1. Expository preaching – this is preaching through a book of the Bible verse by verse.
2. Textual preaching - This style falls between expository and topical preaching. Textual preaching is preaching on a section of the Bible without preaching the entire book of the Bible.
3. Topical preaching – this preaching uses several Scriptures of the Bible to address an issue or discuss a topic. This is the most used style of preaching.
ALL OF THESE STYLES ARE GOOD!!!
Also, as you set under the ministry of preachers you will notice that some preach:
(1) Only positive sermons – Such as God is love
(2) Only Negative sermons – Such as God is a God of wrath
But a good preacher will preach POSITIVE and NEGATIVE SERMONS.
WHY SHOULD A PREACHER PREACH POSITIVE and NEGATIVE SERMONS?
Because the Bible teach that a preacher should preach the whole counsel of God’s Word.
The phrase the whole counsel of God is found in we are told in Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
The ESV say like this, “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:26–27, ESV).
When Paul Told young Timothy to PREACH THE WORD he meant there are times when a preacher has to preach POSITIVE SERMONS and also there are times when he has to preach NEGATIVE SERMONS.
The whole counsel includes God is a God of love and also God is a God of wrath.
Today in this sermon because of my love for the Word of God and for you in this congregation I am going NEGATIVE ion this sermon.
Illus: Years ago, a cigarette advertisement company was trying to get more women to start smoking. They had an attractive woman smoking, and some man says, “You’ve come a long way, baby!”
Yes, womanhood has come a long way, but sad to say, a lot of the progress they have made has been in the wrong way.
I say that to say this, God’s church has come a long way also, but it saddens my heart to to say they have come the wrong way in the wrong direction.
Listen, if things have changed as much as they have in the last 10 to 20 years, can you imagine what it is going to be like in the next 10 to 20 years if the Lord does not return?
In the earlier chapters of 1 Samuel, we see God calling in the night to Samuel. God told him that he was going to send judgement to the house of Eli the priest, because he did not restrain his wicked sons. 1 Sam. 3:13, “For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, AND HE RESTRAINED THEM NOT.”
Notice, it was his sons that did wrong, but God held Eli responsible. God said He told him He was going to send judgment because, “…He restrained them not.”
Eli’s sons served as priests in the house of God, and we read about some of their sin.
Look at 1 Sam. 2:12-17, “Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh, unto all the Israelites that came thither. Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.”
Eli’s sons changed the customs in the sanctuary, and this led to abomination in the sacrifice for the atonement for sin. This violation of the sin atonement, could be compared to perverting the message of salvation today.
Here is an overview of the 1 Samuel 2:12-36. The sons of Eli were priests and identified as worthless men because they did not know the Lord.
They took advantage of their position and perverted the sacrificial system for their own advantage. Eli knew about their sin and verbally confronted them but to no avail. In the mean time Samuel, who now worked at the tabernacle was growing in stature and in favor with God and man. Because of the sin in Eli's family, God pronounced a judgment upon them and said that He would replace them with a faithful priest who would do what was right.
Let us look at why some churches should have the word “Ichabod” written above their doors, for the glory of the Lord is departed.
What kind of churches are these:
I. THEY HAVE PERVERTED MESSENGERS
All across this country, churches are blessed with some great men of God. Most of these churches that are blessed with such pastors, are aware that they have a man of God at the helm.
Illus: But at the same time, all across this country, there are churches that would do as well in selecting a pastor, if they went out on the street, closed their eyes, and hired the first person who came along to be their pastor. Whoever they select, could not be any worse than who they have for a pastor.
The reason God calls men into the ministry is to preach His Word and to feed the flock of God. But that is not why many are in the ministry today.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING? Today we have-
A. PREACHERS WHO MINISTER ONLY FOR THE MONEY
The word Pastor, is the word poimen, (poy mane) a shepherd (lit. or fig.): shepherd, pastor.
During the Bible times, when shepherds watched over their flocks, they were dedicated men. They were so dedicated to their jobs, that they would often have to risk their own lives to take care of the sheep.
But the bad shepherd was not there because he cared for the flock of God, he was there only because he was hired to be there, and when he saw danger he fled
Look at John 10:12,13. We read, “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, BECAUSE HE IS AN HIRELING, AND CARETH NOT FOR THE SHEEP.”
Illus: A Church in South Carolina had a hireling for a pastor. One of the deacons asked him if he had a concern for their church. He said, “Not really!” Thank the Lord they got rid of him.
Many pastors today do not care anything about the sheep in their care. And when trouble comes, they pack up, and leave the sheep to defend themselves, while they seek a church that will pay them more. The almighty dollar is so important to some of these hirelings, that they will change denominations based on the benefits.
B. PREACHERS WHO MINISTER ONLY FOR POWER AND PRIDE
Phil. 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
There are two ways a preacher can do things. Phil. 2:3 shows us both of them:
(1) “Let nothing be done through STRIFE…”
A lot of good and bad things happen to a pastor.
• The good thing is, that some hold him up in their prayers, and say nice things about him.
• The bad thing is, that some will do everything they possibly can to make life difficult for him.
Now if a pastor is not living close to the Lord, he will spend his life fighting back at those who attack him. God’s way is that we are to love, and pray for those who despitefully use us. God said, Let nothing be done through STRIFE…
(2) “Let nothing be done through…VAINGLORY.
Look at the word “Vainglory”. This is the word “kenodoxia”, (ken od ox ee' ah) which means empty glorying, or self conceit. Many know that when you go into the ministry it immediately gives you CLOUT.
Illus: A man can move to a new town as a plumber, and it will be years before anyone will know that man is in town. But a preacher can move to a new town:
• And soon people will began to whisper to each other, “There goes that new preacher”
• He stands before hundreds of people to preach God’s Word.
• He conducts funerals before hundreds.
• He perform weddings before hundreds.
Instantly he is looked up to, and admired by many.
And make no mistake about it, there are ministers today in the pulpit, not because God put them there, but because of greed for INFLUENCE AND RECOGNITION.
But God cannot bless a minister like this. God’s Word says, “Let nothing be done through…VAINGLORY.”
God did not put a minister in the flock for the people to serve him. God put him there to serve the flock.
Phil. 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
C. PREACHERS WHO ARE NOT CALLED BY GOD
1 Tim. 1:12, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;”
Notice, Paul said I THANK CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
Why Paul? Paul tells us why “…that he counted me faithful, PUTTING ME INTO THE MINISTRY.”
Paul did not put himself in the ministry, he said he was thankful unto the Lord because the Lord put him there.
Illus: A person can get on the internet, and go to a certain web site, and see a listing of churches across America without pastors. This site will tell:
• Where the churches are located
• How large the congregations are
• How much salary and benefits they pay
And if you are interested, they tell you who to contact.
Paul did not shop around and see what the job market had to offer, and then decide to be an Apostle of God. He said God put him into the ministry! God is over the church, and God calls men, they do not call themselves.
Look at Acts 13:2, we read, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”
Many of the churches today across America need to write “Ichabod” across the front door, because God has long departed.
D. PREACHERS WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED
God calls the minister, and God gives the job qualifications.
Look at 1 Tim. 3:2-7. We read, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
Look at Titus 1:5-9. We read, “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
As I read these verses, I realize that none of us are perfect, but if he is the man of God that God has called, he will do everything within his ability to fulfil these job qualifications that God has set forth. The problem today is that people flagrantly violate these requirements.
Look at the shame and disgrace that has been brought on the Lord’s church.
• Preachers leaving their families for some woman in the congregation
• Preachers on national television involved with prostitutes
• Preachers on national television robbing old women of their monthly income
• Preachers promoting homosexuality
• Preachers promoting abortion
• Preachers who preach out of the Word of God and attack the deity of Christ
• Preachers that promote businesses, such as Amway, Aloette, and Avon from their pulpits
The world is dying and going to hell, and the only thing God has commissioned the church to do, is to preach His gospel. God has promised us that if we do, His Word will not return void.
E. PREACHERS WHO ARE COWARDS
1 Tim. 1:18, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;”
Notice these words, “…that thou by them mightest war a good warfare.”
The impression you get today from some preachers, is that they have a good thing going, and they do not want to do anything between now and retirement to rock the boat and spoil it. Every Sunday they preach SERMONETTES to the CHRISTIANETTES, and they all go home pretending they have been to church. Listen, there are things within the four walls of that church, and outside of that church, that should have been dealt with.
We are in A SPIRITUAL WAR, and this is no place for a bunch of cowards. IT IS NO WONDER THAT THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS DEPARTED FROM THESE CHURCHES!
THEY HAVE PERVERTED MESSENGERS and...
II. THEY HAVE PERVERTED MESSAGES
A. SALVATION BY WORKS
• Some teach that Heaven is attainable if you DO enough good things, and don’t DO too many bad things.
• They teach a balance system, where the good must outweigh the bad in order to get to heaven.
• This is a plain WORKS for salvation theology, and will send all who follow it straight to HELL!
B. SALVATION BY GRACE PLUS WORKS
These are the “Hold On And Hold Out” folks.
Illus: They claim to have received salvation by Grace, but they say you need to maintain it once you receive it.
When it comes to salvation, there is something we all need to keep in mind. WE DID THE SINNING, and HE DOES THE SAVING! We are the sinners, and He is the Savior.
Eph. 2:8,9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
I believe God said it plainly enough that even a child should be able to understand it!
Conclusion:
I. THEY HAVE PERVERTED MESSENGERS
II. THEY HAVE PERVERTED MESSAGES
We need to pray for these churches that have become perverted.
• Pray that they will recognize that their pastor is not called by God to preach.
• Pray that they will become hungry for the Word of God.
• Pray that they will continue to seek big crowds, but not at the expense of compromising God’s Word.
But also we need to pray for our churche, that we will not become as some of these compromising churches have become.
WE NEED TO PRAY FOR REVIVAL! OUR CHURCHES NEED TO BE REVIVED!
Note: You can hear Dr. Odell Belger sermons on Youtube. Go to Youtube and type in the word LYKESLAND
