Many years ago, in the early days of radio, in a certain central Pennsylvania town, there was a radio station that carried “The Bible Study Hour” with Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse. The problem was that the station was so remote from the transmitting station in Philadelphia that often on a Sunday evening another signal, from New York City, would often bleed into the Philadelphia broadcast. Instead of Barnhouse, the New York City station would be broadcasting the morning sermon of a New York City preacher.
Over time a woman listener wrote to Dr. Barnhouse telling him of the problem, and her sure-fire remedy. She said, “If I hear a voice talking about the dignity of the human personality, I know that I’ve got the New York station. But if I hear the voice saying that a man must be born again, I know that I have Dr. Barnhouse from Philadelphia.”
Within that exaggeration is a profound truth; a truth that is at the heart of our ministry at Hebron. I am convinced that a ministry that seeks to exalt mankind can, in the end, do no good for mankind. On the contrary, the ministry that sets forth the truth of man’s complete ruin in sin and God’s perfect remedy in Christ, can best reach the true need of any man and woman, and bring the only remedy that can heal the heart that God has declared humanly incurable (Jeremiah 17:9).
In the middle of June, Tim and I finished a year-long series on our brokenness and our transformation through Christ alone. And throughout the series we heard from many that it was the best series because all of us know what it’s like to be broken in our relationship with God, others, the world, and ourselves. From Scripture as well as contemporary life we saw how Jesus alone can address our two basic needs – to love and be loved and have a sense of worth.
This week we begin a deeper dissection of both the problem and the solution by going back to the beginning of the Scriptures. Have you ever wondered what’s behind the trials, the sufferings, and the difficulties of life? Have you ever wondered why a good God allows such misery? Why did He come to this world as a suffering Servant? And why, if God created all things good are things so screwed up?
Years ago several people suggested that we preach a sermon series on spiritual warfare. The reason they gave for their request was that they saw a lot of people being spiritually bloodied and battered and not appropriating the full armor of God (Ephesians 6). And while I sympathized with them, I felt less than equipped to frame the topic in its proper context. What’s more, I remained unconvinced that the proper groundwork had been established in our preaching to provide for widespread reception of the message.
In the last few months, however, there has been a confluence of two events that has convinced me that the time is right: (1) the completion of our last series; and (2) the digestion of the book The Invisible War by Donald Grey Barnhouse.
I quote from H.H. Ehrenstein’s preface (Ehrenstein is the former Editor of Eternity Magazine and the Director of Biblical Studies Evangelical Foundation, Inc.):
“Two features of the ministry of the late Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse made his witness unique: his tremendous insight into Scripture, and his remarkable ability to bring the truths he gleaned from his study to the Christian layman in such a way as to make the Bible come alive. Those who have heard Dr. Barnhouse teach, and those who have read his writings, can testify that this is true. In The Invisible War, Dr. Barnhouse explored a theme rarely touched upon by students of the Bible: the great conflict which exists in the spirit realm. Although almost entirely unrecognized by mankind, this warfare affects, in one way or another, the life of every person on earth and especially the life of the child of God.”
As we neared the end of our last series, I happened to be reading this book and instantly I thought what a perfect follow-up to drive us deeper in our understanding of both the ruin and the remedy.
We begin this week at the beginning – Genesis 1:1-2. In preparation for Sunday’s message you may wish to consider the following:
1. What do you think is meant by orthodox biblical scholars when they say, “Context is king”?
2. How has your understanding of the meaning of a biblical text and its application been expanded by greater insight into the context of the text?
3. Can you think of any recent examples of this from the preaching at Hebron, your reading of expositional works, etc.?
4. When you read Genesis 1:1-2, how do you read the “period” at the end of verse 1? Is it the end of a truth or more like a comma or the continuation of a thought?
5. Have you ever heard that Genesis 1 & 2 contain two creation accounts? Do you believe that? If so, where do you see a break between account #1 and #2?
6. If God is perfect, how do you explain Him creating anything like what we see in Genesis 1:2a?
7. What does it mean when theologians say God created ex nihilo?
8. How does Isaiah 45:18 bear on the events of Genesis 1:1-2?
9. How is Bible study like fitting a puzzle together?
10. The word “create” is found in Genesis 1:1 and not again until Genesis 1:27. Why do you suppose that is?
Can’t wait for Sunday! See you then!
