What is vaguely thought is often vaguely said
“ But you, continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them, and that from childhood you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ”2 Tim 3:14-17 states this summary of what is reasonably meant by the term “teaching”. In full accordance with the mandate that the disciples received when Jesus Christ left the earth, according to Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Teaching thus includes at least four distinct aspects and all four are needed if one wants to offer the people of Faith a versatile and well-composed diet from the Bread of Life. Anemic witnesses have poor growth.
Bloodless preaching denies the Lamb of God, slain from before the beginning of the world.
All of you have listened to about a thousand “sermons” during your combined congregational lives, conference and camp stays and various Bible weeks. To varying degrees, the different sub-elements have been emphasized more or less. Most of what you have heard you have never had to act on because not much of what has been said has obliged you to change. Most of what you have heard has had an “open ending”, i.e. it was up to you whether you took anything with you. And only in a few cases was what was said followed up at the next meeting, and very rarely were you questioned about the effect of the message in your own lives. What characterizes the preaching activity is precisely the proclamation, the announcement, the herald’s “The King says”. But usually without the slightest requirement that “what you have heard from me in the presence of witnesses, you have given to others who in turn became skilled in teaching others in turn.” 2 Tim 2:2
The preaching thus becomes a series of monologues which do not mean that the listener has committed what he heard to memory, because no one will demand an accounting!
No one can be said to be a teacher if the students have learned nothing.
If the signal is unclear how will anyone know what to do?
The preacher’s focus is to keep the message as close to the truth as possible.
The teacher’s focus is to admonish the students to stay as close to the truth as possible.
Take note, preaching is only one part of the ministry of the word.
Imagine walking up to the preacher and thanking him for the sermon by saying something like this: “I don’t know if I missed anything, but did you say something concrete and actionable that is important for me to face this coming week?” What was the vital content of your message? I don’t want to miss anything!
There is a definite requirement for the one who speaks! Just look: “ If anyone speaks, let him speak according to the word of God . Whoever speaks let him speak as it were the utterances of God, if anyone serves let him do so as by the strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. His is the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Pet 4:11) According to the Word itself, the word of God is effective so that it “ pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart. There is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him with whom we must give an account.” Hebrews 4:12-13
Is it not right then to ask yourself: have the words I have heard accomplished this when I heard them? It is only if the word has pierced my soul like a sword that the word becomes effective. If what we hear is not received with faith in its effect, then the Word has become of no use to us! (Heb 4:2) If the heard word is not mingled with the faith that we have then the teaching of the word is merely so much water on a duck’s back. It runs off faster than it is poured on.
It was a good sermon! Well, how, in what way? Which of the things that were conveyed was “teaching” so that you learned something new? What was encouraging ? What was exhorting and what was rebuking ? And what did you learn that makes you better equipped for every good work?
Or was it another case of: ‘I heard what I expected, nothing upset me, so it was good.’
Was it a good sermon because it left you to go home in the same condition as when you came?
Kyrie eleison! Lord have mercy on the listeners and the preachers alike.
Teddy Donobauer