During this coming Sunday's sermon on the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:1–23) I hope you will appreciate the beauty of an open and receptive heart that hears and heeds the word of the kingdom. God's people are a listening community. As redeemed servants who gladly receive God's perfect and precious Word, we do not stand over the Bible as interpretive Lords, excising those portions we find distasteful. We do not stand next to the Bible as equals to God, either. Rather, we stand under the Bible, submitting to its authority. As a community of redeemed readers, we undertake this vocation in God's presence, with his people in a local church, while showing respect to the communion of saints throughout church history. In line with these thoughts, I would like to direct your attention to an article on the importance of the public reading of Scripture written by my friend Justin Borger for Tabletalk. As you read through it, note how often God's assembled people gave their attention to hearing divine instruction. May we follow their example.
