NCC 42

Question 42 How is the Word of God to be read and heard?

With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

What do we believe about the Word of God?

That it is inspired.

In is inerrant

In is infallible

It is true

Diligence:

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

This is of course the old AWANA verse.

Many of use memorized it as “study to show thyself approved unto God”

The meaning of “study” has shifted some in the English language. It didn’t used to mean “study” as in apply yourself toward gaining knowledge. But it has the idea of a pursuit of something. It is the object or aim of someone's endeavors.

"the acquisition of a fortune is the study of all”

So in the ESV, in order to avoid that confusion and communicate the idea of the original: do your best. Make every effort, be diligent, strive for something.

What are we to pursue?

Presenting ourselves to God as one apporved, unashamed…how?

by rightly handling the word of truth. Cut it straight.

“To handle this word correctly is to handle it in accord with its intention and to communicate properly its meaning” (2 Cor 2:17; 4:2)

Preparation:

What are some simple ways you can prepare to hear the word of God?

Get a good nights sleep

Read/study ahead

Come with expectation

Prayer

You can pray asking that God might use his Holy Spirit to strengthen the teacher. You can pray asking God that he might soften your own heart to receive the word.

Accept by faith

James 1:19–21 ESV

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Store in our hearts

Psalm 119:11 ESV

11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Practice in life

James 1:22–25 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.