what's there left to preach about?

[Carpenter]

Originally Posted by Neckstadt

One of the biggest problems is very few creative people are getting behind the pulpit.

Also with the prosperity doctrine is bringing in more money.

Why preach anything else?

I would like creativity, but I want substance too. I am getting tired of sermons preached out of ONE single text of scripture and then that text put through the paces with synthetic context (or...stuff made up for those of you in Rio Linda).

Why not just bring in a video of Dr. Phil or Tony Roberts?

[simplyme]

Funny I was just sayin this to someone recently., and really the topics are all pretty much the same, with a spin here or there, as told by as many different preachers, I am concerned with TRUE DOCTRINE and salvation first, and then the rest is for personal soul edification and to WORSHIP our GOD! I never tire of reading His WORD and hearing others talk about it too.
I know that He never tires of us hearing it either, and talking about Him, singing to Him, working for Him., yes it really
IS
ALL ABOUT HIM!!

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Carpenter

I would like creativity, but I want substance too. I am getting tired of sermons preached out of ONE single text of scripture and then that text put through the paces with synthetic context (or...stuff made up for those of you in Rio Linda).

Why not just bring in a video of Dr. Phil or Tony Roberts?

I agree we need to get away from the simple sermons...

We just need better minds getting into the pulpit.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

I have been listening to preaching for years. I've read the bible several times. I feel like I can say, "I've heard every message under the sun."

Churches can preach about soul-winning, discipleship and spiritual maturity. What else is there to preach about?

If you live a just life and witness to the lost about Christ what else is there to learn? Do churches eventually move on to such issues as personal empowerment and the social gospel of helping the poor or go off on a tangent preaching about the prophetic doomsday apocalypse to come?

What was last sunday's sermon about in your church and how were you personally edified by it?



still waiting for the "latter rain"

But you also need the opportunity to hear something preached and be able to then point at someone else in the church and say, "He needs to hear that! Preach it again! Those folks need to hear that!"

[Jodiah91]

Originally Posted by Neckstadt

I agree we need to get away from the simple sermons...

We just need better minds getting into the pulpit.

I'm glad God doesn't mind my 'simple' words when I pray to him. Nor does He mind the fact that I never went to college either.

I guess I am amazed we now think we need to be wowed with complex sermons full of creativity, spoken by ONLY truly intelligent, articulate men. I thought God's word was message enough. Don't get me wrong. There are preachers I favor over others, definately. But I don't diss the minister that may not speak with the best grammar and may not deliver the message in the way that sounds the prettiest to my ears.

[OneAccord]

What is there left to preach about?

Thought provoking question. His riches are unsearchable. His love immeasurable. His glory incalculable. His mercy endures forever. His Kingdom has no end. We haven't even begun to comprehend the height, breath, length, and width of His love for us. His blessing is boundless. The books of the world cannot contain His Story. Mere words can't describe His wondrous love. And His Name... His Name brings peace, brings healing, brings salvation, brings comfort . His Name, above all other names, has all power... Devils flee at the matchless Name of Jesus. The acts of the Holy Spirit continue to this day and beyond. The sick need healing. Those bound by drugs and alcohol need deliverance. Souls, lost without God still persih... the Church is far from being "without spot, without blemish".... Truths of God's Word are still being revealed. The Holy Spirit still leads us out of the shallow, muddy waters of contention and division and into the crystal clear waters of spiritual harmony. The Great Commission, given to all believers, stands, as yet, unfulfilled... people in foreign lands, even in our own lands, have yet to hear the Gospel of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Multitudes are still bound in "Prisons with Stained Glass Windows", serving a cold dead religion. Millions more are still enslaved by sin, never darken a church door, have never knelt at an altar of repentance, have never been baptized in water in Jesus' name... have never experienced "joy unspeakable and full of Glory". The Gospel has not yet been preached "into all the World".

What is there left to preach about?
Jesus. Not a religion about Jesus. Not a doctrine about Jesus. But, Jesus. As long as the above is true, there is still reason to keep preaching.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Ms. LPW

Sunday morning our guest speaker preached about the battle that is still very much raging in the spirit, that we can't see with our eyes but we must be aware of. How we can't sit back but we must engage the enemey of our souls lest we be caught sitting down in the heat of the battle.

To be honest, I was really preoccupied with my newborn who decided it was time to eat and fuss... so I didn't get out of it what I wanted to. Sun PM my infant AND my toddler kept me distracted.
I find that happens to me a lot now in service, but that's no reflection on the preacher or the message being preached.

What do you mean exactly by "still waiting for the latter rain"?

I wanted to say with this thread, that I'm tired of meaningless sermons and was hoping fellow AFF'ers would share the edification they have received from their respective services. "still waiting for the latter rain" means I'm anxiously awaiting a move of God or to hear a message from someone who has been in touch with God.

Anthony Mangun is the closest I've heard of someone that wants to "hear from God." But from what I've heard, the greatest revelation he preaches is "intimacy with God in prayer". That is something that is accesible by anyone. Why isn't God speaking to more people, more often?

ie: Who among us is declaring "thus saith the Lord"? did it happen at your local service? How were you edified by your local sermon?

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by pelathais

But you also need the opportunity to hear something preached and be able to then point at someone else in the church and say, "He needs to hear that! Preach it again! Those folks need to hear that!"

I recently heard a sermon where Esau and Jacob were portrayed metaphorically as our fesh and spirit selves. Esau, the flesh, is born first. He is a man of the field, carnal. Jacob is born second, a man of the house and tender.

The elder would serve the younger; our carnal man serves our spirit man after we are born again. Of course this is not a perfect metaphor since Jacob portrays this same struggle in becoming Israel, but it was a great sermon. Unfortunately, these are few and far between. And not many than can deliver these type of sermons.

What sermons have you heard that, "those folks need to hear that?"

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

What is there left to preach about?

Thought provoking question. His riches are unsearchable. His love immeasurable. His glory incalculable. His mercy endures forever. His Kingdom has no end. We haven't even begun to comprehend the height, breath, length, and width of His love for us. His blessing is boundless. The books of the world cannot contain His Story. Mere words can't describe His wondrous love. And His Name... His Name brings peace, brings healing, brings salvation, brings comfort . His Name, above all other names, has all power... Devils flee at the matchless Name of Jesus. The acts of the Holy Spirit continue to this day and beyond. The sick need healing. Those bound by drugs and alcohol need deliverance. Souls, lost without God still persih... the Church is far from being "without spot, without blemish".... Truths of God's Word are still being revealed. The Holy Spirit still leads us out of the shallow, muddy waters of contention and division and into the crystal clear waters of spiritual harmony. The Great Commission, given to all believers, stands, as yet, unfulfilled... people in foreign lands, even in our own lands, have yet to hear the Gospel of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Multitudes are still bound in "Prisons with Stained Glass Windows", serving a cold dead religion. Millions more are still enslaved by sin, never darken a church door, have never knelt at an altar of repentance, have never been baptized in water in Jesus' name... have never experienced "joy unspeakable and full of Glory". The Gospel has not yet been preached "into all the World".

What is there left to preach about?
Jesus. Not a religion about Jesus. Not a doctrine about Jesus. But, Jesus. As long as the above is true, there is still reason to keep preaching.

Great post! You have accurately described the condition of "the world". I guess my frustration with dull sermons refers more to the church folk who have to continually bear with repetitive sermons. The world hasn't heard great semons, but the church has.

Once churches have evangelized their respective communities and become "mega-churches", isn't that when they turn to personal empowerment or political activism?

I guess there will always be a need to support "missions", but what will the faithful church folk diet on? What kind of sermons are left to inspire them or should they be the ones actively involved in "missions"?

[Theresa]

Originally Posted by Neckstadt

One of the biggest problems is very few creative people are getting behind the pulpit.

not the word that comes to my mind...

but anyway, what is that saying? Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it?

I guess until we get it right, we'll have to keep hearing the same thing over and over


*shrug*