Let me tell you the story of two men that have come to faith through NEHBC over the last week and then make a point.
Man A is in his late 50s, married, has a high school diploma as his highest academic achievement, earns an hourly wage, has a very outgoing personality, and is a blast to be around. I would not describe him as intellectual. I would bet he has many friends. He started regularly attending NEHBC in June, 2007. On Tuesday of this week he told me he has confessed Jesus as Lord and frankly, there is no way to describe the man I spoke with Tuesday other than the fact that he is a brand new creation. His testimony to me: "For 4 years I have listened to you preach. I have disagreed with you and argued with you in my head over and over. But every week you get up there and just keep teaching the bible and it finally wore me down and I had to admit Jesus is Lord and He is now my Lord."
Man B is in his early 60s, married, highly educated, quotes poetry, cites foreign books in normal conversation, corporate executive, has been retired for sometime now. I would describe him as intellectual. I would bet he does not have a lot of friends, but nor do I think he minds. He started regularly attending NEHBC 18-24 months ago. Last week, he told me he has confessed Jesus is Lord and wants to be baptized. His testimony to me: "Every week you get up there and just logically explain what the bible says and I started noticing over time that all the pieces of the bible actually do fit together and there are no contradictions. I realized the bible is right and I needed to confess Jesus as Lord."
My point: God's Word is sufficient. Do you know how hard it is for an adult man to confess Jesus is Lord? Do you know how hard it is for an adult over 50 to confess Jesus as Lord that late in life? These men are nothing alike; they are from two totally different walks of life. Both had hearts made hard as steel from pride and self reliance. How hard? How about 4.5 years of sermons before one of them broke? How about 1.5 years of sermons before the other one broke? As the former told me, every sermon was like a wave of water that washed over his heart eroding the bad things in him until it softened him up. Two totally different kinds of people who both came to faith because of the power of God's Word.
All Scripture is God breathed and SUFFICIENT for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16) We do not need to add to it, we do not need to take anything away from it, we do not need to spice it up, we do not need to soften its blow, nor do we need to apologize for what it says. Do you believe in the sufficiency of God's Word?
Man A is in his late 50s, married, has a high school diploma as his highest academic achievement, earns an hourly wage, has a very outgoing personality, and is a blast to be around. I would not describe him as intellectual. I would bet he has many friends. He started regularly attending NEHBC in June, 2007. On Tuesday of this week he told me he has confessed Jesus as Lord and frankly, there is no way to describe the man I spoke with Tuesday other than the fact that he is a brand new creation. His testimony to me: "For 4 years I have listened to you preach. I have disagreed with you and argued with you in my head over and over. But every week you get up there and just keep teaching the bible and it finally wore me down and I had to admit Jesus is Lord and He is now my Lord."
Man B is in his early 60s, married, highly educated, quotes poetry, cites foreign books in normal conversation, corporate executive, has been retired for sometime now. I would describe him as intellectual. I would bet he does not have a lot of friends, but nor do I think he minds. He started regularly attending NEHBC 18-24 months ago. Last week, he told me he has confessed Jesus is Lord and wants to be baptized. His testimony to me: "Every week you get up there and just logically explain what the bible says and I started noticing over time that all the pieces of the bible actually do fit together and there are no contradictions. I realized the bible is right and I needed to confess Jesus as Lord."
My point: God's Word is sufficient. Do you know how hard it is for an adult man to confess Jesus is Lord? Do you know how hard it is for an adult over 50 to confess Jesus as Lord that late in life? These men are nothing alike; they are from two totally different walks of life. Both had hearts made hard as steel from pride and self reliance. How hard? How about 4.5 years of sermons before one of them broke? How about 1.5 years of sermons before the other one broke? As the former told me, every sermon was like a wave of water that washed over his heart eroding the bad things in him until it softened him up. Two totally different kinds of people who both came to faith because of the power of God's Word.
All Scripture is God breathed and SUFFICIENT for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16) We do not need to add to it, we do not need to take anything away from it, we do not need to spice it up, we do not need to soften its blow, nor do we need to apologize for what it says. Do you believe in the sufficiency of God's Word?
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