Could Jesus preach for “your” church?
Is “your” church, “His” church?
Today’s
article will be intended to fill in an oversight in my preaching and
teaching. Over the last few years I have found myself reacting to some
of the ever changing attitudes of the society in which I live.
I have come to believe that the “feel good” religion now sweeping our churches in the name of Christianity is to the church what drug addiction is to society at large. Once these churches are infected, they rapidly become addicted. I.E. filled with a very shallow people wanting ever more dramatic events to make us “feel” fulfilled. Once addicted, hype replaces substance. Sounds like somewhat of a reversed substance abuse? Churches abuse their members from a lack of substance. Drug addicts abuse their bodies by the invasion of harmful substance. These churches are always looking for the innovative method of church growth. “Children’s church” replaces training your children to worship and respect their creator. As the youth move into teenage, entertainment replaces serious Bible study and effective spiritual growth. In other words, the original call of the gospel is often replaced with an offer of entertainment or treats.
Most of the religious leaders involved in these changes know that what they are presenting is different than what Jesus presented. Their justification (once called on the issue) will remind you of all the “medical”marijuana arguments raging in the secular world. The bottom line is really the same.
Worship becomes about “us,” rather than about offering ourselves to our sovereign Creator. A shocking reality has settled in on me as I have completed my latest study of the church as described by the Bible.
I believe that Jesus would be run clean out of the pulpits of most churches today.
At best He would be relegated to some small country church, known for it’s “backward” ways! Jesus’ “brand” of Christianity is very different from today’s brand. That seems like a weird statement doesn’t it? He is the founder of Christianity! This study will be an in depth look at Jesus' actual preaching style. I will be asking directly... could you handle it? I am also asking you to consider carefully what you think "should be" the nature the preaching (it's tone and content) in the church today.
Have you attempted to discover from scripture what “should be” in the churches?
These movements afoot in our generation have caused me to preach what “should not” be… I had forgotten to present what “should” be. Today I will share what I have discovered in my own study and take you on a journey that perhaps you, like I, have never been on. Let's begin.....
In our mind’s eye, let’s try to picture what would happen if your congregation somehow inadvertently hired Jesus as your preacher. Would Jesus be able to last in your congregation?
Wouldn’t it be horrible if your congregation fired Jesus as your preacher? What if “they” never even realized what they had done?
Would you be "satisfied" to have Jesus as your preacher?
Actually this scenario is not as absurd as it may sound. Jesus’ description of the judgment in Matthew 25 carries this very kind of imagery. Doing (or not doing) for Jesus and never even realizing it. “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (25:40)
In Luke 24 Jesus appeared to two men on the road to Emmaus and discussed scripture with them. Scripture describes how “their eyes where holden” (Luke 24:16). Jesus started His discussion with them with, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (vs25) He continued till they recognized him and then He disappeared.
As we observe Jesus' method of teaching...
One major Characteristic of Jesus’ teaching style is that He was blunt. Incredibly blunt! Could we tolerate Him in our pulpits today?
Another surprising characteristic to many was that His normal mode is to end a discussion (or sermon) on something powerfully provoking but... negative. As Jesus preached for you week after week and kept sending you home to think on something negative, (with a sour taste in your mouth…) how long would your congregation tolerate it?
As we observe Jesus’ method of teaching…
He would consistently send them home with something “negative” to chew on!
Consider the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7).
It starts in Matthew 5 with the pleasantries of the beatitudes. Many sermons have been based on the beginning (Matthew 5) portion of this sermon. It is after all the most famous sermon of Jesus’ ministry. The last portion is often ignored.
Now notice that the sermon ends with the prophecy of the judgment in most of the people there assembled would be condemned while thinking they were serving Jesus. Jesus sent them home with the statement:
“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23)
Jesus followed this comment with the parable of wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand. Then, Jesus sent them home to think about it.
Consider Nicodemus in John 3... I tend to think the tone of Jesus’ voice was tender in this discussion… but the message is as direct as ever. Jesus' first response to Nicodemus was that unless he was born again, he would not even see the kingdom ofGod. Following Nicodemus puzzlement Jesus says he cannot enter the kingdom without being born of the water and the spirit. “ Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher ofIsrael and do not understand these things?” (John 3:9-10)
Jesus went on to explain further and sent Nicodemus home with the statement: "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." (John 3:19-21)
Notice that even when Jesus is dealing with godly, seeking people… His usual method is to send them home with some powerful but negative truth to chew on. This is exactly backwards of what “professional” preachers are taught today. To “grow” a church we must leave everyone with something positive.
Consider the woman at the well in John 4... Her discussion with Jesus rapidly focused on pointing out she was living with her 6th man who was not her husband. She eventually ran into town still pondering this and exclaiming such to the townspeople.
Consider the healing at Bethsaida John 5... Jesus healed the man then, “Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you."”
Do you see the pattern emerging in which one after another are sent home with something serious/negative/ or harsh to ponder?
Let’s consider the aggressive syle of Jesus’ preaching in Matthew 23… The first segment is to the effect that the Pharisees actually preach it generally right… but they just don’t live it. That's a bit surprising from the rhetoric today isn't it?
If Jesus came to preach a "meeting" at your congregation, then... culminated the week's series of lessons with the following sermon as the climax, would He be invited back?
(Note: Using Matthew's order of sermons... this is actually Jesus' last "public" message i.e. His grand finale!)
Jesus followed this comment with the parable of wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand. Then, Jesus sent them home to think about it.
Consider Nicodemus in John 3... I tend to think the tone of Jesus’ voice was tender in this discussion… but the message is as direct as ever. Jesus' first response to Nicodemus was that unless he was born again, he would not even see the kingdom ofGod. Following Nicodemus puzzlement Jesus says he cannot enter the kingdom without being born of the water and the spirit. “ Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher ofIsrael and do not understand these things?” (John 3:9-10)
Jesus went on to explain further and sent Nicodemus home with the statement: "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." (John 3:19-21)
Notice that even when Jesus is dealing with godly, seeking people… His usual method is to send them home with some powerful but negative truth to chew on. This is exactly backwards of what “professional” preachers are taught today. To “grow” a church we must leave everyone with something positive.
Consider the woman at the well in John 4... Her discussion with Jesus rapidly focused on pointing out she was living with her 6th man who was not her husband. She eventually ran into town still pondering this and exclaiming such to the townspeople.
Consider the healing at Bethsaida John 5... Jesus healed the man then, “Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you."”
Do you see the pattern emerging in which one after another are sent home with something serious/negative/ or harsh to ponder?
Let’s consider the aggressive syle of Jesus’ preaching in Matthew 23… The first segment is to the effect that the Pharisees actually preach it generally right… but they just don’t live it. That's a bit surprising from the rhetoric today isn't it?
If Jesus came to preach a "meeting" at your congregation, then... culminated the week's series of lessons with the following sermon as the climax, would He be invited back?
(Note: Using Matthew's order of sermons... this is actually Jesus' last "public" message i.e. His grand finale!)
Verse 1-12 Is the introduction. It is pretty stiff in it's own right, but note what happens after the introduction...
13. "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, becauseNote: Jesus still had a couple of private discussions yet coming, but this is the culmination of His public ministry as told by Matthew!
1 4. ["Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because
15. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because
16. "Woe to you, blind guides
17. "You fools and blind men!
19. "You blind men,
23. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
24. "You blind guides,
25. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
26. "You blind Pharisee
27. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
29. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites
33. "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?
The reality is that even though we are created in the image of God… We keep trying to re-create God in our own image. Do we recognize Jesus as He is revealed in Scripture... Or do we change him into something we perceive as more acceptable?
If Jesus continually sent you home with negative thoughts… (His normal method of teaching) then preached His "final" public sermon in your congregation…. would He ever be invited back?
Let's close by considering Paul's assessment of what happened to the Gentiles. With a realistic view of how people would really react to Jesus if He were there preacher today. Can we realistically see this kind of thing happening to us all over again?
Romans 1:
21. "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.Does this fairly describe the real reaction that would occur if Jesus preached in some of His own churches today?"
22. Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23. and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and . . .
(After reading this article, please view this chart. It will allow you to visually scan the conclusions of all the sermons Jesus preached as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. You’ll be able to see for yourself what “kind” of preacher the “real” Jesus is.)
Hi I am glad you stopped by our blog. These articles are from an emailing that we did several years ago. Today most of our work is on facebook
You can follow my personal page on Facebook by clicking on this link ...
Jerry Blount
You can follow the postings on the congregation's page by clicking on this link....
Las Vegas church of Christ
If you wish to worship with us....
Las Vegas church of Christ
709 Dora Celeste
Las Vegas, NM 87701
Our meeting times are
10am Sunday morning for Bible study.
11am Sunday morning for the worship service.
6pm Wednesday evening for Midweek Bible study.
If you wish to contact me...
yakipreacher@gmail.com
Be well
Jerry Blount
