A very active retired pastor of 40 years gave me quite a caning with this Scripture 1 Tim 1.4 “nor to be taken up with with myths and never ending genealogies.. “. After I had been preaching about the death burial and resurrection of Jesus had simply made some interesting observations.

He answered “No”, when I asked him if I had said anything that was heretical. I went on to quietly explain that that particular Scripture was referring to the false teachings and philosophy of Gnosticism, not of genuine enquiry. He could not accept it.

Gnosticism had been so influential in the new Testament times, and the new Testament writings, how could a pastor of 40 years experience not know this. It is important for pastors to know these things, and to teach their congregation in order that they might understand and interpret their Bible well.

It is unfortunate that so many pastors in our churches will preach shallow and light weight messages, and the result is that their people will hardly grow in and Scripture and interpretation. Preachers love to give to us ‘moral essays’ and ‘warming affirmations’ because, supposedly, if we truly ‘love’ others this is what we will do.

Well, who cares if God’s people are falling through the cracks ‘for a lack of knowledge’ (oracle), what’s really important, is if we are very positive and ‘nice’ to everybody.

The reality is, the more ‘relevant’ Christians become, to the world, the less relevant we all are in actuality, to the world.

Why do Pastors get stuck in a rut of favorite topics and ‘feel good’ messages? Preachers preach on a verse from 1 John further a part about a victorious one from Luke; topical address from Matthew following on with the true faith of Mary Magdalene or the rigtheousness of Abraham.

We preach a portion from here and another from there, but we need to put it all together in a clear understandable format.

We seem to have a constant flow of new books and ideas, with dangerous Liberal leanings. We are repeating history, but if we were to teach the basics of Church history, we would be more equipped to avoid repeating that history.

Our role as teachers of the flock is to take the fragments of God’s Word and plan certain together in a beautiful tapestry that the Church can draw on, helping them to understand God, the Bible and the Church.

It’s not a difficult thing to accomplish, we just need to put in some study and prayer.

John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (NIV)

Technorati Tags: bible study home, bible timeline, bible timeline chart, education, General, reference, religion, research, resources, software, spiritual