Knowing God’s Word

Knowing God’s Word

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

Many people have a tendency to over-romanticize the Amish. We appreciate their resiliency and their faith, and some people believe the Amish are better—more righteous—than the rest of us. But the truth is, the Amish have the same struggles and failings that the rest of us have. Amish preachers turn to God’s Word to bring help and guidance to church members:

Preachers draw on everyday experiences as well as stories from the Bible to convey their messages. The New Testament is emphasized. In Amish Grace, authors Kraybill, Nolt and Weaver-Zercher point out that “although Amish preachers recite Old Testament stories in their sermons, all the biblical texts read in Amish church services come from the New Testament,” particularly Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as “out of the sixty chapters in the Lancaster Amish lectionary, forty come from the four Gospels.”

After preaching concludes (there is typically a shorter sermon, and then a longer one, which runs around an hour), other ministers often add their own commentary or correction. In this way the Amish service is a collective effort, an idea also supported by the fact that preaching duties rotate among ministers.

To correctly explain the Word of Truth to others, you need to know the Word of Truth. How much time do you spend reading the Bible? Do you read a Scripture verse here and there, believing it is enough? Consider trying to read a novel and picking up a paragraph here and there. You might get to know a bit of the story, but the more you read, the more the story will make sense.

Years ago I felt I needed to read through the entire Bible. Since then I’ve done that several times, and each time I gain new understanding. It’s important to spend time in God’s Word and understand God’s story. Make a commitment to do so.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your Word. The more I read it, the more I want to read it.