Bradley United Methodist Church

July 29, 2007
Rev. Terry D. Campbell

What To Do with the Bible
Psalm 119:9-16 (TNIV)

“How can those who are young keep their way pure? By living according to your word. 10I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

I love junk food! Some of my favorites are Snickers, Payday, M & M Peanuts, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups washed down by real Coke or Mt. Dew. My wife tells me that it is not good to eat or drink too many of these—and she would say that for certain, I can’t just try to live on them. Even if I weren’t diabetic, what would happen to me if this were all I would eat or drink. I’d get sick. My body would miss the nutrition of vitamins, minerals, and protein that come from non-junk food.

One of the signs of life is the need for proper nutrition. If one expects to be alive and healthy, vital, vivacious, and effervescent, we must have proper nutrition. The same is true with our spirits! What are you feeding your spirit?

Everywhere we look we find temptation to lead impure lives. The psalmist asked the question: how do we stay pure in a filthy environment? We cannot do this on our own, but must have counsel and strength more dynamic than the tempting influences around us. Where can we find that strength and wisdom? In God’s written word.

I. Read Scripture. (Vs. 10-11)

“10I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

This is a challenge for regularly reading the Bible with prayer. Life begins, ends and is lived under the eye of God, so that is why we are to use the Bible—to know God better through it. Vs. 10- “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” Don’t just read the Bible for itself, seek God in it. Seek knowledge of what’s in God’s heart and mind so that you can walk closely with God in life.

We are not to worship the Bible—we are to use the Bible to hear from God. 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)-“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Many parts of the Scriptures are warm and comforting. Other parts are disturbing, annoying, and hard to accept. But the psalmist knew that both the soothings and the warnings come from the same God, who loves us. Take your time and dig into both the Old Testament and the New Testament to get the big picture.

II. Value Scripture. (Vs. 14)
“14I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”

Here is the challenge for taking all of the Bible seriously and listening for God to speak in it.

“While studying in the Holy Lands, a seminary professor of mine met a man who claimed to have memorized the Old Testament—in Hebrew! Needless to say, the astonished professor asked for a demonstration. A few days late they sat together in the man’s home. ‘Where shall we begin?’ asked the man. ‘Psalm 1,’ replied my professor, who was an avid student of the psalms. Beginning with Psalm 1:1, the man began to recite from memory, while my professor followed along in his Hebrew Bible. For two hours the man continued word for word without a mistake as the professor sat in stunned silence. When the demonstration was over, my professor discovered something even more astonishing about the man—he was an atheist! Here was someone who knew the Scriptures better than most Christians ever will, and yet he didn’t even believe in God.”

That is not rejoicing in following God’s statutes as one rejoices in great riches! We’re given Scripture so we can walk with God, do God’s work, and build God’s kingdom.

John Wesley said, “I am a man of one Book.” Remember that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NCV)-“All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. 17Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.”

Don’t discount the Bible—value it. James 1:25-“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.”

Hiding (keeping) God’s Word in our hearts is a deterrent to sin. This alone should inspire us to memorize Scripture. But memorization alone will not keep us from sin; we must also put God’s Word to work in our lives, making it a vital guide for everything we do.

III. Think about Scripture. (Vs. 15)
“15I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.”

This is the challenge to let God’s word be in our thought processes and to learn their implications for our lives. Think about what is said. Meditate on it, kick it around in your head. Let its full meaning sink in. Don’t just eat, but actually taste it! Sometimes it is good to suck on our food for a while—let its flavor permeate your sensations to get all the good out of it.

“The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through to see that which is beyond; but most people only look at it and so they see only the dead letter.” (Phillip Brooks)

This challenges us to let the Scriptures be part of our faith-experience with God. We should read the Bible with faith. Isaiah 55:10-11-“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Do you believe that? God calls us to believe it.

Better chance of praying in agreement with God’s heart and mind if you are praying Scripture. Use, pray, and live God’s written word.

The bottom line is: Don’t neglect God’s written word—our spiritual nutrition—or you will begin to starve spiritually and your relationship with God will begin to wither. Amen.

	Bradley United Methodist Church AN HISTORIC CHURCH LIVING FOR TODAY, WITH A VISION FOR TOMORROW 210 W. Main Street, Greenfield, Indiana 46140-2097 Telephone: 317-462-2662 E-Mail: info@BradleyUMC.org Our purpose is to grow people to: magnify God, become members of Christ and His Church, be mature in Christ, minister through Christ, and be in mission with Christ.
Home Bradley's Staff Calendar Sermons Programs Current Newsletter (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader®) Bradley Preschool Video Tour (requires Real Player®)	July 29, 2007 Rev. Terry D. Campbell What To Do with the Bible Psalm 119:9-16 (TNIV) “How can those who are young keep their way pure? By living according to your word. 10I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. I love junk food! Some of my favorites are Snickers, Payday, M & M Peanuts, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups washed down by real Coke or Mt. Dew. My wife tells me that it is not good to eat or drink too many of these—and she would say that for certain, I can’t just try to live on them. Even if I weren’t diabetic, what would happen to me if this were all I would eat or drink. I’d get sick. My body would miss the nutrition of vitamins, minerals, and protein that come from non-junk food. One of the signs of life is the need for proper nutrition. If one expects to be alive and healthy, vital, vivacious, and effervescent, we must have proper nutrition. The same is true with our spirits! What are you feeding your spirit? Everywhere we look we find temptation to lead impure lives. The psalmist asked the question: how do we stay pure in a filthy environment? We cannot do this on our own, but must have counsel and strength more dynamic than the tempting influences around us. Where can we find that strength and wisdom? In God’s written word. I. Read Scripture. (Vs. 10-11) “10I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” This is a challenge for regularly reading the Bible with prayer. Life begins, ends and is lived under the eye of God, so that is why we are to use the Bible—to know God better through it. Vs. 10- “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” Don’t just read the Bible for itself, seek God in it. Seek knowledge of what’s in God’s heart and mind so that you can walk closely with God in life. We are not to worship the Bible—we are to use the Bible to hear from God. 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)-“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Many parts of the Scriptures are warm and comforting. Other parts are disturbing, annoying, and hard to accept. But the psalmist knew that both the soothings and the warnings come from the same God, who loves us. Take your time and dig into both the Old Testament and the New Testament to get the big picture. II. Value Scripture. (Vs. 14) “14I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.” Here is the challenge for taking all of the Bible seriously and listening for God to speak in it. “While studying in the Holy Lands, a seminary professor of mine met a man who claimed to have memorized the Old Testament—in Hebrew! Needless to say, the astonished professor asked for a demonstration. A few days late they sat together in the man’s home. ‘Where shall we begin?’ asked the man. ‘Psalm 1,’ replied my professor, who was an avid student of the psalms. Beginning with Psalm 1:1, the man began to recite from memory, while my professor followed along in his Hebrew Bible. For two hours the man continued word for word without a mistake as the professor sat in stunned silence. When the demonstration was over, my professor discovered something even more astonishing about the man—he was an atheist! Here was someone who knew the Scriptures better than most Christians ever will, and yet he didn’t even believe in God.” That is not rejoicing in following God’s statutes as one rejoices in great riches! We’re given Scripture so we can walk with God, do God’s work, and build God’s kingdom. Do not reverence the Bible for a translation—that you can’t understand! A Bible you can’t understand and don’t use is worthless! Do not reverence the Bible by keeping it in the same clean, pristine condition as when you got it. Open and use it as a manual for living. “A Bible in the hand is worth two in the bookcase.” As was said in an ad in South Central Bell Telephone Company Yellow Pages— “Born to be battered...the loving phone call book. Underline it, circle things, write in the margins, turn down page corners, the more you use it, the more valuable it gets to be.” The same is true with the Scriptures. John Wesley said, “I am a man of one Book.” Remember that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NCV)-“All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. 17Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.” Don’t discount the Bible—value it. James 1:25-“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.” Hiding (keeping) God’s Word in our hearts is a deterrent to sin. This alone should inspire us to memorize Scripture. But memorization alone will not keep us from sin; we must also put God’s Word to work in our lives, making it a vital guide for everything we do. III. Think about Scripture. (Vs. 15) “15I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.” This is the challenge to let God’s word be in our thought processes and to learn their implications for our lives. Think about what is said. Meditate on it, kick it around in your head. Let its full meaning sink in. Don’t just eat, but actually taste it! Sometimes it is good to suck on our food for a while—let its flavor permeate your sensations to get all the good out of it. “The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through to see that which is beyond; but most people only look at it and so they see only the dead letter.” (Phillip Brooks) IV. Delight in Scripture. (Vs. 16) “16I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” This challenges us to let the Scriptures be part of our faith-experience with God. We should read the Bible with faith. Isaiah 55:10-11-“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Do you believe that? God calls us to believe it. Better chance of praying in agreement with God’s heart and mind if you are praying Scripture. Use, pray, and live God’s written word. What will you do now? The bottom line is: Don’t neglect God’s written word—our spiritual nutrition—or you will begin to starve spiritually and your relationship with God will begin to wither. Amen.


Report any web site issues to the Webmaster This page last updated on November 4, 2007

Bradley United Methodist Church

AN HISTORIC CHURCH LIVING FOR TODAY,WITH A VISION FOR TOMORROW

AN HISTORIC CHURCH LIVING FOR TODAY,
WITH A VISION FOR TOMORROW