Are You Being Fed A Balanced Diet?

One of the main reasons we are to attend church is to be “fed” the Word of God. Pastors are commanded to “feed the flock of God”, I Peter 5:2. Since this is true, it is important that Christians are receiving a “balanced diet”. When the Apostle Paul was saying farewell to the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20, after spending three years with them he declared that he had given them “all the counsel of God” in Acts 20:27. He instructed them to “feed the church of God.” Jesus commanded His disciples to teach others to observe “all things whatsoever I have commanded you” in Matthew 28:20.

The pulpit ministry of every church must be based upon the premise that the Word of God is “powerful” and that it has the power to transform lives (see Hebrews 4:12). Man does not possess that power, no matter how eloquent he may be. Paul said that his preaching was “not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” in I Corinthians 2:4. The Bible tells us that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” in Romans 10:17. The pulpit ministry must be feeding God’s people with a balanced diet of Scripture.

For example, the lessons and sermons that are given must be “practical” (applicable to our everyday lives) and “doctrinal” (teaching the truths of God). Christians need the practical to know how to live and they need the doctrinal to be grounded in the Word of God for facing the storms of life and witnessing to others. There should always be a variety of each type.

This diet of the Word of God must also include both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament was given “for our learning” according to Romans 15:4. The New Testament gives us the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and doctrine for the church.

Every Christian must be fed the Word of God, and should, therefore, assure himself that he is being fed a “balanced diet”.