Yesterday I talked about the power of practical Bible teaching. But there is a tension that we all experience when it comes to practical Bible teaching that often causes us to hesitate or push back when we are exposed to it. And that tension comes from the fact that practical Bible teaching that calls for life change is not calm, quiet, or peaceful. Practical Bible teaching is often disturbing and unsettling. Practical Bible teaching often causes discomfort for those who are listening.
Practical Bible teaching challenges; practical Bible teaching blows up and upsets categories in our minds about God; practical Bible teaching disturbs our equilibrium. I say that because people were often disturbed or upset after listening to Jesus. Let me give you just a few examples. In Luke 4:28, after Jesus gave a sermon, here is how the people responded:
"And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff"
In John 8:59, after having a conversation with the religious people of His day, here is how they responded:
Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him,
And here is how the crowd responded after listening to what Jesus had to say in His most famous sermon:
When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
The crowd responded to Jesus sermon with amazement. Now when it says that the crowds were amazed, it was not “wow that was a cool sermon”. It was not “wow, I was really fed today”. It was not “wow that really ministered to my heart”. The word amazed literally means that they were be filled to the point of being overwhelmed with fear.
Practical Bible teaching is uncomfortable, disturbing, and unsettling because growing and maturing spiritually is often uncomfortable, disturbing, and unsettling. This morning growth can often be painful; whether it is the growing pains that accompany physical growth or the growing pains that accompany a growing and maturing relationship with God. And just as a parent leverages practical teaching and explains to their children that growing pains are a natural part of the pathway to adulthood, as followers of Jesus, God leverages practical Bible teaching to grow and mature us spiritually.
So, how do you respond to the tension that comes from practical Bible teaching? Are you investing your time by being involved in environments where you can experience practical Bible teaching?
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