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Thank you for joining me on this brief journey designed to help you understand the ministry of Scripture Awakening and how it might impact your life—and let me add— mine as well. It’s a ministry founded on the belief that God’s word is unique; it’s inspired by God. It can change our lives in ways that are glorious.
That may be a strange word to use in this context. But what would it be like if God’s glory showed up all around us and within us?
I’ve asked a lot of people, “What is the greatest single thing that could happen to impact our country in a positive light? You know: To help heal the divisions and factions, not just politically but religiously, between people and the generations. Between races. To give us a sense of what really matters in life; to help us as a nation get our priorities back in order?”
The answer that always comes back to me—almost always—is this: “We need a revival, such as happened historically. We need an awakening.”
And when I hear this answer, I usually agree but I add this. May it be based on Scripture. That is, may it be a Scripture awakening. We have had revivals or awakenings occur through history that have had profound impact, to change society, because the word of God was central. And others have been more emotionally based, and haven’t been well sustained.
If you think about it, this country grew out of these awakenings, based on Scripture. The whole educational system early on in the early days of our country was based on Scripture. You could start by saying Scripture was the primer used to teach young children how to read and write. Early universities—all the Ivy leagues—were founded to send missionaries and to create pastors. These things we tend to forget.
The system of law in this country was grounded in a history of freedom which is founded in the understanding of Scripture. The idea that were all made equal in God’s sight and hence our form of government and our Constitution have roots in the same understanding. The literature, poetry, and art that impacts Western society historically has a Christian heritage. Many of the phrases we used today in the English language come from the Bible. Our code of ethics and the golden rule were derived from the Bible. Based on these values, on the idea that people matter because there’s a God who cares for us and made us in his image—such values became the basis for helping the poor. Historically, all the way back to early Roman society where the church was birthed, women were considered unequal. The church argued the other way. Slaves were considered property. Christians helped make the difference through history. Hospitals were founded and universities established around this understanding.
Even modern science arose in Christian Europe with the belief that there is a God outside the world who has purpose for our lives and who left principles for us to discover. Through our exploration, using our five senses, that is through science, we discovered scientific method. This was based on the Bible and Christianity.
But here’s the real issue. How are we doing today? Some people say things have gotten so far off track, that there’s no turning it back in Western society today. I disagree. I recently asked one of the great historians of revival, “Are things are so bad now that we can’t turn around?” His answer was, “No. In fact, maybe it’s not quite bad enough. Historically, it’s when things get so bad that people become desperate and they cry out to God for help, that awakening truly comes.” So I think we do have hope; we should have great hope.
By way of example, my wife comes from Cleveland Ohio, where the Cuyahoga River which runs through the city and into Lake Erie was so polluted that 13 times it caught fire. The people, government, and on down, cleaned it up. And recently, in 2019, the American Rivers Conservation Association named Cuyahoga “The River of the Year” in honor of 50 years of environmental resurgence. Now why do I say all that? Because if we can clean up a river, God can clean up our lives.
But we need the word of God to be central. And what we’re offering through Scripture Awakening is around the theme read, study, live: A pathway on which you can walk day after day, often taking just two minutes a day. But those two minutes will lead you into more opportunity. Today, for example, you’ve heard this podcast. And each day this week I’m going to offer you something. But following these six days that are to come, we begin a read through the Bible. The read, study, live focus will guide us as I give you commentary and encouragement on your read, and options for whether you want to read: a little bit, just get an overview, or actually go more deeply. And wow, what can happen in just three months. You’ll learn more in just two minutes a day and tune into this website to get even more than that, day after day. And following the read through the Bible we have a lot more in store for you. So I hope you’ll walk with us. Our aim is to impact your world with the power of God’s Word. That’s your life, your relationships, your church (if you are involved in one), and your community. It’s all possible. It’s exciting to think about what might lie ahead.