If you've ever read the book of Genesis, you know it starts off as a fascinating and colorful read. The early chapters (Gen 1-2) are what every children's Bible loves to portray —the world, lush gardens, animals of all sorts. There's the unfortunate bit about the snake (Gen 3), but at least Noah's ark (Gen 6-9) has lots more animals!

You journey along through the book. Abraham is interesting enough. But then you get to Genesis 22 where God calls Abraham to kill his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. Uh oh. We're not in Children's Bible Land anymore. (Quick! Skip ahead to Joseph's colorful coat!)

Difficult passages like the sacrifice of Isaac give us pause in our reading of Scripture. It no longer can remain a nice story with fun pictures. Unless we skip over it entirely, we are faced with a difficult challenge of understanding the message of this passage. Here's where thoughtfully studying the Bible becomes necessary so that we will not make some of the following mistakes.

1. Reading Our Culture into the Text

The first mistake we can make is to read our own culture into the text. We assume that the culture of the people in the Bible is the same as ours. But what was the culture of the peoples in Abraham's day? What did child sacrifice mean? Was it practiced by other peoples with other gods? What would Abraham's experience of this request have been? How might help us interpret what God was doing there?

2. Reading Our Values into the Text

Another mistake we can make is reading our own values and priorities into the text. We (rightly) abhor the idea of child sacrifice, but then think that a good God could never command such a thing. "God is a moral monster", some would say. He asks Abraham to do something horrific and thus he cannot be good or trusted. But what was God's actual purpose in doing this? What was he accomplishing through this act? Were God's values and priorities higher and greater than our own?

3. Reading Too Narrowly in the Text

A final mistake we can make is not reading enough of Scripture. The Bible forms a unified testimony of God's redemptive plan for the world. Reading broadly and widely will help us see how each piece fits together into a whole and give us a larger picture of God's character that can inform the individual passages we read. What place did this event play in Abraham's life in the long run? How did this play into God's plan of redemption for the world?

When we guard against each of these mistakes through cultural study, careful interpretation of the meaning of the text, and reading broadly in the Scriptures, we are given a fuller picture of what a given passage means and its significance. As these pieces come into focus, our understanding of God's revelation to us becomes clearer and we benefit from a growing knowledge of who God is and how he's acted for the salvation of all peoples.

This level of Bible study is not confined to only pastors or professors. This can be done by each one of us if we take the time to learn how to do it. Let me encourage you to pursue a growing knowledge of not just the Bible, but how to study the Bible. In such study the riches of God's word can increasingly meet you and bring transforming truth into your life, unleashing its impact not only on you, but also on the lives of those you touch.

Consider attending our ACE Class "How to Study the Bible" if you'd like to grow in the practice of studying the Bible!  In it you'll gain tools to study the Bible for yourself, so that you can more faithfully read and interpret the Scriptures and encourage others through it.

On Sunday, February 27, Pastor John MacArthur preached at Evergreen Church. Hear more from Pastor Rocky as he reflects on that Sunday.

How did you think Pastor John’s sharing at our church went?

The entire Lord’s Day when Pastor John visited our church was amazing! Our Lord continues to show His hesed love for Evergreen Church by bringing gifts like Pastor John to encourage us. Out of his incredibly busy schedule, he preached the Word and took the time to share his personal thoughts with us. People have shared with me that the interview portion of the day felt like our entire church family was able to pull up a chair beside the pastor and hear him share his insights as an older brother. It was fun to hear about his family and the insights that he learned through football. On a personal level, Sharla and the children were super encouraged to have Pastor John take the time to visit our church since I have shared on many occasions with them on how the Lord has been caring for our church through people like him.

Was there any significance to what Pastor John preached (Psalm 19) in relation to where the Lord is leading our church?

It was quite significant for Psalm 19 to be preached as it is one of the signature portions of Scripture that proclaims how God speaks to His people. Pastor John delivered a clear exposition of Psalm 19. Psalm 19:1-6 says that God communicates to all people on a general level through His Creation. Psalm 19:7-14 says that God gives specific revelation to His people. Specific revelation is where God give His own testimony to who He is and how one comes to a saving relationship with Him. In other words, creation may declare in a general sense that a divine creator exists, but the Bible is God’s only reliable testimony to who He is. The Bible is the only inerrant, authoritative and sufficient Word from God. Psalm 19 tells us that we are on the correct path as we emphasize God’s Word in everything that we do.

Why do you believe this was an emblematic moment for our church?

As I think about Pastor John, his commitment to the faithful ministry of God’s Word comes to mind. Therefore, his visit was significant for us as his visit was emblematic of what our Lord is doing at Evergreen Church. The ministry of the Word of God is foundational to the discipleship of our church. Since discipleship is the central theme of the church, this was a foundational teaching on what the church is to focus on. God’s Word is a “Discipleship Essential.”  “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42) To put it in another way, one cannot grow as a disciple without God’s Word. Therefore, anyone who is with Evergreen Church on the Lord’s Day comes away with a strong emphasis on God’s Word. The Bible is being taught during the Sunday School Hour from 9-10am. The Lord’s Day Service is loaded with God’s Word as we read the Word during our public reading of Scripture. We sing the Word as the praise music is loaded with doctrine. We pray the Word as leaders pray according to God’s Word and we preach the Word as we are committed to expository preaching. Expository preaching is the commitment to preach the God intended meaning of the biblical text for the building up of the Body of Christ. Therefore, the preaching of Psalm 19 was incredibly significant to our church.

What benefit do you see in allowing guest preachers, such as Pastor John MacArthur, to preach at our church?

We are just getting started as we are coming out of two years of COVID-19, and we will begin to see what it feels like to be a member of Evergreen Church.

Pastor John has been faithfully pastoring Grace Community Church for over 50 years, and it is amazing to see their commitment to build up one another through the ministry of the Word and prayer. The benefits from hearing from people like Pastor John are numerous.

First, he is able help paint the picture of what the future could look like some day. As he shared with us, he is looking backwards upon his life as he is in his 80’s and he can recognize the providential moments in his life that has led up to where he is at today. It takes time and patience to see how the invisible hand of the Lord is moving. We are just getting started and it helps to hear from role models who are further down the road. “The Work of the Word” was preached at Pastor John’s 50th anniversary and it provides a picture of what faithful Bible exposition over the course of a lifetime yields.

Second, he was able to encourage us by letting us know how difficult it was for him in his initial years at Grace Community Church in 1969. This is a reminder that Gospel ministry is always filled with challenges. There are always unique challenges when there is a transition in leadership, but the challenges were multiplied due to the COVID-19 season. Therefore, we should expect challenges in the life of the church and understand that it is a part of the process.

Third, he is a living picture of finishing strong. Finishing well is the genuine desire of all followers of Jesus Christ. Paul said that he had fought the good fight and finished the course that was set before him, and a crown of righteousness was waiting for him in Heaven (2 Timothy 4:6-8). A picture is worth a thousand words, and we all need to formulate the vision of a Christian Champion.

Fourth, it is good to see the greater Body of Christ to see more of Christ. This is how the one anothers functions in the greater Body of Christ. Our aim is Christlikeness, and it is helpful to see. It is a great reminder that we are not alone and there are many faithful likeminded brothers and sisters outside of our local church.

Are there any guest preachers lined up the church can possibly look forward to hearing in the future?

The Lord has provided other people from outside of our local church who have come alongside us, and some have agreed to preach on the Lord’s Day. However, I will keep it a surprise for now.