A third text that helps us understand the need to apply God’s Word through the Sunday sermon is found in James 1:21-25. While Peter reveals that God’s divine power has given the believer everything he needs for life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ, and Paul reveals that this knowledge arrives through the proper proclamation, interpretation, and application of the inspired Scripture, James reveals that listening to God’s Word without applying it is worthless.

As James addresses the newly formed church scattered throughout the Roman Empire, he seeks to address an ongoing challenge: sinfulness within the church. Some claimed that a simple statement of faith was all that was needed to demonstrate salvation. However, in his epistle, James seeks to reveal that faith requires works to be true faith. He anchors the argument for a faith that works in the purpose of God’s Word.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing (Jas 1:21-25, ESV).

James calls the believer to remove himself from the stain of sin and to change his life by listening to God’s Word. Immediately, James reveals that life change occurs only when God’s Word is implanted into the believer. We see from this that the early church viewed life change as the purpose for preaching. So, they centered their worship around the preaching of God’s Word.

Further, James instructs the listener to receive the Word. One cannot simply listen to the message. Instead, the message must be considered and applied. Christians reveal their faith by humbly accepting God’s Word as their authority and guide for life. By receiving the implanted Word and allowing the seed to grow, the believer can bear the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).

The believer who receives the implanted Word then becomes a doer of the Word, not merely a hearer. We see then that the goal of preaching is not hearing. If the Christian satisfies himself with only hearing the Word, preaching God’s Word does not accomplish its goal. The implanted Word can only flourish in the soil of a heart that longs to obey.

James then uses two illustrations to picture the need for life change through God’s Word. First, James relates an illustration of the forgetful hearer. This hearer listens to the proclamation of God’s Word, sees his spiritual state, and walks away without application. James compares this man to someone who looks in a mirror and does not act upon what he sees. His hair remains out of place. The stains of filth remain on his body. Seeing himself in the mirror accomplished nothing.

However, James also relates an illustration of the Christian who hears and applies God’s Word to their life. This man is like the one who looks in the mirror and makes the necessary changes to better his appearance. The one who hears and applies the Word experiences life change. By hearing God’s Word and applying it, they strengthen their walk with God. Only this accomplishes the goal of preaching.

In this text, James reveals the purpose of biblical preaching. Preaching the Word so that crowds only listen does not accomplish God’s purposes. Instead, the goal is to hear for a life change in the listener’s heart. Nevertheless, one should note that God places the onus of acting on the heard Word on the hearer. You must do the work to take the message and apply it directly to your life. Don’t be a forgetful hearer!

A second text that helps us understand the need to apply God’s Word through the Sunday sermon is found in 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2. While Peter reveals that God’s divine power has given the believer everything he needs for life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ, Paul reveals that this knowledge arrives through the proper proclamation, interpretation, and application of the inspired Scripture. In 2 Timothy, Paul reveals the purpose and place of God’s Word and its proclamation in the Christian life.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching (2 Tim 3:16-4:2, ESV).

Paul begins by explaining that all Scripture is God-breathed. By Scripture, Paul refers to the sacred writings he spoke of in verse 15. The word for Scripture (graphe) was a word that had been used to refer to the Old Testament. However, by the time Paul wrote this letter, it also came to be used of the Apostles’ inspired writings. All that had yet to be written of the completed sacred writings at this point were the writings of the Apostle John. By this time, Christians recognized these books and letters as sacred writings from God. Peter agreed with this sentiment through his statements in 2 Peter 3:14-16, acknowledging these writings as Scripture.

Further, Paul identifies these writings as God-breathed. This word claims that the entire Bible owes its origin and contents to God. The Holy Spirit guided the human authors so they wrote what God wanted them to write. Thus, Scripture originated in God’s mind and was communicated from God’s mouth by God’s breath, so it is rightly called the Word of God.

God gave His Word for a specific purpose. Paul explains this purpose through four statements. These four statements provide two categories: What the Christian should believe and how the Christian should act. First, the Scripture reveals what a Christian should believe. Paul reveals that the Scripture explains doctrine. This means that the primary function of the Bible is instruction. It is not a motivational book. It is not a self-help book. It is a book that teaches the Christian what to believe. Paul explains the idea of instruction in further detail in Romans 15:4, where he states that Scripture was written to teach the believer so that they might have hope in their walk with God.

Second, the Scripture reproves the believer. This word refers to the Scripture’s ability to convict by refuting error and rebuking sin. Thus, Scripture serves to warn the believer. Warnings, based on the word, must be issued so that errors in doctrine and conduct are refuted in the spirit of love. In so doing, these Christians use the Scripture for its God-given purpose.

Third, the Scripture corrects the believer. This word refers to the Scripture’s ability to help individuals restore their belief or personal practice to the proper state before God. Thus, a primary purpose of Scripture proclamation is to apply the message to restore the believer’s faith.

Finally, the Scripture instructs the believer. This word is often translated as discipline. In Ephesians 6:4, Paul uses the word to refer to a system of discipline a parent uses to help their child develop a godly character. In this text, Paul uses the word to describe a system of discipline to lead to a holy lifestyle. Thus, a regular regimen of Bible study serves to discipline the believer in a holy life. Used properly, the believer applies the Word received into action for life change.

The fourfold purpose of Scripture results in a fully formed and mature believer. Paul concludes chapter three with the statement that the fourfold purpose of Scripture makes the believer complete and fully supplied to accomplish all that God calls him to accomplish. Stott notes, “At all events, it is only by a diligent study of scripture that the man of God may become complete, equipped for every good work.” God uses His Word to equip His people for His work.

For this reason, Paul commands the pastor to preach the Word faithfully. Paul charges the pastor to herald and proclaim the Word out loud. This heralding is to be a priority for the pastor. Paul then gives the content of this proclamation: the Word. This proclamation is not simply motivational speaking but a proclamation of God’s inspired, sufficient Word.

As the pastor heralds the Word, Paul instructs the pastor on the reasons and methods of this proclamation through three vital terms. First, the pastor is to reprove. As shown earlier, the purpose of the Word is to refute error and rebuke sin. Thus, the pastor must highlight this purpose in the proclamation of the Word. The believer must be conscious of his sin so that he may repent. It means that the herald applies the Word of God to sinners and that their sin is pointed out as a violation of God’s standard and will through this application. The message of sin is not popular. However, the pastor’s role is not to determine what the congregants perceive as felt needs and then to meet those needs. This reproving is the faithful proclamation of the Word of God, which allows the Word of God to confront sin.

Similarly, the pastor must also rebuke. This word is a strong word used for Jesus’ rebuke of the demons. It consists of a verbal challenge, whereby one is openly or publicly charged with error or sin. The seriousness of sin must not be toned down. As the pastor preaches God’s Word, the issues must be so clearly drawn that the erring Christians and the unconverted can see their own dreadful, sinful condition. In short, Christians should not always walk away from the presentation of God’s Word feeling good about themselves.

Finally, the preacher must herald God’s Word for exhortation. The idea of exhortation means that with pertinent reproving and rebuking, there must be tender encouragement. Exhortation means that those who have been rebuked need encouragement. Each person must be shown how sin can be forgiven, and their spiritual life strengthened. To rebuke without instruction is to leave the root cause of the error untouched. Faithfully applying God’s Word brings the grace necessary into the sinner’s life to encourage conformity to Christ’s image.

In previous letters, we have demonstrated that God takes words seriously. As a result, He chose to reveal Himself to us through His Word, the Bible. Because the Bible is God’s revelation to us, it is to be central to worship and the Christian life. It is also why it is essential that we, as Christians, not only listen to the sermon but also apply it. Over the next few weeks, we will look at some passages that help us in this area.

The first text we will examine is found in 2 Peter 1:3-4. As Peter writes to the church to combat some heresy that was invading it, he began his second epistle with the reminder that God has given us everything that we need for life and godliness in His Word. The heretics that Peter was combating claimed that Christ would not return and that no future judgement awaited all people. As a result, Peter opens his second epistle with these vital words:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire (2 Pet 1:3-4, English Standard Version).

Peter reveals that God, through Christ’s divine power, has granted us everything we need for life change. At the outset, Peter reminds us that life change does not come through personal will but through God’s divine power. Most importantly, the believer must recognize that this divine power cannot be defeated or frustrated. God accomplishes what He purposes to do.

Peter notes that God grants us everything needed for life. Through this statement, Peter points to eternal life and mortal life. As the heretics of Peter’s day denied the reality of eternal life and judgment, Peter points to God’s sovereignty as a reminder that eternity awaits. Further, God grants us this eternal life even now while we await Christ’s second coming and eternal life in the future. Today’s life impacts every individual’s eternal destiny.

Further, because an eternal destiny awaits all, so too, eternal judgment awaits. As a result, God also grants us everything needed for godliness. Jesus Christ tells us what life is and then enables us to live it as it ought to be lived. Further, it is important that we recognize that this godliness cannot be sourced in our power or will but in Christ’s divine power. Actual change originates only through the knowledge of Christ.

We have a relationship with God because He chose to reveal Himself in detail through His Word. Hebrews 1 traces this revelation by noting that in the Old Testament, God began to reveal Himself through His prophets. God would speak to His prophets, and they in turn would talk to His people.

Noah served as the first of these documented prophets. He warned the world of God’s impending judgment and pleaded for their repentance. Years later, God identified Abraham as His prophet, then Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. God raised Moses as His prophet to reveal God to Egypt and Israel. Yet, Moses was different than the other prophets in that God also instructed Moses to begin to write God’s Word. From that time, until the last of the prophets (the apostles), they not only spoke God’s Word to the world, but many also wrote those Words for us.

Through these prophets, we have received God’s Word in written form. So that today, the way that God’s men speak God’s words is through the proclamation of the written Word. Moses instructed the Israelites to proclaim the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) to their children (Deut. 6:7). The Psalmist instructed us to value God’s Word as a light to our feet, and as honey to our lips (Psalm 119:11, 103). God informed Joshua that the pathway to successful leadership was through meditation and obedience to God’s Word (Josh. 1:8).

When Solomon dedicated the temple, he did so by proclaiming God’s Word (1 Kings 8). The major and minor prophets consist primarily of the sermons of those prophets to Israel and Judah. Nehemiah 8 contains the account of Ezra’s sermon to the Israelites who had returned from exile to rebuild the temple and the walls of Jerusalem. When Jesus ministered, he spent significant time preaching to the people. One of the largest sections of Matthew’s Gospel is now called the Sermon on the Mount.

It has been a long couple of weeks for several families in our church body. We bear one another’s burdens well. And so, we also feel a portion of their pain. How should we as believers walk through these trials? As we cry alongside our loved ones, we often wonder why God allows such things to happen. In truth, for many things, we may never understand. For God is far above us. However, in 1 Peter 1, he does address, in part, this question and how believers should respond.

1 Peter 1:6-9 – In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

In verses 3-5, Peter reminds us that as believers we have an eternal hope in heaven. So we rejoice in that hope. Yet, while we rejoice in that coming hope, the existence of present trials is very real. As a believer, you are not promised your best life in this world. We “have been grieved by various trials.” Some trials are merely annoying, but others are extremely difficult. We must understand that God does not expect us to deny our suffering or somehow pretend it is without pain. It is called suffering for a reason. Trials are a part of life God has placed into our lives to prepare us for eternity and to declare His glory.

Peter then informs us that we can rejoice in challenging times because our trials are temporary. You see, these trials are controlled by God and will not extend into eternal glory. They are designed as a temporary experience that drives us to God. God uses trials to humble us (Deut. 8:3; 2 Cor. 12:7-10). God uses trials to wean us away from this world and point us to eternity (John 16:33; Rev 14:13). God uses trials to teach us to value God’s blessing (1 Pet 4:13; Rom 8:17-18). And God uses trials to allow believers to help one another (2 Cor. 1:3-7; Heb. 13:3).

However, most importantly, God uses trials to refine us. When we face trials, they purify our faith, demonstrating its genuineness to us and the world. And the faith that is proved genuine will receive the eternal reward of heaven. We will come to the finish line of life and hear God say, “Well done!” A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. Instead, this genuine faith results in praise, honor, and glory. And in the end, these trials point to Christ.

Thus, it is vital in the middle of trials to speak the truth to ourselves. We must remind ourselves of our God and our faith. As the Psalmist stated in Psalm 43:5, “Soul, why are you downcast? Hope in God!” We must bear one another’s burdens. And we must point to Christ. These give trials purpose.

Hebrews 1:1 – Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.

God is a God of words. As humanity obeyed the creation mandate and multiplied across the earth, God revealed Himself to his creation through words. In the Garden of Eden, God interacted with Adam and Eve, walking with them in the garden and speaking to them. After the Fall, although his interaction with man became much less, He still spoke. When Cain killed Abel, God spoke to Cain and confronted him about the murder he had committed. When humanity became the picture of unrestrained evil, God spoke to Noah and commanded him to build the ark. As Noah later exited the ark, God spoke to him again and initiated what is known today as the Noahic Covenant.

Years later, God spoke to Abraham and told him to leave his hometown for a place that God had prepared. Abraham obeyed, and his interactions with God began. Throughout his life, God revealed Himself to Abraham (and us to us through Abraham). This interaction culminated in the Abrahamic Covenant.

Around that time, Job suffered an incredible loss. His friends helpfully informed him that he probably deserved it. His wife, being the picture of grace and love, told him to curse God and die. Yet, in all this, Job did not sin. Finally, Job challenged God to explain why disaster had befallen him. God did not reveal the answer through nature or song. Instead, God spoke to Job. Five chapters in the book of Job contain this discourse.

Throughout Jacob’s life, God spoke to him. God spoke to Jacob in a dream in Bethel, where God reiterated the Abrahamic covenant to Jacob. God spoke to Jacob alongside the Jordan River when Jacob was on his way home, about to meet his angry brother Esau again. And near the end of his life, God spoke to Jacob again and renamed him Israel, for from him nations would rise, and the Messiah would come.

God spoke to Balaam through a donkey, which spoke God’s words. He spoke to Moses from a burning bush. God spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai, giving him the Law and the Mosaic covenant. God spoke to Gideon on the threshing floor and promised to save Israel from the Midianites. He spoke to Samuel in a still small voice when Samuel was a child. And God continued to talk to Samuel throughout his life. God told Samuel that Saul was rejected and that David was to be anointed. God spoke to Nathan the prophet to convey His covenant with David.

God spoke through Elijah, Elisha, Sampson, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and all the other prophets—each time with words. God is a God of words. And God’s Words matter. When God gave the Law to Israel, he warned them that rejecting God’s Word came with a cost.

While God indeed uses nature to reveal Himself, and at times He had the Old Testament prophets use illustrations (sometimes rather bizarre ones), they are always explained and advanced through His words. Why do the pastors spend so much time talking about God’s Word on Sunday? The Old Testament demonstrates that God reveals Himself primarily through His words.

Why does the sermon matter in the worship service? In short, the answer to this question is that God has chosen to reveal Himself to us through words. He is a God of words. The heavens declare His glory, and the earth shows His handiwork. But the words of God are the way that we know God, His purposes, and His eternal plan of redemption. To understand this, we should start at the very beginning.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). With these foundational words, God’s Word begins. How did God create? He could create using any method He desires. He could form things manually. He could think things into existence. He could design something to create everything else. Yet, He did none of these. Instead, He spoke. “God said …” and it appeared. As we consider the creation narrative, it is important to ask why God created by speaking. He was placing an important emphasis on His word.

After creating everything, Genesis informs us that He walked and spoke to Adam and Eve every day in the Garden. No doubt he was teaching Adam all that he needed to know to be the caretaker that God designed. God was also, most certainly, revealing himself to Adam and Eve through those conversations. God created all things by His word because He is a relational God. His desire is to commune with His creation.

Furthermore, God also sustains creation through His word. Hebrews 1:3 informs us that one continuous action of Christ is to uphold the universe through the word of His power. While we have discovered many things about the universe through scientific study. The truth remains that there is much more we do not know and will not know. What keeps the universe from falling into absolute chaos? Science cannot fully answer this question. However, Scripture is clear. The answer is God’s words.

Finally, the day will come when God will judge the created world with His words and bring in the new heaven and new earth. Revelation 19-21 contains this account. When Christ returns, He is pictured as judging the world with a sword coming out of His mouth. In this picturesque language, John is describing the power of God’s word. When Jesus speaks, it will be effective and will condemn unredeemed humanity to the Lake of Fire. Then, through His word, the new heaven and the new earth will come.

Sitting in church as a child, I wondered at times why the person up front (the pastor) talked so much. He would have everyone open their Bibles and then spend 45 minutes or so droning (or so it seemed to me as a kid). Yet, as you well know, this is precisely what I do to you. Over the next few months, through these letters, I would like to give you a biblical explanation as to why the Sunday sermon is essential. In fact, not only is it important, I will argue that it is and should be the center point of our corporate worship.

In a day when so many churches are unwisely moving away from the proclamation of God’s Word, we must preserve truth by standing firm. Over the years, I have often argued for the regulative principle in worship. If you don’t know what that is, you can go back to those Pastor’s Pens on worship on the church website or listen to the sermons on worship on the website located in the Foundations series. In short, the regulative principle argues that we are only to do what God tells us to do in worship. We will demonstrate that God tells us to value the proclamation of the Word.

This series of letters will be divided into two parts. The first part will address the question, “Why do churches focus their service around a sermon?” We will answer the question in two parts. First, we will spend several weeks demonstrating that God is a God of words. When Jesus came in the incarnation, John identifies Him with the title, “The Word.” God created through words, revealed Himself through words, and came as “The Word.” As a result, I will argue in the second part that God is to be worshiped through words. So, the church’s corporate worship should center on the proclamation (the spoken word) of the Bible (the Written Word).

After we have sufficiently established the value God places on words in worship, we will move to the second part of the series addressing the question, “How can I get the most out of the Sunday Sermon?” We will begin by addressing both the struggle in the pulpit and the struggle in the pew. Pastors don’t always preach outstanding sermons. When Christian and I evaluate the service every Monday, we spend time discussing the sermon. Inevitably, we have significant critiques. There is also a struggle in the pew. The week is long, and there is something about Sunday mornings. I am convinced it is the work of Satan in our lives that makes us so sleepy on Sunday. As a result, we can struggle to listen. However, we must learn to listen intentionally.

When we learn to listen intentionally to the sermon (and any conversation), we get much more out of them. As a result, this section spends several weeks examining how people listen. Hopefully, this will help us learn to listen more intentionally. Then we will address how relying on the Holy Spirit and intentionally applying the sermon can transform our lives. I hope that this will be a helpful and practical series of Pastor’s Pens. I invite you to join me on this journey every week (Lord willing).