Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church     
 
Pastor Tim Janiszewski - "Take Up and Read!"

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Messages of Grace

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This Sunday
June 5, 2016



Sermon Title:
"Wait for It"



Scripture:
Malachi 3:13-4:6 
Picture
June 3, 2016
 
Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:
 
This Sunday we conclude our current sermon series on the theme of getting through the tough times with God. Our series text has been the little book of the prophet Malachi, the last of the thirty-nine Old Testament documents. God willing, as of the end of our two weekend services, we'll have read every verse of Malachi and received preaching on each section. To wrap up this series, allow me to make a few observations on Bible reading.
 
To begin, sometimes it is worthwhile to take a long time to look very closely at a relatively short piece of the Bible. For instance, Malachi can be read through quickly in about ten to fifteen minutes. Though this may be a worthwhile exercise in some cases, in most cases we do well to slow down. We read one section at a time and let it soak in. We read one paragraph in a section and let it soak in deeper. We read one verse or even one word; we pause to pray and meditate on it; and we soak deeper still. One easily made mistake is that of reading the Bible too quickly, and hence we pay attention only on a surface level. Better to dip down deep! And that is what we have sought to do by taking eight Sundays to listen to the voice of the Spirit through the Word of God in the fifty-five verses of Malachi.
 
In addition, it can be beneficial from time to time to study a Bible book with which we are not very familiar. To be sure, it is uplifting to return again and again to our favorite chapters or verses. They become touchstones for our spiritual life. We only drink of the deep wells of God's "Living Water" Word fully, however, when we consider the whole of Scripture. And that means spending some time in unfamiliar places such as Malachi. I recall comedian Rodney Dangerfield referring to himself by saying, "I don't get any respect." Can we think of other Bible books along with Malachi that don't tend to get much respect? In the Old Testament, how about Deuteronomy? In the New Testament, how about the letter to Titus? Perhaps we do well to spend some quality time with these great writings, along with the gospels, Acts, and the book of Romans.
 
Finally, as we study the Scriptures, I remind us to ask four basic questions.
            (1) What does the passage say? That may seem simple, but it is amazing how often people misread words, phrases, and sentences. Reader's Digest long has enjoyed reporting funny ways in which folks simply get wrong what is written.
            (2) What does the passage mean? This is to say, if the writer were sitting in the room across from you, what would he tell you that he was saying? "What I meant by that passage was . . ." the author would tell you. In the study of language, this is called authorial intent.
            (3) What does the passage mean for my life? Now starts the application. Having discerned what it says and means, how would God have you put it into practice? It may be a call to change your thinking. It may transform your character. It may challenge you to action. It may give peace, rest, and assurance in your heart and soul.
            (4) What does the passage mean for us? This is the one that most people overlook, because in our culture we tend to read individualistically. We don't naturally read with a larger group in mind. But the Bible does. And that group often is the Church. How does the passage apply to all of us at MLEPC? What should we do together?
 
I invite us to pick up our Bibles. Open to Malachi again, now that the sermon series is coming to an end. Read it through slowly, asking the Holy Spirit to speak by using these four fundamental study questions. I'm sure that you will see something new that God has for you and your walk of faith with our church family.
 
And please continue to listen to what the Lord will say to us this summer as we now turn to another portion of Scripture. On June 12, we begin a new series entitled The Journey Isn't Over, as we consider Psalms 120 through 134 on coming Sundays.
 
Take up and read!
 
Pastor Tim

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