Preach The Whole Counsel of God n Three

Preach The Whole Counsel of God n. Three Types Of Preachers: 1. Those who have something to say 2. Those who have to say something 3. Those who have something to say and HAVE to say it (Acts 4: 19, 20 - “should we hearken to you or God? For we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard. ”).

WHAT PASSES FOR PREACHING? n Good and fair speeches n Emotional appeals n Elaborate Presentations n PMA talks n Smooth words n Pop Psychology n Ear-Scratching that does not demand any changes.

What People Desire n Many in the Lord’s church desire weak preaching. More interest in “growing a church” than converting people to Christ and teaching them after we convert them to live soberly, righteously and godly in this world. Brethren need to demand “book chapter and verse preaching. ” We need to love those who will tell us what we need to hear in love and power from the Word.

Scriptures n Romans 10: 14 -17 - preaching is God’s plan to teach a lost world. It is a spoken word. n Jeremiah 6: 17 - “I set watchmen over you saying, hearken to the sound of the trumpet, but they said, we will not hearken. ” Preachers must sound the alarm of approaching danger before the enemy is at the gate.

More Scriptures n Isaiah 5: 20 -”Woe to them who call evil good and good evil” This problem is an ever present danger to God’s people. Church history shows that long before there is wholesale departure there are small liberties taken that often go unchecked. We must not see a “bear behind every bush” but gospel preachers and elders must help guard the truth and encourage the brethren to do this also.

Even More Passages 1 Peter 4: 11 - “if any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God. ” n 2 Peter 2: 17, 18 - the prophets of Baal are spoken of as: “wells without water, clouds carried about with the tempest…for they speak great swelling words of vanity, and allure through the lust of the flesh and much uncleanness those who were clean escaped from them who live in error…they promise them liberty but they themselves are servants of corruption…” n

Clear Sounds Titus 2: 8 - “sound speech that cannot be condemned. ” n Soft timid preaching produces soft Christians (Preacherettes presenting sermonettes produce Christianettes). n Jeremiah 6: 13 -17 - “peace, peace when there is no peace. ” The people became blind to their sins and could not blush. Jeremiah warned to seek and walk in the “old paths wherein is the right way. n

Gospel Preaching n n n n Should make one in error uncomfortable Should demand change Should not be presented as “suggestions” Should not minimize the “power” of the gospel message ( Romans 1: 16). Should demand lifestyle changes (Dancing (prom), gambling, social drinking, immodesty, lying, gossip, fornication, Etc. ) Should be preached with militance and urgency as well as with love and compassion

Courage Like Elijah 1 Kings 18: 21 -40 - Mt. Carmel, unholy and disgraceful before God. They were halting between two opinions. Elijah did not ignore the problem, he confronted it. Things were tense, but truth was victorious. Children need to see sword of spirit drawn and in action against error. n Tender FIRMNESS like Hosea (Hosea 9: 1 - rejoice not, for you have gone whoring against God… 10: 1 - their heart is divided… 11: 7 - my people are bent on backsliding) firm but tender. n

Straight Talk Like Jeremiah 5: 22, 24 -”these people have a revolting, rebellious heart. . . they do not fear God. ” 6: 13 - they deal falsely from the greatest to the least. ” 7: 8 - “behold you trust in lying words that cannot profit. ” n Like Jesus (Woes in Matthew 23: 33 - concludes with “ye serpents, ye generation of vipers how can ye escape the damnation of hell”). See also Matt. 22: 18, 29 and His compassion as he looked over Jerusalem in Matthew 23: 37. n

Preaching With Conviction and Love Like Paul n Acts 26: 24 -29 - Before Agrippa, I know you believe the prophets… almost persuaded to be a Christian. 1 Corinthian letter addresses plainly the problems they were having. Stern but kind. Galatians 1: 6 -8 firm and unswerving from truth. Clear in identifying error ( Gal. 5: 19 -20). He told it plainly and “put the salve on the sore” as my Me maw used to say.

TO THOSE WHO PREACH n 1 Timothy 4: 1 -5 - preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke with all longsuffering and doctrine…time will come when they will no endure sound doctrine but will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears and shall turn away their ears from truth and be turned away unto fables. ” This is still true today.

Preachers Heed Please n n Preach only what you know to be truth, do not use pulpit for speculation. Do not look on preaching as a “career” it is a privilege and should never be considered “just a job I do for a check. ” Get away from your computer and chat room and go work with the people. Preach the basics over and call sin what it is. Preach on the church, authority, the old story of Jesus, the great characters of the bible, make application and do not simply preach principles. Expect the word to work!

Preachers Heed n Go Fishing for men, the “fields are still white unto harvest. ” n Give the Lord and brethren your very best. Prepare well, pray, live righteously and love the Lord. Do not seek to please men but seek to please God in all you do. n Do not forget about converting your own family. Take care of your home and self.

To Brethren Encourage Bible preaching. n Quit being so concerned about the dynamics of the assembly (time constraints etc. ) We can make our services assembly line precise but loose our love for truth in the process if not careful. n Stand with the preacher and be willing to support firm, militant preaching. Do not shirk your responsibility as a church to discipline the wayward in love. n

Conclusion Titus 2: 1 - “speak the things that become sound doctrine. ” 2: 12 - “teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world… 15 -these things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority, let no man despise thee. ” n 2 Timothy 2: 9, 10 - “…the Word of God is not bound, therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ. ” n

Quotes “an army can have the best equipment with the best leaders and the highest of causes, but if the soldiers and officers do not believe in what they are fighting for, and if they are not willing to give their lives for the cause or if they have to have a gun held to their head to follow orders from their superiors, then the war will be lost. Going into battle with soldiers who are not committed will surely end in disaster. ” ---General Norman Schwarchtkoff---

“PREACH IT BROTHER” “Brother, roll up your sleeves and thunder forth that message that rocked the hills and vales around the Jordan long ago —that pierced the hearts and convicted thousands on the day of Pentecost and subsequent days—that vibrated through the hills and valleys of Kentucky and Ohio in the days of the restoration, and that still thrills and influences the hearts of men when it is given its rightful place and emphasis!! Preach it because you can do nothing greater. Preach it because you love it. Preach it because you are afraid not to preach it. And preach it exactly as it is written, neither fearing nor favoring men. Preach it every time you go into the pulpit like that time will be your last time. Preach it as “a dying man to dying men!”—Foy L. Smith, Firm Foundation, Volume 80, Number 5 ---