Oh My Gosh! Scripture has come true again ...

Christians will regularly testify how their own personal Bible reading often seems highly pertinent to the everyday life situations they are facing. Even if they are somewhat arbitrarily working themselves through one book, or use Bible notes, or set readings for certain days, it is incredible how the readings speak into the issue of the day.

Just as fascinating is how preached Bible passages (from a pre-planned series or otherwise) also end up being 'just the thing' that can inform a key issue in church life that is poignant to the congregation as a whole. Here I am not talking about relevance to just a few individuals, but something that resonates with the 'collective need' of the church members.

It re-iterates the point that a church is not simply a collection of individuals each with their own needs and agendas, but is an inter-connected body of people that together has a collective identity, purpose and direction - into which the Spirit wants to speak.

Without doubt the word we seek to preach is the living word - the up to the minute desire of Jesus Christ for this particular local church at this particular time. That word, ultimately, IS Jesus Christ (see John's Gospel chapter one!). Hence Paul resolved to know nothing other than Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, and thus preach Jesus Christ (and Him crucified) (see 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and 2).

Now that same living word also inspired individuals (in their place, in their time) to write up the movement of God that they witnessed, which by God's providence has become our 'scriptures'. We truly experience the fact that 'All scripture is God-breathed and useful ...' (2 Timothy 3:16), and so the written word becomes our first-place-to-look launching point for God to speak to us today.