Monday Morning Musings is a hodgepodge of contemplations as I begin a new week. Check-in on Monday morning to receive a myriad of thoughts from my vapid brain. The written and audio can be found at www.cornfieldtheology.com

Every Book and Every Word Matters

When is the last time you read and studied 3 John? Not John 3 but 3 John. Several years ago, another pastor and I preached through the short books of the Bible. I was tasked with 2 and 3 John. They are the two shortest books. I recently re-preached my sermon on 3 John. I don’t re-preach sermons often unless I am a guest of another church. But due to travel leading up to the 4th of July, I made an exception. In my study of 3 John, I was reminded how every book and every word in the Bible matters. Every word and every book has something to teach. If you believe all of God’s Word is sufficient, reading Romans and 3 John is an opportunity to be instructed by God. 

What’s the Point? 

You might be wondering, what’s your point? Good for you that God reminded you that every book of the Bible has significance. Well, when’s the last time you read through 3 John or Leviticus? Leviticus isn’t the most exciting book in the Bible. But it’s still valuable. Leviticus is still able to instruct. Leviticus helps build out the greater story arc of the Bible. Here is a verse from Leviticus that has had staying power. 

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.– Leviticus 19:18

I understand that the Law in Leviticus isn’t the most exciting read, but it’s still a part of the Bible. God spoke, and He continues to speak through the Book of Leviticus. 

Cherry Picking

Listen, I love Romans. Paul’s ability to frame a theological argument in Romans is second to none. We are currently going through the Book of Ephesians at Redemption Hill Church. Ephesians is a treasure trove of rich theology, especially chapters 1-3. But there is more to discover and learn, and Bible readers need to resist the temptation to constantly cherry-pick what they read. There is more to God’s Word than your favorite books and verses. Yes, your favorite books and verses will serve your soul, but there is more. Don’t stop after the Book of Exodus, but slug through the remainder of the Pentateuch. Don’t stop after 1 John, but turn the page to 2 John, and then the next page to 3 John. You can spend a lifetime reading the Bible, and there will always be more. 

A Journey Toward Confessionalism

When God poured out the Spirit on my cold dead heart in my early 20s, I immediately plugged into a church. The church affiliated with a network of other like-minded churches, but many considered it nondenominational. It was also charismatic or quasi-pentecostal. I was not discerning at the time, so I accepted the practice and theology of the church.

One day I decided to read the church’s “Statement of Faith.” It took 3 minutes to finish. It was concise, but I am sure a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness could affirm the statement. It wasn’t unorthodox, but it told me nothing about the theology of the church, along with what distinguishes this church from other churches. Instead, the focus is on values or vision. Now, I am down with values and vision, but values and vision should flow from theology. This church wanted its theology to fit its valu