On giving critique of sermons

Seems I've still got Marcus' keys so I'll keep writing:

Alfred Poirer helpfully observes that the cross helps us to receive criticism as beneficial

Giving critique is another thing.

Firstly, it's really easy to give critique to others. Spotting planks in other people is easy, while the dust in our own eyes is hard to see. When I want to critique someone elses sermon for not getting the point I need to remember that I have my blindspots - if I differ with the preacher I should at the least seriously consider that my prior understanding is wrong. I should assume this until further study says otherwise.

Secondly, pride loves to critique others and find their faults to elevate ourselves. A sermon should humble me as I encounter the grace of God - how tragic to allow my pride to seize upon it. How desperate to sin in the pew at the very point I'm being called back to the cross of Christ for grace.

Thirdly, the work of observing someone else and saying how they could do better is infinitely easier than the hard hours a preacher spends in the study seeking the Lord, wrestling with the text, under all the pressures that God has providentially arranged that week. 

Sermons are to be heard and applied. They present a tangible encounter with God as the preacher announces from the scriptures that Jesus Christ is Lord, constrained by a text, liberated by a text, empowered by the Holy Spirit and ruled by the word of God. The preacher might not say everything I would say. Thankfully he wont say most of the erroneous things I quickly glean from the text but which are rightly dismissed by hours in the study. Furthermore, that morning he is called to preach not me. He preaches what he has seen. He preaches what he has believed. He preaches what he is able to articulate. And, if through the word of God I am directed back to behold Jesus Christ then what complaint can I have?

Sermons are always imperfect, and every preacher wants to be faithful - no preacher wants to stand up and lie to God's people when they might speak the words of God. As Peter puts it "whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ"

Preachers need critique but they also need prayer, that as they labour over the text they might understand clearly, have soft-hearts to believe what they see and be changed by God, and then to speak from God - portraying publicly the Christ who was crucified.

What's the meaning: The Word of God with Authority

This isn't strictly just about the Old Testament, but I think the OT comes off worse in the Sunday School kind of Bible Teaching... John Walton on Hermeneutics and Childrens Curriculum, ht: Milton Stanley.

Walton observes five disturbing traits:

  1. Promotion of the Trivial
  2. Illegitimate extrapolation
  3. Reading Between the Lines
  4. Missing important nuance
  5. Focus on people rather than God
And concludes: If we are negligent of sound hermeneutics when we teach Bible to children, should it be any wonder that when they get into youth groups, Bible studies and become adults in the church, that they do not know how to derive the authoritative teaching from the text?Teaching the Old Testament seems to be tricky but surely the key is to let the text contrain us. We're only at liberty to teach what it says, in it's context, within the boundaries and rules that it sets out for us. Then, and only then, will we hear God speak with authority. An authority that will be unavoidable, piercing to the heart and leading to genuine transformation to Christlikeness, or to hardening of our hearts as we're confronted by God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who has all authority.

Dullness of Demeanor?

I've just finished reading "Preaching the Cross", conference addresses from the 2006 Together for the Gospel Conference. Its a great read, uplifting, challenging and heart-warming in equal measure. Its well worth getting. I most appreciated the contibutions from C.J. Mahaney and John Piper. Here are a couple of quotes:

C.J. The Pastor's Priorities:

Simply stated, God uses human ministry and godly leadership as a means of grace... Pause and consider this as you face the daunting demands of pastoral ministry. Who stands behind and guarantees the fruitfulness of your labours? Our Mediator. What assures you that by "watching your life and doctrine," men and women will spend eternity with God. The work of our Saviour. What empowers your close watching and diligent persistence? The cross of Christ.

John Piper, Preaching as Expository Exultation to the Glory of God:

Oh, brothers, do not lie about the value of the gospel by the dullness of your demeanor. Exposition of the most glorious reality is a glorious reality. If it is not expository exultation ~ authentic, from the heart ~ something false is being said about the value of the gospel. Don't say by your face, or by your voice, or by your life that the gospel is not the all~satisfying glory of Christ. It is. And may God raise up from among you a generation of preachers whose exposition is worthy of the truth of God and whose exultation is worthy of the glory of God.


Hallelujah and Amen!

Tim Chester on Preaching

Very interesting conversation going on on Tim Chester's blog about whether sermons should be monologues, dialogues or some mixture of the two. His conclusion: that to assume New Testament preaching is a monologue is to read current practice back into the text and therefore to make our cultural practice normative over biblical practice.

Worth a read

Link here 

As the Dear Pants...

I believe in preaching because I believe as in Romans 1 that the gospel is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes. Romans 10 says: everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him in whom they haven’t believed? And how are they going to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they going to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written “how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” Preaching is “good-newsing.” Preachers are good news people. The ones with beautiful feet blessed with the task of bringing the message of God’s triumphant victory. And it isn’t just being good news people to the unconverted, preaching is also good news to the Christian. In Philippians 1 Paul says: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith So our question for this weekend is “how do we bring God’s word to Christian and non-Christian so that they call n the name of the Lord and so that they make progress and have joy in the faith?” I borrowed the tonight’s message Preaching as Worship from John Piper. I have in mind two questions: * what is preaching? What is going on when we handle God’s word and proclaim it? * when we have an answer to that question, what does that tell us about how we should do it? What is preaching? Preaching is: taking God’s word and proclaiming it in such as way as his all-supremacy is seen and rejoiced in. Or… * presenting the light of God, that is his truth, in order that, through the Holy Spirit, people might get taken up with the person of God. Ps119 talks about the word being a lamp and a light. Jesus says “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.” 2 Cor 4 says that our gospel that we proclaim shines in people’s hearts to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. Proclamation of the eternal light in order that people encounter him. Or… * speaking the words of God in order to extend the reign of God in people’s hearts, affections and wills. So that they yearn with David “as the dear pants for streams of water so my heart longs for you.” Or… * proclaiming good news of peace with God in order to achieve the submission of rebels to God and their subsequent enjoyment of him forever. 1 Peter says that we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, called out of darkness in order to proclaim his excellencies. Or… * presenting the surpassing treasure of God so that our hearers will love him more than life. Jesus told a story of a man who found treasure in a field… Or… * Leading in the ways of God for the edification, training and direction of his people. So that he is seen and known among us. So that we might be the church, well taught, corrected, reproved and trained in righteousness, equipped for every good work * If I were to plump for one easy to remember definition of what we are doing, I would pick Cotton Mather’s definition “restoring the throne and dominion of God in the hearts of men.” That is magnificent! When Paul says “how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” he is picking up Isaiah 52. Read Is 52:7-10. God will end the exile of his people. He will triumph over his enemies. He will vindicate his holy name. He will bring happiness, joy, redemption, salvation, worship. The waste places will break out in singing. The ends of the earth will see it. Paul says – that’s Jesus. That is what God has done in Christ. That is the salvation we are proclaiming, full, vast, free. Therefore proclaim “God reigns” in order that his throne may be established in people’s hearts.
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