Dr. Ronald Shultz

commented on Jun 12, 2015

Good word, Josh! This is a very big problem within many IFB and other groups who prefer "bombastic" preaching versus "dry" expository preaching. I believe in Spirit led preaching even in an expository environment, but it seems odd that the Spirit never leads anywhere but maybe the same 6-12 subjects for years. Too often the newspaper becomes the driving force or knowing that certain keywords will elicit an amen to what was discussed with someone in private the week before. Sometimes a visitor with the "wrong" attire or accouterments ends up in the sermon.

Lawrence Webb

commented on Jun 12, 2015

Growing up Baptist, I was not aware of the liturgical year. I don't remember even hearing about it in my Bible major in college. It was no more than mentioned in homiletics in seminary. But in recent years, I have come to see its value. It certainly can be a way to avoid the "passion trap" you mention. Week by week, it leads me to consider passages I have never seriously looked at as sermon texts. I do not use a lectionary text every week, but now it is a regular option. Again, you're not as easily led to the "same old same old."

Mike Fogerson

commented on Jun 12, 2015

This a a good word, Josh. It is important pastors preach on a variety of topics in order to give a full and rounded teaching to the flock. To be effective we, us pastors, must be very sensitive and systematic when we look at our preaching schedules. The word is balance. Hamburgers and fries are awesome to eat but their not the best choices for us if we eat them for three meals a day. We grow weary of these foods if they are all we consume. The flock needs variety in their diet. A good serving of systemic theology with a side of practical Christianity and eschatology offers the sheep a balanced diet too. There is also a time to give the people a dish they have never tried (Jewish roots, Revival, Holy Spirit, etc.,) that they know other churches are consuming but these entree's are not served in their pasture. Of course, it is the Holy Spirit who sets the menu, but it is the sensitive pastor who must serve and dish out what the Holy Spirit is cooking up. Again, thanks for the good word, brother.

John Gullick

commented on Jun 13, 2015

Kind of didn't really appreciate this - Because it kind of addresses something I have been avoiding. Thanks for the uncomfortable reminder - Maybe when I get back from mission I will preach on Galations. Did I just say that? Thanks again

Charles Scott

commented on Jun 13, 2015

Good discussion. A half-century ago I was still in Seminary and newly ordained in an "independent" Church. During the years in seminary "what to preach" was a question that occupied considerable thought. Then I had to "preach a funeral" for an uncle who had several children and numerous other relatives that did not attend any church. What to preach? As I researched the funeral material in the Seminary library, I felt dissatisfied. Then, I turned to the Seminary Bookstore and found a newly published ?The Pastor?s Prayerbook? by Robert Rodenmayer, and found many appropriate prayers not only for ?funeral occasions? but for nearly every function in Church and personal ministry. Rodenmayer?s collection has served me well for over 50 years and many of the prayers he references came from the English, Scotch and Irish Books of Common Prayer. The Seminary library also had a 1928 BCP which I purchased . With the aid of these Prayer Books and Bible, at a very young age I was able to select Scriptures and lead prayers that aided a grieving family. I still use both books. The Book of Common Prayer has a lectionary, if used for morning and evening prayer daily, leads one through the entire Bible in a year and through the Psalms every month. I have used the daily readings as the text for sermons. Since each day provides O.T., Psalms, Gospel and Epistle readings (8 a day), there is no question of having a variety of Scriptural subjects on which to meditate and construct lessons. Even at age 76, I marvel at the richness of the ancient, Greek, Latin and English liturgies, and learn more each time I review the day?s texts. Charles Scott

Andy Bright

commented on Jun 15, 2015

This is a good message. The main challenge of most of the present day church is that many preachers and teachers are becoming so lop-sided in their messages. This result is that many Christians fail to experience proper spiritual growth and maturity. My prayer is that God will awaken Ministers of the gospel to the dire need to depend on God to feed his Church ratherthan on our qualifications and experiences. Plase, let's stay focussed!

E L Zacharias

commented on Dec 26, 2019

Paul preached "Christ crucified" and warned about those who brought gospels other than what we commended. Yes, we should be mindful of our pet topics and of the needs of our congregation; but, that said, let's not forget that God came down into our human flesh to encounter our suffering and weaknesses. The passion of all things is the grace and mercy that God applies to our whole situation: physical, emotional, spiritual, temporal, and eternal. Jesus is in the text, always. Christ is always in the message.

Delwyn Campbell

commented on Dec 27, 2019

I preach from the Lutheran Service Book 3-year Lectionary. I do preach from the subject that I am passionate about - the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That subject was good enough for Dr. Luther, and Dr. Walther, and Chemnitz. It was also good enough for John Calvin. On the other hand, it was not good enough for the Popes and priests of Rome. That's why the Reformation took place. Since the Gospel was not preached in all of its purity, Christians did not even know what made them, in fact, Christian. They did not know that they were forgiven for Christ's sake, so they thought that they had to do things in order to earn God's grace or pay in order to receive God's mercy. Today, people proclaim a lot of things that are supposed to benefit the Body of Christ. They talk about faith, but not the way that Luther did, the idea of trusting that God's promises in Christ are "yes" and "Amen." Instead, they talk about faith as if it were a "force that is "with you" to "empower you" to accomplish the things that you want to do. They talk about holiness, but not the holiness that is yours because you have been united through Holy Baptism, by the Holy Spirit, into Christ's death, or the Holiness that is yours because you are Christ's, having been purchased by His blood. Instead, they speak of a holiness that is the result of regulations that you impose upon yourself, or someone else imposes upon you in the name of Christ. It is a holiness that is weak because of the weakness of your flesh, and it offers that which God neither needs nor requires from you, your works. Others preach on God's holy, righteous and good Law, not only to convict sinners but to convince all, both saints and sinners, that they can be justified before God by their obedience, even though God's Word declares that "no flesh shall be justified by the works of the Law." Confusing the 2nd use of the Law with the 3rd, they boldly proclaim that they have been justified by their obedience and that you can as well if you follow their steps. The Law is lawful if one uses it lawfully, but they don't. Instead, they use it to comfort the cold and convict the weak. There is another book, Luther's Small Catechism, that I have also found to be profitable for teaching. While it is simple enough for a child to grasp and a father or mother to teach from - in fact, that is why Luther wrote it, it is profound enough that a seasoned saint can still profit from its study. Sometimes we find ourselves trying to create something new and exciting when we simply need to remove the barnacles from the ship of Zion that our Lord has gifted to us in the proper distinction between Law and Gospel.