New-Fangled Fellers

Agreed. God absolutely uses both.

And both employ certain methods to communicate the gospel.

 

I will agree God uses both.

Contexualization of the Gospel after a certain point will eventually tempt one to lean towards universalism.
Guys like Tony Campolo, Brian McClaren and others are perfect examples of men who have let their feelings for the disinfranchised members of our society, culture to disregard Scripture as the final authority concerning just about every doctrine of theology.
I just think if your not careful you can be tempted to shave a little off here and round off a bit there because you have let your feelings run wild for those who are lost.
Nothing wrong with being relevant, etc... to a point.
The theme I pick up over and over again from emergent church writers or leaders is the fact that they all tend to allow their own particular experiences throughout ministry shape their musings rather than lining up hard to understand situations with what Scripture says.
I think the fellow who is constantly trying to tap into what people think they want out of church are cracking the door open ever so slightly for a belief system that could one day ultimately be based on what they feel or experience rather than what Scripture says.

AAG, nothing wrong with bring folk together to hear the Gospel. Yet the closer Christ got to calvary the smaller the crowds became. It is a narrow path.

What you draw them in with is more than likely what you'll have to continue to use to keep them.

I'm not a calvinist and by saying that I don't want to disrespect any calvinists plenty of them are evangelistic. Yet I'm not a believer in praying a quick prayer and then living like nothing has ever happened or changed.

BTW, I can read greek. I'm no scholar who should teach it in a seminary but if a greek new testament was all I had in this world to lead a group of people I would make do. I guess I would have to translate it then preach.

For the record I didn't start these couple of threads. I really wished I hadn't chimmed in at all. I still believe what I believe yet I believe it takes all kinds of people to reach people with the Gospel. I was obviously put on this earth to minister to a certain kind of people etc.. just like other people are etc....
In a nutshell I just think we should be careful to let our doctrine govern our evangelism not vice versa. Other than that I really don't have much to say.
I'm just thankful that Jesus finished what He started. He is alive! Lets celebrate that this Sunday. God bless each and all who will share the greatest story ever told this Sunday.
May God grant every pastor who faithfully proclaims His word great unction,passion and power to let all who are in their midst know for certain that Jesus is the only hope for a lost and dying world.

Good night!

 

How many of you have preached from your laptop?
you know, not printing your outline out, but usint the laptop in the pulpit.

 

Not I.

 

I tried using my palm pilot once...it was a joke!

J

 

The vast majority of the younger missionaries on deputation are using Power Point, and using it very effectively. Some of us fossils are gradually converting to it, and I have seen some excellent presentations. I'm in favor of anything technological that helps us do the Lord's work better.

I used the old style slides on my furlough ending last year, and my own son, bone of my bones and blood of my blood, called me "old school." Sigh. I guess I'd better convert by next furlough or else.

 

Great post rbell

Good to see you over here, too! </font>[/QUOTE]I'm like a bad penny...I just turn up anywhere...

 

better watch out, by then power point may be "old School"! hahahahaha

 

tinytim, I guess there is no way I can keep up with you whippersnappers! Last furlough I even shocked a young missionary candidate by finishing my slides with a sunset! She had been taught never, ever to use that old cliche. But I figure, hey, since no one uses sunsets anymore, why not be original and try it again?

 

We need to use the best method we can find to present the Lord's message to the people He has given us the priveledge to serve.

Examples:
Jesus talking to disciples (fishermen) Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.

Jesus and the woman at the well... The water which I give you....

Jesus'message was clear and consistant, but his method was tailored to the listener.

Paul did the same thing as his Master did. Run the race. Buffet my body... Rome was very interested in athletics, in his day.

I have been pastoring since Oct. 2004 ( I did use tech more with the youth and children while youth director and interning.) and Ressurection Sunday was the first time I used the projector and power point to aid in preaching. I placed all of the references, and only references, on (24) slides. I did a comparison of Jesus and the Passover Lamb from the O.T. and the Gospels so lots of bouncing around. I have been accused of doing Bible drills in the past and anticipated some non-regular attenders (unchurched, except for holidays) and wanted to avoid embarrassing anyone.

One of my concerns about using the projector here is that most of the congregation are over 65 and this is a farming community. The method would not particularly suit the situation. In a couple of weeks I intend to intruduce a couple of songs (public domain, of course) that are not in our song books and will likely use powerpoint slides for them.

Another concern is that I suspect that some of the members of the congregation may not read their Bible outside of church services. I want them to have an opportunity to look up the passages.

Technology is a fine tool, but,like any tool, should be part of a collection, not the only tool you use.

I do, however, provide a copy of my outline, without the passages, on a rack for the congregation totake notes on.

 

sorry, got to preaching.... We need to be relevant to our culture. If that is newfangled, then Jesus was newfangled also, was what I meant to say.