Posts Tagged ‘preaching’
Does “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…
Read MoreHow can I help a brother become a better teacher and preacher?
Question: One brother here that is dependable when it comes to helping me with preaching and teaching. He has very little experience but will do his best at anything I ask him to do, really a prince of a man. A few of the members have come to me complaining about his teaching methods. Although they all agree…
Read MoreWouldn’t it be better to put the questions and answers on a site that doesn’t mention the church of Christ?
Question: I wish I were more articulate. What I am going to ask of you would sound better if I were able to explain all the reasons I ask but to make this short I will be incredibly blunt and trust God will give you the wisdom to understand. In short … I come from a…
Read MoreThe Lost One
by Edwin Crozier via Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 28, July 15, 2007 In Luke 15:1,2, the Pharisees and scribes grumbled against Jesus saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Jesus responded with a parable of a lost sheep. Seeking the Lost Sheep in the Mountains Matthew 18:12 He asked how many of the…
Read MoreYou shouldn’t be so negative
Question: I happened on to your site because I was searching a biblical question. I’m impressed that you want to follow the biblical pattern of the church, but you seemed to have missed one. Jesus didn’t start off by being negative. He talked about who His father was and who He was. Most people won’t…
Read MoreSomeone said I wasn’t doing my duty as a preacher because I’m not always out on the street preaching. What do you think?
Question: A young man, who is about 30 years old, married, and has a couple of children, took a preacher training class. I was informed by the preacher teaching that class that this man had moved to this area several months ago. The preacher asked me to contact him, so I did so last evening and learned that he had tried out…
Read MoreHave you read the whole Bible and memorized Scriptures?
Question: Ok, that clears up some objections. Thank you very much, dear sir, for answering me by showing the Scriptures and not using just your own opinion. My dear sir, I hope that you will continue to be faithful in doing that. And may you be used by God to help me understand His words. You…
Read MorePlease Knock on My Door!
by Dick Cupp Have you ever hesitated to knock on someone’s door, afraid that those inside don’t want to hear anything about the gospel of Christ? Let me tell you of a young man who would have given a great deal just to have some Christian knock on his door earlier in his life. This…
Read MoreJoe H. Blue
[Written in January 1944 in a personal letter to Roy L. Ruckman. Brother Blue had no thought of it being more than a personal letter, but it has been shared with hundreds for it is a means of encouraging young preachers.] I was born September 18, 1875, in Izard County, Arkansas, near Mt. Pleasant. The…
Read MoreWhere did you learn to give counsel?
Question: Hi. I have written to you before and asked questions. Your responses are very good and biblically related. I just was wondering, though, if you have had any teaching or training as a counselor? I have read many of your responses to others as well. I noticed that some people are asking legitimate questions,…
Read MoreDealing with the Unrepentant
by Greg Gwin via The Beacon 9/29/2009 Are you discouraged because you can’t get someone to change? Maybe you’ve worked long and hard to teach someone what they should do to be saved, but they simply won’t accept it. It’s clear to you and to them that there are things amiss in their life, but…
Read MoreBible Thumpers
by Sam Stinson “And the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth'” (I Kings 17:24). Brethren, Jesus rightly said that God’s word is truth (John 17:17). God’s word has the ability to sanctify those who would…
Read MoreMust a preacher teach from the Greek and Hebrew text?
Question: I would like you to answer a question for me. There’s a person here in our city teaching from his basement or another room he has rented. He teaches Greek and Hebrew lessons and he also appears on TV. This person teaches that if your pastor isn’t teaching from the Greek or Hebrew Bible,…
Read MoreWhere does it say that those preaching God’s word would be hated?
Question: I’m looking for a passage: You will be not liked very much if you preach the Christian word. Please give some direction as to where I might find this. Answer: Several passages could fit roughly with what you are looking for: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds…
Read MoreMust the duties of preaching be evenly distributed among able and qualified men?
Question: It appears that you have an extremely negative view on either the practice of mutual edification, the brethren who follow it, or both. If this is the situation, I pray you will give me the opportunity to stand on my own without making too many assumptions regarding my motivations or additional beliefs. For example, I…
Read MoreWhat Shall We Do Then?
by Kent Heaton John the Baptist was a fire and brimstone preacher. His appearance alone would strike fear into most hearts. “Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4). His sermons were direct and not very commending…
Read MoreWhat It Leads To
by Robert F. Turner via Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 44, Nov. 4, 2007 I hate to admit this, but a man once told me he did not like my sermons and wanted me to change the subject and content of my preaching. I asked him to identify my errors, and he said I was preaching…
Read MoreStarting Over from Scratch
by Terry Wane Benton Jeremiah had become very disillusioned at his job of delivering God’s message. He had become the most unpopular preacher in town. At this point, he is disillusioned with God. “You induced me” to preach this very unpopular message, he said to God. Then he decided that he would quit preaching. What…
Read MoreDo angels preach?
Question: Do angels preach? Answer: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-2). “For if the…
Read MoreAre lectureships scriptural?
Question: Tell me your thoughts about “lectureships.” Is this a scriptural term? Do we have authority for women lectureships? Answer: Let us establish a basic point. The question is not whether a particular term is found in the Bible or not. After all, language changes constantly. What might have made a good translation in say…
Read MoreHow an Old-Time Preacher Handled Mischief
Author Unknown One of the best-known preachers of the first half of the last century was J. D. Tant (1861-1941). My Dad knew brother Tant and heard him preach. A few months before Dad died, he was telling me about some of the preachers he had known and some of the things that had transpired…
Read MoreDo the Work of an Evangelist
by Keith Storment via The Preceptor, September 1983 In II Timothy 4:5 Paul admonishes his young protégé, Timothy, to “be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” We can see in the context of this verse several reasons why we need faithful men, young and old, to be…
Read MoreDealing with Difficult Brethren
by W. Frank Walton This is a chapter from an upcoming book, “Behind the Preacher’s Door.” The book deals with challenges that preachers face, with practical, scriptural solutions in doing the work of an evangelist. “I have been…in danger of false brethren” (II Corinthians 11:26). The apostle Paul faced some difficult brethren, which pained his life.…
Read MoreSaving Our Own
by Connie W. Adams Over the years brethren have asked me a question which has always amazed me. Upon returning from a gospel meeting and reporting that so many obeyed the gospel, someone has been sure to ask “Were they just all young people?” Or “Were they just children of Christians?” Just young people? Just…
Read MoreAmos
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Amos was a herdsman from the city of Tekoa (about 12 miles south of Jerusalem) A. Tekoa was a small town on the edge of the wilderness. B. During the reigns of King Uzziah in Judah and King Jeroboam in Israel, he was given a vision. C. He when went from a humble shepherd…
Read MoreNotes on Preaching and Evangelism
Preaching is a work within the church Men were called evangelists: Acts 21:8; II Timothy 4:5 Christ appointed some men as evangelists – Ephesians 4:11 The word translated evangelism comes from a Greek word used to describe bringing the joyous news of victory from the battlefront. It is often translated as “preaching the gospel” as…
Read MoreTalking to Others About the Lord
Author Unknown We tend to talk with others about those things that are of the greatest interest to us. Golfers like to talk about golf, musicians about music, and hunters about hunting. The point here is this: Do Christians like to talk about Christ, the church, and the Bible? How committed are we to who…
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