February 02, 2010
Kindred Spirit
Our adult Sunday school class is watching a video series from Ray Vander Lann, Fire on the Mountain. When it comes to evaluating the value of a lesson or sermon, we all have our own standard of measurement. I think it’s safe to say it’s a good class because there’s lot of discussion and we’re increasing in attendance. However, what’s exciting is that this series is sending mature believers back to their Bibles to search out Scripture. One member reported, “I read those passages a hundred times and I’d never made the connection before.” We’re hearing a lot of ah-ha’s accompanying the mental light bulbs that are going on. Luke, in speaking about the Bereans, says, “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11 ESV)
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Gail;
-----That your class’s viewing of “Fire on the Mountain” draws a lot of attendance indicates that it is at least very interesting. That it draws a lot of discussion indicates its topic is probably very relevant. And it evidently has a very engaging approach since folks are digging into the Scripture references during the week. Fresh approaches to familiar Scriptures that are interesting, relevant, and engaging catch on with people easily and draw following quickly. I am reminded of the expanded borders of Jabez’s prayer, the book written on that one verse, and the massive following it stirred. I liked the ideas in its fresh approach to I Chronicles 4:0, but I didn’t see the them as necessarily proceeding from God’s Word itself. And the whole Purpose Driven church craze also orbited around many fresh takes on Scripture, yet the practice of its principles remain controversial. So interesting, relevant, and engaging do not automatically sum up to good, at least in my estimation.
-----The truth about how good or not “Fire on the Mountain” might be will emerge from those of the Berean spirit. Both the Jabez Prayer and the Purpose Driven church philosophies sent people digging into the Scriptures, too. But the Berean spirit weighs Scripture with Scripture and assesses what it hears afresh in light of the sense it already knows of the Word. It does not simply look into the Word to see if it can get the same perception it just heard. Only after the Berean has tested the new insight does it go, “Aha!” And testing isn’t bad, its safe.
-----Now I am curious about your class. I know the Lord’s people at your church. They are good Bereans.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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