Dwelling in God’s word: whose job is it to ‘pass it on’?

Karl Barth was one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century. He wrote volumes of theology on God’s word. Near the end of his life, he was asked to sum up his theology in one sentence. He replied, ‘Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.’

To me, ‘Jesus Loves Me’ is not just a hymn we sing, but a great summary of the key message of the Bible and of what we believe, teach and confess.

Read Psalm 103, Isaiah 43:1–4, John 3:16, Romans 5:8
and Galatians 2:20.
How do you see these verses speaking of love
as central to God’s word?
Do you think we dwell on the love of God enough or too much?

The good news of Jesus Christ is not just sentimental or a nice feeling of love. According to 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, the good news of the word of God describes events that really happened when Jesus died and rose again for us and revealed himself to his first followers. Sometimes this revelation of the love and grace of God comes suddenly, as did the eye-closing and eye-opening experience of Saul in Acts 9. I once read of a man who gave his new neighbour a Christian book. The man wasn’t interested and placed it on his bookshelf. But 30 years later, when his wife died, he remembered the book, read it and became a believer.

In the Bible, the resurrection stories tell us how Jesus reveals himself to his followers and how they respond.

Notice the different responses in John 20:1–29 and
in Mark 16:1–8.
Who do you identify with? Mary Magdalene?
The disciples? Thomas? The women?

There are many responses detailed in these passages, from sorrow, fear and doubt, to joy, faith and bold confession.

How have you struggled with these same responses when
God seems very absent or very present in your life?

This great news of the love of God in the death and resurrection of Jesus is to be passed on. ‘Go and tell my brothers,’ Jesus says to Mary Magdalene, who seeks to hang on to him for herself. Every resurrection story tells those who have seen Jesus or heard that he is alive to ‘go and tell’.

Read Matthew 28:19,20 and Acts 1:8.

In these texts, Jesus sends people on his mission to tell the whole world. This is a mammoth task. Who is to do this? Is anyone excused because of age, race, gender, busyness, education or ordination?

How do you think we, as individuals and as congregations,
are doing at ‘going and telling’ the message of the
death and resurrection of Christ?

Thankfully, we can celebrate the outpouring of the missionary Holy Spirit upon the early disciples and upon the world. When the Spirit comes, mission happens, as we see in Acts 2.

Read Acts 8, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.

Acts 8 shows how, through persecution, the Holy Spirit scattered the settled church to spread the gospel ‘wherever they went’, while the other verses show the Holy Spirit giving gifts for spreading the gospel of God’s grace.

Have we focused too much on called and ordained pastors to spread the gospel? Have you heard of the 2.2 Principle? 2 Timothy 2.2 calls for Timothy to pass on the word to others, who will pass it on, who will pass it on.

How does this speak to you as a pastor, or as a parent, or as a neighbour?

The word of God is the story of the love of God for all people and his desire for all to be saved through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit calls and gifts us all, in different ways, to spread this good news to every person, to the ends of the world.

Come, Holy Spirit, renew your church to cherish your word and spread it to the ends of the earth, beginning with me. Amen.   

David Christian is a retired pastor and a member at St Mark’s Mount Barker in SA.