Featured Preaching Theology

I hear what you are saying but in the words of an old preacher... I'm just like you are... The only difference between you an I, is the Lord called me to preach... Remember the preacher is the overseer not the overlord... I've met dirt farmers, that have better learning , just them, their Bible and the Lord... All these helps are good but if it has the congregation scratching their head saying what did he say?... These are people and most don't have the intelligence you do and me I'm just a lowly laymen but I have been in the church for over 50 years and I've heard a thing or too... And have known many that don the cloth and the pulpit is to look at the congregation, not down on them... I'm glad you joined us but you put on your trousers on one leg at a time just like I do... Maybe there should be a a Baptist Theological Form?... Maybe you would fit in there better?... Did you hear that Admin?... Brother Glen

 

Degrees mean nothing. I have 3, but I might be the dumbest blockhead on this forum.

 

Degrees mean nothing to me also, my wife has a Masters and I have a two year degree.... But decrees are another thing and the only one I know that has a decree is God... His decrees are eternal ( Acts 15:18 ; Ephesians 1:4 ; 2 th 2:13 ), unchangeable ( Psalms 33:11 ; Isaiah 46:9 ), and comprehend all things that come to pass ( Ephesians 1:11 ; Matthew 10:29 Matthew 10:30 ; Ephesians 2:10 ; Acts 2:23 ; Acts 4:27 Acts 4:28 ; Psalms 17:13 Psalms 17:14 )... Brother Glen

 

There are multiple issues here.... and it is best that we not conflate them...

First, the preaching from the pulpit at the main gathering of the church (usually the Sunday morning gathering) should not be a place to preach doctrine for the sake of doctrine alone. To preach doctrine outside of the biblical context in which it occurs is to, essentially, preach topical, hobby-horse type messages. A steady diet of this type of preaching will rot the soul and deprive the members of the local church of everything you've stated you want them to have.

When it appears in a text, doctrine must be taught, explained, and preached. For instance: A message on the baptism of Jesus should include (in some form) an explanation of the Trinity. However, that's not all it should include. It may better serve the congregation to explain the Trinity from Jesus' baptism, but wait for the deeper dive until the Sunday evening or mid-week gathering. Perhaps, though, you might spend an entire Sunday morning message on the Trinity after it is introduced in the message dealing with Jesus' baptism.

A robust "Sunday School" offering on the deeper things of theology or an offering for a small group setting would be best.

The challenge here is that the congregations needs a steady expository diet in which they are lead through book after book of scripture. This expository journey should (and, I would argue, must) deal with, preach, and teach theology. But there is a huge problem preaching theology outside of the biblical context in which it appears. We don't want to have our people be "hunters-and-peckers."

The Archangel

 

A preacher can never go wrong by doing this....:

27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Lu 24

....because 'the joy of the Lord' is our strength:

32 And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures? Lu 24

 

When those texts come up.... sure. Absolutely. Some of the deeper things (as you've listed above) should be discussed. But, those things are not likely to be the main point of the passage. If they are--by all means--preach that theology. If those important theological points are not the main point of the passage, don't confuse your people by pretending they are.

The Archangel

 

2 Timothy 4: 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Enough said... Brother Glen