Preaching styles today vary from denomination to denomination. On any given Sunday you can hear the Bible preached in so many ways it would make your head spin. That being said almost every domination today has a similar focus. To conduct their services in a way that will draw people to their church. Many adjusting the message they present in order to appeal to more people.
Sadly many Christians embrace this and pick their local church because they find the style enjoyable. You could even say many look for a church they find entertaining. The focus is placed primarily on how the message is presented not the truth presented in the sermon. What’s interesting is while the church today is working on a finding and presenting a pleasing Gospel. The Apostle Paul actually said that his goal was not to preach in a pleasing manner.
1 Corinthians 1:17 (ESV)
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 2:4 (ESV)
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
The Apostle states that God did not send him to bring the word in some elegant style. Or with some flair added to keep things interesting. Attempting to win over the people with the way in which he preached. In his opinion that would only take power away from the cross. As you read through Pauls’s letters you see this to be true. He was never focused on his public proception or if someone thought he was a good preacher. His only goal was to please God.
Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
And what pleases God? The truth! Which is exactly what Paul presented to everyone plainly. He did not dress up the word to sound important or attempt to shape the gospel message to fit the times. Nor was his goal to entertain those gathered to hear him. He simply laid out God’s word before the people the same way he received it.
Not only did the preaching of Paul differ greatly from many today. Because his goal was not to impress with style but to just present truth. He lived unashamed of gospel truth. He had no fear of offending someone if what he said came directly from God. The man drew hard lines in the sand about sin. Much of which you would not hear in many churches in our society. The Apostle went as far as to list the different lifestyles that would not allow one to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Romans 1:16 (ESV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Did the way Paul presented the truth run some people off? Honestly, it probably did. Did some tune out because he didn’t spice up his sermons with stories and jokes? I’m sure. But you know what I am willing to bet Paul saw more true conversations that any other person in history. In fact, I am willing to say that no one who came to Christ after hearing Paul speak would have been surprised if they read the scriptures on their own.
All because Paul made the focus of his message truth. Not focusing on how the message was presented. And because he didn’t try to cover up the truth just because some didn’t want to hear it. Not presenting the whole truth is actively lying. Only producing false converts who do not truly know God. Which was no were near the goal of Paul or the other Apostles. They did not come with fables but the truth of what they had seen.
2 Peter 1:16 (ESV)
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
The point to all this is not that the Church should be unenjoyable. Or that Preachers should be dry boring people with seemingly no personality. Nor should the church openly try to offend those who do not see things the same way we do. The greater point of this article is to point the church back to putting truth before everything else. Truth should be the core of everything we do and why we do it. Put the Bible first and allow everything else to come after.
My hope is that this article will reaching those who present the Gospel message. As well as the regular church attendee. To the preacher or teacher don’t get caught up trying to make the Bible appealing. Focus instead on just presenting the truth of the Gospel. Because the presentation does not set anyone free, but the truth will! And don’t worry about offending anyone with God’s word. Because it is far better to offend someone to heaven than to lull them away to hell.
John 8:31–32 (ESV)
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
For those who are the regular churchgoer please do not fall into the trap of picking or leaving a church based on style alone. Or based on if you find Biblical truth to be offensive (not including extreme cases where people go beyond the Bible). Don’t be like those who Paul spoke about when he said a day will come when people will no longer want to hear the truth. Pick your church because the message that is preached is one of truth and sound doctrine. Church is not meant to entertain you. It is supposed to bring you into a closer relationship with God by hearing the word.
2 Timothy 4:3 (ESV)
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
Did you enjoy the content of this article? Then please help others to see it by sharing it on social media. We want to see the world come to know Biblical truth, but we can not do that without the help of readers like you. Thank you for your support and God Bless!
Visit Justin’s personal website Here. Or see articles from other writers we feature Here. Also, be sure to stop by our prayer wall.