Preaching an Ancient Faith to the Modern World

1. Preaching an Ancient Faithto the Modern World

2. Views of Preaching • To the worldly minded • 1 Corinthians 1:18a “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing….” • They will use various means to capture attention • Rock bands • Carnivals • Plays • Light shows

3. Views of Preaching • To those “who are being saved” (footnote ASV) • 1 Corinthians 1:18b “…it is the power of God.” • Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

4. Views of Preaching • To those “who are being saved” (footnote ASV) • 1 Corinthians 1:18b “…it is the power of God.” • Romans 1:16 • God does his calling in preaching • “But we are bound to give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thes. 2:13-14).

5. Making Preaching Relevent • Yet, the gospel preacher is not excused from making his preaching relevant to his listeners. • When the numbers of the divisions equipped for war came to David in Hebron, it is said, “…of the sons of Issacher who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command” (1 Chr. 12:23, 32).

6. Illustrations and Anecdotes • C. H. Spurgeon wrote, • We must try thus to get the truth into the people, for it will never get in of itself; and we must remember that the hearts of our hearers are not open, like a church door, so that the truth may go in, and takes its place, and sit upon its throne to be worshipped there. No, we have often to break open the doors with great effort, and to thrust the truth into places where it will not at first be a welcomed guest, but where, afterwards, the better it is known the more it will be loved (The Art of Illustration p. 52).

7. Illustrations and Anecdotes • C. H. Spurgeon continued, • Illustrations and anecdotes will greatly help to make a way for the truth to enter; and they will do it by catching the ear of the careless and the inattentive….You must endeavor, brethren, to make your people forget matters relating to this world by interweaving the whole divine truth with the passing things of every day, and this you will do by a judicious use of anecdotes and illustrations.

8. Illustrations Used Bythe Prophets • Amos wrote of Israel’s inability to escape God’s punishment. • “It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand the wall, And a serpent bit him! (5:19) • In speaking to David, Nathan “resorted to a parable by which he led on the king to pronounce sentence of death upon himself” (Keil, 388).

9. Illustrations Used Bythe Prophets • The prophet described a rich man with many sheep and oxen who lived beside a poor man who had only one little lamb “which he had bought and nourished…so that it grew up in his house along with his son, and was treated most tenderly and loved like a daughter. The custom of keeping pet-sheep in the house, as we keep lap-dogs, is still met with among the Arabs” (Keil, 389). • The story likely struck a strong cord with the “shepherd king.” David laid bare his own soul as a result of the story and saw himself as a sinner after condemning the actions of the rich man.

10. Jesus Used Illustrations • The remarkable growth of the mustard seed well illustrated the way the church would grow (Mat. 13:31-32). • “Jesus knew how well men are acquainted with material matters – a farmer sowing in the springtime and workers at the harvest separating the wheat from the tares, a merchant who give his life in quest of a rare pearl, or children who play in the marketplace – and using these timeless pictures He sought to tell men principles that count in the unseen world” (Lightfoot, 14).

11. Jesus Used Illustrations • The Lord was also familiar with current events which were being discussed by the people. • When a group of people told Jesus about those who were killed by Pilate while offering their sacrifices, thinking they were an example of punishment for being particularly sinful, Jesus called to mind the case of eighteen upon whom a tower in Siloam fell (Luke 13:1-5).

12. Jude Used Illustrations • Jude described false teachers by using images which would have been very familiar to his readers. • “They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (12b-13).

13. Peter Used Illustrations • Peter describes the tragedy of having found the truth and turning back by citing a proverb. • “For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: ‘the dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire’” (2 Peter 2:21-22).

14. Paul Used Illustrations • Paul quoted from poets known to his listeners. • On Mars Hill, it seems he quoted from Epimenides of Crete when he said, “for in Him we live and move and have our being.” • He also said, “as some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring,’” from the poem “Phainomena,” written by Aratus (Acts 17:28). • In Titus, Paul again quoted from Epimenides when he wrote, “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons’” (1:12).

15. Paul Used Illustrations • The twenty-four Olympic games were an area of comparison. • “In 2 Thess 3:1he speaks of the word of the Lord as running (throughout the world—an idea that goes back to Ps 147:15) and of being feted wherever it went, as was the successful competitor in the games” (Williams, 268). • “In Gal 5:7 he laments that his readers had been running well (specifically, in their obedience to the truth of the gospel) but someone played foul and caused them to stumble” (268).

16. Paul Used Illustrations • An allusion to Olympic races is seen (Rom. 9:31-32) when the Jews are said to have “…stumbled over Christ in their ‘race’ to win God’s acceptance” (272). • Boxing is used as a metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 to show his “determination to live a disciplined life and especially to keep his natural desires under control: ‘I am not boxing,’ he says, like a man beating the air’ (sparring or shadow boxing, skiamachia)—I am not making a pretence of Christian discipline—‘but I beat my body black and blue [as it were] and make it my slave’” (269).

17. Paul Used Illustrations • Later in verse 27, “He pictures himself as the herald who has called the athletes to the line (although in his illustration he remains an athlete himself). How sad it would be if, having instructed others in the rules of the contest, he should himself be barred from the crown by a breach of those rules” (269).

18. Today’s Preacher ShouldUse Illustrations • Preachers who would effectively preach the ancient faith to our modern world must stay in tune with what is going on around them. • It is a good idea to stay up with the news, particularly near where we live, like Jesus did. • Read a newspaper to know what is going on locally and around the world that impacts the congregation.

19. Today’s Preacher ShouldUse Illustrations • Quotes from songs, or poetry with which the audience would be familiar would be useful. • The discipline it took for Michael Phelps to win eight gold medals was well chronicled during the past Olympic Games and could serve as a good illustration of an important element of our Christian life. • Reading biographies is a good way to discover illustrations from real life.

20. Preach Sound Doctrine • While illustrations from the world around us draw listeners to our lessons, it is important for sermons to include solid teaching from God’s word. • “There must be some ‘body’ in every discourse, some really sound doctrine, some suitable instruction for our hearers to carry home; not merely stories to amuse them, but solid truth to be received in the heart, and wrought out in the life” (Spurgeon, 53).

21. Preach Sound Doctrine • Preachers must carefully study God’s word knowing they are not the originators of the message but stewards of the truth. • “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:1-2).

22. Preach Sound Doctrine • As Stott says, • The steward is the trustee and dispenser of another person’s goods. So the preacher is a steward of God’s mysteries, that is, of the self-revelation which God has entrusted to men and which is now preserved in the Scriptures. The Christian preacher’s message, therefore, is derived neither directly from the mouth of God, as if he were a prophet or apostle, nor from his own mind, like the false prophets, nor undigested from the minds and mouths of other men, like the babbler, but from the once revealed and now recorded Word of God, of which he is a privileged steward (The Preacher’s Portrait, 15).

23. Preach Sound Doctrine • Instead of arguing over meaningless things, Timothy was to be studious and cut a straight line through the Word, a clear reference to using a good hermeneutic (2 Tim. 2:14-15). • Knowing scripture is the God-breathed, or spoken, word should have compelled him to know it, correct mistakes, have a right relationship with God and become perfectly adapted to the task of doing every good work God desires (3:15-17). • With God and the Lord Jesus as witnesses, the apostle went on to challenge Timothy to proclaim God’s word like a herald, both when it was convenient and inconvenient (4:1-2).

24. Know Your Audience • Jesus knew his audience. • Without any introduction, the Lord knew both Simon and Nathanael (John 1:42, 47-48). • “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” (John 2:23-25).

25. Know Your Audience • He knew about the life of the woman at Jacob’s well to the point that she told the people of Sychar, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:16-18, 29). • The Master knew the complaints of some disciples who followed him, though they never told him, and the one who would betray him (6:61-64; 13:11). • As God incarnate, he knew Lazarus’ sickness would be used to glorify God and told his disciples when his friend was dead (John 11:4, 14). • God’s Son knew the type of death Peter would suffer (John 21:18-19).

26. Know Your Audience • While preachers today cannot know the hearts and personal history of men like the Lord did, we can become acquainted with their thinking. • It can be helpful to read books on marital relations, rearing children, caring for aging parents, money management, etc. • Researchers like George Barna have been particularly helpful at defining the thinking of each generation. No matter what the thinking, God’s word has what each of us needs.

27. Design a Conclusion to Get a Desired Response • Many good lessons concerning the ancient faith come to an ineffective end because of a weak conclusion. • “A pertinent question is, ‘As a result of this message, what changes does God want in my life and the lives of those who hear it?’” • Once that question has been answered, “Be direct and brief….Direct the conclusion to cause people to change their beliefs and/or behavior” (Mayhue, 209).

28. Design a Conclusion to Get a Desired Response • It is important to realize the composition of your audience. • Most groups will include listeners who have never obeyed the gospel, those who are novices, mature Christians and Christians struggling with sin. • Be sure people in each category recognize the action they need to take.

29. Design a Conclusion to Get a Desired Response • On the day of Pentecost, Peter used good hermeneutical principles to establish the fact that God knew his Son would be killed by the people and their wicked rulers. • He also foretold the resurrection of Jesus on the third day. • Peter declared that the Father had raised his Son from the grave and concluded, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

30. Design a Conclusion to Get a Desired Response • His listeners “were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” • He clearly stated, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:36-38). • After further pleading, some three thousand were added to the church.

31. Using Blogs to Preachthe Ancient Faith • Some preachers have established a “blog,” a shortened form of the term “weblog,” to preach the ancient faith. • It “a website that displays in chronological order the postings by one or more individuals and usually has links to comments on specific postings” (“Weblog”).

32. Using Blogs to Preachthe Ancient Faith • A blog is a good means of posting materials and resources which can help members of the church do more thorough study on a given topic. • It is also possible to host on-line discussions, embed online video, audio, slide shows and multimedia presentations.

33. Using Podcasts to Preachthe Ancient Faith • Some churches have begun “podcasting” each week’s sermons. • “Podcasting” is a word that originally came from use of the Apple Computer Corporation’s iPod, which is “a portable digital audio player that allows users to download music from their computer directly to the device for later listening.

34. Using Podcasts to Preachthe Ancient Faith • The term is no longer specifically related to the iPod but refers to any software and hardware combination that permits automatic downloading of audio files” (7 things…). • People who have an interest in the subject could hear the message whenever they choose and could listen again and again.

35. Using Videos to Preachthe Ancient Faith • Neil Richey, preacher for the Piedmont Road Church of Christ in Marietta, Georgia, makes short videos, from 60 to 90 seconds, and posts them on You Tube under the title, “Thinking Out Loud.” • These little devotionals are a good means of making contact with friends and friends of friends. • They can easily be sent as a link in e-mails. • The videos can also be posted on a Facebook account.

36. Using Web Sites to Preachthe Ancient Faith • Churches place outlines of sermons and study materials for classes on their website. • Students interested in a wide variety of subjects can be sent to http://thebible.net for over 1,000 hours of video instruction. • There are also Bible correspondence courses available through the site. • Wayne Jackson’s Christian Courier (http://www.christiancourier.com/) has excellent studies on a variety of topics and is searchable.

37. Using PowerPoints to Preachthe Ancient Faith • Many churches have now acquired the means of using PowerPoint in the auditorium, if not in all their classrooms. • This method can be especially effective because the listener uses both sees and hears the points being made. • To have the greatest impact, presentations should be limited to no more than two graphics per slide.

38. Using PowerPoints to Preachthe Ancient Faith • If a graph is used, it should not show much detail. • Our eyes tend to land in the optical center of the slide so it is important to maintain an optical balance, not crowd information. • Leave a little space between lines. • Only use a few colors per slide and remember it is easier to read light colored text on a dark background.

39. Using PowerPoints to Preachthe Ancient Faith • Templates may be helpful. • Font size should be used to communicate importance. • All capital letters are hard to read. • Use upper case letters to start words and lower case for the rest. • Avoid abbreviations (Lindsay).

40. Using PowerPoints to Preachthe Ancient Faith • Be sure to make your text large enough to read. • A good test is sitting seven feet away from your monitor and trying to read your presentation. • Use no more than six lines of not more than seven words per slide. • Keep the text and any animation simple and to the point.

41. Using PowerPoints to Preachthe Ancient Faith • Use different colored fonts to emphasize particular words. • Use numbers for things that are in sequence and bullets for points that are without priority or sequence. • Remember, size implies importance. • Limit the number of slides to not more than three per minute (Chen).

42. The Ultimate Goal inPreaching the Ancient Faith • However, we should be careful not to let modern tools become the focus. • Our ultimate goal must be just like that of the apostle Paul. • “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).