Posts Tagged ‘preaching’
What 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…
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…
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