CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE IMPORTANCE AND THE
COMMISSION OF THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
IN RELATION TO THE BIBLE READING MEETING
Read and pray: "Let us not neglect meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb. 10:25)
Making the Word Delightful for People
Shortly after being saved, I loved the Bible and was perfected in Bible reading. We should extract the supply of life from the Bible in order to feed the brothers. In this way, they will acquire a taste, desire the supply, and enjoy reading. They will even enjoy reading it alone.
If we cover six chapters in the Bible reading meeting every week, there will be no enjoyment, and the saints will become uninterested and bored. Therefore, we should not read too many chapters, so that our rush does not become a waste and we end up achieving exactly the opposite effect.
It is better to read just one chapter and extract the inherent riches of that portion of the Word to feed the saints. This way, they will feel that the Bible is sweet and precious, and they will want to continue attending the meetings. They will even study it at home.
Therefore, it is not advisable to read many chapters of the Bible at once in the Bible reading meetings. However, the saints should read one or more chapters per day on their own.
Those responsible for ministering the word need to study how to conduct the Bible reading meeting. First, we need to have solid and nutritious food for the brothers. Then, we need to make the meeting "delightful" for them. Of course, we should not use gimmicks, but we need to give them the feeling that they have gained something. This way, they will even invite others to come and hear the Word of the Lord. Therefore, the Bible reading meeting and the ministry of the word are closely related.
Recently, a church started a meeting with the purpose of seeking the Crucial Truths in the Scriptures on Sunday evenings. The number of participants in this meeting was greater than that of the Sunday morning meeting. There were between 140 and 150 people, although the hall could only accommodate about 130. Some sat in the courtyard.
Another church in southern Taiwan started a Bible reading meeting where the attendance grew from 60 to 140. The saints gained solid supply. It is worth studying together.
The Supply of the Word Has Focus and Is Generic
When those who lead the Bible reading meeting notice something that is the need of the church, they should think about how to make that point stick in the brothers. They should not touch on this aspect lightly, but emphasize it repeatedly until the saints absorb it.
In northern China, I spent about five years speaking about the cross. Every day I "hammered" the saints’ ears with this burden. I used every opportunity to speak about the cross. This was my way of repeatedly and continuously speaking about the subject of the cross with all the brothers.
This is a good practice, but we should not carry it out with excessive rigidity. Moreover, we should have a more generic approach when emphasizing a specific burden, so that other needs are also supplied. A church should focus on the ministry of the word, but also care for other aspects.
For example, when I emphasized the cross in northern China, my speaking also covered other needs. We should observe everything and care for all matters as they arise. We need to take care of the elders, deacons, those who visit, and those who have received the commission to preach the gospel. If we do not care for all the needs, the church in our city may be perfected in one area but lacking in others.
For example, if a brother speaks continually about the flesh, neglecting other needs, the breaking of bread meeting may become barren because everyone is preoccupied with the flesh. Similarly, the preaching of the gospel will be interrupted because everyone will only speak of the flesh. Even the church services can become barren. Therefore, we need to care for all needs.
Enjoy More: Hymn 403
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