Preaching Matters

 

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Titus 2:1

A good friend of mine was married a few years ago and moved quite a distance away.  One of the things she left behind was her church that she dearly loved.  She faced many difficult changes as she left Pennsylvania. Leaving her church was one of the hardest.

She could never understand why her fiancée really didn’t enjoy her church. She had been to his and liked it and thought he should enjoy hers – if for no other reason than to please her. He said that the people were nice but that the theology was “light.”

After about three years of marriage and attending “his” church, she came to visit. I went to the door to find her hands full of CDs she wanted me to hear. They were CDs of the Pastor’s preaching from “her” new church.

She was finally able to see why her husband hadn’t liked her church. Using her forefinger and thumb about 1/8 of an inch apart she said, “This is how much Bible was in my church here,” and then with her arms spread wide she said, “This is how much Bible is in our church now.”

That’s very little Bible compared to a whole lot of Bible and the difference is showing in her life.

In our conversation that day, I could “hear” the spiritual growth. She is more able to see things from God’s perspective. The adjustment to leaving her friends and being married after years of a single life, the transition into a new family, and going from full time work to “just a wife” for a while have been traumatic. Looking back, she could see how God had used these things to grow her faith and trust in Him!

James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” These men and women will have to give an account to God one day for what they have taught here. They have the call to feed the sheep and shepherd the flock of Jesus Christ. If they don’t, they will have to answer for it.

Life got hard for my friend. What a gift God gave her to have that sound teaching from His Word so she could rest in Him through the hardships. She trusted Him after years of not being too sure about His faithfulness.

Sound doctrine, a faithful Pastor, and a consistent time in God’s Word carried her through, all the way to her death.  God was gracious to put her under such good teaching for the times she was about to face. His Word was her healing balm (Jeremiah 8:22).

God is faithful. His Word is truth.

Do we hear that taught in our churches? If not, it might be time to look for one that does so we are stronger for the times to come.