Believe it or not, my family is Native American! My wife and four kids all have their Indian “Blue Cards” as citizens of the Cherokee Nation. It’s quite a sight to see my fair-skinned, hazel-eyed wife go to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to check in with the Tribe. She walks to the front desk; they look at her with unbelief as she says, “háu!?” And the person behind the counter just stares… Not really! But sometimes, it feels that way!
I do enjoy the stories that come from family heritage. There’s one story of an old American Indian who attended a church service one Sunday morning. The preacher’s message lacked any biblical depth, and it was apparent the pastor did little studying during the week. He DID have plenty of shouting, clapping, stomping, and pulpit-pounding to cover up for his lack of preparation. After the service, someone asked the Indian visitor what he thought of the pastor’s message. Thinking for a moment, the Indian summed it up in six words: “High wind. Big thunder. No rain.”
What’s the point? When the Scriptures are neglected, the people of God experience “no rain.” Only when preaching is based on God’s Word are God’s people blessed and refreshed. Only when the Word is faithfully and carefully preached will there be explosive spiritual growth as a greenfield of freshly watered crops.
This spiritual truth is why Central Church is so committed to Bible Exposition. We believe that is God’s means of growing a church to a place of health and refreshment.
Jesus himself built His ministry and mission around the scriptures. Luke 4:16 – “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.” Jesus was the Word of God. Therefore, he made His ministry Word-Centered!
So, may that conviction be what compels you to love God’s Word and seek to worship Him with more than a feeling, an experience, a preference, or a pep rally in the worship service. Faithful ministry and true worship always happen around the Word of God. Make sure your church, ministry, and life are saturated with God’s Word.