The Importance of the Word

What is the primary purpose of regular church attendance? Is it fellowship? Worship? Teaching? Or, for some, simply entertainment—or even a place to meet a boyfriend or girlfriend?

Most would say the purpose of going to church is to worship. I can agree with that—so long as we understand how we are to worship.

Worship in Spirit and Truth

What, then, is the primary purpose of worship?
Jesus said in John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Because God is Spirit, He is omnipresent—He can be worshiped anywhere and at any time. We must not think that worship requires a specific location or setting. Worship must flow from the heart, not merely from the lips or through formal religious ceremonies.

To worship God in truth means that our worship must be grounded in the truth of His Word. If that is the case, then what should be the central focus of the church service?

The answer is clear: the teaching of the Word is of prime importance in the assembly of the saints.

The Centrality of Teaching

How can we grow in the grace and knowledge of God without diligent study at home and sound biblical teaching at church? How can we discern error if we do not first know the truth?

One of the great problems of our day is spiritual apathy. We are busy people, often lacking the desire or discipline to truly know God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture. Many are content to simply attend church, listen to a brief “sermonette,” and then leave feeling self-satisfied, thinking, “Well done—I’ve been a good and faithful servant.”

But the Word of God calls us to much more than that.

A Scriptural Mandate

Where does the idea that teaching the Word is of utmost importance come from? From Scripture itself.

In Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus commands,
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Amen.”

Christ’s disciples were commissioned to make other disciples—and that process begins and continues through teaching the Word of God.

The Apostle Paul reinforced this when he charged Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:1–2
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

And again,

2 Timothy 2:15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The Modern Church and Entertainment

Sadly, for many today, expository preaching and sound teaching have become “old-fashioned” or “boring.” In their place, churches often substitute worldly entertainment. Truth becomes secondary to amusement.

In past generations, the church boldly stood against bringing the world’s entertainment into the house of God. Today, however, many churches will do almost anything to draw a crowd—so long as seats are filled and offerings remain strong.

As long as people are not challenged in their preconceived religious notions, they are content. Many know what they believe but have no idea why they believe it—other than that it’s what they’ve always been told.

Tested by the Word

There are countless religious groups and traditions in the world, each with its own set of paradigms and ways of thinking. But if we truly desire truth, everything we believe must be tested by Scripture.

We must be willing to let the Word of God confront and even shatter our false assumptions. The danger lies in merely following along the same well-worn “cattle paths” of belief that others have set before us.

Instead, we must be like the noble Bereans, who “received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

May our churches once again center themselves on the faithful teaching of God’s Word.

Soli Deo Gloria

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Greg Flannery is a Bible Teacher at Redeemer Church of Piketon, Ohio.