This is the final post I plan on writing about from Power in the Pulpit:
Once a congregation gets accustomed to systematic exposition through books of the Bible, they will never again be satisfied with anything else. Be assured, you will always have an audience when you preach expositorily. – pg. 92
The people to whom you introduce the expository method will rise up and call you blessed. – pg. 96
First, that seems like a pretty bold statement, but I have a question, are we more concerned about preaching the truth or maintaining an audience (i.e. a “job”)?
Second, should it really be important to me that people rise up and call us blessed?
This is really interesting, Lew. If this is what young pastors are learning at seminary, then no wonder our churches are full of so much junk.
I thought that the point was to proclaim the truth — sometimes that’ll decrease your “audience”!
Galatians 1:10 exhorts us to seek pleasing God and not to try to win the approval of men … if we are trying to please men then we aren’t servants of Christ.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
~Heather
Heather,
Thanks for the comment. You are right, we (all) are meant to proclaim the truth, and we should expect that to decrease our audience. When Paul preached to the Athenians the majority of them left, some thought a little about what he said, and only a few stuck around to hear more.
Jesus said in Luke 7:23, “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
God’s Glory,
Lew
Lew,
What do you think pastors should want the congregation to get accustomed to? Who should they rise up and bless? If the not the preacher/pastor then what and who?
-Alan
Alan,
To answer your questions:
“What do you think pastors should want the congregation to get accustomed to?”
I am not sure a pastors should want the congregation to get accustomed to anything. Apart from being accustomed to walking with our Lord, Jesus Christ.
“Who should they rise up and bless? If the not the preacher/pastor then what and who?”
Well, I have no problem with people recognizing how God is working in someones life, and thinking that person blessed because of that work. But I do have a problem with a man seeking out that same recognition.
I hope I have answered your questions. Let me know if you have anymore.
Lew