Here is the first past of our series on the GOSPEL. Here I discuss the GOSPEL PAST and expounded on JUSTIFICATION.
The Timeless Gospel
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Category Archives: COMMUNICATION AND PREACHING
How to Preach with Authority
Mark 1
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
When you teach the LAW and law alone, people get tired. Not bored but tired. Tired because they know they cannot measure up. When you teach PURE LAW, you lose your credibility because you yourself can never measure up to perfection. When Jesus began teaching, He did so in the premise that the law is good but the only way to achieve transformation was through Him not by our own good works.
In Christ, you have power over sin and Satan. When Jesus casted out a demon, He was demonstrating the power we can have in Christ. Every thing rested on Christ’s power and not ours.
The law cannot empower us. It can only make us aware of our sin. Only Jesus sets us free. Now that is the good news worth spreading.
The Naughty Preacher
I think good preachers should be like bad kids. They ought to be naughty enough to tiptoe up on dozing congregations, steal their bottles of religion pills…and flush them all down the drain. The church, by and large, has drugged itself into thinking that proper human behavior is the key to its relationship with God. What preachers need to do is force it to go cold turkey with nothing but the word of the cross–and then be brave enough to stick around while [the congregation] goes through the inevitable withdrawal symptoms. But preachers can’t be that naughty or brave unless they’re free from their own need for the dope of acceptance. And they wont be free of their need until they can trust the God who has already accepted them, in advance and dead as door-nails, in Jesus. Ergo, the absolute indispensability of trust in Jesus’ passion. Unless the faith of preachers is in that alone–and not in any other person, ecclesiastical institution, theological system, moral prescription, or master recipe for human loveliness–they will be of very little use in the pulpit. - Robert Capon
Don’t Sleep when I am Preaching
Acts 20
7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
I needed to journal this passage because it reminds me as a preacher not to talk on and on. For two times, there was a subtle description of Paul’s lengthy talk that was putting people to sleep.
As much as I want people to not sleep during preaching, I also need to be sensitive to the people who are listening to the word. I know the Word of God is powerful and sharper than any double edged sword but I also need to know that the brain can only take so much.
It is my prayer that when I preach I will be sensitive to the Spirit of God and to the people listening to my message. I think what is interesting in the story was that the people were more ministered to when they brought the sleeping man back to life.
The 2 A’s of Preaching
Acts 18
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a] and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
We have to make it our business as Christians not just to preach the word accurately but get deeper into His word so we can preach it adequately. Apollos was the teacher who was so eloquent that people wanted to hear him teach and when the disciples saw his giftings they set him aside so that he can be more accurate and adequate in sharing the gospel.
It is a challenge for us as preachers of the word and as disciples to have our Priscilla and Aquilla to train us to do so. I thank God for the people who have helped me, pointed out my flaws and got my into studying the Word of God more.
Faithful to Share
Acts 18
5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, andno one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
It does not matter if the people respond to our sharing of the gospel or not. Most of us are too focus on wanting to close the deal with a sinner’s prayer and when we feel that they did not respond to our gospel presentation, that we ave failed God.
Paul, the great apostle, was rejected many times sometimes even to the point of death. His response was classic. He stopped preaching to those whose heart was close and move on to the next group who might respond to the message.
It is a lesson for us to not rely on our own strength and timing. It is God who does the work of regeneration and transformation. What God calls us to do is to be faithful in preaching the gospel in whatever way we can.
The End of the World
Listen to the Spirit
Acts 8:26-40 English Standard Version (ESV)
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
(I)“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his (J)humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and (K)beginning with this Scripture (L)he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! (M)What prevents me from being baptized?”[b] 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Events like these are for the books. Imagine the Spirit tells you to go to a place, then you meet someone who was searching for answers. It was not forced or coerced. Philip then explained the gospel and baptized the eunuch.
This wouldn’t have happened if Philip did not listen to the Spirit of God. We can have all the training on how to present the gospel, how to strike a conversation but if we don’t listen and grab hold of opportunities given to us by God – nothing will happen.
Lord, may I not only be sensitive to your voice and command, but also obey when I hear it. In Jesus name Amen!
John Wesley’s 12 Rules for Preachers
Here are some classic (literally) rules on preaching by John Wesley
1. Be diligent. Never be unemployed. Never be triflingly employed. Never while away time, nor spend more time at any place than is strictly necessary.
2. Be serious. Let your motto be, ‘Holiness to the Lord.’ Avoid all lightness, jesting, and foolish talking.
3. Converse sparingly and cautiously with women, particularly with young women.
4. Take no step towards marriage without solemn prayer to God and consulting with your brethren.
5. Believe evil of no one unless fully proved; take heed how you credit it. Put the best construction you can on everything. You know the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner’s side.
6. Speak evil of no one, else your word, especially, would eat as doth a canker; keep your thoughts within your own breast till you come to the person concerned.
7. Tell every one what you think wrong in him, lovingly and plainly, and as soon as may be, else it will fester in your own heart. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.
8. Do not affect the gentleman. A preacher of the Gospel is the servant of alL
9. Be ashamed of nothing but sin; no, not of cleaning your own shoes when necessary.
10. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time. And do not mend our rules, but keep them, and that for conscience’ sake.
11. You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those who want you, but to those who want you most.
12. Act in all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the Gospel, and in union with your brethren. As such, it is your part to employ your time as our rules direct: partly in preaching and visiting from i house to house, partly in reading, meditation, and prayer. Above all, if you labour with us in our Lord’s vineyard, it is needful you should do that part of the work which the Conference shall advise, at those times and places which they shall judge most for His glory.
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