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I am the pastor of “Bunavestire” Church in Chisinau , and as a pastor and preacher my greatest responsibility is to preach the Word of God, to explain God’s Word to people, and to help them understand this Word well enough to be able to live and apply it in their lives in every life situation. This is the greatest responsibility of each pastor and preacher of the Gospel.
As a preacher, in order to explain the Word of God to others, it is very important to understand it well yourself; to profoundly understand it in the context of the time it was written, to know how to apply it in the context of our times, and to make this Word practical for the people to whom you preach the Gospel.
I was blessed by God very much. From the very beginning of my life of faith, I got well acquainted with the inductive bible study method. On the day of my baptism, I was invited to the family of Deacon Pavel Gheorghieş and Svetlana, his wife. Being at home, brother Paul opened a cupboard from where fell a book titled ” How to study the Bible? “. I was very curious about this book because I missed this in my life at that time. I wanted to know how to study the Bible and understand it deeply. I took this book and asked him to sell it to me, but he gave it to me with a lot of love. With this book he gave me the course <a href = “http: //www.precept. I want to know you! ” It is a biblical study of the character of God, about the qualities of the character of God; and this course is designed to be studied in 42 days but it took me two days and two nights because I enjoyed to study this course so much. I had so many questions that I wanted to find out from the Bible, and by studying the Scriptures, I was sure of the answers I could find directly from the main source. Then, Pavel Gheorghieş invited me to Romania and introduced me to the teachers who translated these Bible study books, Mia and Costel Oglice. These books and many more were written by Kay Arthur and were translated into Romanian by Mia and Costel Oglice.They began to teach me how to study the Bible deeply through this method and the Word of God. I am very grateful to God for having discovered this inductive method of studying the Word of God; and for these exceptional people who know the Word of God and live it out through their lives, and teach others how to apply it. Since then, I have been studying the Bible only using this method. Now I am studying Paul’s first Epistle to the Corinthians: this being my spiritual discipline every day.
The inductive biblical study is of exceptional use to me in studying the Holy Scriptures. I want to tell you that I did the theological seminary in Bucharest. I did the exegetic courses, which is the same thing: the research of the Holy Scriptures. And because I already had the skills of inductive biblical study, it was very easy for me to learn the exegesis. I know that for many preachers this is the hardest part when the preacher has to prepare for preaching. I want to tell you, my dear ones, if you will know this method and you will master this method of inductive biblical study, then it will be of exceptional help in preparing for preaching. In addressing certain topics, it will give you a profound knowledge of Holy Scriptures and practical knowledge so that you can apply to every need and every situation in the churches you pastor and teach the Gospel to people. You can apply to every need and every situation in the churches you pastor and teach the Gospel to people.
I have noticed some people who have done a theological institution, when they talk about inductive study they say that they have learned it at the seminar; but I want to tell you that at the seminar it is given an introduction study. People know about observation, interpretation and application but this is just a general introduction, and if someone does not apply this method, they do not know it. I want to tell you that this is the most important thing a preacher must do to study deeply the Scriptures. Here is what the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy when he sent him to shepherd the church of Ephesus. He sent him the first epistle, and wrote in it:
Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:12-16)(NASB)
Paul tells Timothy let no one look down on his youthfulness. He was a young minister; but I want to tell you that you can also be an elder minister and be despised by the people you are pasturing, because people do not see progress, they do not see that you are a man who knows deeply the Holy Scriptures. Study profoundly the Holy Scriptures, and if people see that this spiritual discipline is not in your life, you will not have the due respect that a minister should have in the Gospel. It is very important that your progress, spiritual growth, and growth as a servant in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures must be visible. This happens when a preacher invests in this, and if you are pleased with the way you preach and do not want to grow in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, then I’m afraid you will not realize much in the ministry you do.
In the second Epistle to Timothy, Paul has written:
You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)(NASB)
The adequate man of these verses is Timothy. As God’s preacher and teacher of the Word of God, he had to persevere in the studying the Word of God. In chapter 4, Paul continues:
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
It is very important for a preacher to be dedicated to the profound study of the Scriptures and to make every effort to understand the Scriptures. You cannot preach something you do not understand or understand superficially. If you understand superficially, you are in danger of teaching people wrong things. When you teach people wrong, you endanger your personal salvation and the people you teach. That is why, dear ones, we have to make a great effort to learn.
Translated by Elizaveta Bîrlădeanu