CONVERSATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS: Learn That Book

“What do you mean, you don’t know the Bible?”

“Just that. I mean I do not know anything of significance about it. I don’t know how it all fits together. I don’t know how we got it. I can’t even recite the books in order.”

“A lot of people can’t do that. I have trouble with some of the minor prophets myself.”

“I’m serious. I’ve been a Christian since I was 11 and a member of a Baptist church for 30 years. I’m a deacon in our church, a choir member, and I’m there at least two times a week. If you figure a hundred sermons a year, I suppose I must have heard over three thousand messages. And I’m still pitifully ignorant of God’s word.”

“And you are determined to do something about it? Is that what brought you to my office?”

“Let’s just say I’m not satisfied with this situation. I don’t actually know what to do or where to start.”

“What have you done so far?”

“Other than come tell you? I joined a Sunday School class. Everyone says that’s the way to learn the Bible. But it didn’t work for me.”

“How come?”

“It could just be the teacher. Or maybe it’s the literature. You know, it’s pretty elementary.”

“You know why, don’t you? It’s written for people who don’t know their Bibles.”

“Like me.”

“And the poor teacher, trying to get across the deeper meanings of God’s word to people who never seem to grow in their understanding–well, it can be pretty discouraging.”

“You described me there. I’m like a fellow I used to know in high school. He came to school all the time, but never seemed to learn anything. He failed the seventh grade several years in a row, and finally, he just decided to promote himself. I figure the teachers and principal knew he would eventually drop out, because no one stopped him. So, when I was in the 7th grade, he was there for the third time. Next year, he went up to the 8th grade with us. And the year after that, the 9th grade. But he wasn’t promoted to any of them. Then, one day he quit coming.”

“And that feels like what you’ve been doing?”

“It’s exactly what I’ve been doing–coming to class and never learning and getting promoted year after year.”

Long pause.

“Anyway,” he said, “I want to do something about this. I’m ready to change.”

I said, “Have you talked to your pastor about this?”

“In some ways, he’s part of the problem.”


“I’m listening.”

“Well, take his sermons. He will read a passage and say he’s preaching from it. But he doesn’t. He preaches all around it. He finds some word he is familiar with and lights in on it. Thirty minutes later, he has used up the time and we don’t know any more about that text than we did before.”

“So you don’t think he would understand?”

“Either he wouldn’t or he would get defensive and take it as a personal slam. Which, in a way, it is, I guess. If he was feeding the flock, I wouldn’t be in here worrying you with my problem.”

“I’m not so sure he would react badly. Your pastor is a truly fine man, and I believe he wants to do a good job. Could it be you’re not being fair to him? I want you to consider talking with him about this.”

“Telling him he’s failed me?”

“Oh no, I don’t think you want to start out like that. If the Holy Spirit says that to him, that’s a different story and he would receive it. But no pastor is going to welcome someone coming in to tell them that all their sermons have been failures.”

“So, what do I tell him?”

“Ask for his help. Tell him what you told me–that you are disgusted with yourself for having been a church member all those years and still not knowing your Bible. Then, I want you to do something really hard.”

“Uh oh. What?”

“After you say that to him, I want you to be quiet. Resist the temptation to keep on talking. No matter how long he waits before answering, don’t say a word. Give him time to think this through.”

“Why? What’s he going to do?”

“My guess is he will ask for more information. If he does, answer him, but you absolutely must not dump on him for his failure to build the congregation up in the Scriptures. There is nothing to gain and everything to lose by putting him on the defensive.”

“Well, what do you think will come from this?”

“If I had to guess, he will figure out some way for him to start teaching books of the Bible. Maybe on Sunday nights. Or he might do a survey of the Bible.”

“What is a survey of the Bible?”

“Sort of a flyover. The class hurries through the Old or New Testament to see how it all fits together. That could take a day or a year, depending on how it’s done. Then, after you get all that together, take an intensive course on one book of the Bible.”

“Intensive. Like focusing on one book deeply, is that the point?”

“It’s a great way to learn the Scriptures. When I was a young pastor trying to learn the Bible and build sermons, someone told me it would revolutionize the life of the average Christian if he were to focus on one book of the Bible for an extended period and read it again and again. Then, after he has done that a lot of times and pretty well understands what it’s saying, he can read the commentaries to see what the great Bible teachers say about it.”

“And you did that?”

“I chose I Peter. There are only 5 chapters, and since I was the pastor of a little church, I decided to preach through it. I studied hard all week, then tried to bring a sermon from it on Sunday. It was the best thing I could have done. That was over 45 years ago, and I still treasure some of what I learned then.”

“I have an idea. Maybe I don’t need to see the pastor after all.”

“What?”

“I’m going to volunteer to teach the Bible, maybe an Old Testament survey class. You know what they say, the teacher learns more than anyone else. I can’t teach it if I don’t know it, so it seems like a great way for me to learn.”

“That might work. But you’ll have to apply yourself. And of course, you’ll want to go to the pastor for permission to start the class. Can I make a suggestion?”

“I thought that’s what you were doing.”

“Don’t recruit a big class. Three or four people would be ideal. Tell them what you’re up to, that you are trying to get a handle on the Bible for yourself, to learn how it all fits together. Tell them you do not plan to stand in front and teach, but everyone reads the same chapters during the week and then you all talk about it in the class.”

“I’m getting excited already.”

“And let’s do this. After you finish the survey class, come give me a report. I want to know how you feel about what you learned, if you feel like you’re on your way finally.”

“You know, it occurred to me the other day that this one book will be my textbook for the rest of my life. It was handed to me thirty years ago. By now, I should be an expert on it. If this were a real school, I’d have been kicked out years ago. I’m sort of ashamed how little I know. But, look at it this way. I’ll never be younger than I am right this moment. There will never be a better time to begin.”

“Now you’re getting me excited about it. Could I join your class?”

“No way. The last thing I need is someone in there with a seminary degree. That intimidates people, you know.”

“So I’ve heard. But it shouldn’t. We don’t know it all. In fact, if my own experience is any indication, most people with seminary degrees are at about the high school level of Bible understanding. We’ve learned a little, but there’s so much more. We have to devote our lives to this.”

“Isn’t that discouraging? I mean, you study for years and you know so little?”

“It’s not like that. What I do know is wonderful, and that’s what keeps me coming back.”

“This is a pretty amazing book, isn’t it.”

“Tell me about it.”

One thought on “CONVERSATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS: Learn That Book

  1. Thats wonderful Joe. I like it as there are so many pepople who don’t realize the need to read the bilble

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