Corner of Cottage and Court Streets
West Union, West Virginia 26456 Telephone 304-873-2328
WUBC WEEKLY
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Good morning, WUBC!
I was at work yesterday when a co-worker began asking
me questions about my beliefs. We talked for a while, and he told me
something that his pastor had said. He was indicating that he didn't
appreciate what was said. As he told me the story, I found myself
disagreeing with his pastor. However, I didn't actually hear the words
of his pastor. I had only heard a report given by this young man.
Since I hadn't actually heard the pastor for myself, I had to refrain
from making any observations about the sermon of which he was speaking.
I related some of my own experiences to him in this
way. Sometimes, when I offer a sermon to my church, members will
comment about the sermon. They will ask me questions, and they will
sometimes refer back to something they heard me say. It will go
something like this, "Pastor Todd. I really appreciated your sermon
when you said...". While I enjoy hearing the kind words from people for
the sermon, sometimes people seem to hear things that I did not intend.
Perhaps I misspoke at some point, or perhaps they misunderstood what was
said. Either way, communication is sometimes challenging. I told the
young man at work that maybe what he heard wasn't exactly what was
intended to be said by the pastor. Perhaps, he should take a moment and
compare what he heard with Scripture. It may be that God, speaking
through the Word used in the sermon, offered a message (a truthful
message) meant solely for him.
Is. 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.
The passage above is one of my favorite passages of
Scripture, I say that because it helps me to know that whenever I speak
the
Word of God, whenever I lead a study of His Word, or whenever I
just sit and read for myself, I know that God has a purpose in mind for
His Word. It is like the rain. As the rain falls, it will create
growth and change in the world. And, as the Word is read, it will also
cause a change and create growth in the life of the believer. I do not
always know what the change is that comes to an individual's life as I
teach, and I do not always know what the change will be in my own life.
However, I know that
God's Word has power, and it will cause change.
As with everything, the pastor, the teacher, and the
Bible study leader
is only a vessel used by God to convey His Word. What change happens
and how the change happens is between the hearer and God.
May God bless you this
Thanksgiving and may we all be thankful for God's transformative
Word.
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Copyright@ February 2009 |
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