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Where to Find The Fuller Christmas Story

This is the time of year when Christians like to read about the birth of their Savior. The hallmark accounts are found in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. But Christmas passages are found in several other places in Scripture as well.  

If you’re looking for “new” and “fresh” accounts of the incarnation, here are a few you may want to read this season:

The Prince of Peace: Isaiah 9:1-7 

The Virgin-born Child: Isaiah 7:13-16 

The Root of the Tribe of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-9 

The Birth in Bethlehem: Micah 5:1-4 

The Cosmic Christmas: John 1:1-5 

The Birth of the God-Man: Phil. 2:6-11

The Firstborn of Creation: Col. 1:15-20

These passages remind me that Jesus was so much more than a babe in a manger. He’s...

The Second Person of the Trinity,

The Eternally Pre-existent Son,

The Lord of Creation,

The Firstborn,

The Image of the Invisible God,

The Root of Jesse,

The Branch that Will Bear Fruit,

The Judge Who Strikes the Earth,

Immanuel,

The Word Made Flesh,

God,

The Light that Shines in the Darkness,

The True Light that Gives Light to Every Man,

The One Who Gives Us the Right to Become Children of God,

The Ruler of Israel,

The One Whose Origins are from Ancient Times,

The Shepherd of His Flock,

The Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.  

Reading these fuller Christmas stories moves me to worship and bow before him, which is what the Christmas season is all about. Isn’t it?

Hal is the Founding Pastor of New Song Community Church and author of The Bible Questions, The God Questions, Future History, and Jonah. He wrote The Bible Questions to spark a Bible Reading Revolution in our churches and cities. Check out these books and campaign materials at www.pastormentor.com.

6 Rewards for Reading the Bible

 

1. It revives my soul. (Ps. 19:7a)

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

The word “revive” means to “bring back to life,” or to “give new life to.” While reading, meditating, studying and listening to the Word of God, your soul is brought new or further life!

2. It makes me wise. (Ps. 19:7b)

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

This is wisdom in mind, word, and in actions. To be wise is to know the heart and mind of God concerning a matter.

3. It makes me happy. (Ps. 19: 8a)

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

When you take the time to read about the great love God has for you, it changes how you see and feel about your life, the world, and your current situation.   

4. It gives me discernment. (Ps. 19: 8b)

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

As a believer reads the Bible, the Holy Spirit gives him/her illumination and insight.  Sometimes your life will be at a crossroads, where the question is not your obedience, but your direction. God’s Word will give your eyes light to see which path is yours.

5. It warns me. (Ps. 19:11a)

By them is your servant warned…

A child asked, “If God has a purpose for everything, then why did He create poison oak?” His friend answered, “The reason God made poison oak is to teach you that there are certain things we should keep our cotton-pickin’ hands off of.”

6. Obeying it brings great reward. (Ps. 19:11b)

…in keeping them there is great reward.

The word “great” means abundant in quantity and quality. As I said in The Bible Questions, “The purpose of Bible reading is not so you can know more, but so you can grow more.” Only those who know what the Bible says can follow what the Bible teaches. Abundant rewards come to those who live out Scripture.

 

Hal is praying for a Bible Reading Revolution in our country. Find out how to join at www.pastormentor.com.

 

 

 

 

Reading the Prophetic Books Can Be as Easy as Tying Your Shoe

Seven Steps to Understanding the Prophetic Books of the Bible 

Of all the caregivers in my life, it was my grandmother who taught me how to tie my shoes. I was four years old. I don’t know why this memory has stayed with me all these years, but it’s still a vivid one.

I didn’t want to learn to tie my shoes. I had two older sisters and a mother who would do it for me. Tying my shoes was complicated. It required concentration, and “fine motor skills.” What four year old boy wants to develop “fine motor skills”? As far as I was concerned, I never needed those. 

But one weekend while my parents were away, my grandmother shamed me into learning this ancient skill. “Your mother shouldn’t have to do this for you every day. You should learn to do this for yourself.” 

“I don’t want to learn to do this for myself.” 

“But once you learn, you won’t have to wait for anyone to come and help you. And you’ll be able to go outside whenever you want.” 

I could think of a lot of excuses, but I knew she would eventually wear me down. So I relented. I learned to make the half-knot, and the little rabbit ear, then wrap the one around the other, pull it through, cinch it up, stand up and go play. (Like you, this whole process is so natural to me now that I have to think seriously about it in order to even describe the steps involved.)  

A lot of Christians I know have this kind of attitude towards the Bible’s prophetic literature. Prophetic literature can be complicated. It requires concentration. You might have to acquire a new skill in order to master it, so why bother? After all, there are enough other books of the Bible to read. 

Might as Well Relent

Eighteen of the Bible’s sixty-six books are prophetic literature. (The final seventeen books of the Old Testament, and the book of Revelation in the New Testament.) If you’re going to read everything God has written to you in the Bible, eventually you’re going to have to wade into these deep, rich, and sometimes confusing books. Remember, All Scripture is God-breathed and useful… (2 Timothy 3:16). 

Why They Are Hard to Understand

The prophets lived in a different times and cultures, with different figures of speech. Imagine someone 2,000 years from now trying to figure out what we mean when we say, “What’s Up?” Or “Text me.” We all know what 9/11 was. We know the Lakers, Chargers, and Padres. But 2,000 years from now, people will need a commentary to decipher what we were talking about. 

Yet the prophets spoke to people who had the same struggles with their families and enemies and finances, sin, and relationship to God that you have today. They spoke for the same God about the same world, offering timeless warnings and solutions that change your life, if you will take the time to understand them. 

Seven Steps to Understanding the Prophets

It takes seven steps to tie your shoe. (Count ‘em a few paragraphs up from here if you don’t believe me.) At some point you had to learn these steps. Once you did, it was worth it for the rest of your life. Let me teach you to read prophecy in seven simple steps as well. 

1. Get some background

The first step to reading any prophetic book is to get some background. Who wrote the book? Why? When? To whom? What were the problems they were facing? How is the book structured? What can I expect to learn from it? 

To answer those questions, you can turn to one of four sources. If you’ve got a Study Bible, turn to the first page of whatever book you’re about to read and you’ll find great information there. (For Study Bible recommendations, see chapter 19 of The Bible Questions.)   

A Bible Handbook will also give you this information. My favorite is Bruce Wilkinson’s Talk Thru the Bible. Gordon Fee’s How to Read the Bible Book by Book is also excellent. A Bible Dictionary can also give you background. As can a Bible Encyclopedia. 

Your church library may have some of these resources. You can also find older versions of each of these online, for free. (Once a copyright expires, the contents become public domain.) Google “Bible Dictionary.” Or, explore Blueletterbible.com. Or, can get an App called, “Bible360” that has excellent Bible tools that come right on your phone. 

Getting background is like looking through a book’s table of contents. It helps you understand what you’re about to read. 

2. Pray for understanding

Whenever I open the Bible, I ask the Holy Spirit to speak to me. When God was trying to communicate with Samuel, Samuel prayed, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:10). I usually say, “Lord, I’d like to hear from you just now. Please direct my thoughts.” 

3. Read the passage

Tackle the first unit of thought. Every time your Bible has a sub-heading, that’s where a unit of thought begins and end. If you’re reading Malachi, you immediately find out that the book is an “oracle” (Mal. 1:1). In paragraph 2 you’ll encounter your first question: Why would God love Jacob and hate Esau? (In fact, is it really possible for God to hate anyone?)  

4. Consult a commentary

A commentary is a book written by an expert. There are three types of commentaries: exegetical, expositional, and devotional. Exegetical commentaries focus on the grammar and language of the text. They’re usually academic, so they may over the head of first-time prophecy readers. Expositional commentaries are usually written by pastors who have preached through the book. They have easy to follow outlines and illustrations. Devotional commentaries focus more on reflection and application of the text. You’ll figure out which you have in your hand almost immediately. BUT, your initial questions are pretty straight-forward. “What’s an oracle?” and “Why would God hate Esau?”) All three types should give you an answer to this.  

Like Bible dictionaries, your church library may have some, and older ones are available online if you’ll Google them. Blueletterbible.com has a bunch.  

5. Make some observations

With the help of your commentary, you’re now ready to make some observations. Answer the six question words (who, what, when, where, how, and why) and write down what you see. For more on this, read chapter 16 of The Bible Questions. 

6. Develop some interpretations

An interpretation is a timeless principle. What is this prophet saying or teaching or warning against that is as true today as it was in his day? Write these down. (For more, consult chapter 17 of The Bible Questions.) 

7. Apply the principles

Now that you’ve seen what God is saying to you, what are you going to do about it? Life transformation is the reason you read the Bible, so what will you do with what you’ve learned? The final step in tying your shoe is go out and play. Application is the go out and play step. 

These are the seven steps. Tomorrow, repeat them through the second unit of thought in the book. Repeat them daily until you’ve finished.Then move to one of the history or poetry or epistolary books of the Bible for a change of pace before heading into your next prophet.

Ten Things the Bible Will Do For You

I've been helped by a lot of books in my lifetime. The Bible has helped me more than any other book -  by several orders of magnitude. Here's what the Bible claims it will do for you:

1. It will inspire you.

When I read the story of David killing his giant enemy with nothing but five stones and a sling, I start to think that maybe I can conquer the giants in my life.  When I read the story of Daniel rising to become Prime Minister of a large foreign country, I think maybe I can do a little more than I am right now. 

When I read about Moses’ delivering two million people from slavery, Esther preventing the genocide of her people, Elijah calling out the prophets of Baal, Ruth’s unswerving loyalty to her mother-in-law, Stephen standing up to the Sanhedrin, Paul facing beatings and imprisonment and Jesus going to the Cross on behalf of the sin of the world, I’m inspired. My dreams get bigger, my determination gets stronger, and my adrenaline flows like Rocky Balboa yelling, “Yo Adrian!”

2. It will speak the truth to you and about you.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Sometimes when I read the Bible, God’s Spirit whispers, “The truth about you is, you’re shallow.” Or, “You’re lazy.” Or, “You like to take shortcuts.” The Spirit convicts me that I can be better. 

3. It will teach you.

Paul says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). I call this passage, “The 2 Timothy Road” because it follows the pattern of a person getting onto a road and then running off of it and getting steered back onto it again. 

The Bible teaches me the way to live. In effect, it says, “This is the road. Walk on it.”  

4. It will rebuke you.

Inevitably, when I wander off the road, the Bible rebukes me. It says, “Hey! You’re off the road.”

5. It will correct you.

Once it has my attention, the Bible lovingly corrects me, whispering, “This is the way to get back on the road.”

6. It will train you.

And, once I’m back on the road, the Bible trains me in how to stay on the road. 

7. It will increase your I.Q.

Psalm 119:98-99 promises that reading the Bible will make you wiser than your enemies and give you more insight than your teachers. That’s worth the investment of a few minutes a day, isn’t it? 

8. It will prolong your life.

Deuteronomy 32:47 says that by taking God’s words into my heart I will, “live long.” That’s definitely worth the investment of a few minutes a day! 

9. It will transform you.

Romans 12:2 says “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The Greek word, “transform” is our word, “metamorphosis.” Caterpillars metamorphose into butterflies. When I read the Bible, it changes me from one thing into something better. 

The average American is exposed to around 5,000 messages per day. Most of those are designed to make you a better consumer. God’s will is that we become increasingly good givers and lovers, not buyers and wearers. Every message I hear, see or experience changes me in some small way. I want to expose myself to messages that change me for the better. That means messages from the Bible! 

10. It will make me prosperous and successful.

The promise of Joshua 1:8 is prosperity and success to those who read, think about, talk about, and do what the Bible says: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” People spend a lot of time trying to get ahead in this world. The Bible indicates that the best (and maybe the easiest) way to get ahead is to read the Bible day and night. 

Thomas Jefferson once said “…the studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better homes, better citizens, better fathers and better husbands.” 

If that’s true, then why don’t we “studiously peruse the sacred volume” more? 

In my experience, there are four reasons:

1. We think we’re too busy.

Somehow we think there are better ways to invest our time than learning from what God has to say to us in his word.

2. We’re proud.

We think we don’t need God’s advice and perspective. We shelve the Bible and relegate it to religious times, rather than absorbing it in our everyday lives.

3. We don’t really want to change.

Change can be stretching. Sometimes we’d rather stay in the muck-hole we’re in than climb to better, safer, more pleasant heights.

4. The Devil doesn’t want us to.

The Devil knows that the Bible can do all the things we’ve listed here, and he’d rather anything happen to you than you experience the growth and blessings of God. The minute who determine to sit down with your Bible, he will distract you, woo you away, make you false promises, and do anything else to keep you from reading God’s Word. 

Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). If we want to be fed in a healthy way, we’ve got to be absorbing the words of God. The more often we read, the more steadily we grow. Period.

That pretty much settles it, don’t you agree?

The Virtue of Imitation

It looks like The Bible Questions will be available within two weeks! 

As we begin inviting other churches to join the Bible Reading Revolution, I’ve been thinking about the very first church-wide campaign we did at New Song. It was Rick Warren’s 40 Days of Purpose. Rick recommended I adapt his sermons rather than create my own. Initially, I wasn’t too keen on that idea. Then I thought, “Why not try some of his phrasing and see how it works on my audience?” 

I adapted the first sermon and was surprised how well people responded. Rick's a great preacher, but our styles are different. He rarely uses a long story. He uses lots of humor. And he packs his sermons with pithy statements. I tried some of the pith and discovered I need to practice more pith when I preach! 

Without realizing it, I was walking in Rick Warren’s footwear, if only for a minute. I’m a better communicator because of trying on his sandals. 

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. It’s also a significant way to improve your preaching skills! 

Last week, half a dozen pastors signed on for The Bible Questions Campaign. I’m praying that the sermons will bear fruit for them, but also bear fruit in them as they learn whatever little is gleanable from my New Song style.

I can’t wait for the Bible Reading Revolution to begin!

Six Steps to Launch a Bible Reading Revolution in Your City

According to my best estimates, Bible reading in America has been on the decline for the last fifty years. Americans still respect the Bible. According to Uncover Magazine (Summer, 2012), eighty percent of us believe the Bible is “sacred.” And we still own Bibles. Eighty-five percent of households have at least two Bibles in the home. We even wish we read the Bible more. That same eighty-five percent express the desire to read it more than they do.

So, what’s holding us back?

I’m tempted to say, “the Devil,” but acknowledging his role doesn’t really solve the problem. On a practical level, the problem is leadership. We need leaders to rise up, pray up, and gang up on the reasons people don’t read the Bible. More than ever, what our country needs is a Bible Reading Revolution.

Why People DON’T Read the Bible:

According to Barna Research, the top four reasons people don’t read the Bible are:

•  Lack of time.
•  The language is difficult.
•  They don’t get excited to read it.
•  They don’t understand the background or history.

These are solvable problems! 

Men and women regularly feel crazy busy. Then they meet someone, and all of a sudden they find time to be with that person. Why? Because they’re in love. 

How do we help people develop a love for the Bible? We lower the pain-level of the other three problems.

• If the language of the Bible is difficult, let’s introduce them to easier versions. The Message is an easy-to-digest paraphrase. The NLT is written on a third grade reading level. The NIrV is also written at an elementary level. For non-readers, there are a half dozen decent audio Bibles out there.
• If lack of excitement is a problem, let’s make the Bible exciting for them. Infection is the best way to spread any disease.
• If they don’t understand the background and history, let’s give it to them!  

How to Help People Read the Bible:

1. Get on a campaign.

During a normal sermon series, the pastor preaches on a passage or topic and the listeners read something else in their personal lives. If they’re in a small group or Sunday school class, they learn something different there. Learning is fragmented. 

A Church Campaign combines preaching, reading and group study. It’s the magnifying effect of focus – the sun can warm you, but a laser can cut through steel.  

When an entire church studies the same subject together, everyone gets on the same page. Momentum is multiplied. Talk is targeted. As we share what we’re experiencing, the learning goes deeper.  

2. Teach people about the Bible.

For pastors and veteran church leaders, it’s easy to assume that everyone knows the basics of the Bible: who wrote it, where it came from,what it’s about, etc. Barna’s study tells us that one of the top reasons people don’t read it is because they don’t know its background. 

Elementary age students are taught that the first thing they do with a book is look through its table of contents. Getting the big picture is like formatting your mental disc for further learning. Preachers can get so caught up in teaching the Bible that we forget to introduce the Bible. What if we spent one campaign season introducing the Bible basics? 

3. Teach people to study the Bible.

From time to time I meet people who read the Bible through once, and then stop. No one taught them to study, so they didn’t know how to go any further. What if we spent some time coaching on Bible study basics? 

4. Give people a chance to spur each other on.

What drove the Bible Reading Revolution of the Wesleys’ day was the power of a small group. John and Charles rounded people up and put them in circles. Those circles sparked flames that lit England on fire. I’m never more excited about the Bible than when I’m hearing from a friend what they have been learning from the Bible. I believe that for Bible reading to become a permanent habit, it has to be coupled with the heat and contagion of a group that meets together - in a home, a restaurant, or a Sunday school class.  

5. Join forces with other churches.

The day has passed when a church can wall itself off from those outside its denomination. Communication is too fast and frequent to think that my church members aren’t talking to your church members. If a small group can spark a flame, a whole church ought to be able to build a brushfire. And if churches were to partner together in getting on a Bible Reading Campaign, well, that might just make for a wildfire.

Last week I invited fifty of my closest pastor friends to join New Song in a Bible Reading Campaign. So far, five of them have accepted. I feel a fire building, and I’d like to invite you to add your fuel to it. Because more than anything, what every church and every city in this country needs is a Bible Reading Revolution.

Hal has spent the last year teaming up Intervarsity Press, Outreach, Inc., and pastormentor.com to develop a Bible Reading Revolution Campaign. It’s called The Bible Questions (after his best-selling book, The God Questions).To join the Revolution, come to www.pastormentor.com.

Why Pastors Have More Influence on Our Economy than Presidents

These days, everyone is asking, “Which candidate will have a greater effect on our economy?” It’s a fair question, but let’s be realistic. No president is going to quickly and permanently reverse our financial fortunes.

I’d like to suggest a guaranteed way to improve our economy.

Instead of politicians, this way comes from pastors. Because pastors, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, have more influence on the economy than presidents.

Follow me for a minute.

1. History teaches that the Bible changes nations.

In 1738, Jonathan Wesley began gathering people in groups to study the Bible. If you’ve read Dickens, you know that this period of England’s history was full of poverty, disease, slavery, workhouses, and child laborers. By 1798, there were over 100,000 Bible study groups throughout the nation of Great Britain. The next hundred years are known as “The British Century,” because Britain became the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth.

In 1796, Hans Hauge began distributing Bibles throughout his native Norway. Hauge launched over 1,000 Bible study groups in a country of only 800,000 people. By 1814, Norway broke free from  enmark, wrote their own constitution, and became one of the most prosperous nations on earth.

In 1857, America reached her lowest percentage of church attendance. Not surprisingly, our economy tanked as well. In desperation, Jeremiah Lanphier convened a prayer meeting in New York City. That sparked a movement that saw Bible reading reach an all-time high. The picture of frontier America is a
family, gathered around the kitchen table after dark. A candle is lit. As mom and grandma do handwork, children play quietly, and dad reads the Bible out loud for an hour or so. By the end of the World War I, America had become the most powerful and prosperous nation on earth.

Coincidence? I don’t think so.

The Bible has a transforming effect on people. That transformation isn’t just spiritual, it can be economic as well. When a man learns integrity, not only do people trust him, he produces better work. Better work means better products, better pay, and prosperity for the people around him. When enough people are shaped and sharpened by biblical values, a nation is changed. 

2. Americans read the Bible less now than any time in the past 100 years.

According to Gallop, in the 1980’s, 73% of Americans read the Bible. By 2000, that number was down to 59%. I’m pretty sure it’s fallen further since then. I read recently that 34% of church attenders read the Bible regularly and 21% read it “sometimes.” That means almost half our church members depend on their pastors’ sermons for most of the Bible content they receive. Non-church-goers receive little or no Bible input at all.

We can blame politicians for the economic mess we’re in, but I don’t think they’ve got the power to change things significantly. What can change our situation is what has changed our situation in the past. And that’s the Bible.

Imagine pastors inspiring their people to read the Bible. Imagine churches inviting their neighbors to come and understand the big picture of the Bible, so they can read it for themselves. Imagine the character transformations, the salvations, and redemptive lift brought on by biblical work ethics and
lifestyles. That’s where pastors come in. We get to call people to Bible reading, Bible study, and Bible application. I believe the solution for what ails our country is a Bible-Reading Revolution, church-by-church, block-by-block, and city-by-city. That’s why I believe that pastors have greater influence than presidential candidates.

3. Prosperity and Bible-reading go together.

God promised Joshua that if he would meditate on Scripture day and night, he would be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8). God’s promise to Joshua may not be an ironclad guarantee for us, but locked inside the promise is a principle: Read Scripture regularly and you will be transformed. Live it out, and your life will prosper. That principle applies nationally as well and individually.

What happened in the late 1800s can happen again. I’m confident God wants it, and I know every pastor wants it too.

Tomorow I'll outline a strategy to make it happen.

Come on pastors, let’s launch a Bible Reading Revolution together!

 
Hal has teamed up with Intervarsity Press, Outreach Inc., and pastormentor.com to create a six week church-wide campaign called, The Bible Questions. It’s designed to launch a Bible Reading Revolution in your church and city. You can access it at www.pastormentor.com.