A critical analysis of contemporary preaching. Albert N.
Martin
Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, Essex Falls, New Jersey, USA
(This speech was originally given at the conference for ministers of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church,
at Westminster Theological Seminary, USA, in September 1967.)
regret the negative way that this issue has been treated. I think most of us
have enough common sense to think about the issue itself, and therefore conclude that this
be an attempt to expose the weaknesses in our own ministry. I would have liked the title
were a little more positive. Might have been more appropriate 'Tips for Better
contemporary preaching. " However, this is the issue that has been assigned me, so I will proceed to investigate
within its own framework. By way of introduction, let me say something about my sources
observation. One would have to be omniscient to be able to make final pronouncements and
absolutely precise about what is going wrong with preaching today. This also demand
one has been exposed to all preaching, which had been endowed with gifts
infallible analysis, and on that basis, make pompous and official pronouncements. Obviously, I'm not claiming
none of these things. Therefore, although the sources of my information may be more than
limited, I hope that the observations are, however, valid. It was a privilege to occupy
five years of my call in a full-time itinerant ministry, during which time I explained
large sections of the spectrum of evangelical life in the United States and Canada.
During the next six years as a pastor, I have ministered in many churches and conferences of various denominations
. The basis for my comments are the things I've seen and heard in these
respective ministries. I should also say something about the standard of comparison. One thing is
judged good or bad, in terms their approach to an absolute standard. Of course, in the field of
what is good or effective in preaching, there is no comprehensive standard and unique. However, I think we can take
Scripture the precise standard of what is good preaching, by examining
the preaching of the prophets, the apostles and our Lord Jesus Christ. Another basis for comparison
can be found in the life, ministry and sermons of great preachers of the past.
When I use the term 'great preachers', I'm not talking about men who are recognized
primarily for their ability to embellish the truth of God with great rhetorical effect, or
men who are renowned for their skill in the art of eloquence. More than that, I'm thinking
men who were instruments of God to touch others in discipleship to God.
In this category I would put men like Whitefield, McCheyne, Spurgeon, Edwards, Baxter and Bunyan. Through his sermons
use and impact of their ministries as a basic standard, I hope that we will be able to
make some valid comparisons between their ministries and ministries today, and in this manner,
can see the great shortage good preaching today and discover some of the causes
of this deplorable situation.
So how will take this great purpose? I suggest that all failures in preaching
today are basically one of the following: The man who preaches or
message he delivered. We dare not separate these two things: the man and the message, because there is a deep
unit in the work of preaching between man and the message. Consider what is going wrong with preaching
today primarily in terms of the man who preaches, and then, in terms of
message being communicated. THE MAN WHO PREACH
Let us consider together this issue, what is what is going wrong in preaching, in the words of the man who preaches
? First will establish a principle borrowed from the Scriptures and then we will apply
in several specific areas. The principle is this: Unless degrade to mere preaching
art of eloquence, we must never forget that the land on which grows powerful preaching is the preacher's own life
. That is what sets the preaching of any other art of communication. A well known actress
may be famous for his outrageous moral life. She could live like a common whore
. And yet, she can enter the theater every Wednesday evening at 20:00 hrs., and acting in the role of Joan of Arc
in such a way, to carry all the audience to tears. The way she lives
may not have a direct bearing on the exercise of professional art. An actor,
equally profligate in his personal life, you walked on stage and perform the role of Martin Luther
such a way that our spine shiver runs and got out
determined to be better men and better preachers. However, again, may not be a direct relationship between how the actor lived
before taking the stage, and its subsequent performance.
is quickly accepted that Scripture teaches that there are times when men appear on stage with large
ministerial gifts, but are devoid of sanctifying grace (See
Mat.7 :21-23). The church history also records the deeds of men who, in the sovereignty of God
were used in the exercise of ministerial gifts, and finally said they were deprived of sanctifying grace
. However, I think this particular problem of disappointment, primarily
can be applied in all men involved in this kind of ministry where they do not live among his listeners
enough time for his ministry is affected due to flaws in their life
staff. Therefore, limiting this principle to the preaching ministry, I think it's a valid rule
(with a few exceptions), the powerful preaching is rooted in the land of the preacher's life
. It has been said that: 'The minister's life is the life of his ministry. "
If preaching is the communication of truth through human instruments, then, the truth communicated particular
this way can be increased or decreased in its effects, by the way of life through whom it comes
. The secret power of the preaching of Whitefield, McCheyne and other men
I have already mentioned, is primarily not in the content of his sermons or the way in which they preached
. More than that, the secret was in their lives. Their lives were full of power, they
lived in this communion with God, that truth became a living principle when it was preached by
such vessels. Their lives were anointed land where he grew his anointed ministry.
This principle is particularly true in the life of a resident pastor. Most of you and I are known to
our people, our influence will grow or shrink according to the tenor of our lives.
To illustrate this principle with the Word of God, let me suggest several passages its
consideration, not the way to a detailed exegesis, but by taking the prevailing idea in the passage.
Writing to the church of Thessalonica, which he was privileged to found through his ministry
them, Paul says, "Knowing, brethren beloved of God, your choice: For our gospel came to you
not in word only , but also in power, and Holy Spirit, and great fullness, as you know
which we were among you for your sake "(1Tes.1 :4-5). He states that there was a direct relationship between the gospel
coming in power, and the Holy Spirit, and in much fullness, and class
man who preached. Find the same thought developed in chapter two of the same letter, where
Paul says in verse 10: "You are witnesses, and God, how holy and righteous and blameless we drove
you that believe." Then in verse 13 he says: "Therefore,
we also thank God without ceasing, that having heard the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not
as the word of men, but as is indeed the word of God, who works in you that you believed
. " There is a vital relationship between these two things. On the one hand, he says you know how we drove,
and secondly, we know how they received the word. These two things can not be isolated.
Paul and his companions remained living among them with the power of the Word of God in their lives
built in this way, when they preached, the Word came with authority to his listeners. Note that the apostle
not limit the use of testimony in the manner of living, but it relates to the validity of his preaching ministry
. In Titus 2
are some detailed instructions about what Tito should preach and teach.
Paul commanded in verse 7 "showing you around a pattern of good works." In other words,
we as ministers of God not only have to declare things correctly by precept, but
we embody these same things with a straight example. Then, of course, is that passage in 1 classic
Tim.4: 16: "Take care of yourself and the doctrine, continue in them, in so doing
both save you and them that hear thee." In essence, Paul is saying, "Timothy, neglecting your own personal life
result, to some extent in disregard of your responsibility for the souls on whom the Holy Spirit
made you a pastor. Failure to take care of yourself, to some extent result in failure to see
saving purpose of God, forged in the hearts of those to whom you minister. "
He made these remarks as one who believes wholeheartedly in the position of Paul, concerning the immutability
the counsel of God and the certainty of the salvation of his elect. However, we should not remove
this passage in 1 Timothy, its obvious implications, that Timothy could not be God's instrument that he
should be, at least to be careful of himself and then his teaching.
Interestingly, in consideration of primary education as noted later in
Tim.3 1: 1 and Ti.1: 6, the first requirement for anyone who aspires the ministry is not doctrinal but experimental.
"If anyone feel like bishop, desires a good work. It, therefore, that the bishop must be ... "And what is the
first word? "Blameless." The applicant must be a man known for his piety and
consistent practice. In the scripture found in Titus, the last part discusses one of the conditions as "retainer
the faithful saying" (v. 9). However, the first requirement is stated in the field of life
minister. Why? For the simple reason that Paul lived and ministered under the same conviction that life
minister, was the very life of ministry. I think these passages are sufficient to state
the beginning, though many more could be cited to establish this particular point. No wonder
that preaching has fallen on bad days, when ministerial priorities for this work have been
sided. In the councils of management, the men were questioned for hours in
minute theological points in an attempt to discover their ability to refute heresies, while one is rather rare
questioned regarding their progress in personal piety and family
factors that the apostle Paul placed first in the list of requirements for the ministry.
PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL LIFE
For personal observation of my own weakness and the weakness of my brethren in the ministry,
I am forced to conclude that the preaching of today is deeply flawed because they fail to ensure in
several areas. First, the area of \u200b\u200bpersonal life of devotion. At first I said some of
these conclusions were based on observations made while going from church to church, as an itinerant minister
. One of the most disturbing discoveries made during this time was the fact that very few
ministers have personal devotional habits and systematic. I made it a practice to meet with
Host pastor to pray and share common areas of concern. When we finally take off the damn
facade of professionalism, and start being honest with the Lord and
among us, and we confess our sins to each other and pray for one another, then the confession took
to light again and again that the Word of God had ceased to be a Living Book
devotional fellowship with Christ, to become the official manual for the administration of professional duties.
Is it surprising that the ministry of such men is marked by an imbalance of doctrine? Is it surprising that
coldness in their hearts? Is it surprising you have very little penetrating proximity
and application of Scripture, when the vast majority of contemporary preachers
admit that they are not systematically exposed themselves to the Word of God to be personally
enlightened and sanctified? In II Timothy 3, a chapter which we refer to often when
we are demonstrating the truth of the inspiration and authority of Scripture is a word spoken to
us as servants of God, which is very pervasive. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy in verse 15,
"that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures." And this is his first feature, "which will
can make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. " They have led you to faith in Christ
Jesus and salvation is in Him But Timothy, this is not the only function of the Scriptures.
All Scripture is divinely inspired and profitable for teaching (doctrine), for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Note
he explicitly states that the inspired Scriptures are for the development and maturation
Man of God. In other words, all of divine revelation should have as its function
major life of the servants of God, an impact on their own personal sanctification.
No preacher is equipped to preach, just for having a knack for parsing a text
and possess the capability to explain it in your mouth. If the word that he could preach to others, has not been
primarily an instrument for their own indoctrination and development of their sanctification
then he is not ready to declare it to others. This is the function of the Word of God in the life of the preacher, and this
function must always be primary. As preachers, you and I are first of all believers and
Secondly, Christian ministers. And this order should never be reversed. You and I must heed
ourselves, and then, and only until then, our doctrine.
we are to save ourselves first, before anything, then all those who hear us. Jeremiah said:
"Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jer.15: 16).
It's sad we have to do often this confession: "Thy words were found and I
examine, and your words were to me, form and substance of the sermon in my mind." In contrast, the weeping prophet
could say, "There were found phone assimilated words and I personally for myself, and experienced its stimulating
power in my own life. " This is precisely what Paul is telling Timothy, "Let me show you
word. Get your doctrinal statement on your knees and open the Scriptures. Only
and the principles of truth will come to be, not merely cold propositions
rest on the surface of your mind, but living truths of which you are aware and burn
inner fibers of your heart. Let me show you Timothy word. Let her reprove. Let her
discipline and correct you. Let her instruct you on the road of holiness, so you can be completely
equipped for every good work. " My own heart is beaten over and over again when I think
words of our Lord to the Ephesians, which are found in chapter two of Revelation. He gives, first of all,
a word of praise to them. He speaks of doctrinal correctness and fidelity in the administration of discipline
. But this praise right away, He says: "I have this against you that you have left your first love.
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, because if not, I will come ready to
you and remove your lampstand from its place, except thou repent " (Rev.2 :4-5).
As the understanding of the doctrine were fine, his hands were busy in the service,
but their hearts had grown cold in his affections. The Lord Jesus said to them, certainly
maintain correct doctrine in their minds, and the suffering and the work on their behalf were
necessary for an effective witness, but maintaining a warm and loving heart, was also an indisputable
need. Nothing had been found defective in mind or in the works, the defect was in the
heart, and the Lord Jesus spoke about this matter and said: 'Unless this is corrected, I will come and take away
the lampstand from its place. " In light of this portion of the Word of God can be clearly seen,
the essential need to maintain a personal life of devotion by each minister.
God has ordained that by this means we can keep a constant cultivation of our hearts. The
Word of God should be first for us, a book which we enjoy, because there can
see the face of God who loves us and who reconciled us to himself through Christ Jesus.
should read its pages carefully and with great enthusiasm, because we long to know His will,
and because we want to be worshipers of His person. Should be found
frequent and long scanning the pages of Scripture, because we long to serve, and because we wish with all my heart,
in everything we do, be shaped by the living Word of the living God. SECRET PRAYER
Preaching has fallen into a bad time, not only due to the failure of ministers in implementing personal
the Word of God to their own hearts, but also to the failure in the matter of prayer
secret. In the book of "Address to my students," a book which I try to read regularly,
Spurgeon says
'hardly seems necessary to recommend the pleasant use of private prayer, and yet I can not stop
. For you, as ambassadors of God, the throne of grace is a virtue
invaluable, the more ye familiar with the heavenly court, the better your mission
desempeñaréis heaven. Among the formative influences that tend to make a man favored of God in the ministry
I know no more effective than their familiarity with the throne of grace.
everything a course of study at school by a student can do is nothing compared to external and spiritual refinement and delicate
obtained through communion with God. While the Minister is turning the wheel
preparation, Prayer is the instrument of the great potter, through which the vessel
shapes.
All our libraries and studies are futile, compared with our attention to prayer
secret. This is where we grow, where we are strong and where there is, in secret prayer. "
'Prayer helped you in a unique way in preaching your sermon, nothing else can get so gloriously
ability to preach, and the fact has just descended from Mount
fresh communion with God, to speak men. No one is prepared to talk to men,
like someone who has been struggling with God for them. Joseph Alleine states that: "poured his heart
in prayer and preaching. Their prayers and exhortations were so loving, so full of
holy zeal, life and vigor, that his listeners were completely defeated by them.
is softened both by them, thawed, and sometimes soften the hardest hearts melt. " According to
humanist thought, prayer may make no more eloquent, but I will truly eloquent
ye shall speak from the heart. And Is not this the real meaning of the word eloquence? Prayer will
down fire on your sacrifices, thus making them acceptable
the Lord. " "As for sermon preparation often sprout abundant thoughts,
in answer to our prayers, as well happen during the preaching. Many of the preachers
continuously dependent of the Spirit of God, I will say that their best and most vivid thoughts,
are not what they were premeditated, but came to them as those brought by the wings of angels, were as unexpected treasures brought suddenly
by heavenly hands were like seeds of the flowers of paradise
carried by the wind from the mountains of myrrh. " When this comes on
divine radiance of God's servants, all their mental capacities are increased, its power of expression and their ability to
feel the truth of God are increased beyond their natural capacity. When worn by the Spirit
becomes another man. The Spirit, in a way that is a mystery to us, is
shed in response to prayer. The promise of our Lord has never been denied: "If ye then,
being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit
those who ask Him" \u200b\u200b(Luc.11 : 13). As Paul states in Philippians: "For
is that your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will result in my release." It is in the context of the sentence
secret of eternal truths, to which we give assent constant mental,
become living realities. I find that often, (and this is both a confession and exhortation)
my own words reprove me and ridicule me when I preach, and I can say
word "hell" while not feeling the horror of this place and when I can speak from heaven and not heated by the rays
saints, since this is the place that my Lord Jesus Christ is preparing for me.
I see no answer to this problem, but to meditate at length about the passages that speak of
these spiritual realities, and ask God the Holy Spirit that makes them burn within my heart.
I pray God to make it real for me, the fact that many of the people I see around me, could
hearing these terrible words: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire" (Mat.25: 41).
find that I ask God to make it real for me, the fact that many of the people whose
voices telling me: "Thank you pastor for his sermon" may be the same one day, totally different
will be crying and moaning in sentencing. I ask God to help me
believe these things, to help me preach so that others know that I truly believe in them.
The truth that burned and crashed on Sunday, can be ice cold on Monday. The truth that burned and crashed in the preparation
Saturday, may be dead on Sunday. The truth received in the crucible,
while we wait on God, can only be maintained with its heat, when it is delivered in the same
context. If I correctly read the biographies of great men of God, I find that this was their unanimous testimony
. They all agree in declaring that if there some secret in their ministries, the secret was
this, was the man. The man to cultivate his inner life in God's presence. Therefore, I am at your
consider the proposal under consideration, about what is wrong in preaching
today, and that is the root of the problem. How could never teach men
some of the things they teach in the name of orthodoxy, if they were on their knees searching the Scriptures
? No, they have not kneeled to search the Scriptures, and therefore they just chatter
what his contemporaries have said. How can we, who say we believe in the biblical doctrines
, talk about them in a manner so cursory, if we receive these truths from God
in the context of a living communion with Him? Talk about them with the brightness and
celestial fire upon our souls, if we are receiving in the glare and the holiness of His presence. Therefore, the problem of preaching
today is the man who preaches, especially in the area of \u200b\u200byour life
personal devotion. PRACTICAL PIETY
Another area of \u200b\u200bfailure of man is this of practical godliness. The ministry of many churches is
being terribly hampered by the lack of practical godliness to ministers. Significantly,
1Timothy 3, having mentioned that the man must be blameless, Paul moves immediately to another specific area
potential leader, his domestic life. "If any be blameless, the husband of one
wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. If anyone does not know
rule his own house, how will take care of the church of God "(1Tim.3: 2; Ti.1: 6; 1Tim.3: 5). And I say, not
with censorship, but with real concern that the ministry of many pulpits are being denied,
due to lack of practical piety in domestic life. Recently, this caught my attention
when asked a minister to resign from his church, because of uncontrollable tongue of his wife. The
problem was essentially the message of the man or his ministry, but the failure of the government of its own
home, and in securing his wife with respect to their language gossip. How can ministers
dare to call others to be obedient to the Word of God, if they are blatantly disobedient
on this issue? God clearly says that, to qualify for the position of bishops, our homes should be well governed
. This does not mean that they must be perfect in this government, this does not mean that
have the power to infuse grace into the souls of our children. But if we do not have clear
principles, and our own lives are not relevant enough for his godly example for
govern our homes, how we govern the House of God? This is the vital point.
is my personal belief that if a man fails to meet these requirements, has no right to remain
in the ministry, which would otherwise fails to meet any other requirements.
I'm not judging individual cases, because this is the work of God, but certainly can not be of God in
one church after another, has been powerless pulpits, due to shoddy pious life of the minister,
particularly on domestic issues. Another area of \u200b\u200bpractical godliness containing
peculiar danger to the minister, his language is not professional. A dear servant of God once told me: 'You can not
be a clown and a prophet at the same time. You have to make a choice. " I hope I've made the right choice
. This does not mean that we become truly human and we feel that there is something sinful
natural ability to laugh, and natural stimulation that comes from a healthy laugh. But
any special effort to be a "joker" in our congregation, must be eliminated. The transition of a clown
a prophet, is a very difficult metamorphosis. If the seriousness of the normal contact with
our people is not a mark of our lives, and sobriety I mean not only the true
mock seriousness, do not expect then that when we ascend to the pulpit, just happen
some sort of magical process, that cause them to sit down and tremble at the Word of God. They think that actors are more than
. If they never see us consider seriously issues of eternity, where
presence and circumstance "unprofessional" (out of the pulpit), hardly
they will be affected by the simplicity of these communicate issues when the ministry. Brothers, the problem with our preaching is
trashy life in the area of \u200b\u200bpractical godliness, which is manifest in
our domestic life and in our discourse.
Let me mention another area of \u200b\u200bpractical godliness, which is the use of our time. If you give
chance for your people think of you as lazy, but you may have
prayer meetings throughout the night to beg for the power of preaching, this is not experienced. If you give
reasons for your people think of you as lazy, then respect that is a part of power
from the pulpit, end. In light of the fact that we do not have a card check in and out,
then we must be men of great personal discipline. Perhaps we would do well to make our
own personal control, and keep a record of how much time we have engaged in "prayer and the ministry of the word
(Hech.6: 4). We have also become very skilled in the wicked art of 'waste a lot
time. " Could you describe this art, the ability to be engaged in non-essential issues and trivia,
in a way that we deceive ourselves and our people, we're too busy thinking
in the work of the kingdom of God.
THE PURITY OF OUR STATEMENT
How often, when I had to go to some churches, some pastors have been (
apologizing because I think they realize that their cowardice was evident with what they said) and
say, 'Well, brother, I'm so glad you're here this week.
are a couple of situations which, I trust that the Lord will give you freedom to mention in his preaching.
We have some young people sitting on the bottom row and joke a lot, and I never have told
anything. Perhaps you could do it. There is another situation ... ' And so it goes, and still expressing
issues with which they know they should be treated, but have been too afraid to address them. Oh, brothers,
much we need purity in our motives, if we experience power in the pulpit!
Let me suggest three areas that involve a proper motivation: First and primarily, the fear of God
. The best definition of fear of God that I know is in the comment
of John Brown to the First Letter of Peter, where he uses eighteen pages to expose the small
phrase "fear of God." The essence of his comment in this section is that the fear of God is an attitude
and arrangement in which a considers his most important goal and his greatest delight, smile
God and of His brow furrowed as the biggest thing to be feared and avoided.
someone who walks in the fear of God among men, come as the servant of men, but with their eyes
posts in the smile or the frown of God, is the man whose motives are such that their language is
released to discuss the things of God. God told Jeremiah: "Be not afraid of them, lest I confound you do
before them ... And they shall fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you, says
Lord, to deliver. " (Jer.1: 17, 19). Jeremiah had previously said to the Lord, about his call to the prophetic office
, "Ah! Ah, Lord God! Behold, I can not speak, I am a child. " To which God
replied: "Do not say I'm a child, because whatever you send will go thou, and say whatever I command you"
(Jer.1 :6-7). In essence, God was saying that his call to the prophetic office was not a matter of
experience or age, but God had called him as a vessel that was where He will send, and
to say what he will send . In 1Tes.2: 4 the Apostle Paul says, "But as we were allowed of God
to be put in trust with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but
God who tests our hearts. "
One of the elements of power in preaching is to preach as one who has been released. But
"Liberated from what? The trap of the effects of fear of men. You will never be free to be an instrument
blessing for his people, unless it is free from the effects of their smiles and frown puckering
. People know when you can be bought by their smiles or defeated by his grimaces of disapproval
. It will not take long to find out if you are or not a person who is affected by their smiles
or grimaces of disapproval. This man is a free man in Christ.
God's Word declares: "The fear of man brings a snare" (Prov.29: 25). Such fear prevented her tongue, and so when
these flashes of spiritual light to come to you in the pulpit, and has applications which you know will hurt
sting and some members of the congregation. If you have eyes on the man,
you will be unable to state what you know you should tell them. But when free of
smiles or disapproval of them, you are free to be an instrument of blessing to them.
I affirm that if someone wants to increase its power in the pulpit, then must return to the purity of motives,
included in the fear of God.
The second reason for purity, will refer to the love of truth. We are called to declare the whole counsel of God
(See Acts 20:27). Paul says that as he had done, was pure from the blood of all men
. He stated that in light of the totality of divine revelation. There is only one reason
which preach that men are lost, sunk in sin and under condemnation of God;
and this is because God says so, and only for the sake of his truth is that we proclaim this. If true
pleasant or unpleasant, our love of truth must be such that we want the whole world know
all that God has revealed. The third area regarding the purity of our motives, is the love of man
. I am convinced, my brothers, that this is what will lead us to preach "aplicatoria (
that preaching is full of practical application). We have such love for men, which can withstand
not see them sleeping in our ministry. We have such love for men,
that leads us to a great sense of responsibility to do everything in our power to
make the truth of God dwell in their hearts. Robert M.
McCheyne said: "The man who loves you most is the man who tells the truth more than
about yourself." In II Corinthians 7, Paul says, "For though I grieve with the letter, I do not regret,
but then regret it, because I see that letter, though I grieved for some time.
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made, but because you were grieved to repentance "(2Cor.7: 8 -
9). Elsewhere he also says: "Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Gál.4: 16). The
was saying, 'Sorry, but I'll keep loving them anyway, and I will continue telling the truth
, even if you do not love me. " Ie, anything that prevents us from being faithful men, in reality
is a form of selfish love. We love both our own feelings, we are not
voluntarily taking the risk of offending and that they might take it the wrong against us. Oh,
they can perish in hell, but what's all right, just because they love us perish?
I heard from people of certain ministers, "Truly this man preached a very audacious."
Brothers, this should be said of each one of us, because our love for men
must be such that good will communicate the truth. True they may not recognize and enjoy,
but which is for their sake and for their salvation. What's the matter with preaching today? Well,
certainly part of the problem lies in the man who preaches in the area of \u200b\u200bpersonal
devotional habits in the area of \u200b\u200bpractical piety in the area of \u200b\u200bthe purity of their motives. MESSAGE
We now consider, what is wrong in preaching today about the message being preached
. It is perfectly possible for a man to be marked with a prominent
degree of personal devotion and practical piety, and yet, unfortunately lack of power in the ministry of preaching
. Of course, part of the problem may be due to the fact that some men
never been endowed by the great leader of the Church, the gifts for ministry
teaching and preaching. In such cases, the only answer to this problem is that such men should
recognize that there are in the right place for which God has endowed them.
no sense of shame, they should stop the activity of teaching and preaching ministry and find a job
secular in the world, or anything else in the work of the Church of Christ, where there is demand
some As God's gift par oral communication. However, I am directing my comments to
men who have reasonable grounds to conclude that they have received the gifts needed to stay
as preachers of the Word of God. In consideration of such men,
talk about several areas in which contemporary preaching is clearly flawed. BIBLE CONTENT
First of all we have to say that a lot of preaching today, even in Reformed circles
good, no substantial biblical content. One of the unique things about the great preachers of the past
, which made his sermons written lived hundreds of years after
were written, is that his sermons were distinguished by their great strength and biblical content. What they gave to preaching
of these great ambassadors for their spiritual strength? It was precisely this
strong biblical content. His sermons were filled with solid biblical content, so that one feels
that stands between him and the preacher, a wall of divine truth, so that the issue is not between the listener and the preacher
, but between the listener and the Word of God that is being communicated to him by the preacher.
This is how men should feel when they hear us preach. Of course, and
here we must look again at the relationship between man and his message, much of the problem
of today's preaching about their lack of biblical content, is due to the fact that many
ministers are busy jump-start the "machinery of their churches," to have time to soak
their minds and spirits in the truth of the Scriptures. It is only when the preachers
mind is saturated with the Scriptures, that the Holy Spirit will bring to them (in the context of preaching
) the truth of God and can do God's servants so that they can wield
sword the Spirit with power and authority. And then, even the illustrations and references, will be largely
sketches of the words and principles of Holy Scripture. DOCTRINAL CONTENT
Second, much of contemporary preaching is defective because it lacks a solid doctrinal
content. We have suffered from a mentality that has considered the doctrine and theology as if a goblin
medieval. The central fact of the matter is that truth is beautiful in its unity and symmetry. The
doctrinal preaching is preaching that is always limited by the context of the whole counsel of God.
This preaching rejects the message of balance and unbalanced, and seeks to present each individual facet
of truth, in the context of the whole counsel of God's truth. These first two factors should
merge in a move increasingly in the lives of all true servants of Christ.
doctrinal preaching is not exegetically founded and textually oriented, leading to a philosophical orthodoxy.
Moreover, dealing with texts and exégeis of them, unrelated to the truth, lead to a fragmented and disconnected
concept of divine truth. PRACTICAL
The third area where contemporary preaching is marked by a clear weakness is in
the appearance of the application teaching practice. Many ministries may have a solid biblical content and
largely doctrinal content, but very little practical application, in which men
can see the implications of content and doctrine (and thus they can know how of
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things). According to this general principle, I would like to play
three areas in which Reformed circles are weak. What I will say now,
applies to all of us who embrace, without shame, that system of doctrines stated in
great faiths from the Reformation.
In First, our preaching is weak because it fails to announce openly
need and nature of evangelical repentance. In our reaction against "works salvation" and
our reaction against "activism Arminian", I think some of us have fallen into the trap
philosophical thinking, 'How I can preach human responsibility to repent, if I
know that the man has no ability to do so? " Apparently, this did not trouble the Apostle Paul.
No one spoke more clearly than he, on the total human inability to do any good
spiritual, without the prior intervention of the sovereign work of God in their lives. Furthermore, he spoke clearly
about human responsibility to repent. When he reviewed his ministry among the elderly
of Ephesus, said, "And nothing that was profitable has shied away from and have taught you publicly and from house
, testifying to both Jews and Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ
(Hech.20 :20-21). In Acts 26:20 also told in Damascus, in all Judea and
Gentiles "that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance."
I have had the bitter experience of preaching in churches that hold the doctrine of repentance
in its official creed in their confessions and their catechisms, but obviously was not a doctrine preached and believed
the base of the members of these churches. Often, in concluding a series of sermons about repentance
, many people have come to me expressing great wonder and
saying that they had never heard about these things, despite having been for several years, within a
good solid Reformed Church. Now, I'm not saying they have not heard the word "regret."
They have heard, but because they were not announced a clear duty,
nature and the fruits of repentance, they were not convinced enough of his own sin and their need to repent
. All we hear people preach for some time and came under
our ministry, should reach the conclusion that, unless they repent and produce the fruits of repentance
they perish but have their minds full of goals and Christian orthodoxy.
One of the clearest marks of the ministries of the men whom God has used in past
times, is that they all without exception, announced emphatically the need, nature and the fruits
Christian repentance. A second area where the content of our preaching is weak in its
specific application, is the issue of presenting a complete Christ, which involves the whole man.
is to be feared that in our days, we returned to the Roman concept of faith.
must never forget that one of the major issues that the Reformers focused was that faith was more than a simple
"assent" and more than a nod, to all
truths presented by the church as "faith ". The Reformers emphasized the biblical concept of faith as "trust." They made it clear
that salvation by faith trust and commitment involved, a trust and commitment
involving the whole man (mind, emotions and will) with the truth believed and to this truth Christ
focused. Now is the time when it is clearly necessary for us to teach these concepts
, so that people realize that a simple nod or bow to
doctrines which have been exposed, is not the essence of saving faith.
They need to be taught and understand that saving faith involves the commitment of the whole man (mind, emotions and
will), with a full Christ (ie, as Prophet, Priest and King), such
announced as he is strongly in the gospel.
Translator's note: Saving faith involves the whole man. The person must come to Christ
(trust) as its high priest, as the only mediator, should receive (knowledge) as its
Master and Prophet, as the source of all knowledge and truth, and must submit (submission) to Him as King
of his life. These three aspects of saving faith (knowledge, trust and submission), are
related to the three offices of Christ (Priest, Prophet and King), in the passage of Mat.11 :28-30.
Note the phrases: "Come to Me," which refers to his priestly office, "learn from me" regard to his prophetic office
and "Take my yoke" in relation to their real job. Obviously, these three aspects involve the full
man, his mind, his affections and will, through whom knows, trusts and
submits to Christ as Savior (Prophet, Priest and King).
If we preach in this way, soon no longer hear talk of such a thing
as, "believe" no "submit" or "accept the Lord" without "surrender to Him."
our evangelical circles are full of unbiblical attempts to divide only by presenting Christ as Savior and not as Lord.
Much of this heresy misleading, based on this concept to present a divided Christ, could be eliminated by
preaching a Christ clearly present comprehensive, involving the full
man.
Translator's note: The author refers to the dreadful heresy that has pervaded many evangelical pulpits,
where Christ is preached to a split in the Lord and Savior. That is, preaching the gospel so,
listeners to imagine they can come to Christ for salvation, but remain as rebels to his rule and dominion
. As the author says, do not preach a complete Christ that involves the whole man. This shift has led
to hundreds of evangelical churches are filled with people who "have
come to Christ as Savior, but are not willing to submit to Him as Lord (
dichotomy is not observed in biblical faith) and therefore therefore continue to live in open rebellion to the most basic biblical standards
. They have a faith that supposedly enough to be saved from hell, but that is
insufficient to love and obey Christ. Christ's teachings tell us that a faith that does not love that
not keep the commandments and not have works, is a false faith. (See 1Cor.13: 2; 1Jn.2: 3; Stg.2: 20)
A third area of \u200b\u200bweakness in the content our preaching. This is a very
sensitive area, and in which we are unfortunately very weak in contemporary Reformed circles
(NOTE: You can say the same about Evangelicals in general, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals,
etc). The area to which I refer to is the need to emphasize the distinctive features of true believers
. Implicit in this is the need to state clearly the difference between
foundation of salvation and the assurance of salvation, the difference between coming to be saved and be assured of our salvation
. In my experience in the movement of Reformed circles I found with that in the
time some people start to make a scriptural self-examination, they begin to obey
2Cor.13: 5, such people come to see this spiritual exercise, almost like blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
. That is, people are doubting their own salvation (ie, whether it is really
people converted or not) as the most terrible thing in the world. We fail to realize that the
doubts arising from an honest self-examination, made in light of the objective standard of the Word of God,
could be the best thing you've ever happened to anyone. I have often said that
certainly not condemn the men, but the presumption sin (a false assurance of salvation) if
will. Although Scripture says again and again, "Take heed that no man deceive you", "no man deceive himself
same," "Be not deceived" (See Mar.13: 5; 1Cor.3: 18, Gal .6:7), we dare to assume or drive to
others to assume that all is well. What are these exhortations? If self-deception is not a real
possibility, then why does the Bible is full of admonitions about the danger of self-deception?
All these warnings would be meaningless if the deception were just a hypothetical possibility.
However, if people could be within the circle of the church and yet be deceived
under the ministry of the apostles, and if considered necessary then they say: "Brethren, be the more zealous to
your calling and election (2Pe.1: 10), much more we need
face the fact that there may be some deluded people who have entered or are entering the church, in our anemic
ministry. When a conviction as it constrains us, then we cry and pray for
such people, urging them to make your calling and election firm, and for consideration and
prove themselves, so they know if they are in the faith.
Following this concern, we should point out before, the Scriptural difference between a true believer
and false, as in the parable of the sower.
I found that this kind of preaching never hurts the true children of God.
aplicatoria penetrating preaching in this area will serve to bring the true children of God, a stronger assurance of salvation. The only thing left
damaged by such close scrutiny is the hypocrisy, falsehood and hypocrisy.
Suppose I had to go to my bank to deposit two twenty-dollar bills. If the cashier take notes and tell me
, "a moment Mr. Martin, I think it might be something wrong here." If the tickets are genuine, do not spend anything
fact that the bank teller carefully scrutinized, in fact, they gain
something. If the cashier to take them and put them under a magnifying glass to examine its authenticity, and
prove genuine, I'll feel more confident in its authenticity, as when they were scrutinized and were unharmed.
So the only thing left is the hypocrisy with loss and counterfeiting. This principle is equally true of
aplicatoria penetrating preaching that emphasizes brands
Distinguishing true believers. The only one who can lose something in a balanced and scriptural preaching these things is
the false believer. And that person should be disturbed and worried now, as the day of salvation
still is among us. If we are wrong to make distinctions and unscriptural
put undue hardship on the path of the righteous, the Lord can open our eyes, get us out of error and
bring us back on track. However, this is not the dangerous practice today.
Instead, we are sleeping people giving them a false sense of security,
failing to put forward de ellos, en una manera experimental, las evidencias de la fe verdadera en oposición
a la fe de los demonios (Vea Stg.2:19). Hermanos, la Biblia nos da muchas afirmaciones explícitas, las
cuales podemos poner delante de nuestros oyentes. Jesús dijo: “Mis ovejas oyen mi voz, y yo las conozco,
y me siguen” (Jn.10:27). Nosotros no debemos temer decir a nuestra gente, que si ellos no le oyen y le
siguen, ellos no tienen derecho a decir que son sus ovejas. Atrevámonos a decirles que: A pesar de que ellos
puedan conocer todo acerca de El, y pensar que el Señor los tiene como Sus ovejas y que están en Su corazón
desde la eternidad en el pacto de redención; a Although they may know everything about your
death, and how He died for his sheep with a particular purpose and intent in his death, and although
know how the Holy Spirit makes effectual call, they may fail concluding that
are sheep. The point we emphasize here is: Are you listening to your voice? Are you being followed?
We should not emphasize backing up about such matters. We must emphasize these
points, as stated in the First Epistle of John, where the apostle says: "These things have I written unto you that believe
in the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that have eternal life ... "(1Jn.5: 13). What things
put John in front of them? Would you perhaps gave a series of texts on which they could lay their hands
to make? No more than that. He gave a series of verses that could be used as test
test by which they examine their own lives. He said: "By this we know that
we know him, if we keep His commandments" (1Jn.2: 3). He says again: "We
know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1Jn.3: 14). The consciousness of
our listeners need to be wound so that they can ask the question: In light
objective standards of the Word of God, I am truly in the faith? What is wrong with preaching today
? I am convinced that in these areas the content of our preaching is a great
need to return to the biblical truths mentioned above, and preach about them with a renewed fervor
.
HOW TO MAKE THE MESSAGE
Having spoken about the content of our message, I make some brief applications
about how to present the message. The three things that should characterize
communication of divine truth are: The urgency, the way we ordered the message, and directly in that
communicate. Genuine urgency is the mother of true eloquence. A man who wants to wake sleeping people
about because they are in imminent danger because the building is
fire, will have little success, if you simply walk through the halls
pronouncing some words correctly in relation to the danger they are.
Moreover, if this man is convinced that those are truly
lives in danger, and that their release depends on its ability to awaken them to take immediate action.
So that man will not fail to awaken people from sleep and motivate them to take
measures necessary. The urgency of such a man be born primarily on their ability to speak eloquently, but rather
, born from the womb of an urgent concern and genuine. The urgency in some
due to personality, temperament or because they are using a microphone, can be expressed by the volume of your voice
. In others, could be expressed in other ways in which the urgency is its own tone. The urgency
motivate us to strive to obtain and maintain direct contact with the audience, while
we preach. If we are not simply uploaded to the pulpit to deliver a speech, but to communicate the truth urgent
men and women in need, then we will not be contentos a menos que hayamos
conseguido su atención. Spurgeon confesó que cuando veía a un niño que no le estaba escuchando, le
inquietaba tanto, que contaría una anécdota especial para atraer su atención antes de continuar con su sermón.
Spurgeon sería el primero en confesar que solamente Dios puede causar que la verdad llegue a los
corazones de los hombres con poder salvador. Sin embargo, él sabía que su trabajo como predicador consistía
de lograr que esa verdad llegara a sus oídos, y a menos que esto se consiguiera, estaría fallando en su
deber. Hermanos, es su trabajo o su tarea llegar a los oídos de los hombres. Solamente Dios puede poner esa
truth in their hearts, but you must do everything possible to conquer your ears. The urgency
produced by the Holy Spirit moves us to work on the art of cultivating the ability to communicate
with men in popular language. When we use a certain word in the context of preaching and hearing us immediately
looking confused, then we should understand that they have not understood the
use of this word. If we are sensitive to this problem, so we'll use a different word (or give an explanation
applicable). One author said: "The vanity will make a man
speak and write as a scholar, but godliness motivate a good scholar to simplify the way you speak, because of the foolish
. Such a preacher, but is now despised by those who have no discernment,
one day have a name above every name, whether it is a philosopher, poet, orator or preacher
yet. "
Another writer said: 'It is not difficult things easy seem difficult, but making things difficult
easy to understand, is the most difficult for a skilled orator or preacher. "
Oh my brothers in the ministry, we cry out to God for the grace of humility and urgency of the Holy Spirit to lead us to change our vocabulary
the level of our listeners. Also, this matter of urgency
motivate us to work on making a good practical application in preaching. Perhaps the hardest part of the ministry of preaching
constant, is the practical application. But, as a good doctor who cares
the health of their patients, will not be satisfied until you know the specific diseases
of their people and specific treatments applied to them, so the true servant of God will do the same
. The true servant will go beyond the general needs of the people and strive to meet specific spiritual disease
and then apply specific remedies, which are in
the fullness of our Lord Jesus Christ. The next point is that our sermons should be characterized by a plan
and logical order. By preaching the truth of God to men, we must never forget that
are men whose minds are designed to receive thoughts in a logical and orderly.
The mind can not receive the truth when it is presented in a cluttered and confusing.
We must seek our listeners to go home with some good stakes driven into their minds
, and some aspects of the truth of God tied to these stakes. Finally, consider the need
de entregar el mensaje predicado en una manera directa.
Hay una sección excelente sobre la predicación del evangelio en el libro “The Christian Ministry”
por Charles Bridges. En esta sección él comenta sobre la necesidad de hablar en forma directa diciendo:
‘Debemos mostrarles desde el principio hasta el fin, que no estamos simplemente diciendo cosas buenas en
su presencia, sino que, estamos dirigiéndonos a ellos personalmente, con asuntos que son de importancia
primordial’. Cuando leemos los sermones de los grandes predicadores del pasado, somos impresionados con
su denuedo santo. El lector se siente como si estos sermones de los viejos maestros le estuvieran arrinconando
and as you have to do something about the truth that is being confronted. Joseph Alleine
in his book "An Alarm to the unconverted" serves as a classic illustration of this principle.
once again and puts the sinner against the wall, confronting him with direct questions that force you to reflect on
his way and his condition before God. J. Alleine asked: 'Are you alone? What is the basis of his peace?
peace Is Biblical? Can you show the hallmarks of a true believer? Do you have more evidence
salvation of which are the hypocrites? If not, you should fear this peace
more than anything else and understand that a carnal peace, often prove to be a mortal enemy of the soul. While this peace
false smiles and kisses us while we mortally wounded. Now that the
consciousness to do its work and talk. " This is an example of how truth applies Alleine a
directly to their readers. With so many examples like these from which we learn that God forbid
just say good things in the presence of the congregation, and help us to preach so that listeners
realize we're talking about eternal matters in a personal way.
What is wrong with preaching today? I am sure that many of the flaws are evident in my
own life and my ministry, the same way as in the other. But
suggest that we can consider the problem of preaching today, as a human-centered problem, ie the
preacher. (On his personal devotion in practice piety and purity of their motivation). What that
is wrong with preaching today? Part of the problem lies in the message, ie the content of
what is preached and the way it is communicated. So if some of these things have
legitimate application to us, hopefully, God help us to receive the word of exhortation, and by his grace,
to strive to be more effective communicators of the truth of the Word of God, our need
generation.
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