Anthony Delgado has a wonderful wife and three children. Anthony directs Youth Ministry at Let’s start by talking about how people naturally respond to things. Anyone remember Y2K? Apparently computers were set up to roll over from 99 back to 0. This translated to theorists as disaster. The world was turned upside down with threats of power grids and data centers going down. Cars were going to stop dead in their tracks on freeways and in intersections. Planes would fall out of the sky. All computers and appliances ceasing to function. All of this happened because the media said it would happen and out of fear, man responded to it in magnitude.
When the radio theater version of H.G. Wells, “War of the Worlds” was released in 1938, the radio listeners initially thought that an alien attack was really happening and the world spun into a frenzy.
We are so eager to respond to things that the world throws at us that aren’t even real, but for some reason, we are not so eager to respond to God’s word; at least not with the same zeal. I think this is because we do not know how we should respond.
RIGHT LIVING
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3.16).
I know you already talked about this verse last time, but it is important. If we are going to study God’s word, we should be doing it for a reason. What is it good for?
It is first of all good for teaching. Teaching is not the sort of thing that needs to be done in a formal environment. If you know something that is in the Bible, then you are capable of sharing that in some way with someone else and that qualifies as teaching.
Example: What we are doing now! By the time we finish this lesson, anyone who is paying attention should be able to explain this verse to someone else—to teach it.
Rebuking is for showing someone the error of their ways; telling them that they are involved in sin. It is far more useful to show one of your brothers and sisters in Christ a Bible verse to show them that they are wrong. Simply telling them often will result in an argument, but what believer will honestly argue with God’s word?
Example: If you have a friend who is lying, you can tell them, “Hey quit lying, it’s bad!” or you can take them to Proverbs 12.22, “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.”
Correcting is more than rebuke. Often we feel that we are trapped by sin and cannot escape it. The Bible holds the answers! Correction is the way out and scripture provides us with wisdom on all matters.
Example: Do you know anyone who worries a lot? I know lot’s of people. You can show them Psalm 37. The entire passage gives wisdom on the matter. It gives ample argument for why worrying is useless. God is in control.
Another example, albeit broad, is Joshua 1.8, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” This is the answer to so many peoples ailments right now. If we are careful to do all that God commands, then He promises to bless us. I would make note, however, that it is the humble who receive blessing. Self-righteousness for the sake of wealth does not produce blessing. Also, success and prosperity from a biblical perspective, often have little to do with money. God’s blessings come in many different ways today, including, but not necessarily financial blessing.
As you respond to scripture, you will train others in righteousness. There is an obvious implication here that you understand what it means to be righteous; and you will if you understand scripture. So, as we respond to scripture and learn how to live righteous lives ourselves, we can in turn train others to do the same. We call this discipleship. In our church we have a formal discipleship program. Anyone who goes through it, comes out capable of taking someone else through it. We train each other in righteousness. Many churches also train youth in groups to understand the essentials of the Christian faith and to build them up to properly serve Christ.
So, same as we respond to the media, we can respond to God’s word—which is worship. When God’s word brings us truth, we can worship by putting it to use. And we do this through teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. There is a distinct challenge in this passage. The way we respond the things says a lot about our focus. As Christians, we need to be focused on God and on His word. If we are not responding to God’s word, then we are responding to something else. This needs to be an intentional effort. We worship in this way “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3.17). If we do not worship, it is a statement that we are ill-equipped for God’s service.
I want to make two more quick observations. First of all, God’s word is not just the Bible as we discussed before. It is anyway that God speaks to you. Second, it is through His Spirit that God speaks to us, regardless of if that is through the Bible or through some other means. So, before sitting down to read the Bible or sitting through a sermon—or however you are hearing God’s word—make sure to pray and invite the Holy Spirit to help you understand His word.
DISCUSSION
Why is it important to read the Bible?
What does the Bible do for you?
How often do you read your Bible?
Why do you read your Bible (out of legalism or desire)?
Do you study the Bible or just read it?
How do you study it?
(Don’t forget to download the Worship Lesson 3 Worksheet.)