It always amazes me how God works things together.
“I was praying and felt like I should ask you if you were interested in working with the youth. What do you think?” The youth pastor asked me and my fiancée.
Missy and I had just been talking about ways we could be more involved at the church, and helping with the youth was highest on our list. We hadn’t told anyone about our discussion though.
I replied, “That would be awesome. The only thing I ask is that you don’t make me speak in front of people.”
He smiled and said, “Great! Come this Wednesday and check us out.”
Over the last few weeks I have blogged about how to apply the Bible to our lives through:
- Observation – What does it say?
- Interpretation – What does it mean?
- Application – What does it mean to me?
This last topic has been the most helpful way for me to learn the scriptures: communication.
Communication – How do I share it?
It wasn’t long after we started working with the youth that the youth pastor asked me to go “help out” in Junior High Sunday School (read that story here).
Before I knew it, I had one week before speaking in front of people (middle school aged people). I also had to know what I was talking about with no training on Biblical interpretation, application or communication.
I had two things going for me: I had read the Bible and I was fascinated by it.
I remember that first Sunday School class as a teacher. These middle school students had been going to church since birth, and here I was in my second Sunday School class ever. I asked them if they had ever heard about how the prophet Daniel was put in a den with a bunch of lions. I was excited to share about this incredible story.
Every eyebrow was furrowed as they looked at me. A hand goes up. “Do you mean, ‘Daniel and the Lions’ Den’?”
“It has a name?” I said, as confused as they probably were. They had heard this story 1,000 times. But to me, it was new, fresh, and fascinating.
Communicating Scripture requires challenging others to hear the stories as if it were the first time.
Scripture isn’t meant to just be read or to just be understood. It isn’t just meant for us to find something that applies to our lives and make us better people.
Scripture is meant to set a fire in our hearts for God and the purpose He has for us!
I love the story at the end of Luke where Jesus (disguised) is walking on the road to Emmaus and finds two men talking about the events that just took place: Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Jesus begins sharing with them how the Scriptures speak about Him.
After Jesus finally reveals who He is, these men say:
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32
The stories, laws, songs, people and events show us that God consistently uses messed-up people for extraordinary purposes. The Scriptures show us that God is very interested in our lives, circumstances, and is more involved in what is happening than we give Him credit for.
There is something that happens when we talk about the Scriptures with others that doesn’t happen when we are alone. It is an altogether different experience.
Here are two ways I want to encourage you to communicate the Scriptures:
- Talking – this normally involves a friendly conversation where you discuss a Bible passage with each other. There is a famous passage in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 where Israeli parents are encouraged to talk about God’s story with their children as often as possible, and to impress the Scripture in their own minds and actions. I believe this is because talking about the scriptures allows them to become real again as we relive the story.
- Teaching – I have a shirt that says, “It’s easier to preach 10 sermons than it is to live one.” You learn a lot while reading and even more while studying, but I think you learn more when you have to teach from the Bible. In the study process you observe (what does it say), interpret (what does it mean), and apply (what does it tell us). Then you condense everything you studied into a brief message trying to summarize all the points. Most sermons cover about 10%-20% of the content studied. Then you deliver your teaching to people who are somewhere in these ranges: don’t care, heard it, know it, know it better, or fully focused on what you are saying and how it relates to them. When it comes to teaching scripture, I have only a few starters:
- Prepare fully – know your point, why you are speaking, and your ultimate goal.
- Start small – maybe just explain how one verse has impacted your life.
- Focus on heart – a well memorized speech with no passion has less impact than the stutter of a changed life. (FYI – I’m not suggesting that you don’t practice hard…I hope you “interpreted” that properly :-).
- Pray – always pray for yourself and your listeners.
Whether we are talking or teaching, the Scriptures play a huge part in empowering us or others to live the life God has called us to.
My prayer for you is that the word of God may dwell richly within you. And with all wisdom may you teach and admonish each other with singing and faithfulness in your heart.
Love and blessin’s,
David