"The whole life and substance of the church," said Luther, "is in the Word of God." To the Reformer the Word of God was something much more than a collection of sentences or a set of beliefs. It is the living voice of God himself as he speaks to us, revealing, reconciling, energizing, creating, and sustaining the church. This is precisely the way scripture, both the Old Testament and the New, describes the Word of God. Let us examine this dynamic Word, observing first the dynamic nature of the Word, second, men’s need of the dynamic Word, and third, the energizing action of the dynamic Word.

The nature of the Word is vividly portrayed by the prophet of old. As the rain and snow come down from heaven and water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread …