Author: Tim Ehrhardt

I'm just a common ordinary pastor, chaplain, father, grandfather, and dog owner who loves the smell of a genuine leather Bible and the aroma of its message. I'm on a quest to track down the best Bibles, how to best read and use them, and to discover the encouragement inside.

Joshua 1:1-11

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year ALeave a comment
            The ancient Israelites had been delivered from Egypt, wandered through the desert for forty years, and, after the death of their leader Moses, were standing poised and ready to enter the land promised to them.  But it was not going to be a cakewalk.  There were pagan peoples entrenched in the land and it would be no small accomplishment to conquer their territory.  Joshua, Moses’ young aide, now leader of the people, would be the one to go before them in battle.  He was likely nervous, even downright scared. 
 
            So, the LORD came to Joshua and told him to be strong and courageous, to not be afraid to claim the good promise of the land.  The path to success for him, and all of God’s people, would not be by the physical sword but by the sword of the Lord, the Word of God.  “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.”
 
            A faithful knowledge and careful adherence to Holy Scripture comes through meditation.  There needs to be among God’s people a continual rumination upon God’s Word.  We sometimes wonder how to address and deal with certain situations and problems that seem as large as taking the Promised Land.  The place to begin is by going to the Word of God – not just in an impatient question-and-answer manner, but in a slow, deliberate, contemplative way.  True spiritual success comes not only through acknowledging that the Bible is God’s Word, but by the means of meditating upon it continually.
 
            Scripture memorization is a discipline worth pursuing.  Having large chunks of the Bible within our minds and hearts helps us to draw upon particular verses and messages when we are facing certain situations.  Also, when we are doing tedious work, we can engage our minds in the practice of meditating on those verses we have committed to memory.  Meditation on God’s Word is not an optional practice if we want to have success in living the Christian life.
            O God, as I meditate on your Word, would you grant me success through confidently living your commands on a daily basis.  Sink the message of the Bible down deep in my heart, and press it firmly in my mind so that I will be strong and courageous to the glory of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 26:16-27:7

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year ALeave a comment
            When the ancient Israelites had been delivered from Egypt through the mighty acts of God and stood on the banks of the Jordan River ready to enter the Promised Land, the LORD gave them a command:  “And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster.”
 
            The major theme of the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy is remembrance.  God’s covenant people were continually exhorted to remember God and his law.  One of the ways of never forgetting what God had done for them was to erect a pile of large stones and coat them with plaster.  This imposing rock structure would stand for generations to come as a continual reminder that God had delivered his people from bondage and brought them into a land in which they could thrive in serving and enjoying the LORD.
 
            As Christians, we can and should have tangible reminders of significant spiritual events from our lives.  Whenever we have a profound or impactful experience of God, it is a good thing to never forget that experience – especially in future times of discouragement or despair.  Whether at home or work, we need to place reminders of God’s grace around us in order to remain encouraged and faithful.
 
            The Lord’s Supper is one of those tangible reminders of God’s grace to us in Christ.  As the community of redeemed people eat the bread and drink the cup, they are reminded of Christ’s once for all sacrifice for sin on their behalf.  His broken body and shed blood are remembered in a corporate ritual that is purposefully designed to help us never forget the mighty act of God in bringing deliverance from sin and a new life.
            O LORD, help us as your people to remember and not forget the things you have done in our lives.  Especially, enable us to constantly be reminded of your grace to us through the sending of your Son, the Lord Jesus, so that we might live.  May the reminders around us keep us faithful and mindful of Jesus.  Amen.

Family Faith Formation

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Exploring Church Ministry BlogLeave a comment
 
 
            The default setting for most people is that they continue being in the present what they have been in the past.  For many persons, the only way they really know how to live their lives is by drawing upon how they have been raised.  Rarely do people’s thoughts and behavior change dramatically without some big-time exposure to new relationships or to completely different experiences.  As a generalization, only when people face insurmountable challenges and unsatisfying solutions do they consider a different path from the one that they have always known.  In other words, people don’t usually change unless they have to.
 
            This is why faith formation within a family is so very important.  If a family’s modus operandi is mostly doing their own thing, like watching their own TV shows in separate rooms or pursuing only personal goals, then faith formation will likely be negligible.  But if a family makes it priority and intentionally pursues eating meals together, discussing shared experiences, and reading Scripture and other works of literature as a family, then the likelihood of a significant faith formation will occur. 
 
            Families may place importance on church attendance.  Yet, if that attendance is not followed through with family discussions and by looking for ways to put the sermon or worship event into practice, then church may have little impact upon any given family member.  Sociologist Christian Smith has discovered in his research that in order to sustain high levels of religious commitment through the adolescent and emerging adult years, several factors are present, including:  a strong faith commitment among parents that provides significant modeling; shared faith experiences in families; personal and family practice of prayer; other supportive faith-minded adults; close relationships between family members; and, frequent Scripture reading, along with the openness to ask questions.  Smith furthermore found that within such families kids had few religious doubts and tended to place a much higher importance on religious faith.
 
            This combination of a teenager’s parental spiritual practice, the importance placed on faith, prayer, and Bible-reading within a family makes an enormous difference in what will happen to that teen when he/she enters the twenty-something years – a time when many young adults dropout of church.  Perhaps one of the most significant reasons why a twenty-something moves away from a sustained faith commitment is that he/she never really had a firm foundation of faith as demonstrated and lived-out within the home.  If our past family situations hold such a prominent place in how we shape our lives, then it behooves us to ensure that as parents, grandparents, and significant others that we make the default setting one of confident faith and serious engagement with Holy Scripture.
 

 

            “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6) is not a promise of the Bible, but a short pithy statement of experiential truth for most people.  A significant way of helping kids to grow a strong faith is by helping families grow strong in their own faith formation.  Churches and Christian organizations would do well to put their energies in such directions.  In so doing, they can be a default setting for a generation of emerging adults.

James 2:14-26

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year ALeave a comment
            Faith, by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  Believe is the verb to the noun of faith.  True faith is not mere intellectual acknowledgment, but moves from a noun in the head to the verb of believe with the hands and feet.  Genuine faith never remains static but always results in responding with action.
 
            I have driven across some impressive bridges.  When I lived in Michigan, I had occasion to drive over the Mackinac Bridge and the Blue Water Bridge many times.  If one is afraid of heights, it can seem a bit daunting to go over them.  Let us suppose that I come to one of those bridges, stop and read the sign that tells all about how and when the bridge was built.  I take some time to look at the large structure.  I conclude that the bridge indeed can hold me and my car driving over it.  But if I turn away in fear and do not cross the bridge, do I really believe the bridge will do its sustaining job?
 
            The Apostle James’ point is that faith and action work seamlessly together.  Biblical faith logically and fearlessly moves right into action and crosses imposing bridges based upon the object of our faith:  God.  Since God is good and trustworthy, we can respond to his Word with appropriate actions.  There are plenty of Old Testament persons that give us example of living by faith.  Abraham did not simply acknowledge God’s speech to him; he acted upon it.  Abraham believed God, that is, he not only understood God’s Word, but his faith was confirmed and counted as righteous because he acted by following through with what he heard.
 
            We like our comfort zones.  We do not typically like to be stretched beyond what is familiar to us.  Yet, faith is a muscle that must be exercised in order to grow.  If faith is not put to the test and placed in positions of stress, it will not grow.  Our spiritual growth occurs when we take the time to hear and understand the Word of God, and then seek to put it into practice no matter what.  We have the same choice and opportunity as all the people of faith who have gone before us.  Let us choose with faith and action working together.
            Lord God, what do you want me to do today?  As I step out in faith, I know that you will hold me up and sustain me in doing your will.  May your glory be shown through my obedient response to your Word.  Amen.