Archive for the Preaching Category
Alistair Begg on Godliness
Posted in Preaching with tags Godliness on June 13, 2009 by Harry11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
- From “A Charge to A Man of God, Part 2, A” based on 1 Timothy 6:11-12
- Godliness or spiritual fitness is expressive of an old word which has fallen into disrepute – piety
- Piety is usually taken as a negative or derogatory term even when it is used among believing people
- We are dismissing what Paul says to Timothy we are to pursue
- One of the reasons we have so little impact on our culture is we have distanced ourselves from the very things that would make us distinctive
- Church doesn’t make us distinctive in of itself
- Religious interest doesn’t make us distinctive
- A concern for spiritual things only puts on par with millions of people across this nation
- It is going to have to be something else and it is
- There is no question that there is a legalism and a self-deceit that is wrapped up in false kinds of piety – Jesus abhorred that stuff in the Pharisees
- Don’t draw attention to yourself be pious, be Godly
- Alistair reads from Lewis Bailey “The Practice of Piety”
- Preaching
- We actually believe the mouth of God is heard through the mouth of a man
“What is the biggest threat to Christianity today?”
Posted in * Favorites, Bible, Preaching on June 1, 2009 by Harry- John MacArthur answers the question posited during a Ligonier National Conference Q & A session
J.I. Packer from “Knowing God”
Posted in * Favorites, Preaching, Regeneration, Sovereignty - God's with tags Gospel on May 12, 2009 by HarryIt is not for us to imagine that we can prove the truth of Christianity by our own arguments; nobody can prove the truth of Christianity except the Holy Spirit, by his own almighty work of renewing the blinded heart. It is the sovereign prerogative of Christ’s Spirit to convince men’s consciences of the truth of Christ’s gospel; and Christ’s human witnesses must learn to ground their hopes of success not on clever presentation of the truth by man, but on powerful demonstration of the truth by the Spirit.
Paul points the way here” When I came to you brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom . . . My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but the power of God” (1 Cor 2:1-5). And because the Spirit does bear witness in this way, people come to faith when the gospel is preached. But without the Spirit there would not be a Christian in the world.
John Stott’s The Cross of Christ
Posted in * Favorites, Grace, Preaching, Pride on May 9, 2009 by Harry
“Preach the cross” (as in Gal 3:1) is to preach salvation by God’s grace alone. Such a message is a stumbling block (1 Cor 1:23) because it is grievously offensive to human pride; it therefore exposes us to persecution.
To preach salvation by good works is to flatter people and so avoid opposition. To preach salvation by grace is to offend people and so invite opposition. This may seem to some to pose the alternative too starkly. But I do not think so. All Christian preachers have to face this issue. Either we preach that human beings are rebels against God, under his just judgment and (if left to themselves) lost, and that Christ crucified who bore their sin and curse is the only available Savior. Or we emphasize human potential and human ability, with Christ brought in only to boost them, and with no necessity for the cross except to exhibit God’s love and so inspire us to greater endeavor.
The former is the way to be faithful, the latter the way to be popular. It is not possible to be faithful and popular simultaneously. We need to hear again the warning of Jesus: “Woe to you when all men speak well of you” (Lk 6:26). By contrast, if we preach the cross, we may find that we are ourselves hounded to the cross.
Paul Washer Street Preaching in Peru
Posted in Ministry, Preaching, Video with tags Gospel on May 5, 2009 by Harry
Seeker Sensitive Preaching
Posted in Preaching on March 16, 2009 by Harry- Seeker sensitive preaching basically is scratching people where they itch, but yet not teaching them scripture
- Helping people with their relationships, finances, etc.
Evaluating Preaching
Posted in Preaching on March 14, 2009 by HarryCriteria For Evaluating Preaching
An elder at my church kindly passed on this helpful list of CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING PREACHING…
In 4 “bullet point” form gives a few things to think about if you are evaluating or considering a preacher when on a pastoral search committee. No doubt there are other things to look for but these are a good place to start.
• Authoritative – this “text” is binding upon believers and not to be demeaned.
• Logical – the train of thought is followed easily and well structured.
• Don’t talk about self – leave “me” of the message (talk about us and them but not me) – points to Christ.
• “Take Aways” – What is the message about, and what is the listener to learn and remember for the day/weeks ahead.
Did the sermon comfort the distressed? – God has made provision
Did it distress the comfortable? -God is relentless in reminding us that “our relationship with Him lasts because He chooses us, not because of our devotion and/or obedience.”
If we only do the former we’ll comfort the self-righteous; if we only do the latter, we’ll lose our audience without Christ. Feel free to add more in the comments.
Recommended Reformed Pastors
Posted in Preaching on October 17, 2008 by Harry- Pastor Braden and two others from the church visited with us on Wednesday10/8 and they gave the following recommendations:
- RC Sproul
- James Montgomery Boice
- John MacArthur
- Ravi Zacharias
- “God’s Sovereignty in Salvation” by Jonathan Edwards
- “Chosen by God” RC Sproul
TFL: "Counterfeit Christianity" ***
Posted in Preaching on June 30, 2008 by Harry- at 10:00 Alistair discusses preaching and the value of systematically going through the bible.
