Flavoring Your Sermons for Impact

Comments

• PDF

  Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:51 pm : 0 : 1 Flag

  The MESSAGE of Christ does not need any "assistance" from me or anyone else; it speaks on Its own. However, as an ambassador of Christ, I am cognizant of potentially using any "tool" to reach the lost, as guided by the Holy Spirit. If the "purity" of the "MEDIUM" to convey the MESSAGE is paramount, I guess we should not use puppets, skits or coloring books to teach and reach children. The MESSAGE of Christ's life, His birth, sinless life, death, burial and resurrection is pure in of itself. The MEDIUM (whether by song, skit, video and/or puppets) has no bearing on the MESSAGE, as long as the MESSAGE is not watered down. I guess we should no longer use salt, pepper or Mrs. Dash on any food dishes as the "mediium" of the seasonings detracts from the "taste" of the meat.

• anniefourjesus

  Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:05 am : 0 : 0 Flag

  The living, Word of God is anything but dull! Jesus spoke in parables for believers! We are living in the times when mankind has itching ears; we are not to be filling their heads with nonsense or make it palatable for them. We are to be SALT and LIGHT in a wicked and perverse generation!
  No PART of God's Word is irrelevant! The Word of God is foolishness to those who are perishing, but is the POWER of GOD to HIS people!
  The HOLY SPIRIT is our teacher, we do not need special prompts, HE illuminates the Word of GOD!! JESUS is the HOPE OF GLORY, and there is nothing dull about our LORD!
  Glory and Honor to You Lord Jesus! May our Lord find us faithful to HIM and not to men! For HIS GLORY!

• RBB

  Tue Sep 11, 2007 1:57 pm : 0 : 2 Flag

  What you are missing though is that just by the very means being used, you are diluting the message. We are to be holy to our God, called out and separate. When we become just like the world we are going completely against what God teaches us to do. When we go so far as to use the world to "sell" people on God, we are spitting in His face. We are telling Him that His way isn't good enough. That we need the world's way to get people to accept Him.
  
  I listen to a pastor every week who keeps his congregation spellbound. He doesn't sing, dance, use worldly means, or need gimmicks, or Mr Warren's "flavorings". He knows God's Word backwards and forwards, and his sermons are incredibly well thought out, teaching the Word of God in a way that is meaningful, and useful in our lives while not compromising with the world in any way. It can be done. It just requires actual study, care and work. It requires most of all leaning on the Holy Spirit and saying what God has for you to say to HIS people, not worrying about those who don't want to listen. God will bring to Himself those He wants. 1 Corinthians 3:7 teaches us "So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."
  
  I have no idea why anyone, least of all a pastor, would think that it was "wise to utilize techniques to assist in transmitting the Message of Christ." Are you under the impression that He needs help?

• PDF

  Tue Sep 11, 2007 9:23 am : 0 : 0 Flag

  I understand what Mr. Rick Warren is saying....the Good News of the Gospel itself is not irreverent; a person who communicates the Gospel, particularly to the unsaved, can use various mediums to transmit the Message. Unfortunately, we live in a"MTV" society; a lot of "lights, camera and action". Those who are called to reach this particular segement of people (mainly youths) would be wise to utilize techniques to assist in transmitting the Message of Christ. Of course, it goes without saying that without the Anointing of the Holy Spirit there is no success, but we as preachers do need to be mindful of how the unsaved assimilates information and use those techniques, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, to reach the lost. I believe that the MESSAGE is most important, and as long as it is not diluted in any way, shape or form; the MEDIUM that is used to transmit the message is merely secondary and is just a tool.

• RBB

  Tue Sep 11, 2007 7:41 am : 0 : 0 Flag

  I Googled the passage by Swindoll and can't find it's source. I did find quite a few seeker sensitive blogs that have quoted it from this article, and that evidently "dull" is one of his favorite words. Anyone who reads this and knows where the quote is from please post it.

• akonda

  Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:00 pm : 5 : 3 Flag

  as for Christ using parables it wasnt to make things interesting to others but to hide the spiritual meaning from those who rejected him. the parables were meant only for the disciples of Christ. Also, Christ did not come to enjoy life. How could he with the cross always before him? He was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. this doesnt square with what is stated above.
  
  makes me wonder why americas "greatest" preachers cant interpret the scriptures properly. is it ignorance or the fear of men? either way they shouldnt be in the pulpits they occupy. they may be great according to men but are we not to look for the praise of God instead? and didnt Christ say- woe to you when they praise you and exalt you for so they did even to the false prophets?

• akonda

  Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:59 pm : 5 : 5 Flag

  why should we make the gospel interesting? to the saved it the most beautiful piece of good news that they would ever hear. But the "unchurched" are going to find it boring, in fact they dont even want to do anything with it. so are we going to reduce the seriousness of the message and tamper with it just to entertain the unchurched and thus change the word of God to a lie? whatever happened to the preaching of the cross, of denying oneself and following Christ? instead we tickle their ears with skits, dramas, movie clips and what not while they comfortably walk along the broad path to hell without even knowing it.
  
  "Irrelevance is a disgrace to the Gospel" - in what way is the gospel irrelevant? the gospel is always relevant as it is because it addresses the old man. the disgraceful part is when preachers try to better it using their own human wisdom.

• RBB

  Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:07 am : 2 : 2 Flag

  True preaching from the Word of God, by someone who knows the scripture and is moved by the Holy Spirit, never needs to use tricks to amuse the listener. God will open the ears and the heart of those He wants to hear His word.

• artm

  Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:20 am : 3 : 0 Flag

  How about the " Anointing " of the Holy Spirit. Art.