More, Not Less, of God’s Word

Dear HLPC family,

I hope you will be able to join us this Sunday as we bookend the Lord’s Day with worship.  We will have our regular worship service at 10:30AM and we will have Sunday evening worship at 6PM, this being one of those fifth Sundays of a month which wouldn’t conflict with most LIFE groups.

Growing up Sunday evening worship was a regular pattern of my Christian life.  Even as a child, I enjoyed the opportunity to play with other kids on Sunday nights as the grownups enjoyed fellowship after the service.  I’m glad we will gather this Sunday evening.  I’ve heard it said, and I believe it to be true, that the average churchgoer today attends worship services in their local church three times a month.  If you do the math, that means most Christians are sitting under the preaching of the Word only 40 times a year or less. 

Think of that in contrast to the endless messages with which we are bombarded daily through the internet and entertainment.  How many hours of such input do you get compared to your exposure to God’s Word?  We live in an ever-increasing secular, post-Christian age.  Our need to hear the voice of God speaking truth in His Word has never been greater.

Further, the Scriptures give particular emphasis to the need to hear the Word preached.  Paul told Timothy, the pastor of the church Ephesus, Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching (1 Timothy 4:13, ESV).  Paul also told Timothy preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV).  The Apostle says that the church’s ministry should be known by the consistent reading and preaching of Scripture.  It needs to be a regular part of our spiritual diet.  Of course, personal Bible reading and study is important but so is our corporate gathering under the Word.

I’m growing in my conviction that what we need as God’s people is an increase in our intake of God’s Word read and preached.  We all need more, not less.  I hope you can come Sunday morning AND Sunday night with an expectation that God will bless and enrich your soul through this means of grace.

Childcare for up to age 4 will be provided.

Your Pastor,

Paul