The Ministry of the Word – Part 6
In a previous post, we introduced the concept of aspects of the ministry of the Word. You will remember that we mentioned:
Explaining
Instructing
Encouraging/Exhorting/Comforting
Rebuking
Warning
Reminding
In this post, we will consider the concept of Explaining as an aspect of the ministry of the Word.
Acts 8 (KJ2000)
30 And Philip ran to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you understand what you read?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
The Eighth Chapter of Acts is a beautiful narrative of Philip (one of the original 7 deacons) fleeing persecution in Jerusalem and escaping to Samaria to preach the gospel. Samaria experienced a mighty move of God as Philip preached the Word and healed the sick. Just at the point when he should have continued the work in Samaria, Philip received angelic instruction to leave the city and go do something else in the desert. I have often wondered how many ministers in our modern day and time would react to this instruction!
But pay attention to what happens in the desert. Philip meets an Ethiopian, who was reading from the Book of Isaiah. Philip’s question to the Ethiopian is priceless.
“Do you understand what you read?”
The primary purpose of our study of the Word of the God should be to understand it. Every other reason, every other benefit is predicated on this purpose. We should read the Bible to understand it. We cannot obey the Word or teach it to others when we do not understand it.
I am amazed at the number of ministers who have made statements suggesting the Bible is not meant to be understood. I have heard some suggest that just as you do not need to understand the technology behind television before you can enjoy a programme on the TV, you do not need to understand the Bible to benefit from it. I have heard others suggest that all we need to do is to believe the Word, and that believing the Word when you don’t understand it shows great faith. I have also heard some clergymen intone with gravity and dignity, “God’s Word is too deep for mortal man to understand. He works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.”
Nothing could be further from the truth. Let’s listen to Jesus:
Matthew 13 (KJ2000)
3 And he spoke many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
18 Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the way side.
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus highlights the danger of not understanding the Word of God. He used the metaphor of seeds falling by the wayside, and the birds devouring those seeds.
In your mind, what you do not understand will ultimately give way to what you do understand. The Word of God you do not understand will lose ground to the unbelief you do understand. Like Rev Kenneth Hagin of blessed memory observed, “Faith is concomitant with knowledge.”
Psalms 119 (KJ2000)
130 The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple.
Sometimes God’s people read the Bible and do not understand it. If that’s the case, the minister should explain it to them. But sometimes God’s people listen to the minister and they do not understand him. That’s tragic.
When the one who should explain the Scriptures is poor at explaining, those listening are in double jeopardy. A lack of ability at explaining the Scriptures cannot be hidden. It cannot be managed by using beautiful oratory or classical quotations. It cannot be managed by shouting while preaching or pacing all over the stage or slapping your palm on the lectern. It cannot be managed by leading the congregation in singing emotive songs or asking a pianist to play riffs while you express yourself in cadences.
If you’re not very good at explaining, you’re not a good teacher. That’s true of Mathematics (just for an example) and true of God’s Word. Do you know why many students claim they hate Mathematics? Because they feel confused whenever they listen to the teacher. If you’re poor at explaining the Bible, your church members will eventually get tired of listening to you, because they always end up confused.
Too Little Emphasis on Explanation?
When there’s too little emphasis on explanation in a church over time, the following will be observed:
Contradictory Doctrinal Positions. Today church members will suggest they believe in one thing, tomorrow the opposite. They will be tossed to and fro doctrinally because they lack a sound foundation.
Ephesians 4 (KJ2000)
14 That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive;Gullibility. Church Members will easily be deceived.
Ephesians 4 (KJ2000)
14 That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive;
Too Much Emphasis on Explanation?
Yes, a preacher can emphasise explanation too much, and not spend enough time on other aspects of the Word. For example:
Encouragement. You could spend too much time explaining why people aren’t doing as well as they should, and not enough time encouraging them and letting them know they can do better. Church members would end up discouraged.
Instructing. You could spend too much time explaining what the Bible means and not enough time telling the people what the Bible says we should do. Church members may end up being good at understanding and explaining to others, but not being doers of the Word.
Continue in grace!