Preaching. Prepare for Service, Bristol Baptist College Assignment, 2008-02-28
The first part of the question leads me to a “No” answer; that is it seems, humanly speaking, unlikely that one could take any Christian and make a preacher out of them even with the best training. For can training transform a timid and shy person into a fearless preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Can an understanding of the technicalities of church liturgy, history and ecclesiology enable one to become a fruitful communicator of the risen Lord? While the second part of the sentence suggests a “Yes” answer; for with God all things are possible. For if God is God then He can surely take any unlikely, but willing, person and transform them into His servant messenger and preacher.
Let us now compare and contrast the role of training and calling. If we were talking about teaching in general then you must argue that a thorough grasp of all the fundamentals of the subject taught is essential. You cannot teach of which you have not first understood. However, as good as training and instruction are, is it sufficient? We have all suffered at the hands of poor communicators. I have heard it said that a poor teacher is poor because they do not understand their subject well enough. I have no doubt that in some cases this is true. However, it also true that some communicators do understand their subject but fail to make it live for their students. Thus, there seems to be a difference between knowledge of a subject and communication of that knowledge.
Now many educationalists at this point argue that teaching and communication require study in their own right. One can learn to appreciate that different hearer hear different messages. One may have to include various learning strategies, e.g. auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic, using interaction, repetition and cycles of learning etc. There is merit in some of this educational theory. Even with this can we take an apple and turn it into a pair; can we take a poor communicator and make them a good communicator?
I believe that good teaching does require knowledge of the subject and some educational training. However, good teaching is fundamentally conversing one to another. It cannot be reduced to a method; it is bound up with the personalities involved, i.e. both the speaker’s and the listeners’. Thus, a good teacher must have the right personality as well as all other requirements. So from a human perspective a “good preacher” is a peculiar individual that has these characteristics and they are certain not anyone!
Now let me get back to the subject of Christian preaching; for there are some important differences between that of teaching in general and preaching the word of God. In fact I believe these differences are so important that you may come to a completely different selection of characteristics of a “good preacher”.
While there is truth in many subjects, the truth in God’s word is of an entirely different and deeper nature. I believe it contains the living testimony of almighty and eternal God Himself. Its message of salvation has eternal consequences for the listener, whether to chose the way that leads to life or the way that leads to death[1]. All other knowledge will fade away[2], but God shall remain forever. Thus, the status of the message is pre-eminent; all other teaching, valuable as it is, is secondary.
Preaching is about encouraging people to become disciples of Jesus Christ. So it is fundamentally bound up with God Himself; His plans, His purposes, His providence, His love. It is complete unlike all other human teaching in this respect. It is fundamentally cooperation with and service of the living God. The wisdom required, the understanding required, the power required all begin and end with God. It is fundamentally a spiritual matter. Human reasoning and understanding will not avail us. We must seek the Lord’s provision and guidance here. For it is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing[3]
Now let us consider who can be God’s preacher and who cannot. What are pre-requisites? What would you expect a preacher to be like? Now humanly speaking you may suggest someone with personal charisma, a certain amount of intelligence, the gift of the gab, and well schooled in biblical theology; this would fit the bill. But even this person, who is he that he should add to the work of God? What is his great understanding that he should be well qualified? Where was he when the foundation of the earth were laid?[4] Where was he when Jesus broke the power of sin and death with His death and resurrection? The part of the Christian preacher is always secondary to the living message of God. The power is God’s, the promises are His, the works are His, and all is His.
Accordingly, let us consider who God chooses to Preach. He chooses who He wills. It is not based on human reasoning. It should not be based on either human abilities or personalities. Though God can use human abilities he can also provide spiritual gifts of His own. And these spiritual gifts are far more precious. For God can take any Christian and make them a powerful preacher, yes any. For all power belongs to Him. This is a necessary and important point to appreciate, for until a man understands this can God use him? Martin Luther put it like this “God creates out of nothing. Therefore until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him”. For God to use a man he must not be wise in his own eyes, must not lean on his own understanding but in all his way acknowledge and reverence God[5].
This is where we see that human teaching and Godly preaching can be quite different. Human teaching requires study, training and a certain charisma. Godly preaching requires something quite different. It requires the presence of God.
Having said this are we any closer answering the question about who is called? If we are to answer this question then how are we to judge? There is some testing required. As the apostles Paul and John put it “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good”.[6], and “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world”[7] For how can we discern who is called and chosen and who is not? How can we discern who is following Jesus and who is not? How can we test who is letting God have His way and who is not? Is this not the vital question for the church today? For is it not enough to just say, repeatedly, “but I know the call of God to preach, I know God”?
The word of God is our guide. It is sharper that any two edged sword. It divides, it judges, it tests. And it is the Spirit of God who wields this sword[8]. It is the faithful and wise who listen to the voice of the Spirit. Knowing the word of God, the teaching of Jesus is vital. Believing in this revealed truth is vital. Being devoted to the Lord is vital. Demonstrating that God is real to you by the way you live is vital, obedience is vital. An inner spiritual life that is predicated on a humble and faithful heart is vital. I pray that those who are called will not harden their heart but will listen the voice of the Spirit.
References (NKJV)
[1] Deut 30:19
[2] 1 Cor 13:8
[3] Jn 6:63.
[4] Job 38:2
[5] Pr 3:6-7
[6] 1 Th 5:21
[7] 1 Jn 4:1
[8] Ep 6:17
Thursday, 28 February 2008
What is Christian preaching and what is it meant to do?
Preaching. Prepare for Service, Bristol Baptist College Assignment, 2008-02-28
Before answering the question “what is preaching?” we must appreciate and attempt to respond to the question “why preach”? As a starting point I believe that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work [1]. I believe scripture here to be defined as the Old and New Testament canon. Thus, I will not discuss in this short essay any of the more fanciful, philosophical or psychological notations concerning preaching.
So, firstly, we preach because it is commanded by our Lord Jesus. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.[2] It is an integral part of the great commission of the Church. Preaching is God’s planned means of communicating the good news of salvation. Doesn’t the apostle Paul remind us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God [3] and in another place he states In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;[4] and to reinforce this further our Lord has stated succinctly He who is of God hears God’s words[5]. Thus, hearing the word of God is a necessary part of the process of being saved; and in its most plain sense hearing requires someone to speak. I do, of course, recognise that hearing with spiritual ears is also an integral part of being saved. That is to say being born of the Spirit is fundamentally a spiritual matter, requiring hearing in ones heart. Nevertheless, it seems to me that the normative process of salvation in scripture involved preaching with the spoken word and someone hearing the preaching of the spoken word.
Now, can we fathom God’s plans and purposes a little more by asking the impertinent question why has God chosen this means? Why is it necessary to employ spoken words? Why is there not some other means? Why not just the written word or perhaps even without any words at all? Let us consider the following text;
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good. [6]
The creation of light and all subsequent parts of creation was by the spoken word. God chose to use the spoken word, a word of command, to create light. So the spoken word, literally from the mouth of God, was used to create light and separate it from the darkness. Consequently, what do we discern from this? God Himself uses the spoken word to divide between light and dark, to divide between good and evil. Is not the spoken word then part of His nature? It seems to me that God uses the spoken word to get things done! Later in Genesis, Adam was created in God’s image, a spiritual being, and communication between God and Adam is through spoken words. This is repeated age after age throughout scripture, God speaking to His people, God speaking to His Prophets and God speaking to His disciples.
The scriptures are recorded for us as written words but the texts often state that they where given as the spoken word of God. It is not just that God uses audible communication for our benefit; scripture suggests that audible words from God have power to shape the fabric of this universe. The power of God in action was accompanied with words from God, such as “let there be Light”, and our Lord rebuked the wind and sea with “Peace, be still!” and He raised the dead with “Lazarus, come forth!” God’s words have power to help a soul step from spiritual darkness to light, they have power to transform lives, to heal hurts, and they have power to reconcile us to our loving Father God.
So why should we preach? We preach because we are commanded, because we have been sent to preach As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. [7] We preach because the word is part of God’s nature, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.[8] We preach because the word of God is true and it is the power of God for salvation.
This brings us to what is specifically biblical Christian preaching? For it is one thing to argue that the spoken words from God have power, it is completely another to argue that all preaching has this power.
Preaching is not an opportunity for good public speaking or too often poor public speaking. It is not entertainment; it is not selling a product or advertising. Neither is it an opportunity to expound man’s wisdom in the form of psychology, philosophy, or literature. It is not an opportunity to discourse the nature of modern culture. Preaching is not a chance to subvert the Gospel with faithless theological reasoning. All of these I have heard.
God does not change, his Word does not change, the state of mankind has not changed and the need for faithful Christian preaching will not change. It is clear to me that Christian Preaching is declaring the revealed words of God, presenting the plans and purposes of God, explaining and illuminating the will of God. The preacher has a solemn charge; neither adding to nor taking from the words of God. This solemn charge is to be faithful to their true meaning, to unceasingly let our Lord take all glory and honour and praise for He must increase, but I must decrease [9].
Preaching is to remaining faithful to this charge; so that people are brought to the place where faith can take hold in the soul. Subsequently, preaching to the faithful is for the equipping of the church for Love and good works. It should stir up the soul, set our spirit ablaze and encourages us to draw closer and closer to God. This is achieved not because of the preacher’s charisma, oratory skills or smooth words but because the power of God lies in the message, in the words of God.
Finally I should add a few words about the style or form. I think the guiding principle is given in the following text.
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. [10]
The apostle Paul adapted his behaviour or his style to suit the persons he was addressing. Paul’s message never changed, he remained faithful to the word of God he had received. Nevertheless, the form or style as far as it was possible was not to become a stumbling block for the listener. He tailored his style so that by all means he may save some. Paul did not let the formalities or traditions of his background and training limit his behaviour. If he could see that changing his style would be of benefit to the hearer, if changing the form enabled a hearing for the message of God he changed.
In conclusion, Christian preaching is a vital part of the life of the church. It is as necessary today as it has ever been. It is God’s planned means of communicating the Gospel. The form is less important than the message. However, using words is necessary if we are to remain faithful to God’s nature and purposes.
References (Biblical passages from NKJV)
[1] 2 Ti 3:16-17 [2] Mk 16:15, [3] Ro 10:17, [4] Eph 1:13, [5] Jn 8:47 [6] Ge 1:1-4, [7] Jn 20:21-22, [8] Jn 1:1. [9] Jn 3:31 [10] 1 Co 9:19-23
Before answering the question “what is preaching?” we must appreciate and attempt to respond to the question “why preach”? As a starting point I believe that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work [1]. I believe scripture here to be defined as the Old and New Testament canon. Thus, I will not discuss in this short essay any of the more fanciful, philosophical or psychological notations concerning preaching.
So, firstly, we preach because it is commanded by our Lord Jesus. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.[2] It is an integral part of the great commission of the Church. Preaching is God’s planned means of communicating the good news of salvation. Doesn’t the apostle Paul remind us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God [3] and in another place he states In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;[4] and to reinforce this further our Lord has stated succinctly He who is of God hears God’s words[5]. Thus, hearing the word of God is a necessary part of the process of being saved; and in its most plain sense hearing requires someone to speak. I do, of course, recognise that hearing with spiritual ears is also an integral part of being saved. That is to say being born of the Spirit is fundamentally a spiritual matter, requiring hearing in ones heart. Nevertheless, it seems to me that the normative process of salvation in scripture involved preaching with the spoken word and someone hearing the preaching of the spoken word.
Now, can we fathom God’s plans and purposes a little more by asking the impertinent question why has God chosen this means? Why is it necessary to employ spoken words? Why is there not some other means? Why not just the written word or perhaps even without any words at all? Let us consider the following text;
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good. [6]
The creation of light and all subsequent parts of creation was by the spoken word. God chose to use the spoken word, a word of command, to create light. So the spoken word, literally from the mouth of God, was used to create light and separate it from the darkness. Consequently, what do we discern from this? God Himself uses the spoken word to divide between light and dark, to divide between good and evil. Is not the spoken word then part of His nature? It seems to me that God uses the spoken word to get things done! Later in Genesis, Adam was created in God’s image, a spiritual being, and communication between God and Adam is through spoken words. This is repeated age after age throughout scripture, God speaking to His people, God speaking to His Prophets and God speaking to His disciples.
The scriptures are recorded for us as written words but the texts often state that they where given as the spoken word of God. It is not just that God uses audible communication for our benefit; scripture suggests that audible words from God have power to shape the fabric of this universe. The power of God in action was accompanied with words from God, such as “let there be Light”, and our Lord rebuked the wind and sea with “Peace, be still!” and He raised the dead with “Lazarus, come forth!” God’s words have power to help a soul step from spiritual darkness to light, they have power to transform lives, to heal hurts, and they have power to reconcile us to our loving Father God.
So why should we preach? We preach because we are commanded, because we have been sent to preach As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. [7] We preach because the word is part of God’s nature, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.[8] We preach because the word of God is true and it is the power of God for salvation.
This brings us to what is specifically biblical Christian preaching? For it is one thing to argue that the spoken words from God have power, it is completely another to argue that all preaching has this power.
Preaching is not an opportunity for good public speaking or too often poor public speaking. It is not entertainment; it is not selling a product or advertising. Neither is it an opportunity to expound man’s wisdom in the form of psychology, philosophy, or literature. It is not an opportunity to discourse the nature of modern culture. Preaching is not a chance to subvert the Gospel with faithless theological reasoning. All of these I have heard.
God does not change, his Word does not change, the state of mankind has not changed and the need for faithful Christian preaching will not change. It is clear to me that Christian Preaching is declaring the revealed words of God, presenting the plans and purposes of God, explaining and illuminating the will of God. The preacher has a solemn charge; neither adding to nor taking from the words of God. This solemn charge is to be faithful to their true meaning, to unceasingly let our Lord take all glory and honour and praise for He must increase, but I must decrease [9].
Preaching is to remaining faithful to this charge; so that people are brought to the place where faith can take hold in the soul. Subsequently, preaching to the faithful is for the equipping of the church for Love and good works. It should stir up the soul, set our spirit ablaze and encourages us to draw closer and closer to God. This is achieved not because of the preacher’s charisma, oratory skills or smooth words but because the power of God lies in the message, in the words of God.
Finally I should add a few words about the style or form. I think the guiding principle is given in the following text.
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. [10]
The apostle Paul adapted his behaviour or his style to suit the persons he was addressing. Paul’s message never changed, he remained faithful to the word of God he had received. Nevertheless, the form or style as far as it was possible was not to become a stumbling block for the listener. He tailored his style so that by all means he may save some. Paul did not let the formalities or traditions of his background and training limit his behaviour. If he could see that changing his style would be of benefit to the hearer, if changing the form enabled a hearing for the message of God he changed.
In conclusion, Christian preaching is a vital part of the life of the church. It is as necessary today as it has ever been. It is God’s planned means of communicating the Gospel. The form is less important than the message. However, using words is necessary if we are to remain faithful to God’s nature and purposes.
References (Biblical passages from NKJV)
[1] 2 Ti 3:16-17 [2] Mk 16:15, [3] Ro 10:17, [4] Eph 1:13, [5] Jn 8:47 [6] Ge 1:1-4, [7] Jn 20:21-22, [8] Jn 1:1. [9] Jn 3:31 [10] 1 Co 9:19-23
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Obituary for Brother Roger (of Taize)
Letter to a friend
Steve
I heard this a few years ago. I felt very sad and still do. He was a true man of God. But on reflection, God was calling him home, it was his time. The fact that he was murdered was very strange, God using/allowing this means. I believe that, as with Job, Satan was allowed some role here.
I feel, as you do, that when true, honest, deep prayer takes place in a persons life, a life given over to closeness with God, it leaves a mark on every-one who meets that person. Brother Roger was such a person, a saint, a small taste of Jesus Christ, the power of the presence of God.
His theology was from the eyes of theologian and the dogma of denominational churches a bit imprecise. He never really answers the questions about communion, praying to mary, the priesthood, etc.. But the depth and reality of his teaching was much deeper, more true to Jesus and his Gospel than almost anything else I have read. Even as an academic and theologically minded person, I would rather have his teaching and reflections than text-books of dogma.
His tough questions were; how to live a life of service and love? How to hope in dark times? How to say yes to faith through-out an entire life? How to begin all things with a trusting heart? The really important questions.
He will be missed.
Steve
I heard this a few years ago. I felt very sad and still do. He was a true man of God. But on reflection, God was calling him home, it was his time. The fact that he was murdered was very strange, God using/allowing this means. I believe that, as with Job, Satan was allowed some role here.
I feel, as you do, that when true, honest, deep prayer takes place in a persons life, a life given over to closeness with God, it leaves a mark on every-one who meets that person. Brother Roger was such a person, a saint, a small taste of Jesus Christ, the power of the presence of God.
His theology was from the eyes of theologian and the dogma of denominational churches a bit imprecise. He never really answers the questions about communion, praying to mary, the priesthood, etc.. But the depth and reality of his teaching was much deeper, more true to Jesus and his Gospel than almost anything else I have read. Even as an academic and theologically minded person, I would rather have his teaching and reflections than text-books of dogma.
His tough questions were; how to live a life of service and love? How to hope in dark times? How to say yes to faith through-out an entire life? How to begin all things with a trusting heart? The really important questions.
He will be missed.
Nick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
