1-26-25 “Back to the Bible”

Click here for worship material 

 

“Back to the Bible”

I want to start with something funny that I found an internet site: An elderly lady walked into the local church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. He asked her politely, “Where would you like to sit?” She answered, “The front row, please.” He said, “You really don’t want to do that because the pastor is really boring.”

The lady asked him, “Do you happen to know who I am?” He said, “No.”

She replied indignantly, “I’m the pastor’s mother.”

He asked her, “Do you know who I am?” She said, “No.”

Then, he said, “Good.”

I hope we truly know one another—no one should feel like an outsider in our congregation. We care for one another, without exception—even the pastor, right?

Today, I want to talk about going “Back to the Bible.” When you hear the phrase “Back to the Bible,” what comes to mind? Perhaps you remember the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, we closed our churches and even removed Bibles from the pews out of concern for spreading the virus. Although we reopened long ago, we still haven’t brought those Bibles back.

It’s time to reflect: Have we brought the Bible back physically and spiritually? Have we returned the Word of God to the center of our individual lives and ministry?

As I prayed over this year’s ministry, I realized something crucial: We’ve missed the opportunity to bring the Bible books back. This isn’t just about placing them back in the pews; it’s about a profound spiritual awakening. “Back to the Bible” highlights the importance of Scripture as the foundation of our faith. It calls us to return to the Bible as the core of Christian life and ministry.

How often do you read the Bible? Every day? Once a week? If you love someone, you naturally want to know how they’re doing—every day, even every moment. Now, ask yourself: What’s closer to you in your daily life than the Bible? Is it your smartphone? The TV? A novel?

Imagine someone says they love you, but rarely calls or listens to you. Wouldn’t you question their love? In the same way, if we claim to love God, but don’t read the Bible or pray, we deceive ourselves. Returning to the Bible isn’t just about reading—it’s about letting it shape our lives, as Jesus demonstrated.

During His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus said, “One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). It’s time to bring the Word of God back to the center of our lives. The Word is a map for our faith journey. If you feel lost or in darkness, turn to the Bible—it will guide you toward the light. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your [God’s] word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” This verse reminds us that God’s Word provides direction and purpose, much like a lighthouse guiding us through life’s storms. Without the Word of God, we cannot navigate life’s journey—individually or as a faith community. Let’s recommit to reading the Bible.

As we see in today’s Scripture, after Jesus returned from the wilderness, He began His public ministry, rooted in Scripture. The Bible is not just a book—it is the living Word of God, empowered by the Spirit to transform lives. Reading it with an open heart invites the Holy Spirit to guide and empower our daily walk.

I’ve shared my story before, but I want to share it again today. When I was in the hospital with a broken spine, I felt hopeless. The doctors told me I’d never walk again. One day, a pastor and his wife visited me. After praying, the pastor’s wife handed me a Bible and said, “Sister, please read the Bible. When you’ve read it in its entirety, God may heal you. You may walk again.” At the time, I didn’t believe her. I thought, “If the doctor can’t heal me, how could reading a book help?” I threw the Bible away.

Two years later, God gave me a second chance. A pastor visited a girl in my hospital room. When I heard him praying, I felt an unexplainable warmth in my body. I asked him to pray for me, too. Through his prayers, I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord. That moment of faith opened my heart to believe in God’s power. I began reading the Bible, holding onto hope that I could walk again. I underwent surgery and physical therapy, and by God’s grace, I walked again. Even now, I often wonder where I’d be if I hadn’t accepted that second chance.

The Bible is not just a book; it’s the living Word of God. It brings hope to the hopeless, joy to the despairing, peace to the brokenhearted, and reconciliation to the divided. Revelation 3:20 says, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” God’s grace is for everyone, but only a few recognize it. Faith comes by God’s grace, but the handle to the door of faith is on the inside of your heart. In other words, only you can open the door of faith. We should willingly read the Bible, willingly go to church, and willingly pray to God. If you take the first step to open the door, God will guide you through the rest of your journey.

Returning to today’s Scripture, we see that Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, went to the synagogue on the Sabbath, “as was His custom.” This habit of attending worship and engaging with Scripture reminds us to do the same. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” If we neglect church and Scripture, how can we expect to grow in faith? It’s like trying to operate a new machine without a manual. The Bible is God’s manual for life—a guide to who we are and how we should live.

In Luke 4, Jesus read from Isaiah 61, declaring His mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Even Jesus grounded His mission in Scripture. Returning to the Bible means letting it define who we are and what we do. It’s time to rediscover our mission and purpose through Scripture. Is the Bible central in your life, or merely background noise? Commit to reading and meditating on it daily—not as a ritual, but as a lifeline.

Jesus said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The Bible isn’t just a record of the past—it’s alive and active, speaking to us today. Back to the Bible means living it out—allowing it to shape our actions, relationships, and worldview.

How can we, like Jesus, proclaim good news to the poor and set the oppressed free?

May the Word of God release us from anxiety, guide us toward light, and transform our lives.

Thanks be to God. Amen!