Members Invicta Posted March 10, 2011 Members Share Posted March 10, 2011 Do you believe that gospel preaching is on the decline? At a Baptist minister's fraternal recently, one retired pastor said that gospel preaching has declined and we should get back to having a gospel service every Lord's day. It split the meeting, with most oposing him. Not all that many years ago, most baptist, evangelical and Brethren would have a dedicated gospel service, but now they don't seem to. As one old deacon said to me a few years ago, hardly a Sunday passed without the preacher ending with something like: "The Lord masy come today, are you ready?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John81 Posted March 10, 2011 Members Share Posted March 10, 2011 Absolutely! It's far more common to hear a sermon on how you can have your blessings and enjoy the world at the same time. In many churches the emphasis is on being a good person and enjoying the best in life. A lot of churches avoid anything that might be seen as negative, like hell, sin, judgement, the end of the world. The messages all have to be positive sounding so everyone can believe it just takes love (the emotion), some good intentions, a general belief in God (or in some churches, any god) and God will be pleased and reward everyone with happy times in heaven after they die at a ripe old age, still healthy and wealthy. Our pastor still preaches the Gospel, thanks be to God! A few weeks ago our associate pastor was preaching a fine sermon and I do believe the Holy Ghost really spoke through him most especially during the last 10 or 15 minutes of the sermon when it become one of the finest evangelistic messages put forth with the full power of the Gospel that many there that day had ever heard! We had several visitors that day and during that portion of the sermon you could have heard a pin drop. The Spirit has us all fully tuned in to the sermon. Praise God!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bro Jim Posted March 11, 2011 Members Share Posted March 11, 2011 Yes it is hard to find Gospel messages preached today, I have been told i won't preach i some churches cause I preach to much Bible. How do you preach to much Bible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John81 Posted March 11, 2011 Members Share Posted March 11, 2011 Our pastor was once invited to speak at some Christian event. When asked about it he was told he could talk about anything for a set amount of time at the beginning of the event, but he actually couldn't say "anything", they did say they didn't want him to say anything "exclusive or divisive", like that Jesus is the only way, and not to give an evangelistic, Gospel message. Our pastor declined and told them their event was hardly Christian if the truth of Christ wasn't welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Covenanter Posted March 11, 2011 Members Share Posted March 11, 2011 I cannot preach nor teach without preaching Christ as Lord & Saviour. e.g. In a study on Jehovah's Witnesses, I concluded: The one revealed & worshipped as Jehovah in the OT is the one who commands our worship – our Lord Jesus Christ – Immanuel, God with us, Jehovah is salvation. Note that Jesus – Jehovah – is not God the Father. Also, at Pentecost the Apostles witnessed to Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. God is a Trinity – one God in 3 persons. Sadly, those who reject salvation in the saving name of Jesus will also bow before him when he comes in judgement. May we all know & rejoice in that saving name of Jesus, Lord, Christ & Saviour. Amen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members heartstrings Posted March 11, 2011 Members Share Posted March 11, 2011 (edited) Does the Bible say "preach your opinions, be instant in season and out of season"? Preach stuff that ain't in the Bible? No, it says preach the word Preach if FULL of the Holy Ghost........... That will be enough to make the religious crowd boiling mad......Acts Chapter 7 Edited March 11, 2011 by heartstrings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Invicta Posted March 12, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 12, 2011 Does the Bible say "preach your opinions, be instant in season and out of season"? Preach stuff that ain't in the Bible? No, it says preach the word Preach if FULL of the Holy Ghost........... That will be enough to make the religious crowd boiling mad......Acts Chapter 7 ExactlyLuke 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Gospel preaching is not optional, it is fundamental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John81 Posted March 13, 2011 Members Share Posted March 13, 2011 Gospel preaching is not optional, it is fundamental. It certainly should be! Our pastor took an area United Methodist pastor to task today for her (yes, another woman "pastor") unbliblical preaching on what the resurrection means. The Methodist said that what Easter really means is that the spirit of Jesus lives on in all our hearts. Since the spirit of Jesus lives on in all our hearts, she says, that also means that when someone dies, their spirit and memory will live on forever in their ancestors hearts. This Methodist "pastor" doesn't believe in the literal resurrection of Jesus. She also doesn't understand why our pastor would want to be a "snob" and not join her and some other pastors for a sunrise service even after he kindly and biblically explained to her the reason. The Gospel is not being preached in that church. :icon_sad: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dantheman2 Posted March 13, 2011 Members Share Posted March 13, 2011 It certainly should be! Our pastor took an area United Methodist pastor to task today for her (yes, another woman "pastor") unbliblical preaching on what the resurrection means. The Methodist said that what Easter really means is that the spirit of Jesus lives on in all our hearts. Since the spirit of Jesus lives on in all our hearts, she says, that also means that when someone dies, their spirit and memory will live on forever in their ancestors hearts. This Methodist "pastor" doesn't believe in the literal resurrection of Jesus. She also doesn't understand why our pastor would want to be a "snob" and not join her and some other pastors for a sunrise service even after he kindly and biblically explained to her the reason. The Gospel is not being preached in that church. Easter has nothing to do with the resurrection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John81 Posted March 13, 2011 Members Share Posted March 13, 2011 Easter has nothing to do with the resurrection. Most of us here know that, but it wasn't the point of the story. While we, and a few other churches celebrate Resurrection Sunday, most churches simply call it Easter Sunday. The point of my retelling of the story was the Methodist "pastor" proclaiming the resurrection was only spiritual in nature and then giving it only a further unbiblical application. The Gospel can't be preached if the biblical resurrection is denied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Invicta Posted March 14, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 14, 2011 (edited) ExactlyActs 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Gospel preaching is not optional, it is fundamental. Sorry I was trying to edit this post but duplicated it in error. Edited March 14, 2011 by Invicta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dantheman2 Posted March 14, 2011 Members Share Posted March 14, 2011 Most of us here know that, but it wasn't the point of the story. While we, and a few other churches celebrate Resurrection Sunday, most churches simply call it Easter Sunday. The point of my retelling of the story was the Methodist "pastor" proclaiming the resurrection was only spiritual in nature and then giving it only a further unbiblical application. The Gospel can't be preached if the biblical resurrection is denied. That is true. The death, buriel and resurection is most important to the Gospel of Christ. Aren't we to celebrate it through the Lord's Supper? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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