A church worship service historically has included the following elements: a time for singing, a time for prayer, a time for preaching, a time for giving, and a time for the Lord’s Table. In our postmodern era, each of these elements has come under increasing attack. To illustrate this, consider the following liturgical approach used by a church near where I serve:
“First off, come dressed however you’d like. No big deal. Most of us prefer jeans. Our gathering is pretty simple. Grab a cup of coffee and a Bible. In no particular order, we sing, are taught from the Bible, and share our stories. Simple.”
As you can see, the structure of this church is rather, well, unstructured. They have intentionally become informal in an attempt to appeal to the heart and mind of the postmodern “seeker.” And this move to a more informal liturgy alters their approach to preaching.
Like a growing number of church services, or as they like to be called, “gatherings,” preaching is becoming a narrative, a time to tell stories, an opportunity to provide helpful tips on living. Yes, there is often a reference to the Bible, at least a text or two that seems to fit the topic at hand. The problem is, however, when one uses verses or passages without considering their historical and grammatical context one may mistranslate and misapply them, even if the Scripture seems to support the desired goal of the sermon. I call this “sound-bite theology.” One verse becomes the basis for a sermon, which then forms the foundation of a doctrine. And the congregants lap it up without even pondering, “But is it biblical?”
Let me give you a quick example. If you walk into a Christian bookstore, you will most likely find this verse affixed to a coffee cup, Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” This is indeed a beautiful promise of the Lord, and it is indeed His Word. There is no doubt that God does have thoughts of peace and not of evil for His people. However, before we grab this verse and use it in a sermon on how God will certainly deliver us from all physical challenge, we should look at this verse in context. It was written to a group of Jewish captives who were being taken away into Babylonian captivity.
This verse was not necessarily promising them deliverance; it was a promise for their ultimate good—a promise to their children—their descendants. Their lives, the ones to whom this verse was written, were entering into a time of captivity and travail that would span decades. A narrative built on this verse may appeal to those of us in North America, but they would ring hollow to a Christian brother or sister in Egypt or China.
We also have to wonder, why is there such an emphasis on topical and thematic preaching today? Why do so many promote the 20 minute narrative, accompanied by a select video or drama, instead of an exposition on the Word of God? The answer is one of authority and submission. In our day, we moderns are taught that each person should be able to live and to think as they desire, unrestricted by the bounds of authority. Thus, some want to insure that what is spoken in the midst of the congregation is not too challenging nor demanding. Man has forsaken the First Commandment, and has placed himself on the Throne. Sadly, some pastors, afraid of being offensive, have chosen to steer clear of texts that might confront or challenge the “seekers.” In doing so, perhaps unwittingly, they are allowing the lost to stay lost and the saved to stay weak.
Thus, it is crucial in our day that we revisit the purpose for preaching. Why did God give us His Word? Why does He call men to preach the Word? And what value is the exposition of His Word to us? Consider what Paul said of his preaching in 1 Corinthians 1:23–24 “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Do you see what Paul is saying? Preaching is supposed to be offensive. It presents to sinful man the painful and sacrificial death of Jesus. And it is confrontational. Biblical preaching will confront the postmodern worldview with the truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that there is no other way to come to the Father apart from Him (John 14:6).
This is indeed a powerful reason for ministers to return to expositional preaching. When a minister prepares to preach the Word of God, the purpose is not to improve our self-esteem or to make us morally upright; the purpose of preaching is to present the power of the Gospel of Jesus, to show forth the glory of God through His Word, that we might come to see Him through the proclamation of His Word, in His power, in His might, and in His love.
Through expository preaching, biblical texts and doctrines that some might see as minefields cannot be avoided. There is less of a tendency to soften the words of the Bible and focus only on “successful living.” Pastors and congregations are forced to deal with man’s lost estate, his rebellion against God’s Word, and the certain judgment that awaits us all without embracing the atoning work of Jesus.
What is needed in our day is a return to a systematic and expository approach to preaching, where the glory of God is proclaimed without compromise. Pastors who embrace this kind of preaching, combined with biblical worship, may find their words less appealing to the masses. However, those who do come will indeed find the power and the wisdom of God. God’s Word is not a stumbling block to salvation nor does it present a foolish way to live. Rather, God’s Word, faithfully preached, results in quickening dead hearts to serve the Lord with joy, basking in the mercy and glory of God.
And to make it legal, the opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the other elders or members of Providence Church.
Originally published in March/April 2011 issue Every Thought Captive – are you a subscriber?
