Sermons

This is the owner’s manual for our 1998 Ford Windstar Minivan. It tells us how to take care of the vehicle. If the owner’s manual’s instructions are followed, then the likelihood is that the car will have a good, long life that helps serve the family that owns it.

The Bible is God’s owner’s manual for you. God is the creator and, as such we belong to him. If we follow the instructions god has given us in the Bible, then the likelihood is that we will have a good long life that enables us to serve others.

The Bible is not to be viewed as a cook book, though. Recipes for liiving are found in the Bible, but it is not like you can randomly open the Bible to find what you might need.

There are various books and guides to help you study the Bible. Rick warren has written one that is called personal Bible study methods. Another helpful book is how to read the Bible for all its worth.

This morning I am starting a two part series that looks at discipleship. O.K. So now I am a Christian. What do I do now? An excellent book came out not too long ago called after I believe, by Mark Robertson, and I highly recommend it to you.

This two part series looks at the two main aspects of what is called a “quiet time.” These two items are reading the Bible and praying.

It also turns out that the Bible and praying are the two main parts of a Pastor’s job description. In acts Chapter six, verse four we read that Pastors are to devote themselves to “the ministry of the word and prayer.”

As your Pastor, I am to develop my personal Bible reading. Also, I am to apply the timeless truths of God’s word to people’s every day needs in an ever changing society. I am to teach the Bible in all possible ways to as many people as possible.

But reading the Bible is not just for your Pastor. Having a quiet time is one of the foundations to being a follower, a disciple of jesus. A quiet time involves spending time in the presence of Jesus.

What I want to focus on today and next Sunday are the two primary components of having a quiet time: reading the Bible and praying. This morning I will encourage you to read the Bible and give you practical tips in how to go about it. I will also provide you the opportunity to take action in joining a small group Bible study.

Next week I will share on the principals and practice of prayer and, again, will give you the privilege of signing up to get in involved in the big things god is doing in this town and around the world.

Today I want to break down Bible reading into two major areas: three basics and three mechanics. First, then, let’s look at the

1. Three basics in Bible reading. [repeat]
There are three “r’s’ in the basics and the mechanics of considering the Bible as God’s manual for you. The first basic point in Bible reading is 1.1. The role of the holy spirit. [repeat] for years, and especially recently, the Bible is studied for its literary content. I am all for it in the public school context. We should not teach the Bible in a spiritual way in the public schools. But, as a basis for western civilization, the Bible should be examined both historically and as literature.

I happen to believe that the Holy Spirit can still get through when the Bible is being taught and studied in what be viewed as a sanitized body of writings.

But, when it comes to church, to your personally encouraging friends and family, and to your own devotional, I believe it is very important to seek the guidance and enlightenment of the holy spirit.

Every time I open the Bible for my quiet time, I either speak (pray), think, or have in the back of my mind a prayer that Paul prays for Christians in the first Chapter of his letter to the ephesians.

In ephesians 1:17 and 18 he writes, “I keep as King that the god of our lord jesus christ, the glorious father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,” and Paul continues on with further benefits of Bible reading.

If you try to read the Bible but do not have a relationship with jesus, then you should not be surprised if it does not make sense to you. It has been rightly said that if you are reading the Bible as someone who has not put jesus in charge of your life, then you are
*Reading someone else’s mail!

Paul’s prayer is for people who know jesus. He asks the glorious [heavenly] father to give believers the spirit of wisdom and revelation, with a puropse—the purpose of knowing god better.

That is your goal in reading the Bible during a quiet time. It is not to fulfill a duty. “Well, I claim to be a Christian, so I better read my Bible today.”

No! The purpose of the holy spirit being your wisdom and revelation is so that you can know god better. Isn’t that a great motivation to spend time in God’s word? Getting to know him better as your lord and your best friend.

Paul prays “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” it is the holy spirit who enlightens us as we read the Bible. In philippians 3:15, Paul writes, “if on some point you think differently, that too god will make clear to you.”

If there is something you are having difficulty getting your hands around, some aspect of the Christian faith or walk, talk to god about it, keep reading the Bible, and he will eventually make things clear to you.

I had that experience in the aera of a prediction about jesus’ death. Soon after I became a chrstian, I was atold that Psalm 22 talks about the crucifixion of jesus. I did not see how something written one thousand years before the event happened could possibly be predicting it.

I do not know when it happened, but within a year or two I came across the twenty second psalm again. By then, all I could see was jesus on the cross. I did not grunt or groan or do some kind of mental gymnastics. Instead, the holy spirit had been doing his quiet work in me. God made it clear to me through his holy spirit.

That is something of the role of the holsy spirit. The next basic in Bible reading is to
1.2. Read an understandable translation. [repeat] here are some tips on maKing sure you have—or soon get—an understandable translation.
First, be sure you have *a translation, not a paraphrase a paraphrase is not a direct translation from the original greek and hebrew texts.

A paraphrase is bound to be affected by the person or persons who prepare it. When there is a translation, usually there is more than one translator and, to a greater or lesser extent, they stay faithful to the text.

But a paraphrase can be someone’s interepretation of another translation. And that can get dangerous, leading to false teaching and ideas that are not what the owner—god—had in mind for the manual. So, please be sure you have an understandable translation.

Another key is to have a Bible that has *english that can be read—without struggling—to understand its meaning for your life.

I realize that I am about to tread in a dangerous place, but I believe I need to. I recommend against using the King james version for several reasons. One is that we have a better understanding of what the original texts of the Bible said. In the 1950’s, the “dead sea scrolls” were discovered. They provide helpful information and help the Bible text be better.

Someone might ask, “but isn’t the King james the ‘authorized version’? You open up the Bible and you see “authorized version.” if you look carefully, you see that it is authorized by King james.

King James authorized this translation because he saw himself as the head of the anglican church, what is now called the episcopalian church in america.

Did you know that the King james version was not used in the new world during the first generation of colonists? The pilgrims were persecuted by King james. The puritans, even though they had a charter from the King, could not get away from the King fast enough.

Both the pilgrims and puritans used the geneva translation, which was a contemporary translation prepared in the city where John calving invluenced people from different countries.

But the most important reason to not used the King james version, is that people do not talk that way any more! In 2011, the King james version will be 400 years old. From what I understand, even by 1611, people were not speaKing that kind of english in every day life.

I will grant you that the King james version is beatuiful. It is possible that shaekspeare had a hand in writing the King james version of psalm 46. I am fine with it being read for special occasions. The language has found its ways into hymns, even some contemporary Christian songs. I use a King james concordance when I am trying to find a Bible verse or a word in the Bible.

But the King james version is confusing to read. If you want to share the Bible with someone who is seeking spiritually, you do not want them to have to struggle over the english of the Bible you give them, do you?

When I was a teaching assistant, I read more than one thousand five page papers. I encouraged students to read their papers outloud before they turned in their papers. I told them that if a sentence did not make sense to them, it would probably not make sense to me. And they did not want me to have to struggle to figure out what they were trying to communicate in their paper.

One of the most amazing examples from the King james Bible is where a demon speaks to jesus. It says, “i know thee who thou art!” we do not talk that way anymore!

So what translations do I recommend?
[*recommended translations]
As long as a Bible is a faithful translation in reasonably contemporary english, by all means use whatever you want.
The new international version of the New Testament came out in 1976. By 1979, the entire Bible came out. For most years since then, I have used the niv for my personal devotional reading.

More recently I used the new living translation. It also has helpful insights, based on the original languages while relating to the present day.

Most recently, I have been reading eugene peterson’s translation called “the message.” he is a scholar of both hebrew and greek.

A Bible that helped a great deal after I became a Christian is the good news Bible. I read the New Testament version through twice in my sophomore or junior year of high school.

So, please be sure you are reading an understandable translation. Next, you need to
1.3. Realize and apply the fact that the Bible is God’s owner’s manual for you. [repeat]

As I mentioned at the beginning of this message, the Bible is the owner’s manual—it shows us that god has created us, redeemed us, and how we are to live for god.

A passage that clearly sets this out is from second timothy Chapter three, which I read a little while ago as the second scripture lesson. Here is how the new living translation puts sixteen and seventeen, “all scripture is inspired by god and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realzie what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing god wants us to do.”

As the inspired owner’s manual, the Bible is useful to teach us what is true. It straightens us out whenever we get off the discipleship road. It is also God’s way of preparing us and equipping us to live for him, doing what god wants us to do.

There you have the basics of Bible reading. I now turn to
2. The mechanics of Bible reading. [repeat]
Here are the “3 r’s” of Bible reading. Just as at school you have “reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic,” in Bible reading there are “regularity, reverence and receptivity.”

2.1. Regularity is first in order, because the other two r’s flow from this one. Consistent, regular Bible reading enables you to build your spiritual muscles.

Bible reading can be habit forming. And you can find time to read the Bible. You know how you are able to find the time to do something you really want to do. I know it can be difficult—with work, school, family obligations, and illness.

But if you really want to do something, to be with someone, you will find the time.

When is the best time to read the Bible? There is no hard and fast rule here. I know that some people are night owls.

One Pastor I know reads a Chapter before breakfast, lunch and dinner—he feeds himself spiritually. And he reads a Chapter at night, because what you read, watch or listen to before you go to sleep can affect your next day.

I recommend, if at all possible, that you try to read the Bible and spend time with god as early as possible in the day. Do you remember the movie “chariots of fire”? Eric liddle was born in china and returned there to be a missionary. When china was invaded, he sent his family to canda, but he stayed. He was put into a concentration camp. With all of the pressure he was under, he found time to read the Bible before sunrise.

Read the Bible rebularly. Also read it
2.2. Reverently. [repeat]

We are to revere, to have respect for the Bible, but not worship it. Sometimes Christians are accused of biblioloatry, of maKing an idol out of the Bible.

Our attitude is to be that of the bereans, about whom we read in acts 17:11, “now the bereans were of more noble character than the thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

B y the way, I always want you to do the same thing with what I preach and teach. Do not take my word for it. Check the Bible out for yourself. If you find that I am teaching something that is contrary to the clear text of the Bible, I am the first person I want you to tell!

Read the Bible regularly. Read it reverently. Read it
2.3. Receptively,
As God’s word to you. Do you like to receive mail? A personal letter, not junk mail of course. I always like to receive snail mail, even though I am not always so good about returning it.

Anyway, the most important time in my life to receive mail was my freshman year of college. I went to my box sometimes more than once a day. That was the one time I even liked to receive junk mail, anything just so the box was not empty. I am so grateful to my mother for faithfully writing and sending me a letter every week.

A couple times when I received nothing, I went to my room and read a Chapter from one of Paul’s letters—as God’s letter to me. You might wonder what would be best to read, how to go about reading the Bible. Do not read only your favorite portions, but the whole Bible for the whole counsel of god, as God’s owner’s manual.

If you are seeking the truth, or a new Christian, you might want to read a Chapter a day from the gospel of John. Karin and I have provided as a gift to each of you the gospel of John in booklet form. We ordered enough that you may take a second copy to give to a friend or family member.

If you would like to read through the Psalms and Proverbs, you could read five Psalms and one proverb a day and that will get you through in one month. For instance, today is the eighteenth, so you would read from Proverbs Chapter eighteen along with Psalms eighty six through nineteen. If you would like to read in one year the entire Old Testament once, along with the New Testament and Psalms twice, you can use the M’Cheyne calendar for daily readings. Just Four Chapters a day will make it possible for you to do that.

When I mentioned a Pastor a while back who reads four Chapters a day—that Pastor uses M’Cheyne. I learned about M’Cheyne from him at a large meeting in 1976 at a meeting of eighteen thousand college students considering God’s will for missions.

The name of the mission convention is Urbana—which is held every three years at the University of Illinois in Champaign. The name of the Pastor is John Stott, who is one of my contemporary heroes.

John Stott is mostly retired and in his early years. Back in 1976 I wrote him a letter after urbana and, among other things, asked him what he used for his daily devotionals. He wrote me back and told me about M’Cheyne and how to order a copy.

In your bulletin today is a copy of the M’Cheyne calendar for daily readings. Again, Karin and I would like you to have a copy of it. You do not need to worry about the first page discussion. It fits better with nineteenth century Scotland, which is when and where Pastor M’Cheyne lived. But inside is the way to read through the Bible in a year. I used M’Cheyne in my quiet time for the better part of two decades. I commend it to you for your use.

You have heard about the basics and mechanics of Bible reading. I would like to conclude by strongly encouraging you to take action. At the bottom of the sermon notes are what I call action items. First, there is a place to put your name, phone number, and/or e-mail address. Next is the heading “personal Bible study.” you can let me know whether you are going to read the gospel of John and/or use M’Cheyne. You may also check the line that says “i would like more information about personal Bible study and having a “quiet time.”

The second section has to do with small group Bible study. Check whichever lines you want after the phrase: “i would like to participate in one or more of the following: ___ a Sunday morning (9-9:45) Bible study at church. That study will begin next Sunday and I will be sharing my “jog through the Bible,” an overview of the major sections of the Bible.

Any choir member can scoot at 9:30 if you need to. Also, I will work around the monthly mission alive meeting.

The next option is the women’s Bible study that already takes place on tuesdays at 10 a.M. Third is something I would like to start, but I need a commitment from two or three men first. That would be to hold a men’s breakfast Bible study on a weekday. Finally, you may write something under “other.”

I hope you will take action, fill this form out, tear it out and put it in the offering plate. If you decide on something after today’s service, please feel to give me a call this week, or drop by the church.

The Bible as God’s owner’s manual tells us all we need to know about living for him. I hope that you will do that today, and for the rest of your life. As you do so, you will be able to join others through the ages in singing:

“O word of God incarnate, O wisdom from on high, O truth unchanged, unchanging, O light of our dark sky, we praise thee for the radiance that from the hallowed page, a lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.”