Exodus 20

“All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance. ‘You speak to us and we will listen,’ they said to Moses, ‘but don’t let God speak to us or we will die.’ Moses responded to the people, ‘Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear Him and will not sin,’” Exodus 20:18-20 (HCSB)

“My pastor says…”  

I’m so glad I attend a church with a great pastor! He simply loves the Bible and lives to teach it. He encourages the congregants to bring our Bibles and models Biblical scholarship by preaching from his own Bible. He values the Bible as “the source” of knowledge, as opposed to “a resource” for some topic or agenda. I thank the Lord for the fact that our pastor encourages us to read our Bibles every day.  

I can think of only one thing in my journey to follow Jesus that beats good preaching:  Personal Bible study. That’s right. What’s more important than what someone teaches you after they studied the Bible is what God teaches you when YOU read it for yourself.

A major problem in our culture is that people don’t believe the Bible. A major problem in our congregations is that more and more preachers don’t teach the Bible in its entirety. A major problem in our families is that spouses and children don’t speak about the Bible. A major problem with churchgoers is that they don’t read the Bible

“There is enough dust on the Bibles of England to, with one’s finger, spell the word, ‘Damnation!’” Charles Spurgeon  

Hopefully, you are changing that trend. When we read the Bible, we discuss it with those close to us. When we discuss it, a community of Bible-mindedness grows. New Bible teachers are raised in rhythm with those communities, and communities devoted to God steer their cultures.

Don’t be afraid of approaching the Lord. Be afraid of what will happen if you don’t!

“Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” Hebrews 4:16 (HCSB)