SoundOff

Context

Once can't say enough about the importance of context in understanding any piece of literature, Scripture is no exception. Words gain their meaning from context and without the context of usage in direct focus, one can not adequately gain the intended meaning of any given word used in scripture.

How often do you hear people refer to a passage like:

^{NAU Acts 2:42 They were continually
devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
and then go off and apply
it to cookies and punch at the end of a meeting. A closer look at the "context" surrounding the use of the word in the New Testament
reveals something far more than just enjoying conversation around food. John Stott points out in 1,2,3 John, fellowship is always
used in the context of persecution.
Speaking of persecution, often we hear people refer to "suffering" as in 1 & 2 Peter and
relate it to "our suffering today". The immediate correlation to the average hearer is to their sore big toe or flu they
just "suffered" through. Obviously, God is concerned about these things but the "context" of 1 & 2 Peter would something
far more serious but yet important - the suffering that is a result of standing up to proclaim the salvific message of Jesus
Christ amidst a hostile audience.

The next time you read a passage of Scripture, considering what the author intended to say to you.}

Missions Teaching in the Church

One of my pet peeves in the church today is the lack of teaching from scripture on missions. Too many pastors are quick to "gold mine" for practical application to make the passage relative to where their people are today. In doing so, they miss the very "mission" context of the passage they are preaching from. Sometimes we can't relate to the passage because we are not doing what God wants us to do!

Take the opening verses of I Peter 1 -

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen (NAS)

Who are all these people Peter is writing to? Why is concerned with them when they live so very far away? How did he get to know them and how did they get to where they are anyway? How in the world would they know anything about the Gospel being so far away?

Maybe Peter should be complaining to God that the dispersion from persecution in Jerusalem just crushed his "vision" to build a new mega-synagogue in the area! After all, he had preached to thousands and was about to have the largest Christian church in the world and God let them scatter to the winds!

Too often in churches today short termers get to do the front & center teaching on Missions - that is unfortunate for most of what they have to say is from limited, directed experience and not from study of the scriptures. Its time for pastors to consider that little world again - CONTEXT - and teach what God intended to teach!