Sunday morning sermon

Dr. John Goetsch does a sermon which is entirely quoted Scripture verses. Ive never heard him do it, but I have heard that it is very powerful.

 

It wasn't a sermon, but there is a guy that memorized one of the Gospels and presents that in various churches. Can't remember what his name was, but I saw him on TV last year.

 

The Nightingales with Wordsower do that. They were here last year. I wouldn't want to see that on a regular basis, but it was a very nice novelty.

 

I saw a guy memorize Revelation and present it as John... costume, props and all.
It was very COOOL!

I have trouble memorizing my address.
seriously... now was that box 885 or box 855, or box 558, or Well see?

 

Remember, to "preach" means to proclaim the Word. What is a "sermon" unless it is mostly Scripture? Why are there so many preachers who open with one or two verses and basically chat or give autobiographies or get on soapboxes the whole rest of the time where the actual "message" is loosely based on the opening text. I have the greatest respect for those who spend enough time in the Word to memorize it and proclaim it with an understanding intonation. If what you have to say is not Scripture, it should be clarification, explanation, or application of the Scripture.

BTW, I heard Dr. Raymond Barber speak a few weeks ago, and I really appreciate his vast memory of Scripture and his love for it.

 

AresMan:

It is called a Texas Springboard and is very bad form.


S. Anderson:

Sounds like a Ruckman type of sermon. The only difference is that he would get up and quote the whole New or Old Testament while completing a chalk drawing.

 

I find the effort to hide God's word in your heart commendable. As well, to share God's word with others.

However is this the pattern of a prophet/preacher/pastor? Consider the following:
Nehemiah 8:1 And all the people gathered themselves together ... and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses...
3And he read read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday,...
4And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose...
6And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground...
8So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading reading .

and

1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (KJV, of course )

Reciting from memory, while a novelty (if not an ostentatious show of pride) is, I believe from the Scriptures listed above, the pattern for one who preaches.
From the above scriptures we see:
1) Read the Word
2) explain it to the people (understanding, doctrine)
3) exhort (call them to obey what they now have understood)

Basically - good hermeneutics:
1) Observation - what does it say - read the text.
2) interpretation - what does it mean - explain the text.
3) Application - how do we live this out - where the rubber meets the road!

John
Col. 1:28

 

Another thought: This reminded me of a story:
A famous actor was once the guest of honor at a social gathering where he received many requests to recite favorite excerpts from various literary works. An old preacher who happened to be there asked the actor to recite the twenty-third Psalm. The actor agreed on the condition that the preacher would also recite it.

The young man, trained in the best speech technique and drama, gave, in the language of the ancient silver-tongued orator, the, words of the Psalm. His recitation was beautifully intoned with great dramatic emphasis for which he received lengthy applause.

Then the old gentleman, leaning heavily on his cane, stepped to the front of the same platform, and in a feeble, shaking voice, repeated the same words-"Lord is my shepherd. . ." The preacher's voice was rough and broken from many years of preaching, and his diction was anything but polished. But when he finished there was not a dry eye in the room.

When someone asked the actor what made the difference, he replied, “Friends, when I recited the psalm you applauded, when he recited it you wept. The difference? I shall tell you. I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd"

Take it for what it’s worth !?

 

Missed the NOT and missed the window to edit the post

 

Yes. As an introduction to a series on the Sermon on the Mount, I've recited Matt 5-7 from memory.

 

I would agree that quoting a passage,book, chapter of Scripture alone without exposition is not preaching it is quoting. I'm sure it was benefical to the hearers but still it is not preaching it is reciting. There is a difference as the brother above mentioned.