This Sunday we celebrate the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation which is 505 years ago on October 31..                                       

The Protestant Reformation was a revival of religion and a return to the preaching of the gospel. It is one of the great events in Christian history which is widely remembered and celebrated across the world.  The Churches in the United States recognise its place in history and celebrate accordingly.  In the United Kingdom it is not celebrated in a great number of Churches, I would be surprised if many members heard of it, but those of us who recognise its importance and significance will. In Europe understandably there may be some reluctance.

 

Martin Luther was born in 1453 in Germany and was studying to become a lawyer.  Whilst walking home with friend one day there was a severe weather storm with thunder and lightning.  His friend was struck by  the lightning and died, causing Luther to become very frightened, so much he prayed that if delivered safe he would become a monk, this he did entering an Augustine Monastery in Erfurt in July 1705.  

 

He studied hard but became disheartened by feeling he was too unworthy of God, and burdened by guilt he dedicated himself to confessions. He would fast and sleep, on stone floors of the Monastery.  His tutor intervened, and suggested he went to University of Wittenberg  and teach the Bible. He did so and became a Professor in Bible teaching.  

It was whilst doing this he came to Romans 1 v. 16/17, and he recognized the answer to all his problems. He read that no one should be ashamed of the gospel which was the power of God saving everyone who believes, and tells that  God makes us righteous and the gospel accomplishes from start to finish by faith, that a righteous person through faith has life. Luther understood the just are saved by faith through faith, and the Church was giving false teaching. It is God who makes us righteous, we cannot do it ourselves, purely by God’s grace

 

At that time a new Pope wanted to rebuild the basilica of St Peter’s cathedral in Rome, and sent  a missionary named Johann Tetzel around the Churches to raise money.  The Roman Church which was Catholic at that time, was using indulgences, as it was held when a person died they went to a place called purgatory whilst their ultimate fate was decided, but if you paid a sum of money to the Church, your soul would be released and go straight to heaven. It was even extended so that you could pay an indulgence for someone close, and further extended so you could pay for any sins you may commit in the future.  Tetzel toured around the Country selling the indulgences with a little rhyme, ‘when in the box a coin dings, a soul from heaven flings.’

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Luther realized the corruption in the Church’s message, for one could only be saved by just believing in Jesus Christ.  He then posted a list of 95 theses on the door of the Cathedral in Wittenberg  in which the gospel message was explained.  Luther’s intention was to start a debate by theologians, and the theses were in Latin for that purpose. The printing press had been established, and without his knowledge the words he wrote were translated into German and the message spread across Europe.

 

He was called before the Pope and Church leaders, and told he must recant, but said the epic words, ‘my conscience is taken captive by the Word of God, I cannot recant so help me God.  Here I stand I can do no other.’ How wonderful if all clergy could say likewise when we are called to compromise on our preaching.     At that time the Emperor Charles 5^th from Spain came to power  as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He was not pleased with Luther’s stance wanted to kill Luther, but he needed the co-operation of Germany where Luther lived. A Council was called at Worms, which called on Luther to consider his statements, and when he persisted was ordered to be taken away to be killed. On his journey to the place of execution, he was seized by supporters and taken to Wittenberg Castle where he was given a room.  He translated the whole of the New testament from Greek to German.

 

Luther’s courage and brilliance of mind caused seismic reaction throughout the Church in Europe, and across eventually the world, and still has effects today.  How dearly there is a need for a new Reformation in the Church today, which has capitulated to outside forces obsessed with causes which are abhorrent to Scripture, yet are readily accepted by the highest echelons of the Church.  How God must weep when he sees how his Church has let him down and betrayed him. This why we cannot expect God to bless the Church when it colludes with a decadent society.

                                                                     +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

There are multiple Churches where Bible Sunday was not recognised, for their Ministers treat the day as just another Sunday, and I have been told by Ministers they will not recognise Reformation Sunday for they don’t agree it was necessary. Such a statement indicates an ignorance of Church history. Until Luther intervened, the Church was corrupt, especially with calling for payment to ne paid for access to heaven.   We have to face the fact, however deplorable it is, that the bible is not given the recognition it merits, based on the fact the Bible is the heart of the service, and should be recognised as such. The Bible has in fact been cast aside, in places where it is preferred to bow to modern culture, so that we have leaders in the Church calling for the bible’s teaching of morality to be ruled as unacceptable.   Allied to this is the fact that the Bible has become less relevant, to even many people within the Church, including those whose duty is to teach the Scriptures.  Thereby, whereas once people might have thought twice before acting in consideration of what the Bible taught, there is now less restraint.

 

For those of us who love the Church and want to see it grow, the present state is a matter for concern.  Congregations are generally falling due to members dying or becoming too unwell to attend, or just becoming disenchanted at the way the Church has departed from its origins.    The Church of England, the established Church of the nation, has less than a million members out of a nation of 66 million, and is losing members at a rate of 1,000 a week.  The Methodist Church is closing Churches by the week.

 

The Bible also states, ‘guard the gospel’. Jesus Christ created the Church and gave command to his Apostles to take into the world all he had taught and commanded them to do. We exist for that purpose and anything else is superfluous. The Church now is showing signs of corrupt teaching.  Bible illiteracy is at an all -time high because people are not being encouraged, I have heard preachers stating the Bible shouldn’t be treated too literally; that any preacher who preachers that marriage is between a man and a woman is hate speech(the Archbishop of Canterbury thinks so).  People have been discouraged to listen to real evangelical preachers. 

 

How can the Church act in direct contradiction of Scripture, and make provision to do so.  A petition is now collecting people to protest to the Archbishop for allowing explicit sex teaching by an activist organisation to be given in Church schools to children of a tender age. How can a Church hold services in support of same sex marriage, and  second service of baptism to accommodate a change of gender. How can a Church allow  its leaders to actively campaign for the Bible to be set aside.  If people wish to follow anti-Christian teaching that is a personal decision they are free to take, but the Church cannot justify just to be popular. The Church is not here to be popular, it is to be the voice of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

We ma God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or an angel from heaven who preaches a different gospel than the one we preached to you”.y use the words of Paul when writing to the Galatian Church. “I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God who called you to himself through the living mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the gospel but is not the gospel at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. Let

 

Paul told Timothy he is to preach in and out of season, meaning Timothy should use every opportunity of getting the gospel message out to people. Paul realised this would not be easy, for there were those who would not wish to hear anything which did not fit in with their way of thinking and more especially with their way of living.  There were preachers willing and desiring to give that teaching, they are called false preachers. This is so to-day which is why some are trying desperately hard to re-interpret the Bible to make it more acceptable.

 

The message we have for the world is centred upon the person of Jesus Christ and provides for a stable and well-balanced society.  In God’s plan the people who have been touched by the gospel have a role in influencing the world, to be as salt and light. God gave Himself in Christ for us.

 

God took the initiative because we are all sinners who cannot save ourselves and Jesus died on the cross, so that we could be saved. He died and laid on himself God’s judgement for all the sins of those who would believe on Him.  He is the only way to God. There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

 

When we accept that sacrifice, the Holy Spirit of God comes into our lives and changes us from within.   This is the gospel we should be guarding and proclaiming. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which must constantly be guarded. We have the responsibility to make sure that the message of the cross continues to go forth.    This tells us our faith is not like that which someone has made up, but rather comes from God.  

 

Furthermore, it was given with the understanding that nothing needs to be added, amended or subtracted from.  Anyone who does so is a false teacher.   God will not ignore false teaching, and will pass judgement on such people.   When Christians lose the beliefs that have kept the Church together, they begin to fall apart and disintegrate.  It is fatuous and irrational to suggest that biblical injunctions which do not conform to modern requirements can be re-written.  If people are to be saved, they must know the truth.

 

But there is a basic question that we should all ask ourselves from time to time: Why do we go to church? Is it just to sing hymns or to meet other people, both of which are commendable?  But when you go to Church what do you hope to hear?  Is the sermon something you find boring and wish there was none? Or do you look forward to hearing an exposition of God’s Word’.  The first Christian Church met for the purpose of hearing the teaching of the Apostles, for fellowship with other Christians, the partaking of Holy Communion.  This is a good example to follow.  We have that same teaching as they received, it is called the ‘New Testament’

 

The primary reason we attend Church on Sunday is to learn about God, to grow closer to Him and know how we can have a relationship with Him, all else is secondary. Knowing Christ, becoming like Christ, is what we are here for.    Knowing what God wants us to believe and do what God thinks.

 

If ever the Word of God was needed in its original unadulterated form, it is never more so than now.  We need to call people to turn back to God who is ready and able to meet the needs of everyone who turns to Him.    People are right to expect that the church will declare the Word of God as it was given, even if they choose to reject it. People have a right to hear the Word of God when they come to Church, but there is a reluctance to preach true Scripture.

                                                                                                                   

There is a desperate need for a Church which will speak above culture, which is obsessed with issues of gender and sexuality. The   Church has to  define God’s order of creation of as gender being male and female; which proclaims the Bible’s definition of marriage as heterosexual between a man and a woman.  A Church where the men and women in the pulpits are prepared to put God’s Laws above human law; where those men and women are not prepared to be afraid to follow the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ and teach the gospel he delivered; and ready to confront the bullies who desire to silence them, even those within their own church.    People need to know there are still Ministers we really do believe what we say, and are not all hypocrites making our own rules as we go along

 

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The Bible in v 16 states, ‘do not be ashamed of the gospel, it is the power of God for salvation’. But the Church from the very highest level is ashamed; it leaves a group of Muslim mothers to protest at the sexual indoctrination of young children, a process being ordered by the government without parents being allowed to object loud and vigorously.

 

The Gospel is that Jesus died on We believe the gospel was the power of God for salvation.  The gospel tells us how God makes us as being righteous in his sight, through faith; it is through faith that this occurs.  Jesus didn’t deserve to die but did so for us; we don’t deserve to live, but can because of Jesus.

 

Based on the fact that the Bible is the supreme authority, let us give thanks for Martin Luther, and pray for a Reformation of the Church which has strayed from God’s teaching

 

May God bless His Holy Word to us

 

ROMANS 15 v1-6

  1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves.   2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.  3 For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”   4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.    5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.     6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                                     +++++++++++++++++++++++      

The Apostle Paul was called by Jesus to be an Apostle in a unique and dramatic way when Paul was on a mission in his role to persecute Christians. Paul had been a devout Pharisee, but God chose him to be an Apostle to non-Jews. Paul became a devout servant of God and served Jesus devotedly, creating Churches in several places in the Eastern world.  He suffered immensely for Teaching about Jesus, but never forgot he had been born a Jew.  His greatest desire was to bring Jew and non-Jew together, but it took centuries before this happened, and only the United States and to a lesser degree the United Kingdom have recognised the will of God which Paul followed.                                   

One of Paul’s constant concerns was to bring together Christians in fellowship, with the stronger member caring for the weaker Christian. He saw the importance of uniting the different attitudes of people within he Church. This would mean unity in worship, and mutual harmony would draw people into the Church, and strengthen fellowship. The strong must support the weak rather than be in separation to satisfy their own desires.  The Christian life is based on the practice of the strong helping the weak in the example of Jesus Christ.

A true fellowship is marked by the study of the Scriptures which inspires and encourages us, as we see it is better to be with God than man, even if means there will be some resistance God’s way is never easy, but eventually there is satisfaction and eternal life offered.  God gave us a promise of support, and God always honours his promises, never letting us down.

A fellowship should always have hope, and a Christians hope is not a cheap one, it sees and supports without complaint, and still believes in God.  There must be harmony, but there is always someone who will be a storm centre in the Church.  The Church they are within may be a wealthy one, large and well-kept, impressing, but alternately there may be a poor location and an insignificant appearance, in either case there must be harmony.  This does not rule out debate or discussion, but such should be peaceful, as we must live peacefully. I found it helpful to make it known any that aggressive action between members in the Church would lead to the perpetrators being requested to restore relations before attending further attendance. Such was the  response no one was so requested.

When there is a united harmonious Church there can always be real thanksgiving, praise being given to God, and a sense of spiritual achievement, and God is truly glorified. The whole purpose of worship is to give praise to God, by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross, made on our behalf, so that God can by his grace grant us salvation and a welcome into his Kingdom.

Paul States. ‘whatever was written in former days was written’ for our instruction. This is saying that God gave the Old Testament which is equally valid now, for they were not written just for one period but for all time. This was made clear by Jesus, who said the Scriptures could not be broken; and he came to fulfil not destroy them. 

The whole of Romans is to show the inclusion of non-Jews into God’s saving plan, and that God wanted his family to include many different kinds of people from many different backgrounds.   The term multicultural is much in the news these days. Politicians and social workers love to use it, to describe a certain approach to a society in which they can appear to be in the right politically correct way.   When an earlier government was in power, there was the special way of showing their credentials by calling for special treatment for people of black coloured skin.  That controversial attitude was totally misplaced, because it antagonised a lot of people with white coloured skin, and in fact demeaned and cast doubt on the black people, who were ready to be assessed by own abilities.

A great mistake was the error of the Churches, particularly in middle- and higher-class society in ‘freezing out’ black people who were, and still are far more devout than many white. I speak from personal experience, for when I have preached in Churches with mixed races, I get a better reception each time from the black people.

That’s the negative side of multiculturalism. But by “multicultural” we should mean. people of differing cultural backgrounds, learning to work and live together.   God has a similar vision of his church, even if it is has not yet come true after 2000 years. When Jesus said, “Go and preach in the gospel to every nation,” he established the principle that all kinds of people would be welcome in the church.    The world has truly become a much smaller place, where cultures that were once separated by vast distances, now live and work side by side. This has been emphasised by such easy communication by smartphones, computers etc.  When you realise the Apostles took the gospel across the ancient world, there is a moral there for us.

The Bible does however in many places refer to Jews and Gentiles, which is just an alternative way of referring to non-Jews.  The Bible tells us that God loves all people and wants all to be saved, and one day Jew and non-Jew will worship together.    Today the Christian Church stands alongside the Jew, and we show our close affinity in that we worship the God of Israel, a Jewish Saviour, who was born a Jew and was a member of the Jewish race; we preach from a book written by 39 out of 40 Jewish writers.     God wanted his family to include many different kinds of people from many different backgrounds.    God’s heart is big and includes all the people of the world. In Jesus Christ there is no East or West, or any other alternative. 

 The Christian Church is a worshipping one, and as brothers/sisters in Christ, we can go anywhere in the world and be part with others in God’s family. We sing universally known hymns, say the same Lord’s Prayer, and read the same gospel. For two years I worshipped in a Church in Mombasa, Kenya, where as a port Christians from across the world came on their way to other parts of Africa, and although of different sex, colour, age, nationality, there was complete harmony, something you don’t sometimes get with people of one place. God is honoured when his people join together in united worship and praise.    This is why we preach the gospel and share Christ with our friends; why we try to bring others to know the Lord.  The world needs a Redeemer, and his name Jesus. He is the light of the world and the Saviour of all who trust in him.

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope’

ROMANS 15 v1-6

  1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves.   2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.  3 For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”   4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.    5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.     6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                                     +++++++++++++++++++++++      

The Apostle Paul was called by Jesus to be an Apostle in a unique and dramatic way when Paul was on a mission in his role to persecute Christians. Paul had been a devout Pharisee, but God chose him to be an Apostle to non-Jews. Paul became a devout servant of God and served Jesus devotedly, creating Churches in several places in the Eastern world.  He suffered immensely for Teaching about Jesus, but never forgot he had been born a Jew.  His greatest desire was to bring Jew and non-Jew together, but it took centuries before this happened, and only the United States and to a lesser degree the United Kingdom have recognised the will of God which Paul followed.                                   

One of Paul’s constant concerns was to bring together Christians in fellowship, with the stronger member caring for the weaker Christian. He saw the importance of uniting the different attitudes of people within he Church. This would mean unity in worship, and mutual harmony would draw people into the Church, and strengthen fellowship. The strong must support the weak rather than be in separation to satisfy their own desires.  The Christian life is based on the practice of the strong helping the weak in the example of Jesus Christ.

A true fellowship is marked by the study of the Scriptures which inspires and encourages us, as we see it is better to be with God than man, even if means there will be some resistance God’s way is never easy, but eventually there is satisfaction and eternal life offered.  God gave us a promise of support, and God always honours his promises, never letting us down.

A fellowship should always have hope, and a Christians hope is not a cheap one, it sees and supports without complaint, and still believes in God.  There must be harmony, but there is always someone who will be a storm centre in the Church.  The Church they are within may be a wealthy one, large and well-kept, impressing, but alternately there may be a poor location and an insignificant appearance, in either case there must be harmony.  This does not rule out debate or discussion, but such should be peaceful, as we must live peacefully. I found it helpful to make it known any that aggressive action between members in the Church would lead to the perpetrators being requested to restore relations before attending further attendance. Such was the  response no one was so requested.

When there is a united harmonious Church there can always be real thanksgiving, praise being given to God, and a sense of spiritual achievement, and God is truly glorified. The whole purpose of worship is to give praise to God, by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross, made on our behalf, so that God can by his grace grant us salvation and a welcome into his Kingdom.

Paul States. ‘whatever was written in former days was written’ for our instruction. This is saying that God gave the Old Testament which is equally valid now, for they were not written just for one period but for all time. This was made clear by Jesus, who said the Scriptures could not be broken; and he came to fulfil not destroy them. 

The whole of Romans is to show the inclusion of non-Jews into God’s saving plan, and that God wanted his family to include many different kinds of people from many different backgrounds.   The term multicultural is much in the news these days. Politicians and social workers love to use it, to describe a certain approach to a society in which they can appear to be in the right politically correct way.   When an earlier government was in power, there was the special way of showing their credentials by calling for special treatment for people of black coloured skin.  That controversial attitude was totally misplaced, because it antagonised a lot of people with white coloured skin, and in fact demeaned and cast doubt on the black people, who were ready to be assessed by own abilities.

A great mistake was the error of the Churches, particularly in middle- and higher-class society in ‘freezing out’ black people who were, and still are far more devout than many white. I speak from personal experience, for when I have preached in Churches with mixed races, I get a better reception each time from the black people.

That’s the negative side of multiculturalism. But by “multicultural” we should mean. people of differing cultural backgrounds, learning to work and live together.   God has a similar vision of his church, even if it is has not yet come true after 2000 years. When Jesus said, “Go and preach in the gospel to every nation,” he established the principle that all kinds of people would be welcome in the church.    The world has truly become a much smaller place, where cultures that were once separated by vast

distances, now live and work side by side. This has been emphasised by such easy communication by smartphones, computers etc.  When you realise the Apostles took the .

The Bible does however in many places refer to Jews and Gentiles, which is just an alternative way of referring to non-Jews.  The Bible tells us that God loves all people and wants all to be saved, and one day Jew and non-Jew will worship together.    Today the Christian Church stands alongside the Jew, and we show our close affinity in that we worship the God of Israel, a Jewish Saviour, who was born a Jew and was a member of the Jewish race; we preach from a book written by 39 out of 40 Jewish writers.     God wanted his family to include many different kinds of people from many different backgrounds.    God’s heart is big and includes all the people of the world. In Jesus Christ there is no East or West, or any other alternative. 

 The Christian Church is a worshipping one, and as brothers/sisters in Christ, we can go anywhere in the world and be part with others in God’s family. We sing universally known hymns, say the same Lord’s Prayer, and read the same gospel. For two years I worshipped in a Church in Mombasa, Kenya, where as a port Christians from across the world came on their way to other parts of Africa, and although of different sex, colour, age, nationality, there was complete harmony, something you don’t sometimes get with people of one place. God is honoured when his people join together in united worship and praise.    This is why we preach the gospel and share Christ with our friends; why we try to bring others to know the Lord.  The world needs a Redeemer, and his name Jesus. He is the light of the world and the Saviour of all who trust in him.

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope’

 

 

 

 

Turn with me now to Paul’s 2^nd Letter to Timothy in Chapter 3 v 10 to 4 v.4

Paul is in a Roman prison and this is the last Letter he will write, he knows this and wants to ensure he passes on his ministry to someone he can trust to faithfully carry on in the manner he has done so. He has addressed to Timothy, a young man whom he wants to continue the ministry he is ending, and is giving advice with the earnest plea that Timothy will persist in preaching the true gospel. For not only does Timothy face much opposition from society, he also faces false teachers within the Church, and we know all about that.A common practice now.

The passage begins with Timothy being told he knows what Paul teaches and the purpose he had for life, how he preached with patience and love, for no one cand learn  by force, Christianity is a peaceful faith. He then points out the suffering he endured and Timothy must be prepared as every Christian must, to find he suffers be it mild or harder.

Timothy had been brought up in the faith by his mother and grandmother, and also had been taught much by Paul, and in fact Peter had helped a little, so he had the two Apostles who wrote much of the new testament. Now Timothy had the wisdom to receive salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ, the only way to God.

Paul contrasts all that with the way Timothy has been brought up with a love of Scripture, something children of several generations have been deprived of in the present ages.  The Ten Commandments have become Ten Suggestions, or pick any four from ten.  We have raised a generation, who are unaware of even the most basic beliefs. It is a disturbing situation where all the traditional manners are  not practiced, because few know what they were. Children are denied the basic details of the Bible or its characters, and Jesus is just a word they hear adults use when they swear and curse.

Many of us here to-day grew up in a totally different culture.  We may not have had all the wonderful technological aids and comforts that now are available, but we benefited in other ways. Like Timothy we were taught about the Bible at home, and went to Sunday school as youngsters, learning the stories about Jesus, which gave us standards and values and a good foundation for life.  We had morning assemblies in all schools, now largely avoided in (state) schools. This may not have been widely followed up in life, but the basics had been laid, and our lives were directed by Christian values. Children are now denied these foundations, and are growing up without knowing the country’s religious faith and heritage. 

In the first five verses of Chapter 3 he talks of godlessness, describing the very conditions we find today; lovers of selves and money, unholy, children having no respect and disobedient. This is what happens when a nation turns its back on God. We live in an age of relativism, in which there are no absolutes no basic morals, a case of if it feels right it is. They become lovers of themselves, and there is a moral collapse as the pursuit of money becomes so important. .  Have you noticed that much of what is offered for entertainment are programmes in which people try to win vast sums of money?

In v16, Paul makes a doctrinal statement that ALL Scripture comes from God

We are told God inspired and guided forty men, using their different characters and occupations, to write the Scriptures which would be His message to the world.  We can reasonably presume that if God gave us these words, He would not have done so just to fill pages, but meant us to take note of all that was given.  God wants us to understand and know Him, and the only way we can do that is by Him telling us, which He does in this book. He tells, we listen and obey him.

There are 66 books in the Bible, 39 of which are in the Old Testament and 27 in the New, written by 40 men, all but one being Jewish.  God used their individual personalities and occupations, to communicate His words, and none of them would claim it was any thoughts of their own. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, all state they did not feel worthy, but God laid a burden on them.  This was done over many years, without any collusion, they did not meet each other, yet there is no contradiction in writings.

The Bible is given to teach us and guide us in the way God wants us to live.  This is a very stressful world in which we live.  This is a post Christian age, when most people under the age of 40 have little if any knowledge of the Christian faith or Church. 

 It may have been written by men, but these men were inspired by God to give us the message that God wished us to have.  We are therefore enabled to live according to God’s teaching and be kept from going the wrong way in life, by understanding what is right or wrong.  The important word is all.  Once you start discounting parts you challenge, the whole credibility and authority of the Bible is destroyed. When we fully understand God’s Word, we are more able to inform others.

In Chapter 4, Paul having told Timothy of the importance of Scripture, then tells him to go out and ‘preach the Word’. He does so in the presence of God the Father and God the Son. That Word is that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins; that after three days He rose from the dead and later ascended to heaven to sit at God’s right hand; that one day He will return and bring in His Kingdom, and all will face the judgement.  At the same time Paul is warning all preachers of the serious responsibility to be faithful to Scripture as one day they will be called upon to give answer.  Paul is to correct what is contrary to Bible teaching; rebuke those who misrepresent the Word and encourage those who are faint hearted.

Paul calls on Timothy to keep preaching sound doctrine, but warns him there will be those who won’t accept such doctrine and will want to hear preachers telling them what they want to hear.

I don’t think even Church members give the Bible the attention one would expect.  I know there are many whose sole connection with it is in the Sunday service. But even then, is mainly a case of listening to it being read.  In evangelical Churches, it has been the practice of having Bibles in the pews, or at least available, so that members can follow the readings, and I always found it helped to follow the sermon, (when the sermon is Bible based that is.)  I went to take a service at one Church where there wasn’t even a Bible to read the lessons from and someone had to go out and borrow one.

I am a keen follower of some Churches I have seen in the United States which have large congregations. When the Pastor announces the Bible reading, the whole congregations turn to their own Bibles, this is revealed when the cameras show all different Bibles; such is the attention paid by the people, they are making notes of the sermon.  This was once common in our Churches, but after many years in ministry, I never saw it happen.

The  Church is plagued by disputes over issues and the image it gives, so that it does not have any clear or authoritative belief. The Bible restricts behaviour which people like to indulge in, and frankly what gets support from some preachers, and clearly defines human beings are defined as man and woman, which many of us recognise as a precious gift of Gd.

There can be no doubt that all the problems facing the Church are due to a departure from Scripture, to an attitude of let us make Scripture relevant to modern thinking.  We all have to decide do we accept the Bible as the Word of God, the sole authority in matters of faith and practice, or not.  You cannot have a pick/n mix way.

In the Free Churches, there are those who have different preachers each week, a most unreliable practice.  One week there could be an evangelical preacher, followed by a liberal  minded one.  This causes confusion to listeners as to who  should be accepted.

Sadly, people in general judge all Christians by what they read in the newspapers, and they lump all by what happens in the Church of England.  The various denominations hold different liturgies and practices, which is acceptable, God didn’t create all flowers to be roses, but all flowers grow in good soil carefully laid down, so the various Churches should have the same ground to preach sound doctrine.

Christians have had many disagreements, Methodism was the result of one, but at heart has always been the Bible. John Wesley said, ‘I want to know one thing; the ay to heaven, how to land on that happy shore.  God Himself has condescended to teach the way;He hath written it down in a book.  Give me that book, at any price give me that book’.

We are called on in those inspiring words from one of the nation’s greatest Ministers, to turn to the Bible for guidance in all spiritual matters, and use it to correct wrong thinking; rebuke those who abuse; and encourage the depressed. How John Wesley would grieve if he saw how the current leaders have abused Scripture, who have cast aside the marriage service he laid down in the Methodist Worship Book.  This is one reason why so many Methodist Churches are so empty.

There is nothing more important than for us to be well grounded in what we believe about the Bible. It’s more than just a statement of faith. What we believe about the Bible is fundamental and foundational to everything else we are trying to do as a church.

Today there is a tendency for the Church to become worldly and to compromise on doctrine.  The Church has been given exemption from the same sex marriage act, yet bishops and senior clergy were campaigning to be allowed to conduct such false ceremonies which directly contradict Scripture.  What Paul wrote all those years ago can be clearly seen coming true today, people turning away from truth to suit their own desires.  Once you depart from the Word of God you are in a spiritual wilderness.

We live in a world of itching ears.  One clergyman told me we have to make people feel happy; that doctrine is boring and makes people feel guilty. But preachers are not here to tell people what they want to hear so much as what they need to hear

Jesus said ‘I will build my Church and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it’.  It seems at time as there are those within the Church who want to open the gates.

There is a basic question we should all ponder.  Why do we come to Church?  There are many answers, but the real purpose should be to worship God with reverence and awe; to learn about God and how He would want us to live. In order to do this we need to know our Bibles and be prepared to accept what is taught there.  I know this will not be acceptable to some people within the Church, for it may condemn the way they are conducting their lives. 

The Bible has to be the supreme authority of the Church. I heard a Vicar state in her sermon that we should not take the Bible literally, and there are other Ministers who will say the same.  You should question them as to why not.

We have been saturated by a world that is committed to falsehood. That is why, as Paul sets forth here, we must increasingly proclaim the truth as it is in Jesus. The apostle reminds us that the most effective thing is, preach the word, announce the truth, tell of reality, make it clear, spread the word. and declare that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

You and I are called to advance that work. Like Timothy we are a tiny minority amidst an overwhelming majority committed to unbelief.  We face hostility on every side. Do not let anybody tell you that your life as a Christian does not count. It counts tremendously. Glory in what God has called you to do, and be faithful to his commands.