INTRODUCTION:As you may observe by looking around you, we are now worshiping together in one service, instead of the two services we have had for the last year and half. This was not a decision made lightly, and part of the decision depended upon us having a message dedicated to the various issues surrounding this …
Never Trust a Theologian . . .
Yesterday at church I saw a bumper sticker on a friend’s car that summarizes a lot of things wonderfully. “Never trust a theologian who hasn’t been executed.” Of course if we understand the spirit of the thing, we would not just limit ourselves to men like Cranmer, burned at the stake, but could also include …
This is Something We All Do, Do We Not?
“Many preachers are tempted to identify themselves with the congregation in preaching, rather than with God. This may be the most significant reason for their feeling ill at ease in speaking to their congregation in the second person. Such preachers do not want their people to get the impression that the preacher is holier than …
Why Preachers Avoid the Second Person Plural
“For all its talk about honesty, our culture has refined the art of indirection and euphemism in an attempt not to have to say directly what we really mean . . . When things get tense, you put a little verbal distance between yourself and the congregation. The real problem, however, is that in doing …
Straight Up the Middle
“The boldness of the apostolic preaching can be seen first in its directness, and second in its being challenging or confrontational” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 71).
Ready for Blowback
“It is important to remember that bold preaching will surely bring opposition from some. You must be prepared for opposition, even persecution. It is part of the cost that must be counted as you seek to become a better preacher . . . You must be prepared to face the criticisms which bold, confrontational preaching …
The Day He Left Off Preaching and Took to Meddling
“The preacher who stands before his people and roundly denounces the sins of others, and yet fails to confront his hearers with their own greed, lust, hard-heartedness, and pride, is not bold, no matter how loudly he may thunder. It is relatively easy for a preacher to let fly the salvos of Scripture against the …
Learning to Say “Geronimo” to Yourself in the Pulpit
“The apostle believes that boldness in preaching is at heart a question of getting the message of Christ out clearly, despite the fearful threat of unpleasant consequences. In short, as I said before, boldness in the preacher is the willingness and ability to be clear in the face of fear” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 42).
Preaching that Damns the Torpedos
“Essentially, whether the Greek term is translated ‘boldness’ or ‘confidence’ (for ‘plainness’ or ‘sincerity’), at the heart of the idea is freedom to make the truth of God known without fear of opposition or consequences” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 41).
Not Optional
“While it may not be difficult to find churchgoing people who are pleased with ‘preaching’ that lacks biblical boldness, it is not at all possible, as a preacher, to please God without it” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 40).