Devoted to the Apostles Teaching

Tact and diplomacy have many places where they’re absolutely necessary, but the Apostolic preaching of the New Testament must be our example as we examine the work of pastors and elders today. Not only must we compare our doctrine to the Apostles’ doctrine, but also our methods to the Apostle’s methods.

In other words, if the sermons of a particular church are filled with humor, disarming anecdotes of the pastor’s home life, and extended illustrations from movies, it should be obvious to us that the church is not devoted to the Apostles’ teaching. Try to imagine the Apostle Paul preaching like that today and you’ll understand the point.

If the sermons seem lite, the theme of repentance is rare, and the pastor often fails to apply Scripture’s doctrine to our lives in such a way that we’re left gasping for breath as the benediction is given; then again, the church is not devoted to the Apostles’ teaching.

A church that is devoted to the Apostles’ teaching will not tolerate preaching that is risk averse, conflict avoiding, and indecisive. Such teaching is well-suited to our relativistic culture but it’s not Apostolic.

~ Read the rest at Bayly Blog on Preaching To An Effeminate Age