25-0615a - Detailed Summary

Preacher Mike begins by greeting the congregation and those joining by phone, extending Father’s Day wishes to all fathers. He introduces the sermon’s theme, “The Blessing of Reading,” noting its relevance to everyone, especially young people, though he wishes more youth were present. Mike cites Revelation 1:3, which blesses those who read, hear, and keep the words of prophecy, suggesting this blessing applies to all of God’s word, from Genesis to Revelation. He addresses common excuses for not reading the Bible, such as disliking reading, lacking time, and believing the Bible contradicts itself. Mike refutes the contradiction claim, asserting that perceived inconsistencies are misunderstandings, and directs the congregation to 1 Timothy 4 for further discussion.

Mike reads from 1 Timothy 4:12-16, where Paul instructs Timothy to be an example in various virtues and to focus on reading, exhortation, and doctrine. He emphasizes that this reading can be private or public, advocating for disciplined private Bible reading. Mike suggests starting with a book like Mark and reading it sequentially from beginning to end, rather than isolated verses. He highlights the value of public scripture readings, even without commentary, as a way to let the Bible speak for itself, encouraging intentional and systematic engagement with scripture.

Addressing the excuse of disliking reading, Mike shares his personal love for reading, which began in childhood and opened new worlds for him. He compares reading the Bible to eating food, equating physical hunger to spiritual hunger. Citing 1 Peter 2:2, he urges Christians to desire the “sincere milk of the Word” for spiritual growth. Referencing Hebrews 5:12-14, Mike notes that some believers remain spiritually immature, needing milk instead of solid food. He explains that, like a baby progressing to solid food, Christians should advance from basic teachings to deeper understanding through regular scripture reading, reinforcing its necessity for spiritual development.

Mike tackles the excuse of lacking time to read, particularly for young people on school vacation, suggesting they use free time after chores or homework for Bible reading instead of other activities like reading magazines. He addresses the misconception that the Bible contradicts itself, citing 2 Timothy 2:15, which calls for diligence in rightly dividing the word of truth. Mike explains that understanding the Bible’s division into the Old and New

Mike continues to emphasize the importance of correctly interpreting the Bible by understanding its context. He explains that while the entire Bible is inspired, not all instructions apply to Christians today. Using the example of Noah, Mike clarifies that God’s command to build an ark was specific to Noah and not a directive for modern believers. This highlights the necessity of discerning which biblical commands are relevant to the New Testament era, reinforcing the earlier call to "rightly divide the word of truth" to avoid confusion and misapplication of scripture.

Mike transitions to offering the gospel invitation, focusing on Jesus’ words in Mark 16:15-16, where He instructs the disciples to preach the gospel worldwide, stating that those who believe and are baptized will be saved. He stresses the clarity of this command, addressing common misinterpretations that suggest belief alone is sufficient for salvation. Mike corrects this by reiterating that Jesus explicitly requires both belief and baptism. He further explains that obedience extends beyond these initial steps, including turning away from sin and confessing Jesus before others. This section underscores the importance of adhering to the full scope of Jesus’ teachings for salvation.

Mike emphasizes that baptism is not the end of a Christian’s responsibility but the beginning of a faithful life dedicated to God. He acknowledges that perfection is not attainable but urges believers to strive for faithfulness in their walk with God. Mike extends an invitation to the congregation, encouraging anyone who has not obeyed the gospel through belief, repentance, confession, and baptism, or who needs the prayers of the church for any reason, to come forward during the closing hymn. This call to action reinforces the sermon’s focus on active engagement with God’s word and living out its teachings consistently.