Being Taught the Word of God

1. How many of you were told about church and it’s horror stories? Your first experience was through someone else’s.
2. How many of you had a life altering issue and it made you question God? A lesson
3. How many of you only attended church for parents or grandmother? Routine
4. How many of you still attend church? Your experience

Do you know what these questions have in common?  Teaching.

Colossians 2:7 “Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught.  And be filled with thanksgiving.”

It comes in different forms but what you will see is that it doesn’t matter whether you are currently attending church, heard it through the grapevine, through your own experience, or held against your will, you’re being taught something.

Teacher: An educator who helps students acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue.

Now we’ve all been educated on church in many ways but it comes down to who do you listen to?  Your parent, friend, God, pastor, self?

Out of these 5 types of people, who has been teaching you about church?  I’m sorry.  Who has taught you about Jesus?  I’m sorry.  Wrong question.  Who has taught you the right way to live and be like Christ?

There’s only One person mentioned who can do that and His name is God.

But a new question is, have you been listening to Him?  Have you paid Him any attention when He brings tests, pop quizzes, homework your way or have you been cheating by asking someone else about their answers and their own experience?  Have you tried to do your own homework or are you trying to let your mom or dad or grandmother do it for you?  Did you know you can flunk that way?  Flunking a test means you have to take it all over again.  Next time, the questions will be the same and the scenario will be different.  If you continue to flunk the test, you won’t be able to move forward in your life.  You’ll be at a standstill, going over the same routine wondering why you’re still stuck in the same situation.  You haven’t done what you’re supposed to do.

Tragedy hit your household.  My deepest condolences but How are you going to make them proud when you’ve given up on yourself and the task God has for you?  God says in Matthew 8:22 not to worry about the dead who are no longer here.  When you mourn, that’s a part of life but don’t stay in that position.  You have to keep moving forward and teach someone who doesn’t know God.

The Bible teaches so much about life, love, peace, joy, wisdom, God, time, trust, faith, and so much more.  Without these attributes, you begin hating, blaming, and regretting God and others.  Bringing so much turmoil into your life that wasn't supposed to be there in the first place.

Understand what you’re being taught.  Know the difference between right and wrong.  Don’t quit when it gets hard.

Be careful who you listen to and what you listen to.

Pray and ask God to reveal Himself to you through His Word.  Ask Him to make your heart pure and accepting of His Word, His love, His connection.

A lot of times, what you’ve previously been taught didn’t sound right and you would like clarification for yourself.

I mean how are you going to understand so much about who you’re questioning if you don;t go to them yourself?  If you don’t go to the source?  Don’t take the first thing they say and run with it because the first thing is usually based on their perspective.

Everything that is taught whether right or wrong is being transferred down to one set of ears to the next.  One thing I love...of many about my pastor is that He tells us every Sunday to challenge every word.  Why?  Because you shouldn’t believe anything a person tells you.  Do your own research.  

You get to know God and build a relationship with Him through your own experience.  Through your own actions that you decided to take to get to know Him better.

If you don’t believe the passage that your pastor or a pastor or someone you know is speaking on, challenge it by opening up the Bible and begin reading for yourself. 

You know, when you do research for a paper, you don’t just stop at one source, you first listen to your teacher, you read the textbook to extract information, and you begin extensive research by finding out more information online to gather a better understanding for your paper and personal knowledge.  So if you would like, I highly recommend extending your research and understanding of passages in the Bible to commentary.  My favorite is Enduring Word.  You also have another popular one: BibleHub.  There are many other ways to understand the Bible and bring it to the context in which you’ll better understand.  And you know what, God loves it because you’re taking the time to learn more about Him.  And don’t think you’re doing this yourself but He’s right beside you every step of the way.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father,

Thank you for opening our eyes to see what you really have us to see, to receive a better vision of you.  We want to understand you for ourselves and if there are some who are still on the fence still questioning you and your Word, I pray that you come into their lives.  They have questions that I know you hear.  I pray you answer their questions.  I pray you reveal to them your goodness.  I pray you allow them to have an amazing church experience that changes their lives for the better.  Lord, I pray you continue to walk with us.  A lot of us are confused and we need your clarification.  I pray we read your Word more to get a deeper understanding of who you are and where you’re taking us.  We want to receive all that you have for us.  We want to be like you and to share your Word with others.  We have/are going through tests in this season in our lives and we pray you help us to stay connected to you in order to pass it.  We want to continue moving forward in the right direction.  

Lord, we don’t want to take what people say at face value but we want you to speak to us and help us know that it’s truly you who is guiding them and not the crowd.  We want to listen to you, to obey you, to receive you, to commune with you, to build our relationship with you, to walk with you, to trust you, to believe in you, to have faith in you.  We want you and we want to be like you.  You’ve made us in your image so I pray you continue to mold us and transform us to be who you have called us to be. 

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Love, 

Janelle