Why We Teach the Bible

I got a call from Catherine today. She's a Sunday school teacher from Michigan who wanted to share an idea for improving the Wesley Bible Studies, which I produce. She also shared a bit of her life and the challenge she faces in living the way Jesus lived.

"As I was studying the lesson for this week," she said, "I broke down and wept. This message is so important for our group, and so challenging. For those of us who are older ... I just don't know if we can do this."

The lesson is based on 1 Corinthians 8, which urges Christians to be tolerant and loving in spite of having different convictions on certain issues. For the gang at Corinth, the issue was eating meat sacrificed to idols. Some would, some wouldn't and the tension threatened to divide the church.

Recently my own denomination faced similar questions over the use of alcoholic beverages. Other Christians are wrestling with the ordination of women, changes in worship styles, and the rise of postmodernity.

These are challenging times not only for Catherine but for all of us who are dealing with the screaming pace of change in the church. Boomers and busters. Moderns and postmoderns. Traditionalists and progressives. Can we learn to focus attention away from ourselves, onto Jesus, and be tolerant of each other when we disagree?

I hope so. And I'm thankful that we have Paul's advice to guide and convict on this very point.

Scripture enlightens us. It comforts us. And just occasionally it kicks us in the pants—as it will this week, when some 38,000 people study this lesson and are reminded that "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."

"I want to thank all of you," Catherine said, "for producing these lessons for us. It helps us so much to study God's Word."

And I want to thank you, Catherine, for doing what you do. Studying God's Word—and teaching it to others—is best tool we have for being transformed to become like Jesus.