MUSINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE
“I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.”
Luke 4:43
JESUS PRIORITIZES THE PREACHING OF THE WORD
It is quite clear that Jesus regarded his role as preacher/teacher to be the most important strand of his ministry when among the people for whom he performed merciful works of divine compassion and power. He must, by heavenly compulsion, proclaim the good news of the gospel. He operates under a divine imperative; a personally driven obligation. To proclaim the Word of God summarizes the grand purpose, principally for which he was sent. In his infinite compassion he delighted to heal the suffering of their ailments, the mentally stressed of their plight, but healing and helping were necessary signs to undergird the authority of the divine message he declared. He came with the indisputable warrant of heaven. The occurrence of wonders was to establish conviction in the minds of his hearers. They were Messianic markers
of his identity; supportive acts to the fulfillment of his prophetic assignment. The nature of Christian ministry has not changed.
It is the case that the nature and priority of contemporary ministry has not changed in its essential intent. The modern pastor is called by the Lord to employ his keenest talents, and devote his prime time, to the preparation and proclamation of the Word. Through the Word heaven itself addresses us, and Almighty God reveals his amazing mind. Study and prayer are the principal private activities of the servant of God; through the truth of sacred Scripture proceeds the feeding of the flock intellectually and in sane piety. There will be other legitimate claims to his time and attention, depending on circumstances, but a sincere and mature congregation ought to be supplied by a range of people equipped with talents that bring parishes to lively every-member ministry. A parish ought to produce some evidence of its actual and specific spiritual calling from the Lord. Not every stated aspiration is suited. Gifts and maturity in the concerns of God need to be discerned. The background and formation of a congregation rule out certain options and suggest others. Some are nondescript and spiritually indifferent and it is pitiable that any urge for the prosperity of the kingdom is not observable.
Outright nominalism describes the nature of many local Christian communities. Many
gatherings are not attuned to the mind and will of God and are of no benefit to the surrounding populace. Without unity in prayer and a warm and serious devotion to the word on the congregational and domestic scene no Lord’s Day group can announce the kingdom and show forth its dynamic features. Where is the truth and attractiveness in Christian life that radiates the beauty and fascination of the Divine Three. The emphasis on the importance of our personal attitude to the written Word reveals the extent to which we adore God and comply with his will. We actually do happen to treat God himself in exactly the same fashion with which we treat the word, for, invisible as he is, in the word is where we see him and and spend time with him. Our Redeemer is the loveliest and most kind of all persons. The Word cultivates winsome witness to our beguiling Elder Brother.
[The Church. ARTICLE XX Extract]
“Wherefore, although the Church be a witness and keeper of holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to decree anything against the the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation.” God has made us the trustees for the integrity of his Word.
“I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.”
Luke 4:43
JESUS PRIORITIZES THE PREACHING OF THE WORD
It is quite clear that Jesus regarded his role as preacher/teacher to be the most important strand of his ministry when among the people for whom he performed merciful works of divine compassion and power. He must, by heavenly compulsion, proclaim the good news of the gospel. He operates under a divine imperative; a personally driven obligation. To proclaim the Word of God summarizes the grand purpose, principally for which he was sent. In his infinite compassion he delighted to heal the suffering of their ailments, the mentally stressed of their plight, but healing and helping were necessary signs to undergird the authority of the divine message he declared. He came with the indisputable warrant of heaven. The occurrence of wonders was to establish conviction in the minds of his hearers. They were Messianic markers
of his identity; supportive acts to the fulfillment of his prophetic assignment. The nature of Christian ministry has not changed.
It is the case that the nature and priority of contemporary ministry has not changed in its essential intent. The modern pastor is called by the Lord to employ his keenest talents, and devote his prime time, to the preparation and proclamation of the Word. Through the Word heaven itself addresses us, and Almighty God reveals his amazing mind. Study and prayer are the principal private activities of the servant of God; through the truth of sacred Scripture proceeds the feeding of the flock intellectually and in sane piety. There will be other legitimate claims to his time and attention, depending on circumstances, but a sincere and mature congregation ought to be supplied by a range of people equipped with talents that bring parishes to lively every-member ministry. A parish ought to produce some evidence of its actual and specific spiritual calling from the Lord. Not every stated aspiration is suited. Gifts and maturity in the concerns of God need to be discerned. The background and formation of a congregation rule out certain options and suggest others. Some are nondescript and spiritually indifferent and it is pitiable that any urge for the prosperity of the kingdom is not observable.
Outright nominalism describes the nature of many local Christian communities. Many
gatherings are not attuned to the mind and will of God and are of no benefit to the surrounding populace. Without unity in prayer and a warm and serious devotion to the word on the congregational and domestic scene no Lord’s Day group can announce the kingdom and show forth its dynamic features. Where is the truth and attractiveness in Christian life that radiates the beauty and fascination of the Divine Three. The emphasis on the importance of our personal attitude to the written Word reveals the extent to which we adore God and comply with his will. We actually do happen to treat God himself in exactly the same fashion with which we treat the word, for, invisible as he is, in the word is where we see him and and spend time with him. Our Redeemer is the loveliest and most kind of all persons. The Word cultivates winsome witness to our beguiling Elder Brother.
[The Church. ARTICLE XX Extract]
“Wherefore, although the Church be a witness and keeper of holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to decree anything against the the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation.” God has made us the trustees for the integrity of his Word.
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