Posts Tagged ‘preaching’
We Preach Christ Crucified
by Joe R. Price The Apostle Paul II Timothy 4:6-13 “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness” (I Corinthians 1:23). Let there be no mistake: Preaching “Christ crucified” is gospel preaching. The “word of the cross” is the power of God to save the lost (I Corinthians…
Read MoreIs teaching in prisons and rehab centers worth it?
Question: Our church has been working with a prison ministry. It began many years ago by a lady who would travel many miles to the women’s prison. In that time I only know of one woman who came to be baptized, and, if my memory serves me right, when she was released she returned to…
Read MoreJesus Shows Us How to Evangelize
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/2010Spring3JesusShowsUsHowToEvangelize.mp3 by Frank Walton Christ, the Only Way
Read MoreGo Unto All the World
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/GoUntoAllTheWorld.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Read MoreA Prosperous Journey
by Walton Weaver via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 10 p19 May 18, 2000 Paul had a great desire to go to Rome. He knew however that if such an opportunity presented itself, God would have to open up the way. His prayer that God might do this for him is given to us in Romans 1:10: “Making…
Read MorePreacher Pitfalls: An Article for Young Preachers
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. The Reflector – August 2009 via Ed’s Sermons and Things Paul references Isaiah in declaring that the feet of those that preach the gospel are beautiful (Romans 10:15; Isaiah 52:7). I know of no higher calling for a young man to pursue than that of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. While…
Read MoreOffering an Invitation
by James Shewmaker We may offer encouragement at any time to respond to the summons of Jesus, but the summons belongs to Him and not us. If a person expresses a desire to respond to the Savior’s summons, I do not wait till the end of services. For example, a family contacted me about 40…
Read MoreDoes the whole church need to hear the whole sermon?
Question: Is there some biblical passage where it is mentioned that in the primitive church all listened to the preacher and all were present during the whole worship? Answer: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in…
Read MoreAn Idea for a Sermon Topic
by Jefferson David Tant Sometimes preachers are hard-pressed to come up with a good sermon topic. In reading some of my father’s old church bulletins from Norman, Oklahoma, (April 1946), he wrote of a famous preacher in London many years ago who announced his sermon for the next Sunday – “A Reaping Hook Well Tempered…
Read MoreHow could a just God put a man in a place where he is unable to hear about Jesus and then send him to hell?
Question: From your sermon “The Lost Who Never Heard the Gospel”: “If people could be saved without going through Christ, then why would God have sent him to die?” Then is it safe to say that this God you say is a just God of love would create a human being, place him in a location where…
Read MoreWhat questions should brethren ask of a man wanting to preach for them?
Question: We have a couple of other men here who fill in with the preaching service occasionally and have asked me for suggestions that might help them improve. One of them has expressed an interest in possibly looking for a preaching job. So, I believe a “preacher training class” would be in order. The question I want…
Read MoreIs the point of life seeing the fruit of your labors?
Question: For a while, I was going through King Solomon’s view of realizing how pointless life is. I was struggling with that for a couple of weeks. But I am doing better now. Just really meditated on it and what Solomon said and a realization of life in itself. It is kind of interesting but…
Read MoreAscetic Vows vs. Scriptural Liberties
by Bryan Matthew Dockens Members of religious orders of the Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox churches, most prominently priests and nuns, commit themselves to particular ascetic vows. Asceticism, by definition, is extreme self-denial. Self-denial, of course, is enjoined upon all those who would follow Christ (Luke 9:23-24). However, the Lord never placed such restrictions as…
Read MoreWhat can be done about a preacher who puts more effort into delivery than into content?
Question: I worship at a church of Christ and have a concern about the preaching there. The sermons are really for show rather than substance. The preacher seems very pleased with his oratory style raising and lowering his voice and parading up and down in front of the congregation. I have mentioned this to one elder and had…
Read MoreHow could the gospel have been preached to every creature?
Question: My brother and I disagree about Matthew 24:14. I used it in relation to where Paul said the Gospel has been preached in all the world. His response was that was saying Jesus’ death had been proclaimed to all the earth but not preached. I understand his point of view because it says every…
Read MoreWhen Hard Hearts Need Hard Words of Truth
by Terry W. Benton The preacher was all alone in his stand for truth and right because the assembly had become so worldly, and now he was the “troubler in Israel”. He was so discouraged that he decided to quit preaching. He was miserable when preaching the truth because no one wanted or appreciated the…
Read MoreThat Preacher Offended Me!
by Harry Osborne What would you think of a preacher whose sermons offended people and were taken as insulting by the hearers? What if a preacher caused the audience to be filled with anger because of the hard things that he said? What if he went so far as to mock false beliefs? Regardless of…
Read MorePreaching Like Paul
by Bobby Witherington via Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 3, pp. 80-82, February 6, 1992 There are many books that deal with preaching. Some are excellent. Some are not worth the paper and ink they require. Some are downright dangerous. But there is one book that not only reveals the value of preaching; it also reveals what constitutes…
Read MoreHard Preaching
by Guy F. Hester Recently someone told me that I am a hard preacher. This could be either good or bad, depending on what is meant by hard preaching. In the context of the conversation, I took it as a compliment to my firm stance for my convictions. Many people deplore hard preaching that may…
Read MoreToning It Down
by Robert Turner A “Country Meeting” had gone exceedingly well, and elders from another community asked the preacher to work with them in a meeting the following year. He came at the appointed time and found his reputation had spread, and the building was packed. The elders met him at the car, told him they…
Read MoreAlexander Campbell as a Preacher
Theories on Preaching by Carroll Elis via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 11, September 1952. Preaching is not for a lazy man, a sick man, or a tired man. Preaching the gospel is work. The greatest use which can be made of the human tongue is in the proclamation of the gospel of Christ. Effective preaching…
Read MorePreaching the Grace of God
by Terry W. Benton via Prove It by the Scriptures A brother made the following comment: “Grace is one subject one hears very little about in conservative Churches of Christ except it be prefaced by a stern warning of what grace is not.” I wonder if that statement has been true of my preaching. I personally…
Read MorePaul’s Sons
by Earl Robertson via Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 6, June 2008. The relationship of Timothy and Titus to Paul as sons is spiritual, legitimate, and true — “legitimately born, not spurious,” says Thayer, pg. 119. They were true sons. Paul said Timothy was “a true child in the faith,” showing the sphere in which this…
Read MorePreaching Like Jeremiah
by Jerry Fite via Guardian of Truth XXXVI: 3, pp. 70-71, February 6, 1992 Jeremiah began his prophetic work in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign. As a youthful Josiah wielded kingly force to tear down idols, young Jeremiah applied moral persuasion to eliminate the idolatrous heart. Despite forty years of exposure to Jeremiah’s preaching, Judah’s…
Read MoreDo you think it’s a sin not to go to church?
Question: Hi! I am 15 years old. I want to thank you for saving my soul! I accepted Jesus into my heart about two years ago and have been talking to him as a friend, a brother, a Savior and my Lord ever since. However, I have found myself struggling with lust, greed and other things.…
Read MoreCan the preacher use his time to conduct a Bible class during the worship service?
Question: I’m a young man of seventeen and have been raised and brought up in a very conservative Christian home. I could go on and on about my father, the efforts of my mother, and the great strides I’ve been extremely blessed to make in being an active member in the church, but there is…
Read MoreDoes “Hard” Preaching Pay?
by Fanning Yater Tant For several years there has been a discussion within the brotherhood as to the relative merits of “hard” preaching in comparison with “persuasive” preaching. By this latter is meant the type of preaching that never refers to a denominational church by name, uses the Dale Carnegie “method of approach” psychology, seeks…
Read MoreCan We Have Too Much “Positive” Preaching?
by Greg Gwin We readily acknowledge the importance of positive preaching. Brethren need the “comfort of the Scriptures” (Romans 15:4). Paul sent Tychicus to the Ephesians so that he could “comfort your hearts.” Timothy was dispatched to Philippi (Philippians 2:9) and Thessalonica (I Thessalonians 3:2) in order to comfort the brethren. Clearly, this kind of…
Read MoreShould I get in better shape before preaching?
Question: I would like to have earrings, maybe be tan, and be in better shape, plus I would like to whiten my teeth. It sounds ludicrous, but are these things wrong according to God if I want them? If I were to do these things, I feel like they would be holding me back for…
Read MoreIs the Sunset International Bible Institute a trustworthy organization?
Question: Someone has invited me to study at a satellite school at Sunset International Bible Institute. Do you happen to know this Sunset International Bible Institute? Is it a trustworthy organization? Answer: I have heard of this organization for a number of years. It is a man-made institution operated by members of the more liberal…
Read MoreWhat do you think about this preacher’s article? I think he is being offensive
Question: There is a preacher in El Paso, Texas, who wrote this article (the article has since been removed). Please read it. Is this Christian-like or not? I wrote him an email and told him that it was unchristian-like. Insulting people in the way he did was not going to change anything. I asked him…
Read MoreIs it acceptable to lie about being in a communist country to teach the gospel?
Question: Hello! I was just reading your message about lying. I will start out by saying that I am a firm believer that lying is a sin! And maybe this question will sound like I’m a bit of an oxymoron, but here goes. If you were in a situation, like missions work in a place…
Read MoreShould I not make waves because of the sin in the church I’m attending because I’m only here for a short while?
Question: I have yet to talk to my problems with the head guy. I have figured I should talk to the pastor and the elder first because the Bible dictates this. I had a conversation with someone whom I really respect here, even though his beliefs are more charismatic than anything — so a lot…
Read MoreYou should stop bullying people about sexual sins
Question: Preaching fire and brimstone to young, confused and naive children when they turn to you for advice and help in what is surely a very scary time is despicable. I suggest in the future you direct their questions to reliable medical sites that might actually help them with their problems rather than scare them…
Read MoreIt’s people like you who make young people fear to turn to God for help
Question: I am 23 years young, Christian married mother of one and I was so upset with the comments you made about these young kids who are having sex. Unless you are God Himself, which I highly doubt, you should not be judging and make them feel foolish about the choices they make. It’s people…
Read MoreDoes it please God when we preach and teach His Word?
Question: Does it please God a lot that we try to preach His Word and teach about Him to people? I have a gift. I can communicate very well with people, and I have the power to convince them. I am never scared of public speaking, I am an excellent speaker. When I talk to…
Read MoreThe Preaching of Jeremiah
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/The-Preaching-of-Jeremiah.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 11:32-40 I. As the southern nation of Judah rapidly slid into degradation, there was one bright moment before the end that came in the reign of Josiah. A. It was during his reign that God’s covenant was rediscovered – II Kings 22:8-11 B. Josiah understood what had happened and where…
Read MoreThoughts on Recycling Sermons
by Steve Mathewson How much life should you get out of a sermon? When is it appropriate to preach it again to the same congregation? How much change should you make when you preach it to another congregation? I’ve thought about these questions during my sermon preparation this week. I’m currently preaching through Ephesians, and…
Read MoreShould I stick with the program or go off to teach the gospel on my own?
Question: Things here are OK, though kind of aggravating at times, I spend most of my time working from 10 am in the morning ’til 6 or even 8 at night. Anything I have gone to has been a Christian event, but I started skipping them tonight. I am playing sports with non-Christians. God has…
Read MoreStay on Message
by Sam Stinson “What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient? Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me?” (Job 6:11-13, ESV) A certain evangelist once said when he…
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