Handling the Bible Skillfully
Janet and I love the Colonial period of time. I read about it regularly, both about the Revolutionary War and the period leading up to and immediately after the writing and adoption of the Constitution. I love studying the war and the incredible victory won under the heroism of the common man and the leadership of George Washington.
The politics and adoption of the Constitution appeals to the lawyer in me. It is fascinating the process of developing and adopting the document which encapsulated and made law the beliefs and philosophies that created America. I love to study the way the faith of our forefathers guided them in this journey. We truly were founded on a belief in Almighty God and on a Judeo-Christian worldview.
Janet and I also love to study the culture. We love the homes and how they lived and decorated. We have a lot of Colonial period influence in how we decorated our home. In December, we went Williamsburg for the second time because we just love it. It is a beautiful city. During our wanderings in Colonial Williamsburg, we visited the carpenter’s shop. We watched as three skilled craftsman used the original tools to hand-craft several breathtaking pieces of furniture. It is amazing to conceive of the fact that they used tools which we would find crude and by hand, by candle and window light, made pieces of furniture which still exist today and we still buy today.
Only in watching someone with this skill do you truly appreciate the talent it requires. In watching them work, you also begin to think about what it takes to develop such skill. We asked one young man about his journey. He had been doing for 20 years. He looked younger than me. He described the apprentice process and his work experience there in Colonial Williamsburg. I was even more impressed after learning the dedication required to become a skilled craftsman.
It also made our scripture for this morning come alive. Please turn again to II Timothy 2:15. Let’s read it together.
The Bible clearly uses a word picture similar in experience to our journey through this Colonial workshop. The command of scripture is that we are to study so diligently that we can pass the same test and evaluation that would allow someone to become certified as a master carpenter. That is the clear teaching of this passage. The beauty of God’s ability as a teacher is His ability to be so very clear. This word picture is simple and easy to understand. We are commanded to present ourselves to God as a master skilled craftsman.
Can you do that? Can you honestly say that you handle God’s word with such skill? Can you say that you have put in the diligent effort to develop such specific skills that you handle God’s word and apply it in your life with the skill of a master carpenter?
This morning I would like to define for you what I believe those basic skills are. I want you to be able to honestly know where you are and what you need to know in order to be able to stand before God with integrity and confidence. I love you enough to want for you the privilege of standing before our heavenly Father and hearing Him say to you, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
A. Why?
Let’s review briefly from last week’s introduction to this verse why we should make this type of commitment. First, because of Lordship. This verse is a command: “Be diligent.” We are commanded to study God’s word and it is sin to not do so on a consistent, or diligent, basis. Second, because of Love. The verse says “unto God.” Does He demand this because He is a cruel taskmaster? No He asks it of us because He loves us and this is the way we get to know Him and His love for us. He loves us and wants us to know how much He loves us. You can only build your relationship with God by time in prayer and the Word. Thirdly, because of Life. The life lessons necessary for us to live properly and in a manner pleasing to Him are found only in His word. This verse gives us the standard of “rightly dividing the word of truth.”
B. Basic Bible skills:
The first basic principle of being a skilled workman is to have the basic skill sets necessary to work properly. This means we must be diligent to learn how to handle our tool – the Bible. Here are 4 basic skills necessary:
Handling the Bible
Reading the Bible Properly
Basic search skills for finding answers
Memorizing Scripture
First, you should be able to use your tool the Bible. Can you find the books of the Bible? Without the table of contents? Can you find scriptures readily?
Second, can you take a chapter of the Bible and red it properly? Can you take a Psalm or a Proverb and read it and see what God is teaching you?
Third, can you answer simple life questions using the scripture? Do you know how to do a simple word study? If you are having trouble with your temper or your tongue, can you find a verse that helps you? How can a Christian live with Jesus as the Lord of their life without such a simple skill set?
Finally, do you have a foundation of memorized scriptures? Have you hidden certain basic verses in your heart so that you will not sin against God? When you face a temptation, do you know how to respond with a memorized scripture verse?
These skills are modeled by Jesus throughout His life on earth. They are easily encompassed in this beautiful word picture of a skilled workman. They are necessary for every believer to live out there faith in victory. They are taught throughout scripture as how to “rightly divide the word of truth.”
C. Basic Knowledge that creates a biblical worldview.
The second principle is to use those skills to reach a level of handling the word of truth with integrity. This means we both have a knowledge of the basic biblical principles of life and that they affect our daily lives. This idea is often referred to as a biblical worldview.
“A biblical worldview is a means of experiencing, interpreting, and responding to reality in light of a biblical perspective. It is a way of dealing with the world such that we ACT like Jesus 24/7 because we THINK like Jesus.” George Barna from Think Like Jesus.
Let me give you a basic set of questions which you should be able to answer clearly and without hesitation. You should also be able to sit down with your children or grandchildren and explain the answers to them in a simple and clear way using at least one scripture for each.
These basic knowledge questions are:
What is the Bible?
Who is Jesus?
What is sin and what, if any, are its consequences?
Simple Gospel presentation
Who are we in Christ?
What is eternal?
Now understand this: This is not the only thing you should know. Moreover, you are not finished studying diligently simply because you can answer these few questions. These questions establish the absolute lowest, common denominator. They are a guide to help you know where to begin.
Unfortunately, most Christians today would not make an “A” on this test. They have not put in sufficient time and effort to have learned them well enough to understand each truth for themselves well enough to teach these truths to a child. This is important because it creates a real life problem. If you cannot answer these questions, then you do not “own” the answers. The reality of not “owning” the answers means they do not regularly impact your life. This is why Christians are struggling and so many churches today are not the mighty armies that they should be.
My question for you today is this: Are you willing to evaluate yourself and do what you need to do to become a skilled workman rightly dividing the word of truth? That is the command. What is your answer? The teaching is here at our church for both the skills and the basic knowledge. There are mentors willing to help you. Are you willing to “be diligent?”
ADDENDUM:
George Barna’s book Think Life Jesus is an excellent resource for this topic. (This is not an advertisement by the way.) He has attempted to examine the present perspective of Christians and the extent to which we exhibit a biblical worldview. As a tool, he utilizes these 7 questions. They are another helpful marker for a believer. While a single sermon does not permit the time to examine them fully, I found them to be very profitable in preparing this message and in preparing myself with the basic skills and basic knowledge.
Biblical Worldview questions:
a. Does God exist?
b. What is the character and nature of God?
c. How and why was the world created?
d. What is the nature and purpose of humanity?
e. What happens after we die on earth?
f. What spiritual authorities exist?
g. What is truth?
