THE PLAIN TRUTH

 

Paul states his premise in writing this letter to the Corinthians.  In both the epistles we have to this church, there are issues confronted head on—problems that dared not wait until Paul could be present with them.  What these believers dealt with in trying to serve God in a pagan culture may today be dressed up in modern garb, but is yet the hostile environment to faith we face and calls for the plain truth.

The plain truth is a POINTED truth. Paul describes the “sharpness,” of his message. He used sharpness only as needed, not because he found pleasure in causing pain. The last thing a church needs is a bully in the pulpit that beats the membership with a Bible.  Rather, the sharpness is like that of a surgeon’s scalpel, with the intent to heal though it hurts.  Let none leave after our sermon wondering, “What was the point?”

Plain truth is POWERFUL truth. Paul wielded the Sword of the Spirit with “authority.”  His message was not the best advice of a man, but was the clarion call from the Master. It was not merely a good idea to weigh, but a grave imperative to obey.  Now, we Bible preachers are not Apostles, yet when we correctly interpret the writings of the Apostles and communicate them with the unction of the Spirit, we command authority and can speak confidently.

Plain truth is PRODUCTIVE truth. The result Paul was seeking was “edification.”  His aim was to build up and not beat down—edification rather than “destruction.” The preacher’s motivation and manner is important. Think of it as the difference between a parent who abuses a child and one who disciplines them.  Both are painful, but only one is helpful. Abuse is extreme and is about the parent’s problem while discipline is exact and is about the child’s potential.  

What people need from a preacher in the twenty-first century is no different than the message demanded in the first century. They need the plain truth—pointed, powerful, and productive. Our audience does not need to be told what they want to hear that makes them feel good while they get worse, but what they need to hear that perhaps makes them feel worse, but in order to get them better!