Preaching for the Congregation (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
Gary McManus, 10/06/2019Part of the God's Word is Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
October 6, 2019 2 Timothy 4:1-2
Do take a look at today’s bulletin concerning the
topic of preaching for this month of Pastor Appreciation.
We are here today even listening to a sermon in a church
because of Martin Luther, German reformer; credited with
starting the Protestant branch of Christianity, breaking away
from the Roman Catholic Church.
Luther thought the preaching was poor in his day.
Luther wanted churches based on God’s Word ONLY.
Therefore, preaching was intended to explain the Bible.
Another Protestant reformer would say: the congregation’s
duty was to listen, be edified, and be corrected by the preacher.
“To edify” means to instruct or improve one’s MORALS.
The worship was to lift you up—to strengthen you, to encourage you. . .
Question: Can we judge a preacher by his congregation?
How do American talk about preaching?
Hellfire and brimstone preaching?
Did American preachers forget Romans 14:10?
“To preach”. . .to publicly proclaim
The preacher is a herald; an announcer of Good News.
See Isaiah 52:7.
And so our Bible verse for the day:“All Scripture is
God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness. . .” --2 Timothy 3:16
Mark’s gospel uses the Greek word for preach more
than any other of the Gospel books.
So. . .Jesus was a preacher? Yes.
See Mark 1:38, Mark 1:39, Mark 2:2, Mark 3:14
"That is why I have come.”—to PREACH!
--to announce the Kingdom of God!
Hear the good news; that is the Pastor’s task,
to say: 1 Timothy 1:15
[Here is] a trustworthy saying that deserves full
acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners [—of whom I am the worst.”]
Amen
Questions from the Series on Preaching:
Good question: is the preaching the more important or
the reaching of the message to the hearers? (think about it)
More good question: does the church want the preaching
to be popular?
Is popular preaching the same as effective preaching?
Is the sermon's blessing determined by the preacher or
the word preached?
(Yes, the Holy Spirit causes the blessing, but where,
preacher or message? Both? One and not the other?
It is actually a very important question often asked too late. Think of Catholic clergy (or fallen Protestant Pastors) now accused or found to be abusers,
was their work/words empty? Were they never speaking the Word of God or is the Word of God true no matter who speaks it?)
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