Reflections on Twenty Years of Ministry: the Adequate Word

This is the tenth of a series of reflections of gratitude on 20 years of ministry at GBC.

To say that the Scriptures are adequate is something like saying that a bazooka is adequate to kill a mosquito or that a Lamborghini is adequate to defeat a bicycle in a ten-mile race.  When we say that the Bible is adequate, we mean that it really will give you enough to sustain you.  It really is all that you need.

We unashamedly love the Scriptures at GBC. We take seriously passages like 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  We really believe that all Scripture is profitable and that it is all that we need for life and godliness and that it really will transform people into the image of Christ.

All Scripture is profitable.  Even Chronicles.  And all Scripture can be used to produce maturity in the life of the believer.

Now not everyone appreciates that.  Some want “something more” than Scripture.  The Bible is okay, but be sure to tell enough funny stories, or give a list of four “to do” items so we know what to do after Sunday morning.  The Bible is good, but just don’t do too much of it.  To that end, someone once told me that at GBC we are Bible worshippers.  He meant it as a criticism.  I took it as a compliment.  I took it to mean that we take seriously the Word of God and its truthfulness and reliability.

As someone told me in the past couple weeks, “I’ve always said, ‘the Bible has answers,’ but I’m starting to see that it really does have the answers for how I need to live…”  Yes, it really does.  It really is adequate.

A year or two after coming here I ran into a seminary acquaintance at a concert in Fort Worth.  The motto of our seminary is “Preach the Word,” so he asked me, — “Does it really work?  Does it word to simply ‘preach the Word?’”

I don’t remember what I told him, but I know what I would say today — “If you mean, “will it give you a big church?” maybe it will work and maybe it won’t.  But if you mean, ‘Will it transform people into lovers of Christ and equip them to serve Him and will it sustain you and the church for ministry?’  Absolutely yes, a thousand times yes!”

That is why I am thankful for the Scriptures.  They really are adequate.