What Preachers Won't Preach About

[Alive in Christ]

Mandym...

sounds like an unprepared preacher to me.

And you would be wrong.

Another phrase for this is "shotgun preaching". They are just shooting a scattergun from the hip.

In the charismatic world, yes. That does sometimes occur.

I am referring to Baptist preachers.

Big difference.

Grace and peace.

 

[ktn4eg]

So God can't lead me to prepare a series of messages? God can't bless you through a prepared message?

This lay person enjoys expository preaching. This is not to say that there is never a place for a topical sermon message, but I can still recall some of the good expository sermons from my former pastor (now with the Lord) that he preached some 40 years ago. He'd preach expository from one book on Sunday mornings, from another book on Sunday evenings, and from another on Wednesday evenings.

This relatively new Christian at the time (about 5-6 YO in Christ at the time) learned much from his ministry, especially how to study the Bible from the Historical / Grammatical method. No "proof texts" (usually taken out of context) when he was behind the pulpit.

This "I-Don't-Need-No-Studying" concept reminds me of the story about a preacher who believed in just opening the Bible anywhere and, with his eyes closed, point to a verse on that page, and "Let'er Rip!!!" That is, until this happened to him:
1) His Bible opened up to Matthew 27, and his finger landed on the latter part of verse 5 -- "[Judas] went out and hanged himself."
2) Not satisfied with that, he tried it again, this time opening up to Luke 10 and his finger pointing to the last part of verse 37 -- "Go, and do thou likewise."
3) So he gives it one final try and opens up to John 13 with his finger pointing to the last part of verse 27 -- "That thou doest, do quickly!"

Sure enough, he had his three points, but I doubt seriously if that's really what God wanted that preacher to exhort the congregation to do.

 

[Alive in Christ]

Ktn4...

This "I-Don't-Need-No-Studying" concept reminds me of the story about a preacher who believed in just opening the Bible anywhere and, with his eyes closed, point to a verse on that page, and "Let'er Rip!!!" That is, until this happened to him:
1) His Bible opened up to Matthew 27, and his finger landed on the latter part of verse 5 -- "[Judas] went out and hanged himself."
2) Not satisfied with that, he tried it again, this time opening up to Luke 10 and his finger pointing to the last part of verse 37 -- "Go, and do thou likewise."
3) So he gives it one final try and opens up to John 13 with his finger pointing to the last part of verse 27 -- "That thou doest, do quickly!"

:laugh::laugh:

I too have heard that story many many times through the years.

 

[mandym]

Mandym...



And you would be wrong.



In the charismatic world, yes. That does sometimes occur.

I am referring to Baptist preachers.

Big difference.

Grace and peace.

Nothing planned out means unprepared. No way around it.

 

[Alive in Christ]

Mandym...

Nothing planned out means unprepared. No way around it.

Unprepared by a man doesnt mean unprepared by God. :thumbs:

 

[glfredrick]

So, let me gt this straight... The Holy Spirit is confined to immediate action and cannot work, say, 6 months ahead of time in the heart of the pastor to lead him to preach a series on the letter to the Ephesians?

Not sure where you are getting that from, but not from the Word! :wavey:

This notion that a sermon is more pious if it is preached off the cuff is a lot of hooey, and in all likelyhood the reason so many churches are dying on the vine.

Nothing at all wrong with Spirit-led, prayerfully considered planning and preparation! That is not to say that God cannot work right now, but I'm of a mind that the pastor who says that week in and week out was probably here surfing BB rather than working on his sermon. :laugh:

 

[David Lamb]

Why should believers not have prayed for President Bush, not honoured him, and spoken evil of him? I thought these Bible principles apply to all human leaders.

I agree. I will leave it to American members of the BB to evaluate President Bush - I am not qualified to do so - but I don't think that even his harshest critic could say he was worse than the Roman emperor Nero, who was the ruler when Paul wrote 1 Timothy 2.1-2:

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
​

 

[David Lamb]

A friend told me about this.......
As reported in an article in Your Church magazine, 55 percent of pastors can identify one or more topics on which they would not preach at all or only sparingly, because the sermon could negatively affect their hearers' willingness to attend church in the future.

Among them are:
Politics - 38 percent
Homosexuality - 23 percent
Abortion - 18 percent
Same-sex marriage - 17 percent
War - 17 percent
Women's role in church and home - 13 percent
The doctrine of election - 13 percent
Hell - 7 percent
Money - 3 percent”

http://www.sermoncentral.com/pastor...dium=email&utm_campaign=BetterPreachingUpdate

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I think the real problem is, “preachers deciding what to preach” in the first place.

God’s man should preach God’s message; and let the chips fall where they may.

In my mind, there is a huge difference between "preaching on" a particular topic, and mentioning that topic in the course of a sermon.

I wouldn't avoid mentioning a topic "because the sermon could negatively affect their hearers' willingness to attend church in the future."

On the other hand, I wouldn't preach a sermon that was solely about politics, h*mosexuality, or indeed any of the things in the OP's list. Even when I preached a series with the title: "A Positive Look at Hell", it was not 6 sermons descrbing that awful place! I don't believe it is right to begin a sermon with words like these: "I have called this morning's sermon: 'Same-s*x Marriage'".

 

[Jkdbuck76]

Why would anyone preach politics in the pulpit?

Because their name rhymes with "Messy Hackson" ?

I'm just thinking out loud here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Insg0gVL7Y

 

[Alive in Christ]

glfredrick...

So, let me gt this straight...

Something tells me that you wont. :laugh:

The Holy Spirit is confined to immediate action and cannot work, say, 6 months ahead of time in the heart of the pastor to lead him to preach a series on the letter to the Ephesians?

Sure enough, you got it all wrong. Go back and *carefully* read what I actually said, NOT what your emotions are making you THINK that I said. I made it very clear that both styles of preaching..improvisational and carefully scripted...are good and profitable.

Not sure where you are getting that from, but not from the Word!

This notion that a sermon is more pious if it is preached off the cuff is a lot of hooey,...

Whe ever said that the improvinational style is more pious?? Not me.

and in all likelyhood the reason so many churches are dying on the vine.

In truth, there are a multiplicity of reasons why a particular local church might fail.

Nothing at all wrong with Spirit-led, prayerfully considered planning and preparation!

Of course not. Just like there is nothing wrong with giving it to the church just as God is giving it to preacher. Both are good.

That is not to say that God cannot work right now, but I'm of a mind that the pastor who says that week in and week out was probably here surfing BB rather than working on his sermon

Could be. If God has chose to speak through a particular preacher in a spontaneous style of preaching, it will work out beautifully

 

[Batt4Christ]

Why would anyone preach politics in the pulpit?

One might ask the early pastors of this nation (USA) that question!

But seriously, If one is preaching THE BIBLE, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, one is very likely to hit every topic in the list, INCLUDING politics. You see - they all are related. The political realm is influenced by faith in and obedience to God Almighty, or not. When you preach the Word of God - it convicts and SHOULD guide the voters in the best choice, all without the need to necessarily say a politician's name, or a ballot title!

God knew us in the womb - and indeed before the foundations of the World - children are a blessing - et-al. Are these not Pro-Life scriptures? Yet if a politician is pro-choice, you won't even have to say their name for the congregation to get the point.

What it comes around too - topical preaching is dangerous, no matter what. But when we primarily focus on exegetical preaching of God's Word, under HIS guidance, obediently going in His Word where HE leads - He will inevitably lead us to deal with all of these and so many other "Hotbutton" issues. All without going out of our way to SEEK the controversy.

 

[righteousdude2]

How About Unwed Couples Working in Church Activities?

How about unwed couples "living together?"

I've actually seen churches allow unwed couples to participate in everything from Sunday School to watching the nursery, to drive the church bus, to working in the church office and teaching at church sponsored schools.

Like one, pastor said, if these folks are good enough to come and work on church work days, why should we deny them the opportunity to be involved in more hands-on programs touching and working with people? This could lead to them being convicted of their sin (pastors know it's a sin) and getting married???

The watering down of the church in regard to what is sin and isn't sin is getting to be more than a mild concern! :type:

 

[mandym]

Why would anyone preach politics in the pulpit?

Because it is part of a Christians life.

 

[Alcott]

Are you kidding? Jesus is Lord of ALL. Except, of course, of politics (don't you know?).

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Because it is part of a Christians life.

And other than submitting to governing powers and praying for our leaders how does one preach on politics?

If we are faithfully preaching the word of God we don't need to turn our pulpits into political platforms.

 

[mandym]

And other than submitting to governing powers and praying for our leaders how does one preach on politics?

If we are faithfully preaching the word of God we don't need to turn our pulpits into political platforms.

Its not necessary to do so. But all political issues are moral issues that need to be addressed.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Its not necessary to do so. But all political issues are moral issues that need to be addressed.

Okay, so taxation is a moral issue that needs to be addressed from scripture? Socialised medicine? Government bail-outs of private companies?

Sure Jesus and Paul talked about taxes - pay them.

How about socialised medicine and bail-outs?

 

[mandym]

Okay, so taxation is a moral issue that needs to be addressed from scripture?

Yes, pay your taxes and don't expect others taxes to be collected to be your main support of life.

Pro_12:14 ,Pro_16:3 Pro_16:11 Pro_18:9 Pro_22:29 Col_3:17 Eph_5:20

Socialised [sic]medicine?

Care for others and earn your own living. Gal 6:2 Pro 18:9 Pro 24:27

Government bail-outs of private companies?

Government is not the answer to any of our problems. reliance on government creates slothful people

Pro_21:25 Rom_12:11

Also show me in scripture where politics should never be discussed in the pulpit. And no pastor should endorse a particular candidate not because politics does not belong in the pulpit but because men fail and an endorsement may put your credibility in jeopardy should a skeleton appear after wards.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Yes, pay your taxes and don't expect others taxes to be collected to be your main support of life.

Pro_12:14 ,Pro_16:3 Pro_16:11 Pro_18:9 Pro_22:29 Col_3:17 Eph_5:20



Care for others and earn your own living. Gal 6:2 Pro 18:9 Pro 24:27



Government is not the answer to any of our problems. reliance on government creates slothful people

Pro_21:25 Rom_12:11

Also show me in scripture where politics should never be discussed in the pulpit. And no pastor should endorse a particular candidate not because politics does not belong in the pulpit but because men fail and an endorsement may put your credibility in jeopardy should a skeleton appear after wards.

Your [sic] was not necessary, that is the way socialised is spelled here. This board is not only American.

I have to say that I find your examples stretches of Bible principles. However, we should preach principles, but let the Holy Spirit make the application instead of applying our own invectives. i.e. 'The Bible says 'He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.' and those dirty rotten Democrats are trying to make America into a country of sloths.'

Sure, preach that Bible principle, but there is no need to apply it to elections or a party or a political idea. I think the Holy Spirit can do that.

'Preach the word' the Bible says, not 'preach your political agenda and mould my word to suit it.'

If politics is going to be a pulpit issue we had better be willing to accept those who have other political views to use their pulpit as well.

Of course there is no verse that says 'Don't preach politics' any more than there is a verse that says 'Don't smoke a cigarette,' or 'don't allow socialised medicine.'

BTW, just out of curiosity, how do Colossians 3.17 and Ephesians 5.20 apply to paying taxes?

 

[mandym]

Your [sic] was not necessary, that is the way socialised is spelled here. This board is not only American.

the board is American owned and the server is in America.

I have to say that I find your examples stretches of Bible principles.

I am sure you do.

However, we should preach principles, but let the Holy Spirit make the application

This is not scriptural

instead of applying our own invectives. i.e. 'The Bible says 'He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.' and those dirty rotten Democrats are trying to make America into a country of sloths.'

Those are your words and your unnecessary assumption. I have never said such a thing. Do not read into others words based on your flawed view. there may just be another way to handle it.

Sure, preach that Bible principle, but there is no need to apply it to elections or a party or a political idea. I think the Holy Spirit can do that.

A preacher worth his salt will always make relevant application. A sermon without it is not worth two cents.

'Preach the word' the Bible says, not 'preach your political agenda and mould my word to suit it.'

That is your "invective" not mine.

If politics is going to be a pulpit we had better be willing to accept those who have other political views to use their pulpit as well.

And?

Of course there is no verse that says 'Don't preach politics' any more than there is a verse that says 'Don't smoke a cigarette,' or 'don't allow socialised [sic]medicine.'

I made a case scripturally you have made no attempt.

BTW, just out of curiosity, how do Colossians 3.17 and Ephesians 5.20 apply to paying taxes?

If you are thankful for what you have you are not going to expect others to provide for you.