Communicating The Reasonableness Of Our Faith

Communicating the Reasonableness of

Our Faith

Various Scriptures

August 10, 2003

Introduction

When I was putting together this message, I had a hard time coming up with a title. I suppose I could have found one that was a little more concise, but I think this one communicates what I hope to accomplish today.

One of the biggest needs of the Christian church right now is for people who can communicate with our culture in a way that demonstrates to those outside Christ that our faith is a reasonable one.

Jesus did not call us to be blind followers. In fact, He told us to count the cost of following Him. He said to think it through.

The apostle Paul was a master at communicating truth in a way that would tell people that this was worth investigating.

And the Bible gives us some insight into how we can show the world that being a Christian and following Christ is not just a good thing, but it’s the most important thing.

In impacting the world with the reasonableness of our faith, we need to take some action. And the first action I want to encourage you to take is to…

1. Learn to love God with all your mind.

LK 10:27 (Jesus said), " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’… "

It’s easy to imagine loving God with all our heart and soul, because these can be felt emotionally. When we love someone, we generally have some emotional attachment involved.

But to love God with all our strength and all our mind, now that can be another matter. I’m not going to discuss loving God with all our strength, today, but do yourself a favor today and think through that a bit, okay.

Jesus is very clear here that we are to love Him with all our minds. Just how do we do that?

Well, I have some suggestions:

First and foremost, get familiar with the Bible itself. Do more than pick it up to bring to church. Read more than the little snippets in your devotional booklet.

Read it for yourself. Study it. Tear it apart and see how it all fits together. It’s a wonderful thing.

But get into it. Meditate on what it has to say. And by meditate, I mean chew it over, think it through, ask questions, and get to know how it applies to you.

Second, read. Read anything you can get your hand on that will give you a better grasp on the Word of God.

Also, read other stuff. Read things that will expand your mind on things.

Read things that will help you better understand a current interest. Read things that are outside your general interest.

I recently took a class on philosophy through our denomination. I hate philosophy. That class was very hard for me.

But you know what? I gained some tools. First, it stretched me, trying to make heads or tails of some of that stuff. Second, it helped me understand where a lot of people are coming from in life and in their view of God and the Bible.

This gives me help when I discuss spiritual things with them.

And it lets them know that I am not just a blind follower without a brain.

God gave you a brain. We are expected to use it! Learn to think!

Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal they lay down for the night, and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”

Watson replied, “I see millions and millions of stars.”

Holmes asked, “What does that tell you?”

Watson pondered for a minute. “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is omnipotent and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.

“What does it tell you?”

Holmes was silent for a minute, then spoke. “Watson, you meathead. Someone has stolen our tent.”

Contributed by: Ted Sutherland (SermonCentral.com)

We have an excellent Christian bookstore in this town that can help you with helping you love the Lord with all your mind.

Read the newspaper and watch the news, and learn to look through the lens of Scripture when you do.

Listen to people who disagree with you so you can see where they’re coming from and you can show them truth in a way they can understand it.