TOPICAL

Sometimes we have people ask us why we don't do expositional teaching of the Bible as much as we do topical teaching. It's a good/great question and it is expounded on with great authority by both sides.

I don't really take a 'side' on it so much. I think both methods can be beneficial and bear great fruit.

Imagine dividing your churchy Church into two groups - one on each side of the room. One side is asked to brainstorm a list of things that Christians struggle with. The other side puts themselves in the mindset of pre-believers they know and comes up with a list of things that they, non-Christians, struggle with: vices, fears, relational issues, etc.

After about ten minutes, the two groups come together and compare notes. Guess what? No difference. Both Christians and pre-Christians think about and struggle with:

Marriage

Parenting

Doubting God

Trying to be a better person

Stress and Worry

Pornography and Lust

Materialism and Greed

Forgiving people who have hurt them

Trying to figure out who God is

Loneliness

Divorce

Communication and Sexual problems within marriage

Alcohol and substance abuse

Anger issues

Relating to children

... ad infinitum.

Sure, if we've come to know Christ, we are several steps ahead in knowledge and life transformation - and hopefully ahead in conquering vices thru the power of the Holy Spirit, but I can't think of anything that would interest a non-believer that I also wouldn't love to talk about and hear about.

That said, there has never been a need to 'water anything down' or 'lighten it up' for the sake of an unbeliever. Jesus didn't do that, so we probably shouldn't either.

So here's a simple habit you and your community can use to download Scripture:

Stretch out your right hand as far as you can. Measure the distance between your thumb and pinky. Read that much Scripture only. After you read, ask these five questions and let people answer according to their own thoughts ...

1. What did you like about what we just read?

2. What didn't you like?

3. Was there anything there you didn't understand?

4. What did you learn about God?

5. Regardless of where your faith is right now, if you were to apply what you just learned to some area of your life, what would that look like?

Seem simple? Shallow? Why don't you give it a shot and see? I guarantee you'll notice some interesting, healthy and mature growth dynamics that happen as a result.

And be blessed.