Healthy Targets
Healthy Foundations – Scripture
This week I share the fifth of nine targets for healthy churches – Scripture. The three targets under the category of Healthy Foundations are Gospel, Scripture, and Prayer. From the church’s beginning they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching (Acts 2:42). The apostle Paul commanded Timothy, pastoring in Ephesus, to be devoted to the public reading of Scripture (1 Tim 4:13). Why? Because as Paul made clear to Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). He continued to tell his protégé’“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim 4:2). Since the close of the canon of Scripture, the Word of God is the means by which God speaks to his church. Scripture is the inerrant, inspired Word of God. The Bible is the sufficient source for life and godliness as well as for the revitalization and replanting of churches. Thus, the faithful, clear preaching of God’s Word is essential. Through holy writ we get our marching orders from the head of the church – Jesus Christ. Our mission is not self-determined but received and obeyed. The author of Scripture has declared that he has all authority and commanded us to go make disciples and teach them to obey all he has commanded. This is our calling, this is our mission, and Scripture is the standard by which we measure our faithfulness and effectiveness as the Body of Christ. May we, like the early church, be devoted to studying and faithfully applying it. – Dr. Gary Mathes