Recently Issues, Etc. interviewed President Matthew Harrison concerning the basics of preaching. President Harrison made some excellent points about the basics of preaching. This poor, miserable sinner agrees with President Harrison's points on preaching the severity of the Law and the cleansing assurance of the Gospel.
Here are some of the points President Harrison made in the interview:
- I think we are in a preaching crisis.
- The biggest problems I see is very little dealing with the actual text.
- I think we have a great challenge because in preaching we hear preaching that talks about Christ, about the Law about people who break the Law, about the Gospel.
- The sermon is a proclamation
- I hear very little preaching of the Law that stings or hits home. They will not hit at the gross sins that adhere in every one of us.
- Step into the office and say this Christ is for you and for sinners just like you.
- If I don’t realize the depths of my own sin how do I view people around me when they sin against me?
- Paraphrasing Luther, President Harrison said, “If the pastor fails to give you the Gospel in a sermon you should on the way out say ‘You are a thief and a liar. You have robbed Christ from me.’”
- I want to hear clear Law, clear damning Law in all its severity. The Law should be preached like there is no Gospel and the Gospel should be preached like there is no Law.
- I want to hear declarative application that tells me my sins are forgiven right now and that I am directed to Christ and his comfort
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UNTAUGHT AND UNSTABLE? BY STEVE FINNELL
Why are there so many Christian denomination? Is there a direct correlation between multiple denominations and the untaught and unstable?
1 Peter 3:15-16.....just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures to their own destruction.(NASB)
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UNTAUGHT AND UNSTABLE?
Many in the denominational world deny that repentance and water baptism are essential to receive forgiveness of sins.
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(NASB)
Acts 2:38 And Peter replied, "Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit. (The Living Bible -Paraphrased)
How is it possible to believe that the conjunction "and" does not connect repentance and water baptism as both being essential for the forgiveness of sin? [THE UNTAUGHT AND UNSTABLE DISTORT]
How could anyone reach the conclusion the repentance is unnecessary for forgiveness?[THE UNTAUGHT AND UNSTABLE DISTORT]
How is it that men teach that"for"in Acts 2:38 actually means, because your sins have already been forgiven? [THE UNTAUGHT AND UNSTABLE DISTORT]
How can men interpret, for the forgiveness of "your" sins in Acts 2:38 to mean that men and infants alike should be baptized in water for the forgiveness of the sin Adam committed in the garden of Eden?[THE UNTAUGHT AND UNSTABLE DISTORT]
THINGS THE APOSTLE PETER DID NOT SAY IN ACTS 2:38 NOR ANYWHERE ELSE IN SCRIPTURE .
1. Peter did not say repentance was not essential to receive forgiveness from sins.
2. Peter did not say water baptism was not necessary for forgiveness from sins.
3. Peter did not say be baptized so you can be forgiven for the sin of Adam (original sin).
4. Peter did not say be baptized because your sins have already been forgiven.
5. Peter did not say your sins are forgiven by faith only; therefore you do not have to be baptized in water in order to receive salvation.
6. Peter did not say you need to be baptized into your local church denomination.
7. Peter did not say be baptized in water as a testimony of your faith to your community.
In order to believe or teach these things you either have to be untaught, unstable or both.
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