their cue. Politely they were seated when I finished reading. Not long into the sermon
I made reference to another verse and was flipping through my Bible to find the passage when I realized the saints had once again stood
up. That is when I connected the dots and understood that they had been taught reverence for the Bible and the way they demonstrated
reverence was to stand anytime the Word was read. During that sermon they did quite a bit of standing and sitting! I just kept on preaching.
I commended the pastor after the service for his training in this regard. It is not necessary that you have your people stand when the Bible
is read, but it is good to build into them a respect for God’s Word – knowledge of the Truth and full obedience in faith is the very best
demonstration of reverence for the Bible.
I share with you another little thing I learned that might help you in your church. I selected someone with an anointed voice to read our
text passage; I used one of my “Levites.” (a woman on our Worship Team) Introducing another voice into the sermon was a good thing. One
thing that happens is that your congregation will not fall into the error of just associating Holy Scripture with your voice, but will find that
whoever reads the Word can release its awesome power and can plumb its depths for all of God’s riches. I suppose it goes without saying
that who you select is very important. It should be someone who is a proficient reader and whose diction is good. This additional voice will
add flavor to your sermon.
I am asked from time to time what version or translation of the Bible I use personally. I use the New King James version from which to
preach and teach. My reason is really quite simple: I don’t want to have to interpret from 17th century Elizabethan English into modern
American English. I am already saddled with the task of translating words and thoughts from ancient cultures a world away and that is
sufficient task for me. That is of course only my preference. I suggest you use whichever version of the Bible that is easiest
for you. One additional thought is that many of the people who hear you preach might be sinners or baby believers who cannot grasp old
King James English; they may find the “thee’s” and “thou’s” a little too stuffy and too religious sounding. One of the things I have always
attempted to do is to remove all possible obstacles that I can that might hinder the people’s receptivity to the Truth.
Read the biblical passage at the right. Can you see that Paul emphasizes the importance of knowledge three times in this short passage?
Knowledge of God’s word must be very important to us all. That is why you must lead your people into it. To some people you will be the
primary conduit from the very throne of God. They will not study the Bible on their own, so what you deliver to them will be all they receive.
You better make it good. You better make it right. Indeed you will because the Spirit of Truth is right there with you to insure that
you do. Praise the name of the Lord!
Ephesians 1:15-19
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of Him
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working
of His mighty power
We Perish For A Lack Of Knowledge
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