Pastor Jacob Birch and A Tale of 2 Seas

Both are below sea level.
Both are fed by the Jordan River.
Both have ancient and important archaeological histories.
Both have important modern economies associated with them.
Both witnessed important Biblical events.

The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea... I call them a parable in the sand.

Being so similar at one level... what accounts for how different they truly are?

Simple... one sea receives AND gives away water... the other only receives.

The Jordan River flows in and through the Sea of Galilee, cleansing it, oxygenating it, helping to sustain its life.

The Dead Sea only receives... year after century after millenia the Dead Sea has only received. It takes and takes and takes and never gives any water away (except through evaporation).

As a result the Dead Sea fills up with pollutants and salts and grows more saline by the year and the Sea of Galilee even to today supports a vibrant aquaculture and tourism industry.

The lesson?

Sometimes we as Christians think that we go stagnant or stale or "just aren't growing" because we think we lack information. We think we need to hear "deeper" teaching or more expository or more practical or more theological sermons.

Maybe what we need is simply to regurgitate for someone else just one of the many, many sermons, outlines, studies, courses, blogs, podcasts or articles FIRST, then go hunting for that next new deeper teaching.

Maybe what we need to do is not listen to another sermon, podcast or email forward UNTIL WE HAVE ACTUALLY sat someone down over coffee and shared our faith or read the Bible with one of our kids, answering their questions as we go or gone to the old folks home and held an impromptu hymn sing followed by a time of sharing our testimony.

Note the emphasis in Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 78 and 2 Timothy 2. In each case we are to first ensure our own growth but then to immediately set about imparting the knowledge of God we have to those around about us.

Feeling stale? Don't be a Dead Sea Christian and settle for more information... it might make you toxic. Get out there and put some of what you already know into play before looking for your next fill up.