Test Everything

February 20, 2012 Monday Message:

By looking at Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians for Christian living, we learn the following:
•Always be joyful.
•Never stop praying.
•Be thankful in all circumstances (for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.)
•Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
•Do not scoff at prophecies.
•Test everything that is said.
•Hold on to what is good.
•Stay away from every kind of evil. (1 Thess. 5:16-20 NLT)

This week we look at #6, “Test everything that is said.” How can we test everything?

1. We’ve been given a giant reference book for our Christian faith, the Bible. If what you are taught in a lecture, sermon, or speech doesn’t add up, compare what you’ve been told with what your Bible says. Nowadays you don’t need a lot of Bibles on your bookshelf. We’re blessed to have free Bible access on our computers, and you can get low-cost Bible apps for your iPad or smart phone. Concordances cross-referencing words and topics are available as well, expediting your search.

2. Ask someone. I do my best to answer Bible questions whenever someone asks, and most Pastors and teachers would do the same. This seems easy and obvious, yet one man told me that it took him 20 years to get up the courage to ask his first Bible question. As humans living in a fallen world, we don’t like admitting that we don’t know something. Get over it. God says we need to know the truth.

3. Use logic; think it out. The Bible never contradicts itself, so if something doesn’t line up with your existing Bible knowledge, it’s time to take a second look. God’s character is unchanging, like a rock, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. God is good, God is love, He’s with you, He’s for you, He cares about you, and He has a good plan for your life. Your circumstances cannot change God’s value system. If something doesn’t fit within God’s character, then something’s wrong.

With today’s podcasts, it’s easier than ever to listen to solid Bible teaching. Hopefully, this will raise the bar in pulpits around the world. God wants us all to hear quality, passionate Bible teaching, and to hold the teachers accountable. Like He says through Paul, “Test everything.”

That’s what the Bible says.

Norton Lawellin

Monday Message is also available at
http://www.mondaymessage-norton.blogspot.com/

Special note:

This past Sunday was my final week leading the Sonrise Worship Team for Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park, MN. In five years, we significantly grew a Contemporary Worship ministry, and transformed the volunteers into a Bible-studying small group. They held a “good-bye gathering” for me and said the nicest things. Thank you. I can lead music somewhere else, but I’ll most miss the people with whom I worshiped each week, my “church family” for 5 years.

Blessings to all,

NL