Comments on: Preaching and Postmodernism (Part 2)

By: Ronald Goetz

Ronald Goetz — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:07:41 +0000

Peregrin Joe, keep thinking.

Jesus used the very narrative style criticized in the article above.

Peregrin, there are ministers who are only capable of preaching what they’ve heard others preach. They “steal” their topics, Scriptural support, their outlines, even their illustrations from one another and lift them from books of sermon “helps.” What does God say?

“Therefore behold, ‘I am against the prophets,’ declares the LORD, ‘who steal My words from each other.’” (Jer. 23:30)

Peregrin, God gave believers the same authority he gave to Jesus. (“When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.” Matt 9:8) If Jesus is our example, then our preaching will resemble the preaching of Jesus.

“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matt 7:28-29)

What was Jesus doing those thirty years or so before he began his recorded ministry? He was watching, listening, and studying. He could have done what any other bright young Jewish boy usually did, become a pharisee or a scribe.

But no, he went and “complicated” his ministry and his life, thought through the issues (yes, he used his brain — amazing!), questioned the examples of ministry he saw before him, and had a very brief but effective ministry.

Did Jesus “outsmart” himself? Well, his ministry ended up getting him killed. Maybe he did. Not.

By: James

James — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:16:04 +0000

It worked for me.

The two best pieces of advice I ever received on my spiritual journey were…

1. Things are only as complicated as I need to make them to avoid taking the action that God wants me to.

2. Take the cotton out of my ears and stick it in my mouth.

Sometimes we “outsmart” ourselves.

Grace and Peace.

By: PeregrinJoe

PeregrinJoe — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:08:15 +0000

James: Yeah, that’s real helpful.

By: john

john — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:19:45 +0000

peregrinjoe.
Jesus preached in the synagogue using scrolls much like our preachers today would preach in a church using a scroll/Bible. Also, He preached in the streets much like a modern day steet preacher. Just wanted to throw that in.

By: James

James — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:29:05 +0000

Peregrin Joe.
Stop struggling and start listening.

By: PeregrinJoe

PeregrinJoe — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:54:49 +0000

I have to admit that I really struggle with this whole idea. It seems to me that in the days of Jesus, He preached in a way that was culturally relevant to His people. Paul, Peter and John did the same. The way people preach today is certainly influenced by our Western culture. The way many preachers give their sermons today is hardly counter-cultural even if the message is. I can’t see Jesus standing behind a giant wooden pulpit wearing a suit and given three points on a passage. So where did that come from? Our Western culture, that’s where. Jesus spoke in a way that was uniquely Eastern because that was His culture. So who decides what a “Biblical” method of preaching is exactly? I thought the point was to communicate the truth of God’s Word in a way that makes sense to those who hear.

By: Jon Wymer

Jon Wymer — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:02:01 +0000

Scripture has one message, and that is God’s grace in real lives. Jesus didn’t die at Calvary to save a culture. He died to save people. We miss the purpose of Gospel ministry when we seek to change the culture directly, rather than through the lives of the redeemed.

By: Morris Brooks

Morris Brooks — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:27:52 +0000

You know, Chris, everyone one whom I have heard say what you just said has eventually changed the message. Some, probably like yourself, are well intentioned, while for others it is just a smoke screen to hide their real intentions; but none the less the message does get changed.

Methodology does matter. What we dress the message, the gospel, up in does have an impact on the message itself, much less how it is perceived by the hearer.

Additionally, we do want to be distinct, different from the world, because what we are speaking about and presenting is contrary to every culture that has ever existed; and though each culture make look different on the outside,at their heart they are all the same. Israel was judged by God because it became like the nations around it, which was what God warned it not to do. The command for us is no different, “Come out of their midst and be separate.”

We, as salt and light, don’t engage the culture, we confront the culture. And it all begins in the pulpit. As the pulpit goes so goes the church, and the minute the message starts to change, even in the slightest, so does the church.

Morris

By: Chris Roberts

Chris Roberts — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:04:17 +0000

I don’t think it is always bad to talk about culture shaping preaching. This does not mean we change the message but it could well mean we change how we choose to deliver the message. Rhetorical styles change, ways of expressing things change, types of illustrations change, use of technology changes, and so on. These are all in response to a changing culture.

If what we say starts to change then we are in trouble. If how we say it starts to change, that could be good or bad depending on what is being done.

By: Geary Duncan

Geary Duncan — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:34:52 +0000

Sir:
I’ve been thinking of a way to let you know how much I appreciate your writings, books, etc. Maybe this will get to you. If it does, I do want to thank you for your teaching. Thank you, thank you!
I was a musician and Worship Leader but four strokes a year ago haulted that. I am now completing online courses for a Bacholor’s Degree in Ministry. Biblically, I cannot be a minister of the Gospel, but I can learn. I feel God has left me here for a reason. I may not ever know what that reason is but I’m trying to prepare myself for whatever. I was motivated to action by your booklet “FOUND:God’s Will”.
I confess to being in a turmoil regarding Lordship Salvation as opposed to Eternal Security. I find good men on either side of the Word using it to defend both doctrines.
Your CD,”Saved or Self-Deceived?” is wonderful and spurs even more thought on the two doctrines.
I just finished my first reading of “First Love” and will go to “Two Sons”. Then, “Second Coming” and “Different By Design”. How I appreciate your ministry!
You make it difficult NOT to be a “pastor worshiper”
Love, In Christ, To You,
Geary Duncan