Comments on: The Problem of Fortune-Telling Preaching

By: A

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 21:05:06 +0000

This was good!
2 points:
1st, a reminder to consider who you think worthy to quote or who you *know* to quote –
I think Mike quoted all men here, except 1 lady, who wasn’t a preacher or pastor.
Of course, we don’t have a robust, quotable, household name women preachers, do we?
Except maybe Sonjour Truth?
Maybe women theologians who’ve written books?
*Or do we think women have nothing to contribute in thinking or speaking about God?*
I’m not trying to say Mike is wrong or bad not to quote any women. It’s a natural response. Women as public speakers in any organization have a long history of being silenced, ignored, villianfied (see Mary Beard on this subject.)
2nd, the fortune telling preaching appears to go along with what church is commonly becoming known as – a club. A place to meet people you hang out with & get a pep talk & relax before the week ahead.
That isn’t church.
But for many people, that’s what church has become.

By: Tom Barrett

Tom Barrett — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 11:05:29 +0000

Amen!

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 23:47:44 +0000

In reply to Paul. Not at all. Application is about growth ie becoming more like Christ.

By: Ken O'Reilly

Ken O'Reilly — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 08:18:44 +0000

Hey Mike, You have stated for today what Timothy wrote would happen, ie. 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2Ti 4:4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. This, as are so many other warnings , is coming true before our very eyes. Some of the things I have heard come out of some preachers mouths have made me shudder. And when I try to talk to them about it, it’s as if I’m talking to a brick wall. Makes me ask, why have they gone down these paths?

By: Arthur Ramsey

Arthur Ramsey — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 23:48:10 +0000

I like expositional preaching because it’s a better faith builder style that
doesn’t pick and choose topics.

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 22:34:08 +0000

In reply to Paul. No Paul, as I said in the post, some passages have a direct actionable application. But not every passage does and we shouldn’t feel the pressure to give a to-do list at the end if every sermon.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 22:06:40 +0000

Hi Mike, I wrote a sermon for my Bible college in Melbourne and was told by the assessor that it lacked sufficient emphasis on ‘application’, or ‘what does it mean for my life?’ Is ‘application’ in sermon writing a form of ‘me centred’ messaging?

By: Forado Serrano

Forado Serrano — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 21:44:27 +0000

Motivational speakers are often after fame and fortune, but true preachers are after God’s glory in Christ for his inheritance in the faithful saints.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:42:36 +0000

You are not the only one beginning to beat this drum. Anyone who has preached knows that it comes with a price. Courage comes from not walking around head and shoulders above others like Saul, but walking with a broken and contrite heart like David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and those who were called to preach the Word of the Lord against kingdoms.

By: LC

LC — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:42:14 +0000

Yes, we can also see this in today’s popular worship styles and songs too. Ethos first.