you're going to be working hard this morning you'll need your Bible there'll be different
parts we'll be looking to because this morning we started a new series which we're calling
Living Church and for the next eight weeks we're going to take a look at one aspect of church life
that specifically relates to our gathering on a Sunday morning so when we meet together like this
there are certain things that we do together at this stage they might be habit to you so when we
come together we we do things like we sing we read the Bible we pray we have tea and coffee
and we share communion and we listen to a talk from the Bible and it's easy as we come along week by
week just to fall into a pattern and a habit and just almost go through the motions and not
understand why we do what we do so why do we sing and why do we share why do we do these things together
and so to help us get the most out of our Sunday morning gatherings we're going to look at one
aspect each week and see why we do what we do and today we're going to start which with what I think
is the most important which is hearing God's word the sermon that's the bit that we're doing right now
but before we do that we're going to pray
let's pray together
this comes from Isaiah 55
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
father as we hear your word
may it achieve your purpose
and may it accomplish in our lives
only what is good for us
may it lead us towards Christ
and may it
make us more like Christ
amen
well go to 2 Timothy then
and we'll look at that passage together
you'll see from our text
that hearing God's word is central
to the gathering of God's people
look at chapter 4 verse 1
in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus
so it's not just us who are here
in the presence of God and Christ Jesus who are here with us
who will judge the living and the dead
and in view of his appearing and his kingdom
I give you this charge
preach the word
this is Paul's final letter that we know of to a young man called Timothy
and Timothy has the responsibility of looking after a church in Ephesus
and his last instruction
his last big command to Timothy
in his last letter is crystal clear
in verse 2
I give you this charge
preach the word
be prepared in season and out of season
correct, rebuke and encourage
with great patience and careful instruction
this is his last instruction
and it is central to the life of this church
until the Lord Jesus
should return
it doesn't inform us that we should be serving tea and coffee
it doesn't say that we should sing
or that we should play music
or that we should pray
not that any of those things are wrong
we are simply reminded
to make God's word central
Paul has already made this clear to Timothy
you can look at his first letter
just back a couple of pages
chapter 4
of 1 Timothy
and verse 13
where he encourages him
again
verse 13 of chapter 4
until I come
devote yourself
to the public reading
of scripture
to preaching
and to teaching
do not neglect
your gift
which was given to you
verse 15
be diligent
in these matters
give yourself
wholly
to them
in fact
he is to teach
this word of God
to others
to make sure
that God's word
is continually taught
so in 2 Timothy
chapter 2
and verse 1
it says
you then my son
be strong
in the grace
that is in Christ Jesus
and the things
that you have heard me say
in the presence
of many witnesses
entrust to reliable men
who will also be qualified
to teach others
God has clearly
gifted
those within his church
who are able
to teach
God's word
so that God's word
remains central
to the gathering
of his people
and as we'll see
through our study
this morning
it is crucial
to the growing
and the building
up of God's church
now this may be
nothing new to you
and I hope it's not new
however there is a danger
that God's word
can very easily
become sidelined
have a look at
2 Timothy chapter 4
back to our text
and verse 3
he's reminding him
to preach the word
to keep it central
because
verse 3
the time will come
when people
will not put up
with sound doctrine
instead to suit
their own desires
they will gather
around them
a great number
of teachers
to say what
their itching ears
want to hear
they will turn
their ears away
from the truth
and turn aside
to myths
you see
rather than hear
what God
has to say
we prefer to hear
what others
have to say
our natural
hearing desire
our ears
are tuned
not to hear
God's truth
but to hear
what we want
to hear
so you can see
how easily
it would be
for God's word
to get pushed
to one side
and it happens
all the time
I listened to
a man called
Joel Osteen
recently
he's pastor
of one of the
largest churches
in America
over 10,000 people
in his church
and he's the most
watched on the
God channel
and at the beginning
of his talks
he holds up
his bible
in front of
the congregation
and they all
repeat after him
in a very proud way
that the bible
is the word
of God
and they all
repeat after him
and they all
say how it's
the truth
and how it
should be
listened to
then he puts
it down
and then he
closes it
and then he
begins to speak
to people
about how
they can have
a better
and a more
successful life
how they can
be healthy
and wealthy
he's teaching
what their
itching ears
want them
to teach
the problem
is they're not
hearing God's
word
they are
hearing
Joel
Osteen's
words
but we
don't have
to turn
on the
telly
or go
to another
country
I attended
a church
service
here
not too
long ago
not in
this church
somewhere else
and part way
through it
was announced
that we were
now going
to have
the sermon
and everything
they said
was very nice
it was even
quite funny
but not once
did they
read from
the bible
and not once
did they even
refer to the
bible
we didn't
hear
god's word
we heard
the thoughts
of somebody
else
so as a
church
we make
the sermon
the bible
talk
the main
part of
our gathering
because our
desire is
to hear
what god's
word has
to say
not what
others have
to say
and my job
as you
the people
have called
me
to do
is to
teach
you
god's
word
that is
what i
do
the primary
part of
what i
do
and it's
your job
to make
sure that
i teach
god's
word
you have
to be
alert to
it
to make
sure that
what i'm
saying
is god's
word
and the
way to
make sure
we keep
god's
word
central
is to
give it
priority
so he
says in
verse 5
keep
but you
keep your
head in
all
situations
endure
hardship
do the
work of
an evangelist
discharge
all the
duties
of your
ministry
in other
words even
when nobody
wants to
hear god's
truth
even when
people would
prefer to
listen to
something
else
don't get
sidetracked
keep your
head
and keep
god's
word
central
but the
question we
need to
ask is
how do we
hear
god's
word
how do we
hear his
voice
when we
show up on
a sunday
morning like
this do
we expect
to hear god
speaking to
us in
an audible
voice
i could just
sit down
there
and we
could all
sit and
wait for
god to
speak
is that
what we
think should
happen
or as i'm
speaking right
now am i
saying what
god is directly
putting into my
mind and i'm
speaking it out
is that what's
happening
how does god
speak how do
we hear him
today
well the answer
comes in that
little phrase at
the beginning of
chapter 3
verse 16
of 2
timothy
do you see
it there
verse 16
he says
all scripture
is god
breathed
scripture is
the bible
the book
we're reading
from right
now
but what
makes it
different to
every other
book is it
is god
breathed
that means
that the
bible
is god's
spoken word
written down
through human
authors
so when we're
teaching god's
word we're
also hearing
god's word
peter adam
who wrote a
book about
this whole
subject explains
it very
helpfully
like this
it's on the
screen
god speaks
to us
today
by the
words he
spoke long
ago to
them
that's the
prophets
for us
so that
scripture
is god's
contemporary
word
for us
today
when we
open up the
bible
when it is
read and
when it is
taught we
are hearing
god speak
to us
we can
break it
down very
simply like
this in
three ways
first god's
word spoken
the very
first book
of the bible
introduces us
to a god
who speaks
in genesis
we read all
about that
but more
importantly
when god
speaks
he acts
something
happens
when he
speaks
so we
have this
repeated
phrase
throughout
genesis
1
and god
said
and it
was so
god
said
let there
be
light
and there
was
light
god
speaks
and
something
happens
john
stott
another
well-known
speaker
and author
makes this
helpful
comment
again
it's
on the
screen
for you
god
preaches
and the
world
was made
the word
of god
is proclaimed
in heaven's
pulpit
and all
comes to
pass
the preaching
forms
the universe
the word
preached
is no
empty
word
it
accomplish
what
it
pleases
and never
returns
void
to him
who
speaks
so
throughout
the bible
we're
introduced
to a
god
who
speaks
nearly
four thousand
times
it says
and god
said
or the
lord
said
or something
similar
throughout
the bible
he is a
speaking
god
and when
he speaks
things
happen
his words
are powerful
and effective
but second
god's
word
is written
he's not
only spoken
his word
but his
words are
written for
us today
people were
told to
write down
god's word
to preserve
them for future
generations
for people
like us
so in
exodus
34 27
it says
then the
lord said
to moses
write down
these words
and in
jeremiah
30
verse 1
it says
this is the
word that
came to
jeremiah
from the
lord
this is
what the
god of
israel
says
write
in a
book
all the
words
i have
spoken
to you
this is
how god
communicates
with us
god has
taken the
initiative
to make
himself
known
and he
has done
this by
speaking to
us through
human
authors
like paul
that we're
reading from
right now
again a
quote here
it actually
comes from
our website
this does
not mean
that god
dictated
mechanically
to the
authors
rather god
spoke his
words through
their words
using their
different
personalities
and style
in such
a way
that their
words were
simultaneously
his
this is
how god
communicates
and speaks
to us
so when it
comes to
god's word
being preached
the implication
is clear
when the bible
is read
and preached
we are
hearing
the word
of god
god's word
spoken
is god's
voice
heard
when it
comes to
the sermon
to the
time where
we're
hearing
and opening
up the
bible
and going
through the
books and
the verses
when someone
preaches
we hear god
speak
god is present
in his words
we meet him
and we experience
him in his
words
now that should
radically change
how we think
of the sermon
and it should
change how we
think when we
actually open up
the bible
and begin to
read it
it's not
johnny grant
up the front
sharing a few
thoughts that
he's had
through the
week
it's not
telling people
my ideas
that i had
as i was
sleeping
and just
kind of
jotted them
down and
just well
here's what
i think
no
whoever
preaches
is speaking
with the
authority of
god
and this
is on the
screen as
well
whoever
preaches
is speaking
with the
authority of
god
not their
own
authority
but a
borrowed
authority
which is
the bible
now that
means we
have to be
very careful
of people
who claim
that god
speaks to
them
outside of
scripture
they say
god spoke
to me
in an audible
voice
or through
their thoughts
and i've
met people
and i'm
sure you've
spoken to
people
and maybe
you're
somebody
who said
god said
to me
or god
told me
such and
such
what do you
think about
that
will
and i'm
well to claim
god has
spoken to
you
is to
give those
words
an authority
equal to
scripture
you
see all
god's
word
is
eternal
god's
spoken
his
word
they've
been
written
down
they're
for all
generations
and they
are to
believe
to be
believed
and
obeyed
so any
word that
we claim
that comes
from god
must equally
be believed
and obeyed
by everybody
because when
god speaks
it's a word
for everybody
that's what
his word
is
now i'm
not saying
that god
can't
speak
but what i'm
wanting us
to be very
careful is
the regularity
by which some
people will say
they hear god
speaking to them
almost on an
hourly and
daily basis
and i think
that must be
treated with
great caution
and care
if we want
to hear god
speak to us
in a contemporary
way about
our present
situation
and the life
that we are
in right now
open up your
bible
and read
it
listen to the
sermon being
preached
and apply it
to your life
that's why we
make god's word
central
when the bible
is read
and taught
we hear god
speak
directly
to us
so what
should we
expect to
happen
when we
hear god's
word
being spoken
to us
well there
are lots
of different
ways we
should expect
god to
work but
i think
here are
two primary
ways
first god's
word creates
life
when we hear
god's word
we should
expect the
creation of
life look
look at
2 timothy
chapter 3
verse 15
he says
how from
infancy
you have
known the
holy
scriptures
which are
able to
make you
wise for
salvation
through
faith
in christ
jesus
the hearing
of god's
word
the scriptures
brings
salvation
is nothing
less than
a new
creation
a new
beginning
a new
life
let me
show you
a couple
of places
where we
see this
the first
is in
ezekiel
chapter 37
the page
is there
on the
screen
you can
look it
up
ezekiel
chapter
37
here is
one of
god's
prophets
speaking to
the people
of israel
and god
shows them
this vision
and it's
a vision
of a great
big valley
full of
dried up
human bones
scattered all
over the
place
ezekiel
37
and verse
2
he led
me
to and
fro
among
them
and i
saw
a great
many
bones
on the
floor
of the
valley
bones
that were
very
dry
he
asked
me
son
of
man
can
these
bones
live
i
said
oh
sovereign
lord
you
alone
know
then he
said to
me
prophesy
to these
bones
and say
to them
dry
bones
hear
the word
of the
lord
verse
seven
so i
prophesied
and as i
was commanded
and as i
was prophesying
there was a
noise a
rattling
sound and
the bones
came together
bone to
bone and
i looked
and tendons
and flesh
appeared on
them and
skin covered
them but
there was no
breath in
them
verse 10
so i
prophesied
as he
commanded
me and
breath
entered
them and
they came
to life
and stood
up on
their feet
a vast
army
see in
this vision
god is
showing to
ezekiel
and to
us that
we are
like dead
dry bones
we're
lifeless
and the
only way
that we
will come
to
spiritual
life
is by
hearing
god's
spoken
word
god's
word
creates
new
life
in
christ
and this
whole theme
is carried
all the way
through
the bible
and it's
completed
very well
in
first
peter
have a
look at
first
peter
again
the page
number
is on
the screen
for you
there
first
peter
chapter
one
verse
twenty
three
and if
you'll
note
these
verses
we
sung
earlier
on
verse
twenty
three
of
first
peter
chapter
one
for
you
have
been
born
again
you
have
a
new
life
there's
a
new
creation
not
of
perishable
seed
but
of
imperishable
through
the
living
and
enduring
word
of
god
for
all
men
are
like
grass
and
all
their
glory
is
like
the
flowers
of
the
field
the
grass
withers
the
flowers
fall
but
the
word
of
the
lord
stands
forever
and
this
is
the
word
that
was
preached
to
you
see
peter
here
is
describing
how
people
come
to
faith
in
christ
how
we
receive
salvation
physically
he
says
we're
born
of
perishable
seed
we're
born
we live
and we
die
that's
the
cycle
of
everybody
but
spiritually
he says
we are
born
again
look at
verse
23
by an
imperishable
seed
the
living
and
enduring
word
of
god
so
when
we
hear
the
word
when
we
respond
to
it
in
faith
we
receive
spiritual
life
which
is
nothing
less
than
a
new
creation
or
the
way
peter
puts
it
here
it's
like
we
have
been
born
again
we
start
all
over
so
what
should
we
expect
when
we
hear
god's
word
nothing
less
than
the
creation
of
new
life
the
bringing
about
of
salvation
in
people
that's
why
we're
going
to
do
the
Christianity
explored
course
because
it's
only
by
hearing
the
word
that
people
will
come
to
faith
and
follow
Christ
not
physical
life
but
a
spiritual
life
a
new
beginning
and
a
fresh
start
so
that's
the
first
thing
we
should
expect
on
hearing
but
the
second
one
again
go
back
to
2nd
Timothy
the
second
thing
we
should
expect
when we
hear
God's
word
is
the
transformation
of
life
2nd
Timothy
chapter
3
verse
16
it
says
all
scripture
is
God
breathed
and
is
useful
for
teaching
rebuking
correcting
and
training
in
righteousness
so
that
the
person
the
man
or
woman
of
God
may
be
thoroughly
equipped
for
every
good
work
the
hearing
of
God's
word
again
the
scriptures
will
rebuke
will
correct
and
train
so
that
we're
equipped
for
every
good
work
for
the
service
that
God
has
for
us
it
is
nothing
less
than
not
only
the
creation
of
life
but
it's
about
transforming
our
lives
again
let's
see
how
God's
word
shows
us
this
go to
Hebrews
chapter
four
it's
only a
couple
of
pages
on
in
your
bibles
the
pages
on
the
screen
for
you
there
Hebrews
chapter
four
here
we get
an
insight
into
the
transforming
power
of
God's
word
Hebrew
four
verse
twelve
for
the
word
of
God
is
living
and
active
sharper
than
any
double
edged
sword
it
penetrates
even
to
dividing
soul
and
spirit
joints
and
marrow
it
judges
the
thoughts
and
attitudes
of
the
heart
nothing
in
all
creation
is
hidden
from
God's
sight
everything
is
uncovered
and
laid
bare
before
the
eyes
of
him
to
whom
we
must
give
an
account
it's
saying
here
that
the
word
is
like
a
surgeon's
scalpel
in
an
operating
theatre
it
cuts
through
all
those
outer
layers
through
all
the
skin
and
all
the
muscle
and
the
sinew
and
it
divides
and
cuts
deep
till
it
exposes
the
heart
you
see
we
have
an
ability
to
cover
up
what
we're
really
like
and
we
can
pretend
that
everything
is
really
good
with
us
and
we
can
come
and
meet
with
other
people
and
to
everybody
else
we're
fine
but
God's
word
has
this
power
to be
able
to
cut
right
through
the
exterior
and
get
right
to
the
very
heart
of
our
lives
and
expose
and
to
show
us
what
exactly
we're
really
like
in
another
place
it
says
the Bible
is like
a mirror
it
shows
us
it
reflects
to us
who
we
are
as
people
now
that's
very
painful
to have
that
diagnosis
for
somebody
to
peer
into
our
lives
and
to
show
to
show
us
what
we're
like
but he
can
transform
us
to be
more
like
Christ
again
we see
this
if you
go back
to
first
Peter
where we
were
just
now
again
just
go a
few
more
pages
on
the
page
number
is
on
the
screen
first
Peter
just
following
on
from
the
last
verse
25
of
chapter
1
Peter
is
still
talking
about
the
word
of
God
the
only
difference
here
is
he's
begun
to
change
his
metaphor
he
was
talking
about
the
word
being
an
imperishable
seed
and
now
at
the
beginning
of
chapter
2
he
talks
about
the
word
like
milk
or
spiritual
milk
so
let's
pick
it
up
just
before
the
beginning
of
chapter
2
he
says
and
this
is
the
word
that
was
preached
to
you
therefore
rid
yourselves
of
all
malice
and
all
deceit
and
hypocrisy
and envy
and
slander
and
all
the
other
mess
and
the
sin
that's
in
our
lives
he
says
get
rid
of
it
all
how
are
we
going
to
do
that
verse
2
we
are
to
be
like
newborn
babies
who
crave
pure
spiritual
milk
so
that
by
grow up
in
your
salvation
now
that
you
have
tasted
that
the
Lord
is
good
the
word
is
like
milk
to
a
baby
and
we've
got
plenty
of
them
around
at
the
minute
haven't
we
and
Reese
and
Ben
here
they're
never
going
to
grow
unless
they
get
milk
it
strengthens
them
and
nourishes
them
and
grows
them
and
without
it
they're
going
to
get
weak
and
sick
in
the
same
way
we
need
a
healthy
diet
of
God's
word
which
is
going
to
nourish
us
and
he
says
look at
verse
three
now that
you've
tasted
that
the
Lord
is
good
if
you
just
taste
it
you
will
see
how
good
it
is
drink
it
into
your
life
eat
it
and
it
will
help
you
deal
with
all
those
sinful
habits
and
all
those
things
in
our
life
that
are
not
like
Christ
it
will
change
us
and
transform
us
in
a
very
gentle
and
caring
and
wholesome
way
and
make
us
into
the
kind
of
people
God
wants
us
to
be
because
the
word
of
God
when
it
is
heard
transforms
our
life
it
trains
us
and
equips
us
not
physically
but
spiritually
making
us
into
the
kind
of
people
prepared
for
the
service
that
he
has
for
us
so
these
are the
things
that we
should
expect
you
see
it's
crucial
that
we
make
God's
word
central
to
our
gatherings
on
a
Sunday
in
fact
it
should
be
at
the
center
of
all
we
do
as
a
church
and
that's
what
we
aim
to
do
that's
why
we
start
our
gatherings
by
reading
from
God's
word
that's
why
the
songs
that we
sing
are
all
based
on
God's
word
that's
why
we
have
teachers
who
right
now
are
teaching
the
little
ones
from
God's
words
and
that's
why
we
encourage
us
to
meet
together
one
to
one
through
the
week
to
meet
with
people
to
when
it
is
spoken
when
it
is
read
when
it
is
taught
something
happens
just
as
God
spoke
at the
beginning
and
created
the
universe
when
he
speaks
your
word
into
your
life
it
creates
a new
life
a new
creation
you
come
to
Christ
but
not
only
that
it
transforms
us
to
be
more
like
Christ
we
cannot
live
on
bread
alone
but
by
every
word
that
comes
from
the
mouth
of
God
make
sure
we
keep
it
central
and
make
sure
it's
the
crucial
part
of
your
diet
every
week
let's
pray
together
our
father
god
we
thank
you
that
we
have
your
word
written
down
for
us
in
our
language
that
we
can
understand
thank
you
for
the
way
in
which
it
has
been
preserved
over
centuries
and
how
today
we
have
it
in
many
different
forms
thank
you
that
you've
given
to
us
people
and
teachers
who
can
explain
it
thank
you
that
you've
given
to
us
one
another
who
can
encourage
us
and
help
us
in
our
reading
thank
you
for
that
wonderful
promise
that
when
your
word
is
spoken
your
voice
is
heard
and
you
create
life
and
you
transform
life
so
father
help
us
as a
church
to
make
it
central
to
all
that
we
do
and
help
us
to
make
it
central
to
our
lives
to
our
marriages
and
to
our
family
we
pray
this
in
Jesus
name
amen
well
we're
not
going
to
sing
at
this
point