Hearing the Word

I was just reading an article by Jill Austin. A phrase lept out at me:

The Church has had 2,000 years of teaching, and yet the Bride still has not made herself ready.

So what has happened to all those words, all that theology? I personally believe that preaching is for outside of the church. Not just shouting the Bible at people as they scurry past, but demonstrating the Kingdom in lifestyle, action and word.
The 'preaching' in the Church should be for teaching and encouragement of the believers. This has, however, become a lecture course scenario. The Christian life is not meant to be an academic exercise, but a relationship with Jesus. If we look at Jesus' model, He preached to the crowds (unbelievers - eg the sermon on the mount) and demonstrated the truth of His words with all kinds of miracles. When it came to explaining those sermons to the small band of disciples, He talked informally with them in a relational situation.
Could it be that the Church has been talked into apathy. The theology eminating from the pulpit speaking of unattainable goals with precious little practical application to bring about a change of heart and lifestyle. So often the image is of a leader (vicar, bishop, pastor, preacher) trying to push the crowd into action. True leadership is where the leader allows and encourages others to follow. This is leading by example. This is relationship.
In this closer knit environment, believers are encouraged to grow and mature and are supported in love as this process continues. The strap-line for the 'Noise' reads - 'actions speak louder than words'. This is the same for teaching, discipleship and leadership.
It is not an accident that schools, colleges and universities use tutorial groups as the main stay of the course. Yes, they have lectures, but the real interaction, interrogation and application occur in those smaller groups. It is where the subject becomes real. With Christian teaching we have to understand that it is the Spirit who will 'lead us into all truth'. As we fellowship together in relationship, sharing in the Word it becomes real. It becomes reality. No amount of Sunday lecturing can achieve this. The lecture hall is a false environment ruled over, in many cases, by power seeking individuals who in reality have very little to say.
Milton, talking of His blindness startes that 'they also serve who only stand and wait' and in some cases this may be true. The Church at large tends to have the mentality that 'they also grow who only sit and listen'. This is definitely not true. We are told in scripture that Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. But we are also told that Faith without works is dead. It is these works, described in Isaiah 61; healing, comfort, works of service etc that are not only works but fruit. Without this fruit the Bride is not adorned for the Bridegroom.

Let us hear the Word. Let us live the Word, through the Word who lives in us. It is this living out of the Gospel message, the values of the Kingdom that will speak volumes to those around us. The old chorus - 'We are one in the Spirit' has the refrain 'They will know we are Christians by our love'. They may recognise us as the popular caricature of a Christian if we preach at them but they will understand the truth if we love them.
Andy Hall