Articles
Bible Classes
The book of Psalms opens by describing the blessed man: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (1:2).
In another place the Psalmist wrote, “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (119:97). A few verses later he likened himself to a hungry animal: “I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for Your commandments” (v. 131).
Luke noted the Bereans’ superior disposition: “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
Peter urged Christians, “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:1-3).
Jesus Himself preached, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
Most congregations these days have Bible classes on Sundays and Wednesdays, with additional studies from time to time. Our classrooms are comfortably furnished and sufficiently equipped for sight and sound. Children’s classrooms are especially colorful and filled with visual learning aids.
The classes themselves are usually good quality. We follow a planned curriculum in order to present a balance of material. Thankfully, gone are the days when the class consisted of a “teacher” who went down the rows, had each student read a verse, then asked what it means, usually to be met with, “I think it means what is says” or some equivalent. While some depend too much on their “gift of gab,” many churches are blessed with teachers and/or students who study thoroughly and can supply insightful analysis.
Many churches have something else in Bible classes: sporadic attendance. Why is that?
The answer is in the verses cited earlier. Hungry people do not have to be begged or prodded to come eat, and when they come they do not have to be spoon-fed. As surely as lack of physical appetite is a sign of sickness or decline, lack of appetite for spiritual food is also a danger sign: there is a heart problem.
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you. . .” (Colossians 3:16).
