Passion for the Word

Here are some reflections on Famine in the Land by Steven Lawson.

How did the early church receive the apostles' teaching?
Look at Acts 2:42

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

They were hungry for the word. A quote from Martyn Lloyd-Jones about the desire for the word of God says "Wanting to listen to the Word is inevitable if men and women are born again and have become Christians ... One simply cannot be a Christian and have no desire for a knowledge of this truth - it is impossible."

What are some results of the word being preached? (The following are quotes from the book.)

Energized Fellowship
As believers grow in the truth, they grow in the Lord, and, in turn, they grow closer to each other. As God's Word purges and purifies our hearts, the quality of our love for one another grows even stronger. A Word-fed church will be a fellowshipping church.

Elevated Worship
Never occurring in an intellectual vacuum, authentic praise and worship is always a heartfelt response to biblical truth. Theology leads to doxology.
The more truth about God one learns and personally applies, the more clearly he or she will see, submit to, and worship Him.
A Word-filled church will be a worshiping church.

Empowered Prayers
The more believers learn about God, the more they recognize their dependency on Him in prayer.
Biblical preaching should always lead to bold praying. As the Word goes out, prayer should go up.
A preaching church will be a praying church.

These are three things that I see at my own church each and every Lord's Day. It seems at each new Lord's Day they get stronger. Today was no exception. I thank the Lord that I attend such a church!

Soli Deo gloria