“As a Pastor for over 40 years, I have found that nothing equals the power and the help of God’s Word in ministering to human necessity. The unique contribution of the Bible in counseling is beyond my ability to adequately present. The Scriptures are a veritable fountain of life and healing. To turn to the Bible as an effective aid in time of need is to open God’s door for the minister who believes God’s Book. The Bible has no equal in its message to the human heart.”
In other words, the Bible is not only absolutely true and trustworthy, it is also the ultimate handbook on living life.
I will confess that I don’t understand it all. I don’t have all the answers to all the tough questions people ask about apparent contradictions or difficulties, but I’m also not afraid of the questions. The Bible has managed to stand the test of 2,000 years of being banned, burned and belittled. But every Sunday, I see it changing lives!
When I speak of planting churches with deep roots, I’m not referring to any particular organic succession of churches. For me, the authority and power of a church is not found in its ecclesiastical heritage or denominational traditions. It is found in its adherence to the Bible as the Word of God.
Out of this core value come several challenges for anyone involved in planting or building the church today …
Study the Bible and its theology continually, and never assume you know enough to move on to loftier pursuits.
Tap into the history of the church and the people whom God has used to teach the Bible’s truths for 20 centuries.
Allow the Bible to be the centerpiece of every sermon, and a primary focal point in every worship service.
Look to the New Testament for the original model of ministry — Jesus and the apostles.
Live it out by boldly obeying it and letting it change your beliefs and attitudes every day.
I believe in adapting our method of communicating the gospel to each new generation.
Our terminology, the mediums through which we share the message, and the mechanisms through which we accomplish ministry will change with every age, but always remember that “the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)
