Weak Preaching
The Demise of a Congregation (pt. 4)
2002004
Subject: preaching;
Introduction:
A. Preaching is the key to the health/well being of the local church.
1. congregation = frail; sickly; showing signs of an early demise – it is usually because a congregation is malnourished and underfed spiritually!
2. Weak preaching produces weak churches.
B. The opposite is true! Strong preaching produces strong & vibrant churches.
C. Understand that many in society rank preachers pretty low. Used car salesman??? That’s OK.
1. Honor to preach – yet humbling.
2. Preacher should not preach to please men – but work in every way possible to please God!
a) those in sin will not always like to hear their fate – but that is the way it is.
b) 1 Tim. 1:8-11
D. Preaching is hard.
1. May appear easy. Only work 4 hours a week.
a) but yet, must spend time preparing lessons that will perk interest of those who listen.
b) To preach the word in an exciting & challenging way is not always easy! But it must be done!
2. Preachers must guard against making God’s word appear boring.
3. JP Miller: Bore them with science; bore them with history; bore them with mathematics; but don’t bore them with God’s word!
4. It can be a challenge to concentrate in putting together lessons!
a) not always easy to remain fresh & motivated!
b) Hard. Remember…always lots of vacancies for preaching positions.
5. Preachers must also remember they do not always have all the answers. A spirit of humility is a must!
E. Let’s take a moment to look at 4 elements of strong preaching.
I. Strong Preaching is Preaching That Loves People!
A. Mt. 9:36; 15:32 – what is the key word here? Compassion.
1. Jesus loved people.
2. This set him apart from the other proclaimers of his day.
a) Mt. 23:5-12 – it was all about them; their position before the people; and their power. Looked down on those around them.
3. Contrast that to people’s reaction to teaching of Jesus – Mk. 12:37b.
a) He loved them. They could sense that!
B. Preachers today must preach like Jesus!
1. They must speak not only to a person’s mind – but to the heart!
2. This means preaching must come from the heart!
II. Strong preaching involves preaching with passion!
A. Must preach with passion/power & w/heart & soul!
B. Must not degenerate into intellectual boredom.
1. Presentation of facts w/o illustration or application…
2. Then call for a decision.
3. This is NOT gospel preaching!
C. Dee Bowman: Gospel preaching will “storm the will.”
1. Preaching must be done with intensity. Strong emotion; exhorting audiences to “be saved from this perverse generation!”
a) There’s no room for classroom lectures!
2 Offer invitation with a pleading; passion; power.
3 Strong preaching will revitalize the life of a congregation!
III. Strong preaching is balanced preaching!
A. Must serve well balanced feasts. What if your wife constantly served the same thing for supper?
B. Preach topical lessons as well as textual!
C. Timing is critical!
D. This is why 2 Tim. 4:1-2 is important!
IV. Strong preaching is convicted preaching.
A. Any doubt in 2 Tim. 1:12?
B. Congregations need convincing lessons on the mission of God’s church; holy/reverent worship; heaven’s plan of salvation.
1. Need to be scriptural & need to be preached with enthusiasm!
2. People today as well as people of all times have needed challenging moral truths communicated forcefully & clearly!
C. Is there any doubt in passages such as:
1. 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Heb. 10:24-25; Gal. 5:19-20?
2. We must not bow to the PC of the day!
3. Anyone not interested in hearing strong preaching on doctrinal and moral issues isn’t a prospect anyway!
Conclusion:
A. Your preacher is committed to strong preaching.
1. Welcome your topic suggestions!
B. Let’s work together to make sure the demise of this congregation does not come about.
C. I N V I T A T I O N
