PREACH LIKE JESUS

People gathered—not in an air conditioned auditorium in comfortable seats, but on a hillside in open air to sit on the grass—all to hear Jesus. They were captivated by His words and “astonished at his teaching.”  It was the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest Man who ever lived. 

We will not preach a sermon to compare to that one, but there are some things we can learn that will help us be more like Jesus in our preaching.  Let me begin with the foundational principle mentioned in these verses.  It is stated positively and negatively.

The negative aspect stated was, “not as their scribes.”  The manner of the scribes was to do meticulous research and ground their authority in what other scholars had said—to quote from this rabbi or that rabbi as they droned on. While there is nothing wrong with quoting commentators and doing research as to what others have said about the text, when we get up to preach it is likely no one will be impressed by the underpinnings of the sermonic house you have constructed. If you moved into a new home, would you expect to take people into the crawl space, shine a spotlight, and say to your friends, “Would you look at those floor joists! Man, they nailed them! Have you ever seen any like them?”  Rather, I would expect you to show them the rooms and furnishings where you will live.

That brings me to the positive dimension of this—that the people were impressed “for he was teaching them as one who had authority.”  Our Lord’s authority did not rest in human opinion about God, but in heavenly revelation of God. Now, before you protest that Jesus had the advantage of being God—I know.  He spoke directly from the Father for whatever the Father said to Him, He spoke. This we cannot claim and we cannot do.

Yet, we do have His Gospel. We have the Word of God. Our authority rests in God, if we begin with study of the text for God’s Spirit to teach us and guide us into all truth. Then as we preach, we expound the text—with illustration and application that connects eternal truth with the daily life of the audience. Jesus certainly did that—using salt and light to explain influence and fowl and flower to discuss faith, for instance.  People will respond to such clarity and authority.

Let us preach with the confidence that Christ indwells us to speak through us and that we have an authoritative Word that when proclaimed in the unction of the Spirit will make an impact.

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #41

Lead the church to learn from the past, but refuse to let them live in the past. Honor tradition where it connects with Biblical principles, but reject traditionalism where it relies on personal preferences. Someone has said that tradition is the living faith of the dead, and traditionalism is the dead faith of the living!  When the fog of nostalgia for “the good old days” rolls in, this is a sure indicator that the church is in decline and needs to be reinvigorated with fresh vision. The more you hear about “how it used to be” the unhealthier the church has become and the more urgent the need for revitalization. 

Yet, there is much good we can learn from those who have gone before us. I have often said that if the church is blessed today, we enjoy the fruit of a tree someone else has planted, nurtured with their effort, and watered with their tears.  Never fail to respect that legacy, but those days are gone—never to return. The church will move on or slip back. 

The next step down from nostalgia is polarization, as people begin to argue for the heritage behind us versus those who look for the hope before us. Both groups may lose sight of the value of one another—the stability of an older generation combined with the vitality of a younger one. If they do not see that worth, then they will devour one another. Usually this ends with the younger departing and the church ages and dies.

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #40

Celebrate victories and learn from past failures. It is easy to fall into the trap of, “Woe is me.”  Negativity can be a malignant way of thinking that kills hope—and without hope, it is impossible for a church and her leaders to find a way forward. Victories are often hard won. You make much effort—you pray, perhaps fast, labor, and you see God bless. We are tempted at that point to stop and catch our breath.  DON’T!  It is time to build on that momentum. Spend some significant time celebrating the goodness of God. Rejoice as a congregation. Give Him glory. Seeing a successful ministry effort is a time to give glory to God and pat your workers on the back. Then ask, “What is the next step?” Roll up your sleeves and get back to work!

Even a failure need not be final. See it in the positive light of being a learning experience. This is what I first heard John Maxwell term, “failing forward.”  When you have stumbles—and you will—do not wallow in self-pity or retreat in despair, but fail forward by asking, “What is God teaching us?  What might we have done differently?  Was it a bad idea or just bad timing or poor execution?”  Some of the most helpful lessons I have learned have been taught in the school of hard knocks where the school colors are black and blue. Those scars speak to realities engraved by the stylus of pain on this all too human clay. But, God is doing the writing and He has a future and a hope. If you learn and move on you are smart. If you keep beating your head against the wall by repeating the same flawed effort you are stupid!

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #39

Schedule times for outreach and evangelism. What gets scheduled, gets done. We may intend to share our faith, but unless we have regular times to do it (which is not to exclude spontaneous opportunities) it has a way of being forgotten. But we intended to share our faith, and you know that they say, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” and those good intentions are paving the way to hell for the lost around us!

What is to be our priority?  In heaven, we will never have the opportunity to lead one soul to Christ. 

There are those who will argue about methodology, who do not want a scheduled time and/or memorized method.  They would poo poo the idea of handing out a gospel tract or using what they call a simplistic “confrontational” approach. Instead they advocate building relationships and sharing in a “natural way.”  I understand, and there may be times that will be effective—IF, it is done. 

But, I think for many my response to their criticism of my methodology would be, “I like the way I do evangelism better than the way you do not.”

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #38

“Walk slowly through the crowd.”  

I’ve always done that. When I heard John Maxwell first say that, my heart declared, “Amen!”  There is a tendency among some pastors to isolate themselves on Sunday morning from the people.  They want to shut themselves up to meditate on their message and that sounds so spiritual. But, people are our business. Sheep need to be fed, but they receive it best from the shepherd who walks among them, caring for them, listening to their concerns.  They seem more open to hearing the message from the pulpit after they hear the man as he engages them personally in the pew. Brothers, if you are not ready to preach your sermon by the time you arrive at the church building on Sunday morning, the extra hour will not likely help!  But, it can make a world of difference if spent with people—celebrating victories, offering encouragement, laughing with them and crying with them. 

I will confess that it can be easy to forget specific matters—someone who needs prayer, the time and date of an upcoming surgery, and so forth. That is particularly true as the church grows and so I found it helpful for my Administrative Assistant to walk with me, and make such notations as needed.

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #37

Know when to refer to a professional counselor. A broken world is filled with broken people. They are in our churches as well. Some who are very troubled will come to you and in compassion, and in your role as a pastor, you need to seek to help them. It is really part of the disciple-making process—to produce healthy saints requires facing what is making them sick and assisting them in getting well. Counseling is part of our task, and we need to work to enhance our knowledge and skill in this. Yet, we will at times encounter deep-seated and enduring issues with some that may be crippling and even life-threatening.  They may be at their wit’s end in dealing with this, and you find yourself in that state as well! It is a humbling thing to know that someone may be contemplating suicide and they have turned to you as the last resort.

Think of it this way. There is a doctor who is a general practitioner. He can handle many cases. He can help with overall health. But, there will be sicknesses that arise for which he needs to refer to a specialist for treatment. He has not failed, but is doing what is best for the patient. That is what a pastor is called to do.  You will counsel and you will help people become spiritually healthy.  Yet, there will be times to refer to a “specialist,”—someone who has the time and training to treat the debilitating emotional, relational, mental sickness. 

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #36

Don’t do weddings.  There is nothing in Scripture that compels you to do so. A civil servant can officiate a wedding. I always shock people when they ask me to do their ceremony, as I respond, “I don’t do weddings.”  There is usually an awkward silence. Then I add, “But, if you would like to have a Christian home, then I would be happy to talk to you about that!”

God has placed us in the church and in our community to help establish Christian homes. The premarital counseling and the ceremony can be foundational to that end. There is an initial form sent out that will direct the first session.  I require four sessions. There have been times that the initial meeting becomes an evangelistic one.  I have been thrilled to see some come to faith in Christ in this process. 

The wedding is not the end, but the beginning. After the “I do’s” are said, there are a lot of “I do’s” to be done. Plugging the couple into a Bible study class and/or marriage mentoring group is so helpful. Find some solid saints with healthy homes who can work with the newlyweds. 

The local church will only be as strong as the families that comprise the membership. This makes a pastor’s role in this process crucial. Take it seriously.