TEXT: Hebrews 1:1

SUBJECT: Children's Sermon #24: Bible Reading

Dear Children,

Today's sermon was prepared with you in mind. Though I hope your mom and dad and other grown-ups listen too, I want to preach it especially to you. So listen carefully and be ready to answer the questions I ask you.

Last month, I began a study of The Means of Grace. What are they? They're ways we stay in touch with God. If your friend moved to Florida, you could call him on the phone, write him a letter, or communicate with him by e-mail or on the Internet. You can do these things with your other friends.

But what about your Best Friend--God? How do you stay in touch with Him? You do it through the means of grace. The most important ones are Prayer, Bible-reading, and Church.

Last time, I talked about prayer. That is Talking to God. Today, I'm going to talk about reading the Bible, which is Listening to God.

GOD CAN SPEAK.

Our verse says so, doesn't it? "God has spoken". He doesn't babble, He speaks. The Scripture says this--all over the place. In the first Chapter of Genesis, we read these words ten times, "And God said..."

If you think ten times in one chapter is a lot, how about Psalm 119? In that one Psalm, God's Word is mentioned 175 times!

God often spoke to people in the Bible. He spoke to Noah; He spoke to Abraham; to Moses He spoke "Face to face as a man speaks to his friend". In Jesus Christ, of course, He was always speaking.

God can speak.

GOD SPEAKS IN WAYS WE CAN UNDERSTAND.

What's more, God speaks in ways we can understand. Two years ago, I visited Russia. I heard people talking all the time, but I couldn't understand a word they said! Because they spoke Russian and I don't.

If God spoke in a special "Divine Language" we couldn't know what He was saying! Because we're not Divine. Thankfully, though, God speaks to us in human languages. And in easy-to-understand words.

It's good to be smart, but you don't have to be a Brain to understand the Lord. Long ago, He spoke to a boy--Samuel--in such a way that he knew exactly what the Lord was saying.

Every word of God is not easy to understand, II Peter 3:16,

But everything you need to know--all you've got to know to be saved and to please Him--is put in words that any ordinary person can follow. Including kids. Cf. Luke 10:21.

GOD SPEAKS IN THE BIBLE.

How does God speak? He can speak to us any way He wants to! In the days of the Bible, He spoke to some people in a voice; to other people in a dream; to other people in a vision; to other people in symbols (or, pictures); to others He spoke in the Scripture. God can speak any way He wants to.

But the way He speaks to us today is in His Word, the Bible. Our verse says so. In the past, He spoke to us "by the prophets"--men like Moses, David, Isaiah, Malachi, and so on. But now He speaks to us "By His Son".

"His Son" is the Lord Jesus Christ. You can read His words in the Gospels; you can read what He told the Prophets and Apostles in the rest of the Bible.

We don't need more words from God because The Bible is enough! II Timothy 3:15-17 makes this clear,

The Holy Scriptures can teach you how to be saved and how to live in a godly life. And you know what? That's all you really need to know.

READ THE BIBLE

Because the Bible is God's Word to you, you ought to read it. Should you listen to your parents when they speak to you? Yes you should. If you should listen to them, how much more should you listen when God speaks?

The way you listen to God is to read the Bible or have it read to you.

Reading the Bible is sometimes hard for kids. But everything is hard--at first. Riding a bike is hard--at first. Swimming is hard--at first. Even crawling is hard--at first. But if you stay at it, it won't be long until you're crawling, or riding, or swimming.

The same is true with the Bible. The more you read it and think about it the easier it becomes.

HOW TO READ THE BIBLE

How do you read the Bible?

The best way to start reading the Bible is to start reading the Bible! Do it today.

When you read the Bible, read it carefully. Pay attention; if you don't understand the words, ask for help or look them up in a dictionary. Reading carefully means reading slowly. And, when possible, without things in the background bothering you--like a TV or music.

Read it prayerfully, cf. Psalm 119:18. The Lord can give you understanding. He often does it in answer to prayer. Pray before you read the Bible; pray after you read the Bible; even pray while you're reading the Bible.

Read it regularly, Joshua 1:8,

Read it with a mind to obey God, James 1:22.

But most of all, read it with an eye peeled for Jesus Christ. When I was a boy I used to worry all the time about my dad. If he was five minutes late from work, I would start fretting myself to death. You know where I waited for him? At the window. I stared and stared and stared, hoping to see him as soon as I could.

Have you done that? I bet you have. Now read the Bible that way, looking for the Lord Jesus wherever He is. Sometimes, it is easy to spot Him; other times, it's pretty hard. But keep a look-out for Him. And you'll find Him. Every part of the Bible is about the Lord Jesus--John 5:39. He promises to show Himself to those who look for Him--Jeremiah 29:13.

THE BLESSINGS OF READING THE BIBLE

Reading the Bible is never a waste of time. In fact, God says there's a blessing for everyone who reads it--"Blessed is he who reads and they who hear the words of this prophecy"(Revelation 1:3).

How does it bless you?

By showing you the way of salvation.

But most of all, it's good to read the Bible because it brings you into the company of God, Psalm 16:10.

WHAT IF YOU CAN'T READ?

What if you can't read? Or, at least, you can't read well enough to read the Bible. What do you do? Two things:

Now, kids: God wants your company. One way He gets it is as you read His Word. Now get to it. And the love of God be with you.