Did he really say that?

Posted on June 17, 2017 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

The opening verses of Matthew 3 record the preaching of John the Baptist. While reading this passage, what jumped out at me is what John said to the Pharisees and Sadducees. He called them a “brood of vipers” and he went on to critique their behavior.

I’m sure that the Pharisees and Sadducees bristled at what John said. Being called a snake is never a compliment so it is unlikely that they took it well.

As a result, this passage is not used as a positive example of a sermon in any seminary today. I have not encountered any book on sermon preparation that encourages the preacher to incorporate insults to the audience as part of the introduction to his sermon.

But the thought strikes me that we can be so concerned about offending our listeners that we tap dance around the central truth of their need of the gospel. We cannot allow our preaching to be all lollipops and rainbows devoid of a real assessment of man’s need of salvation.

This is not a plea to take up “hellfire and damnation” preaching. We are not called to scare people into the kingdom of Heaven. Fear is never a long term motivator and it is not our job to bring conviction to our listeners.

But the substance of John’s preaching should prompt us to be willing to say what needs to be said to get people to face the truth. Preaching needs to confront the reality that we are not morally neutral agents. Our primary need is not moral encouragement or spiritual reassurance. Our primary need is to face the reality of our sin and the provision that Jesus made to have our sin removed.

If one of the points in the “Seven ways to be a better father” sermon does not involve faith in Jesus Christ and repentance from sin, then an opportunity has been missed. The gospel must infuse every sermon.

Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin and rebellion. But he often uses preaching to do so. Are we willing to say what needs to be said and follow the leading of the Spirit when we are called to confront our listeners?

I don’t like confrontation. I’m not one to get into other people’s business. So this whole subject comes with a lot of discomfort to me. But the preaching of John the Baptist reminds me that I am not called to be inoffensive. I am called to be truthful. Certainly the truth must be conveyed in a way that is tempered by love, but love cannot be used as an excuse to avoid speaking the truth.

Where preaching goes awry

Posted on August 28, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre 2 Comments

This morning as I was reading through Ezekiel this phrase struck me, “. . . then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders.” (Ezekiel 7:26, NASB) The priests had turned away from the Law of God and could no longer bring any advice that was helpful to the people as they sought a word from God.

It’s all about relationship

Inside a religious system, there is a danger that we can miss the intent of Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is about the beginning, breaking and restoration of our relationship with God. It is about relationship first. Jesus supports this understanding in Matthew 22:36-40 when he identifies love of God and love of neighbor as the two great commands.

If the intent of Scripture is to restore and deepen relationship with God, then it seems obvious to me that the intent of preaching should be to restore and deepen relationship with God. The preaching should be geared toward encouraging transformation, but too often we settle for information.

In Matthew 15:8, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13 when he says: “‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.” (NASB) The point is that we can be heavily involved in the teaching and reading of Scripture and not have our hearts changed. We can say and do all the right things but have hearts that are far away from God.

A means to an end

Ravi Zacharias has properly said, “Jesus did not come to make bad men good, he came to make dead men live.” Preaching which imparts knowledge may be helpful, but the impartation of knowledge is a means to an end (relationship) not the end in itself. Proper preaching must present Christ as the means of making dead people live.

I have been in many church services where the sermon gave me a lot of information and did not spur me on to a deeper relationship with God. Proper preaching should challenge me to see the parts of my life that have yet to be yielded in submission to God. Part of proclaiming the good news is to help me to see the need for that good news and my inability to provide it for myself.

It is only through relationship with Jesus Christ that we can become spiritually alive. This truth is at the heart of the gospel and if preaching is not calling dead men to live in Jesus, it is doing nothing of eternal value. Even if the teaching causes men to do good works or religious practice but does not cause men to come into relationship with Jesus, it is of no eternal value.

The final exam

We need to keep in mind that there is no theology test to get into Heaven. Jesus reminds us that the test has only two questions (See Matthew 7:21-23). The two questions are: am I in relationship with Jesus and on the basis of that relationship have I been obedient?

To prepare people for that test is the only proper goal of preaching.

Preaching with impact

Posted on August 25, 2012 Written by Mark McIntyre 4 Comments

Reading and article by J. S. Park subtitled, “The Difference Between a Speech And a Sermon,” got me thinking of my own experience in hearing sermons.

The “A” List

I have had the privilege of sitting under the preaching of some of the men who would be on many people’s “Who’s Who” list of preachers. They are on the “A” list because they are knowledgeable, talented and have the gift of oratory. They know their Bibles and can tell stories which illustrate the meaning that they want to draw out of the Biblical text. They are good at their craft. They are like high-end chefs who prepare gourmet spiritual meals. These sermons are beautiful, presented well and tasty.

One the other hand, the preachers who have had the most impact upon my spiritual growth are not on this list. These preachers were not flashy, they were not always funny, but they always got to the core of the passage and brought it to me in a way that God could use to break through my nonsense and bring real change. As compared to the “A” list preachers, these presented meat and potatoes. Their sermons were not flashy, not elegant, but very nourishing.

The point of this is not to denigrate the “A” list preachers. They are great at what they do and by their popularity it appears that they help a lot of people. I enjoy listening to sermons presented by these men.

The Point

My point is that preaching does not have to be flashy, humorous, witty, or spellbinding to be effective. Switching back to the food analogy, we do not need gourmet food all the time. Basic home cooking serves better in the long run. We need preachers who will faithfully, week after week, bring the word of God to their people. For, it is the Word of God and the Word of God alone that will cause spiritual growth in the hearers (Hebrews 4:12).

Not every man who is called to preach will have the talent and personality to be an “A” list preacher. It is often the case that the preacher with less talent but a greater love of God will produce more lasting fruit.

The Standard

Preachers, do not feel that you are in competition with the “A” listers. Tune your ear to God’s word and bring it to your people. God will take care of the rest. Your job is to be faithful.

People, do not judge your pastor by comparing him to the preacher on your iPod or on the radio. Judge your pastor on whether he proclaims the truth of Scripture and leads you in fulfilling the two great commands to love God and love your neighbor.

Feel free to leave a comment with a shout-out to a preacher who has had a positive impact on your life.