I'm currently reading the book Radical, by David Platt. I will likely end up sharing more from the book and study that goes along with it since we are planning to do the 6-week bible study on it this summer during out Summer Light program at TBC. But anyway, there is a section that has really jumped out at me as something that we all can focus on that isn't too radical to try.
Are we receivers or reproducers? The Great Commission tells commands us "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" in Matthew 28. In this, we are each called to help teach the gospel to people. However, as Platt points out, this "teaching" is not strictly for a classroom setting as we typically envision teaching today, it is done in the classroom of the world thru relationships and interactions.
If you have a new believer in Christ that you are helping grow in their faith, what is the best way to help them do that? Many people say to sign them up for a one hour per week class on prayer and then maybe another class on Bible study. Well how much more would that person benefit from spending an hour a week with you in prayer and to study the Bible together to learn how to study the Bible? It is our responsibility to help people grow in Christ...not just preachers. If that task seems overwhelming or you fear a confrontation with someone whose beliefs are different from your own then begin to study more yourself. You will notice such a difference in your life you will begin to look for opportunities to share your faith.
During Platt's missions in Sudan, as he begins a Bible study there, he loses eye contact with those present almost immediately. It's not that they are not paying attention, they are taking detailed notes so that they can translate the message into their native language and share it with the rest of their tribe. Now jump to a modern day worship service in the US. A few people have their Bibles open while some don't even have a Bible with them. A couple folks are taking notes but most are passively sitting in the audience. Yet a few others are intently focused on what the preacher is saying, trying to hear how it applies to their lives. "But the reality is, few are listening to reproduce" - Platt.
How differently would we listen to the preacher's message if we were listening with the thought of "How can I listen to his Word so that I am equipped to teach this Word to others?" Now all of a sudden we are called to teach it and live it out...not just stay awake during the sermon. Then the Word gets magnified! I tell it to 5 people, they tell it to 5 people and so on. That preacher's message then instead of reaching 200 can now reach thousands or even millions with social media today. I want to challenge all my friends to begin to do this. I know Emmanuel DeWalt shares his sermon notes weekly online and that's part of what gave me this idea. So I plan tomorrow to start #MondayMorningPreacher and share the sermon I hear with others because as a Christian, that's the challenge I have accepted. I pray for perseverance and wisdom as the Lord leads me to help spread His Word.
Are we receivers or reproducers? The Great Commission tells commands us "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" in Matthew 28. In this, we are each called to help teach the gospel to people. However, as Platt points out, this "teaching" is not strictly for a classroom setting as we typically envision teaching today, it is done in the classroom of the world thru relationships and interactions.
If you have a new believer in Christ that you are helping grow in their faith, what is the best way to help them do that? Many people say to sign them up for a one hour per week class on prayer and then maybe another class on Bible study. Well how much more would that person benefit from spending an hour a week with you in prayer and to study the Bible together to learn how to study the Bible? It is our responsibility to help people grow in Christ...not just preachers. If that task seems overwhelming or you fear a confrontation with someone whose beliefs are different from your own then begin to study more yourself. You will notice such a difference in your life you will begin to look for opportunities to share your faith.
During Platt's missions in Sudan, as he begins a Bible study there, he loses eye contact with those present almost immediately. It's not that they are not paying attention, they are taking detailed notes so that they can translate the message into their native language and share it with the rest of their tribe. Now jump to a modern day worship service in the US. A few people have their Bibles open while some don't even have a Bible with them. A couple folks are taking notes but most are passively sitting in the audience. Yet a few others are intently focused on what the preacher is saying, trying to hear how it applies to their lives. "But the reality is, few are listening to reproduce" - Platt.
How differently would we listen to the preacher's message if we were listening with the thought of "How can I listen to his Word so that I am equipped to teach this Word to others?" Now all of a sudden we are called to teach it and live it out...not just stay awake during the sermon. Then the Word gets magnified! I tell it to 5 people, they tell it to 5 people and so on. That preacher's message then instead of reaching 200 can now reach thousands or even millions with social media today. I want to challenge all my friends to begin to do this. I know Emmanuel DeWalt shares his sermon notes weekly online and that's part of what gave me this idea. So I plan tomorrow to start #MondayMorningPreacher and share the sermon I hear with others because as a Christian, that's the challenge I have accepted. I pray for perseverance and wisdom as the Lord leads me to help spread His Word.
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