December 9, 2009

What Is Truth?

Truth, newspaper

“What is truth?” This was the question Pilate asked Jesus after hearing the Lord’s claim that He came to testify to the truth (John 18:36-37). When we think about truth, we must understand two things: (1) it is unchanging and (2) it is the same message for all. The word of God is truth (John 17:17). His word does not change (1 Peter 1:25) and is to be preached to all people everywhere (Mark 16:15).

Many have the idea that there can be many truths – you may have your own truth, and I may have mine. This is not what the Bible teaches. The same message of truth is for all. The differences come from our perception of the truth. These perceptions can be very different, despite a common message.

In the minds of man, truth can have various characteristics. Let us consider the conflicting characteristics of truth depending on the perspective of the hearer.
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August 9, 2009

The Fields Are White for Harvest

Wheat

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest” (John 4:35).

Jesus said these words to His disciples as they were in Samaria. He had just spoken to a Samaritan woman at the well outside the city. She returned and told the men of the city about Jesus and they were now coming out to see Him. He said the fields were white for harvest, meaning there was success to be had in preaching the gospel in that place.

As we are still working to preach the gospel today, let us consider Jesus’ statement and the circumstances surrounding it.
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August 6, 2009

Preparing to Preach

In an article posted August 4 on the Christian Courier website, Wayne Jackson has some good advice for men desiring to preach the gospel and how to prepare for that work. His advice about attending a “Christian college” is particularly good. His concerns about such an education are some of the ones I have as well. This is what he had to say:
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August 2, 2009

Reasoned Preaching

Paul preaching in Thessalonica

In Paul’s preaching, he appealed to reason. We see this example in his two visits to Ephesus. During his first brief visit, he “entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews” (Acts 18:19). When he returned to Ephesus, after being forced to leave the synagogue, he was “reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus” (Acts 19:9).

This style of preaching was not reserved for the people of Ephesus because of their particular background or circumstances. Instead, this was the kind of preaching Paul did everywhere he went. When he went to Thessalonica, Luke records: “And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead…” (Acts 17:2-3).

Paul’s preaching was very different from the preaching done by many in the religious world today. Notice what Paul did not do:
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May 1, 2009

Offering an Invitation in the Assembly

Open Bible

Typically, at the end of a sermon, the gospel preacher will offer an invitation. I do it and I know many others who do as well. But why? Is there a reason for doing it, or is it just a long-held tradition that we mindlessly practice?

Before we consider this question, we should be sure we understand what we mean by an invitation (as it is commonly called). The invitation is two-fold. First, it is to invite non-Christians to come to Christ. Second, it is to admonish erring Christians to repent.
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February 11, 2009

“The Preacher’s Pledge” – Bible Based Sermons

I came across an interesting article this weekend from the Christian Post.

Over 5,000 Pastors Pledge to Keep Sermons Purely Biblical

When I read the headline, my immediate reaction was skepticism. Sure, the thought of one simply speaking “as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11) is great. But could one really expect these denominational preachers to give up their creeds and preach “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27)? After all, to do so would require that they condemn the very denomination that employs them.

As it turns out, that was not what the article was about. It is about plagiarism in preaching. “The Preacher’s Pledge” is a commitment by various pastors and ministers to “start with the Bible as their primary source for sermon preparation.” Some thought this was necessary with the great amount of sermons available on the internet. Preachers could simply take sermons of different men and preach them as their own.
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February 1, 2009

Jesus – The Great Debater

Jesus Debating

One aspect about Jesus that is often ignored is His ability to debate. There is a reason for this. To say that religious debates are not popular in our time is an understatement. Yet the ability to debate is a valuable skill for those who would endeavor to teach the gospel to others. Jesus was so effective that Luke recorded four occasions in just one chapter (Luke 20) in which Jesus silenced His opponents. He did so by presenting arguments that could not be combated.

Paul described the work of spreading the gospel as “destroying speculation and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). We are not to try to force anyone or trick anyone into obeying the gospel. We persuade people by dismantling the arguments used against the truth.

When Jesus silenced His opponents four times in Luke 20, He was able to do so without turning the common people against Him (Luke 19:48; 21:38). We must develop our abilities to confound our opponents while also persuading the people. In order to help us do this, let us notice how Jesus silenced His opponents.
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