Another brief word about sermons
This time from Dave Black (today, May30, 2010 at 1:38 p.m.):
As a culture, the Western church is enslaved by a worship of preachers and preaching. This anthropocentricity is one of the greatest stumbling blocks to the Gospel. Know something? There were no “sermons” in the churches of the New Testament. The concept of a well-crafted 30-minute homily carefully alliterated with three points simply did not exist. Now, I am not denying that there were “messages” or, if you will, “words.”
Yes, I’m sure some of my readers will react negatively to the charge that “the Western church is enslaved by a worship of preachers and preaching.” But, I think we would find that most churches would cease to function if the “preacher” did not show up with a “sermon”… that is, until they eventually found another “preacher” who would bring a “sermon.”
As long as the church things that it is only one or two people’s responsibility to study and prepare and bring a “sermon” each week, I do not think we will see much spiritual growth. Yes, there can be some spiritual growth from sermons. But, the people will grow more when they all accept responsibility to bring a word or message to one another when they meet together.
Preacher’s messages! What if you don’t necessarily agree with the concept(s) within the message? How often do preachers, even [and or especially] Baptist, present their own ideas and “ways of living” as scriptural (through proof texts) to an un-read audience, who then carries on believing the man in the suit just gave the word of our lord? What about the concept of inviting unbelievers to attend church with us? We go to church to worship God, but how can an unbeliever worship God? How can we expect an unbeliever to make any sense of the “Word of God?”
This is today’s excuse, or rather reason perhaps, for not personally evangelizing the lost?!?!?!?!
preach it brother! lol….
well said!
Alan,
Spot on!!
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
I think that the announcement/proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ to unbelievers is of utmost importance. I think this is the type of proclamation (i.e. “preaching”) that we see in the New Testament. I also think that this NT form of proclamation has little (if any) resemblance (in form, content, or context) to what is normally called “preaching” or “sermons” today.
-Alan
I agree with the post in that preaching as done today is not found in the NT.
I also no examples of so-called “Christian Educators” like Dr. Dave Black. People studied the Scripture in the context of community. They did not pay professional teachers to teach them the Bible. Christans in the NT did not go to seminary. They did not build schools of “higher” learning…. THey learned together in community.
I agree with J.R. Miller. The whole “Christian education” (Sunday School, Bible School, Seminary, Christian Schools, etc) system is in need of as much questioning as is the “church system.” I’m looking out for conversation about this. The two “systems” are very closely intertwined, and support each other.
I also agree that “Christian education” doesn’t create disciples. While I don’t want to speak for him, I think Dave Black would agree as well.
-Alan