Tell Me the Story

Tell Me the Story

When you follow anything I do, from social media, blogging, and Pastoring. You will quickly recognize my love for the church. With its difficulties and struggles over the years. Even with the diversity within it, that comes to question from time to time.

The local church in every community and country around the world, is the hope of the world. The work that churches do in their communities. The prayers they pray for their cities and their countries. The programs they offer, people that they feed, needs met all across the board.

Not to mention their most important efforts to shine the light of Christ to everyone in their community, and in mission work across the world.

By the way, doing all the things I mentioned above are part of shining the light.

The most common reference to church from the Greek in the Bible is the word, ecclesia. It means, “a called out company or assembly.”

It is used to describe local bodies that gather together, individual members, and more broadly the universal church which includes all believers throughout time.

Still, it is local churches that the Apostles spent so much effort in building. The power and presence of believers in a community would bring change and purpose for believers, and unbelievers as well.

When it comes to doctrinal issues the church today has drawn many different conclusions. The study of the original languages, writings from church fathers for over 2000 years, along with many other study and help aids available. These things have offered a path to knowledge.

I am sort of an old school guy. I love to study and prepare messages from the inspiration I get from the things I mentioned above.

Yet there is something that has stuck in my mind for years. A passage from the Apostle Paul. It is found in 2 Timothy 3 and you need to read the chapter in its entirety. Paul said this in verse 7.

2 Timothy 3:7 NASB

always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Jesus said this.

John 6:63 NASB

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Yes, I love God’s Word. I believe with all my heart that it is comprised of two elements. Written and Spirit. These two together give us a spiritual revelation of the words written in the Bible.

Only then can we fully understand what God has shared from His heart, down through time. Remember again the words of the Apostle John from his Gospel.

John 1:1-2 NASB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

Don’t forget the words of Christ from John 16.

John 16:13 NASB

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

I love the Classic Amplified—“But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future].”

The Bible is the history of the coming of Christ. A reference to Him is mentioned in every book, including the Apocrypha.

I am one of those Pastors that believes the story of Jesus is the relevant issue that we need to share. The church is not the police agency of the world. Yes we must stand for righteousness but the most successful way of doing that is to live it. Not tell it.

That is the example that will lead others to Christ.

Paul wrote 3 Pastoral Epistles. Giving instruction and leadership to Timothy and Titus. Through out his letters, and in fact, most of the letters in The New Testament, the authors used one common theme to encourage their readers.

The story of Jesus. Paul used it to encourage Titus. A Greek that was converted by Paul. Paul appointed him the first Bishop of the island of Crete.

Titus 2:11-14 NASB

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Forgive me for going so long. I love the church and I love the Word of God.

I love the story of Jesus. “His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.”

Tell it every where you go, and every chance you get. The church is built upon it, exists because of it, and walks in Kingdom authority empowered by it.

I will close with a verse and chorus from Frances Crosby.

Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus, Sang as they welcomed His birth, “Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings to earth.”

Refrain:
Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.

#lovewins #hopelives