THE PURPOSE OF PREACHING

Jesus has given the command to go and preach the gospel. Mark 16:15-16 states, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

When Jesus used the word preach in this passage, he used a word that conveys a unique concept. Preaching is a proclamation of a message. It is a declaring of one’s position. Therefore, it is a very common form of presentation that is heard day after day by someone somewhere peddling their positions, whereas genuine Bible preaching is a very unique thing. Nothing can take the place of real Bible preaching, nor can its power really be measured.

BIBLE PREACHING REFUTES FALSE IDEAS

Over and over again Christ and the apostles challenged the false positions of their day through preaching. Jesus refuted the false teachings of the Jewish teachers of His day. Notice His rebuke of them in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). His denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 is but one example of many incidents of the Lord’s hatred for false doctrine. Though He had supreme love and compassion for the sinner, he hated every false way, for He knew that such would cause souls to be lost. Peter, in his sermon on Pentecost (Acts 2) as well as Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill (Acts 17), are two illustrations of how Christ and the apostles used the medium of preaching to expose error. We must do the same.

BIBLE PREACHING EXPLAINS THE SCRIPTURES

Bible preaching comes from the Bible. It is a presentation and an explanation of the greatest book in the world, the Bible. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, filled his sermon with quotations from the Old Testament. But, notice that it was not just a Bible quoting session; rather he went on to explain the scriptures which he used. There was no doubt in the minds of his hearers as to how these scriptures should be applied (Acts 2:16, 25). Gospel preaching must be Bible based and centered (Acts 2:17-21), but it must also let the people know what the scripture means and how it applies today. A person can read the Bible at home for him self. He can memorize every verse in the Bible, but if he misses the Bible’s proper explanation and application, then he has gained nothing toward growing in faith (II Peter 3:18). Bible preaching is based on God’s Word and is a correct explanation and application of that Word.

BIBLE PREACHING CONVICTS MEN OF SIN

In Acts 2, Peter let his audience know they were sinners (Acts 2:36). There was no misunderstanding him about the matter. He exhorted them to do something about their spiritual condition (Acts 2:40). Peter stirred their consciences (Acts 2:37). Paul’s sermon to Felix caused Felix to tremble (Acts 24:25). Bible preaching is to convict men of their sins and exhort them to turn to the living God.

We need a revival today of the preaching that we hear. We need a return to first century preaching—the kind of preaching that is filled with the Bible—preaching that causes the hearer to realize his condition and urges him to do something about it. Then we will see, as the Word of God instructs, that it is indeed “quick, and powerful, and sharp er than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12).

Author Unknown

“CHRISTIAN” FOOTBALL!!

Quarterback Sneak – Church members quietly leaving during the invitation.

Half Time – The period between Sunday School and worship when many choose to leave.

Bench warmer – Those who DO NOT sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit.

Staying in the Pocket – What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord’s work.

Two minute Warning – The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings.

Trap Play – You’re called on to pray and are asleep.

End Run – Getting out of church quickly, without speaking to any visitors or fellow members.

Flex Defense – The ability to allow absolutely nothing said during the sermon to affect your life.

Half_back Option – The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the evening service.

Blitz – The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer.

Author Unknown

Children in Worship

One of our main goals in life is to help our children and other young people to become Christians who are faithful to God’s Word and active in His kingdom, the church. We want to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). We want them to know the joy of knowing, serving, and worshiping the Lord. Our children should be taught why we worship, how we worship and how to make our worship most effective. Here are a few ideas that will help us train our children to be good worshipers.

1.  Set a good example. Children need to see your worship and the joy it brings to your life. You need to come to the worship assemblies regularly with an attitude of joy and anticipation — not with a sense of drudgery or obligation. You need to sing, bow in prayer, listen intently to the sermon, give joyfully, and partake of the Lord’s Supper meditatively. Children will follow your example, so set the right kind.
2. Prepare the child. Before Sunday, talk to your child about how to act in the assembly. Tell the child why we pray, sing, give, partake of the Lord’s Supper weekly, and listen to a sermon. As you would in preparing him for school, make sure the child gets enough rest the night before to be awake and alert on Sunday.
3. Involve the Child. When singing, help him locate the page of the song. With your finger on his book, point to the words as we sing. Encourage your child to sing even though he may not always sing the right words. When the sermon is delivered, help the child locate the Scriptures cited and/or encourage him to write them down. This impresses upon the child the importance of paying attention. It also stresses that worship is active and not passive.
4. Avoid disturbances. Make sure that your child has gone to the restroom and for a drink BEFORE the worship service begins. Traffic in and out of the auditorium during worship is both unnecessary (with but few exceptions) and disruptive to the worship of many.
5. Sit up toward the front. Don’t follow the natural tendency to sit in the back so that the child does not disturb others. Think positively. Sit close to the front so that your child can see and hear what is happening. You’ll be amazed at how much better he will behave when you sit toward the front, and how much more meaningful worship will be to you too.
6. Follow through. Reinforce your child’s learning by discussing various aspects of the worship period afterwards.
7. Be patient. Children will not act like adults, but with patience and love, they can be taught to love God and worship Him from the heart.

Lester Kamp

Offering the Invitation

On the day of Pentecost, after his sermon, which concluded with the plan of salvation, Peter used “many other words” of exhortation, including the persuasive plea, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” About 3,000 souls responded in obedience (Acts 2:38–41). The Gospel invitation is not as specifically described in other New Testament records of conversion, but can any doubt that those zealous preachers exhorted, persuaded, and invited men to respond in Gospel obedience after they preached to them?

 In spite of both Scriptural example and practical considerations, a move has been underfoot by some brethren for several years to dispense with the invitation. I well remember the pressure put on me to stop extending an invitation at the close of my sermons in a large West Texas congregation soon after I began work there in 1972. The basis of this insistence was that it was only a “human tradition.” That church (as I soon discovered) was (and still is) set on overturning every long-standing practice, even if it was in God’s Word. (I insisted that I would offer the invitation each time I preached as long as I was preaching there, which I did—my entire tenure of seven months there!) That church has moved ever further from the Truth, and it has for decades deceived the public (and perhaps itself) by continuing to employ the Scriptural designation, “Church of Christ” on its property.

 Some preaching brethren have now “outgrown” offering any invitation at all. This is just as well in some cases, I suppose. Some of the “sermons” being “preached” have little in them to produce any conviction of sins that might provoke a public response. Many who still offer an invitation pattern it more after Billy Graham than Simon Peter (e. g., “Come and accept Christ as your personal Savior” or “If you need to respond, please come forward”). If the sermon had nothing to do with the plan of salvation (very likely in such preachers), with such a general invitation how is a sinner to know (1) he needs to respond and (2) what response he should make?

I never assume that everyone in an assembly I address (1) is a Christian, (2) is a faithful Christian, or (3) knows what to do to be saved. Since not every sermon can be on the plan of salvation, I have made it my practice through the years to conclude my sermons with an invitation emphasizing (1) the urgency of being at peace with God through the blood of Christ, (2) what the Lord requires of men for such peace, and (3) the urgency of responding immediately. I plan to persevere in this practice. (Inexperienced speakers sometimes fail in these matters simply because they have not thought them through. However, men who have preached even a few years have no such excuse.)

Dub McClish

Which Is More Important?

1. Which is more important to you? Making sure your dog (or cat) gets fed every day or making sure that your child gets daily spiritual nourishment?
2. Which is more important to you? Watching television or taking time for prayer and Bible study every day?
3. Which is more important to you? The time you spend playing tennis (or fishing, hunting, golfing, etc.) or the time you spend with your children?
4. Which is more important to you? The time you spend adorning your body or the time that you spend improving the inner man?
5. Which is more important to you? What you think of last Sunday’s sermon or what God thinks of your response to the sermon?
6. Which is more important to you? The preacher speaking to you at the door after worship or the preacher speaking to you through the sermon?
7. Which is more important to you? The condition and appearance of your house or what goes on inside your house?
8. Which is more important to you? The temperature in the church building or the spiritual temperature of the church which meets in the building?
9. Which is more important to you? The number of people who show an interest in you or the number of people in whom you show an interest?
10. Which is more important to you? The number of people who speak to you at church services or the number of people to whom you speak? 

Author Unknown