Drawing Closer to God

In Worship - Scripture Reading

 

This morning I am going to begin by reading a eulogy of sorts for John Stott.  Do we know John Stott?  He was a great Christian theologian and writer.  This eulogy is written by Edward Fudge, another theologian and writer. 

 

John Stott chose the bachelor life to devote himself more fully to the gospel--but when he died Wednesday before last, thousands mourned the loss of their beloved "Uncle John."  Although Chaplain to the Queen of England, he lived in simple quarters.  He was "one of the 100 most influential people in the world," according to Time magazine, yet he traveled in a small car that was second-hand.  Those who knew him best recall his humble spirit and recite his deeds of quiet service.  And last Wednesday, July 27, 2011, a few close friends and relatives at his bedside read aloud the words of St. Paul who also fought the good fight, finished his course and kept the faith.  Then, as strains of Handel's "Messiah" overflowed the room and wafted heavenward to Him who reigns forever and ever, ninety-year-old John Robert Walmsley Stott fell asleep in Jesus Christ to await the resurrection unto immortality and eternal life.

 

The true legacy of John Stott is immeasurable by human perception.  He wrote more than forty books, all in longhand with pen and ink.  Best known is Basic Christianity, which has sold more than two million copies in more than 50 languages.  A decade ago, I was privileged to hear John Stott preach.  True to reputation, his messages were simple and filled with power.  l also was touched by his deep personal kindness.  At the conclusion of the first meeting, I waited in line to shake his hand.  "Dr. Stott," I said, "my name is Edward Fudge, and it is such a pleasure to meet you in person!"  A smile came over his face as he asked, "Are you my friend Edward Fudge?"   "I hope so," I replied, honored for him to call me his friend.

 

(Now, we come to why I am sharing this eulogy.)

 

Hugh Palmer, the present rector at All Souls Church in London, remembers that Stott often began sermons with this prayer, "Your written word of Scripture may now and always be our rule, Your Holy Spirit our Teacher and Your greater glory our supreme concern, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.”

 

This morning, let me begin this sermon with the same prayer.  Join me in saying it.

 

"Your written word of Scripture may now and always be our rule, Your Holy Spirit our Teacher and Your greater glory our supreme concern, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.”

 

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Let's jump into the sermon this morning by reading an encouragement from Paul to his spiritual son Timothy.

 

1 Timothy 4:12-13 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture...

 

There is something special about the Word of God being read aloud at church.  Amen?  The words of Scripture, read publically, in church, connects us to millions of believers over time and space.  It points us heavenward to our creator.  The public reading of Scriptures creates the rule for our lives.  This morning as we continue drawing closer to God in worship, let's think about how we draw closer to God in Scripture reading.

 

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Reading Scripture publically is like… (Are ready for a cool metaphor?  I am not sure you are going to like this metaphor, but stay with me.  I think you will like it when I am done.)  Reading Scripture in front of the congregation is like…

 

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…entering a museum.  Do you like it yet?

 

A couple of years ago Tanya and I went to the Smithsonian.  The Smithsonian is a cool place.  My favorite part was the American History section of the Smithsonian.  We went in and saw such things as:

-  Abraham Lincoln's top hat

- Kermit the frog -

- Dorothy's shoes

- National Portrait Gallery - picture of most every famous American.

- Star Spangled Banner

All these exhibits took me back to different places in American history.  It gave me a sense of connection to being an American.  What it means to be an American, at least in part, is the connection to the history of what has happened to "Us".

 

The public reading of Scripture is like that.  It is a collection of exhibits.  The Bible is a collection of interactions between God and man.  Entering the Bible connects us to our heritage as Christians. 

 

When we hear…

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  We are taken back in time to the very beginning of God's interaction with this world.  He created it.  We stand at the creation exhibit with our mouths open in wonder as we see our world forming.

 

"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman.  We scream, "No, don’t do it".  But we certainly connect to the sin.

 

"Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness."  Good old Abraham.  I like Abraham.  Reading these scriptures connects to Abraham as a real man of faith.

 

"God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 

 

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want."  Go David.

 

"Our Father who art in heaven…" 

 

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

 

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

 

"Mary!"

 

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

 

"At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it."

 

Reading of Scripture allows us to enter this spiritual museum.  Reading Scripture connects to our heritage in God. 

 

But it doesn't stop there.  We also connect to the last 2,000 years of Scripture reading.  Every time the Bible has been read from a pulpit or on a hillside or beside the still waters; where ever the Holy Word has been read out loud before groups small or large, we connect to that reading… in our reading.  Isn't that confirming!

 

Scripture connects us to our heritage, our beginnings, our roots.  Every time we read the Scripture publically we enter a holy museum. 

 

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Do you like this metaphor?  "Come on Tim the Bible is much more than a museum.  I don't like it."  I'm glad you thought that.  The Bible is much more than just a museum.  Let's explore another metaphor for Scripture.  Perhaps you will like it better.  Reading Scripture, for everyone to hear, is like…

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…entering a cathedral.  "I don't like this one either."  Give me a second.

 

On the same trip, where we visited the Smithsonian, we also went to two cathedrals in Washington; the National Cathedral and the Basilica of The National Shrine at the Catholic University of America.  When I entered these cathedrals I immediately quit talking.  Even a whisper seemed inappropriate.  The second thing that happened was for me to look up.  My eyes were drawn upward in awe.  The architecture of cathedrals is designed to connect us upward to God... in awe.

 

Scripture is like that.  When we enter the cathedral of Scripture, we should wipe our feet, still our minds, quiet our hearts and look upward.  Scripture reveals God. 

 

2 Peter 1:20-21  Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

 

Scripture began in real people's lives as stories in our museum.  The Bible is the story written by man explaining their interaction with God.  Some think that is all the Bible is.  It is just the museum of man's recorded interaction with God.  But it is more; much more.  Scripture which began in our museum is now a cathedral.  Writings rose to Scripture. 

 

The early church recognized the hand of the Holy Spirit in the architecture of New Testament.  Just like entering a cathedral, these letters, written by men, in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, draws us toward God. 

 

Exodus 34:6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished."

 

Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

 

Hebrews 12:29 for our "God is a consuming fire."

 

1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

 

 The Public reading of Scripture points us to God.  The reading of Scripture reveals God.  The hearing of Scripture together raises our eyes to the heavens and shuts our mouths.

 

Scripture has risen from its roots in history to become a dwelling where we are drawn to God.

 

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Do you like the cathedral metaphor any better than the museum one?  "Well, a little, Tim.  But still you haven't talked about what the Scripture has to do with my everyday life."  Great thought.  This leads me to my last metaphor. 

 

Reading Scripture to the church is like…

 

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A living thing…

 

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

 

Let me read Hebrews 4:12 again from NLT.

 

^NLT Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is full of living power.  It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires.  It exposes us for what we really are.

 

Yes, the Word of God is a museum in that it connects us to our heritage as Christians.  We remember and connect.  Yes, the Word of God is Cathedral.  The words point to a higher origin.  But, the Scriptures are more than just a place to be quiet.  The Word of God is alive today!  The word of God is full of living power… today!  It is more than just words.  These words have internal power.  These words, as a living thing, are a powerful place for God to accomplish his will in our lives. 

 

Psalm 119:97-104 Oh, how I love your law!  I meditate on it all day long.  Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.  I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.  I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.  I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.  I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

 

Isaiah 55:11 So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 

Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD",and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?"

 

Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

 

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

 

1 Timothy 3:14-15 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

 

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Do you like my three metaphors, now?  There is a progression of understanding.  The words of the Bible were written in the history of real people's lives.  We connect to them as if in a museum.  We rejoice in the heritage of Scripture.  But the words of the Bible are the Words of God.  Through the connection of the Spirit in their writing, they point us in reverence to the God in heaven.  These written words were recognized as Scripture; as the word of God.  But the Word of God is not an ancient, irrelevant building.  The word of God is alive.  It has the power to change our hearts and… the hearts of those with whom we share it.  Spoken Scripture has the power to change who we are!

 

Let's close with the words of John Stott. 

 

"Your written word of Scripture may now and always be our rule, Your Holy Spirit our Teacher and Your greater glory our supreme concern, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.”

 

Tim Stidham

Los Alamos Church of Christ

August 7, 2011