Faith Seeking Understanding: The essence of Christian preaching and teachings
The best approach to life is to believe in God, His promises, etc., and then seek understanding.
Text Daniel 9:1-3; (Matt 22:29-32); Acts 17:10-12
In preaching, we announce Good news from God, and in teaching, we break down God’s word to help with understanding and application. With understanding, we live in victory; without understanding, we make terrible mistakes and fail in life.
The Pharisees and the resurrection (Matt 22:29-32).
They believed in the resurrection, but did not understand, because they did not know the Scriptures or God’s power.
Jacob on marriage (Gen 29:14-19): Jacob had to spend more years to get a wife. Why? Because he did not understand the culture of the people from where he married.
Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden because they underestimated the world God brought them into (Genesis 3).
In the OT, God gave Moses the understanding of life to be given to the believers (Exodus 19-20)
In the NT, Christ gave the understanding to the apostle (Matt 16:18; Eph 2:20-22; Acts 2:42)
Towards understanding what God has given to us:
Secret things belong to God - Thus, we will not understand everything, but we put into practice what has been revealed to us Deut. 29:29; Daniel 12:4,8;13).
God works according to seasons (Ecc. 3; Gal 4:4). What season are we in as a church? What season are you as an individual?
God works according to covenant (E.g., Genesis 9; 15; Lev. 26:45).
The way of salvation: Faith in Jesus, repentance, baptism, holy life (Acts 2:38-41)