Why Your Pastor's Sermons are SO WEAK!
Vložit
- čas přidán 28. 05. 2024
- *VIDEO NOTES: Corrections, resources, affiliate links etc.
Book Recommendations:
Preaching and Preachers (Lloyd Jones) - amzn.to/3x7yycV
Why Johnny Can't Preach (T. David Gordon) - amzn.to/3VB3Gfe
NEW BOOK! A Theology of Joy: Jonathan Edwards and Eternal Happiness in the Holy Trinity (Expanded Edition) - amzn.to/3tUfBZO
(1) MY CHURCH
Gospel Fellowship PCA - / @gospelfellowshippresb...
Gospel Fellowship PCA Website - www.gospelfellowshippca.org/
Gospel Fellowship PCA Podcast - anchor.fm/gospelfellowshippca
(2) PODCASTS
Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/69gAA8c...
Listen on Google Podcast: podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...
(3) MY BOOKS:
A Theology of Joy - amzn.to/3tUfBZO
Souls: How Jesus Saves Sinners - amzn.to/3f233s6
AUDIBLE: Souls: How Jesus Saves Sinners - amzn.to/3VT7wN9
Holy Living: Jonathan Edwards's 70 Resolutions - amzn.to/38fl4vX
Hold Fast the Faith: A Devotional Commentary on the Westminster Confession - amzn.to/3Bco9cI
Unknown: The Extraordinary Influence of Ordinary Christians -
amzn.to/38hiQwg
The Lord and the Rings: Bible Study and Counseling Guide
amzn.to/3DkVtA8
(4) SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter - @matt_everhard
Instagram - matthew_everhard
Telegram Channel - t.me/MatthewEverhard
Email Me: doctor + everhard (all one word) at gmail dot you know
(5) T-SHIRTS & APPAREL
Be a Radical Shirt - cassidycraftcorner.com/produc...
Edwards Homeboy Shirt - cassidycraftcorner.com/produc...
Get a Job Shirt - cassidycraftcorner.com/produc...
33-Point Calvinist Shirt - cassidycraftcorner.com/produc...
Spurgeon Shirt - cassidycraftcorner.com/produc...
Sing the Psalms Shirt - cassidycraftcorner.com/produc...
Warfield Shirt - cassidycraftcorner.com/produc...
Edwards Scholar Shirt - cassidycraftcorner.com/produc...
(6) MY STUDIO & BACKGROUND
Panasonic Basic Camcorder - amzn.to/3vR48sV
Logitech Webcam - amzn.to/3ynqRds
Studio Ring Lights - amzn.to/3jgYQjB
Edwards Resolutions Poster - www.missionalwear.com/the-res...
Note - this channel contains affiliate links.
Hallelujah!!!! The daily jesus devotional has been a huge part of my transformation, God is good 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻was owning a loan of $47,000 to the bank for my son's brain surgery (David), Now I'm no longer in debt after I invested $8,000 and got my payout of m $270,500 every months,God bless Chloe Linda Henderson 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸..
Hello how do you make such monthly ?? I'm a born Christian and sometimes I feel so down 🤦 of myself because of low finance but I still believe in God.
Thanks to my co-worker (Alex) who suggested Ms Chloe Linda Henderson.
She's a licensed broker in the states 🇺🇸
After I raised up to 325k trading with her I bought a new House and a car here in the states 🇺🇸🇺🇸 also paid for my son's surgery (Oscar). Glory to God.shalom.
Wow that's nice She makes you that much!! please is there a way to reach her services, I work 3 jobs and trying to pay off my debts for a while now!! Please help me.
I used to try to tell my pastor how much the sermon helped me or text him mid week to thank him for the sermon to encourage him. I have a really great pastor. Unfortunately I an very very ill and it's been six months since the last time I was able to go to church. I'm grateful that an elder comes to visit weekly.
Great reminder to pray for our faithful pastors to remain faithful and dependent on the Lord and not themselves.
Yes. It's like leaving a restaurant but you're still hungry .
The Greek word for "unction" in 1 John 2:20 and 1 John 2:27 is χρῖσμα ("Chrisma") and here's the Strong's definition for it:
"χρῖσμα chrîsma, khris'-mah; from G5548; an unguent or smearing, i.e. (figuratively) the special endowment ("chrism") of the Holy Spirit:-anointing, unction."
Very close to our word charisma
Charismatic person: “he puts everyone under his spell”
I was deeply inspired by MacArthur and Sproul after I came to faith. 15 years later I started to realize that I learned from the best.
Did you know JMac & RC are Calvinists?
Me too, such a blessing to be able to hear these men.
MacArthur misinterprets the Bible badly. So does Sproul. They're both Neo-Platonists who believe in the eternality of the soul. Jerome, who pretty much set Christianity on a Greek footing rather than a Jewish footing, knew more about Plato then he did about Christ and so translated the Bible into a Greco-pagananized book. Macarthur interprets Paul badly. He misinterprets James badly. He thinks that the parable of the rich man in Hades is real, even though these stories of disembodoed spirits alive in Hades were invented by Jewish pagans who adopted Greek models.
@@marylamb6063oh my, you are so wrong.
@@marylamb6063MacArthur is a false teacher but you sound just as crazy as he does. Lol.
David Pawson was a wonderful bible teacher! I often think about him regarding "unction/annointing". Nothing flashy about his speaking style but you just KNEW it was the Word of the Lord!
Agree. One of the reasons David could be powerful was because he was not beholden to any denomination and truly wanted to teach whatever the Lord revealed to his conscience.
Thank you. The church I attend has an excellent pastor. I'll pray for him.
Thank you Matthew!! By time I get done with Sunday morning service, my head is spinning. My preacher seems to use his position just to jabber on and on about nonsensical things. Never talks about the subject of the sermon until the last 5-10 minutes then gives a 30 second gospel message just to cover all the bases.
Like mine. I feel like it’s a waste of my time. With all of the stupid jokes.
Find another church than
@@mjrybread Well, like most small pastors, they are doing the best they can. But I am there mostly for the fellowship and exhortation of other believers. And larger churches with more 'qualified' pastors tend to have worse problems - religiosity. High-handedness and man-made doctrines are typical. In all my years, I have not found a 'perfect' church. Suffice it to say, I am resolved to understanding Scripture on my own and leave church for fellowship and worshipping God in community only. Like Matthew says here for us to pray for our pastors. Support where you can and if you can get a word in edgewise, try to encourage them and exhort them as well. They all do have a tendency to resist exhortation from a layperson but it is not impossible to reach them.
@@kevinerose ya I hear ya
Hey Matthew, great video! I could agree more with all your points as well as feel your frustration. We need to pray for our pastors regularly and pray for revival for the Church!
I like expository preaching; however, this does not exhaust other means of powerful preaching. As we know, the Apostles used a lot of typological preaching from the Old Testament.
My view is that the weakness we now see in the pulpit today is caused by timidity. Pastors are fearful of directly confronting the important moral issues that are strangling our culture (e.g. Feminism, LGBTQ, Transgenderism, etc.).
Secondly, in place of strong Gospel and moral content, there is too much Pietism being proclaimed (e.g. Bible reading, devotions, 3 ways to improve your marriage, etc.).
Matt, I am feeling so very fortunate that through technology I can still have you in my Christian walk. Miss you and your family so very much at Faith Church in Brooksville. Thank you so very much for your sermons and the content you share. I am so appreciative as through you I continue to learn and grow. Sending you my best always.
Miss you and love you all too my man! Thanks for the nice comment! Blessings to you and your sweet family!
Many motives for being church member,, the preacher is so handsome,, i just love his voice, they also have a day care, they also have a school. The choir is beautiful! All my friends go there. The one mentioned in the bible. Is to have their ears tickled! Lets not forget to examine our own motives too. 😅😅
You got me with the last point. Guilty as charged. Appreciate true truth from you and am convinced to do better by Christ and through prayer.
But, if you don't have a "spirit filled" pastor, bringing backyard BBQ stories to the pulpit,
Realize he is of the world. Find a spirit filled church, and move.😊
Amen. Found a PCA church within driving distance and we are all in.
Main character complex , how convicting for everyone (myself included)The preacher is upset because the people don't appreciate his performance. The congregation is upset because they feel that they aren’t cast properly in the performance. Tragic theater.
The preacher is not praying for himself and his people and the people are not praying for their pastor. We are all failing eachother and our Lord and wonder why the Holy Spirit doesnt provide unction in the message.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4: 6)
Lord have mercy on us all.
100 % spot on! Of all the important points that you made the one about the unction is most important. The gifts of the Spirit and the unction of the Spirit can't be learned, they are given by the Holy Spirit. The Lord recently opened the door for me to become a pastor and when I was praying about whether to accept the position the Lord gave me the commission of 2 Timothy 4:2 and 5 which I have tried my best to do. But way too many pastors are just working a job and waiting for a retirement pension or as you said are little more than worldly entertainers. So sad. I think it was Billy Graham who said, "one does not need to be a great preacher, so long as one preaches the cross". Thank you for a much-needed message.
Well said brother, something we all need to hear. I am training for Pastoral Ministry right now, and have preached a few times. Videos like this really hammer home the point that it’s only about the Word, and never about me. The points you make are foundational to allowing the Word to speak through me, unhindered by me
This is an excellent analysis of why so much preaching is ineffective. You spoke from the heart and by the Holy Spirit...thank you for sharing with us.
Bible college and seminary doesn't seem to be pumping out expository and bold preachers these days. Concerning
The power is in the Gospel, not the messenger.
There are a lot of guys behind the pulpit nowadays who aren't true Christians. They have a degree from a seminary, but it's just a job, not a calling.
Lord have mercy!!
Lord have mercy on us a deliver us from unqualified men.
We the congregation must also cultivate a deep desire to hear and apply the word preached in power.
I've attended many churches in my area over the past three years. I go for my kids, but find much better preaching online via MacArthur, Sproul, and various Bible colleges. It is such a bummer. Even the Bible studies I've participated in are just social gatherings.
That being said, you are one of my favorite online pastors as well. I consistently learn something new or a new application.
Don't forsake the assembling it is a command in Hebrews
I believe the church is basically powerless because we don’t demonstrate the Love and things of Life. Paul said, his preaching was weak without demonstration. That includes healing. Please don’t get upset that I didn’t write precisely. Being on Social Media many people go out of bounds because people don’t know who they are. Also we don’t speak in the Love Of Christ.
Very good. A timely reminder. Bless you.
Question: Didn't some powerful preachers in history read from a manuscript, some speak extemporaneously, sometimes in a lackluster delivery style (though style does not equal power in preaching), sometimes in an engaging and vigorous delivery style? Isn't it God that gives the increase, not one's delivery style or anything dealing with us from a human perspective? I have sat under preachers of widely different preaching styles. Some with very energetic delivery, some more of a teaching style, yet both expositing the text in context. The true power of preaching is in the accuracy of the exegesis and exposition of the text. I don't mean this in a brash or confrontative way. I am humbly asking for your perspective and insight on this matter. Thank you in advance for any advice you have on this matter.
Thank you for addressing this very needful topic. It's nice to hear someone who is jealous for Christ and His Gospel.
I believe that Pastors have a very rough road to navigate..not just preaching, but also serving their congregations. Just think about all the stress men have in being a Husband, Father, Parent, …multiply those stressors to the power of ten on Pastors who shoulder their congregation’s burdens as well…my goodness…let us pray for their endurance, patience, and time for them to find rest and fulfillment in all that they do…and at the same time…let our congregations be generous in our tithings too!❤️😊🙏
Most excellent advice. May our expectations of others be exceeded by our expectations of ourselves.
Brother Matthew: we are in the same boat. And your last point (pray for your preacher) was on-point! #soliDeoGloria
This channel is such a blessing. Thank you.
If we are not convinced with the scriptures,, how can we preached with convictions?
Bro. Matt, have you done a video series on expositional preaching? That would be a huge blessing if not.
Great video! As someone who is a novice in preaching, this is very helpful!
This is spot on; especially your last point. Thank you for posting this.
The last point on praying for our pastors is spot on! As were the other points. But that one is important.
You have provided a great explanation of the Preaching model.....for my vote, I have found Neil Stewart to be exceptional and he is Sr Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Columbia SC. Stewart is as I have said before, he is a once in a generation leader whom the Holy Spirit will use to send out the Gospel message. No man is that good, that consistently unless the Spirit is upon him.
Great video.
I had the honor of being able to preach on the supremacy of Christ last September. I actually used that Main Character Syndrome phrase to make a point about not seeking wise council from those who haven't acknowledged that Jesus Christ is THE main character.
I appreciate you, brother
Thank you, Pastor Matthew, for boldly speaking the truth. I will continue to pray for you. 🙏
Good points, Matt, I agree! My best sermons were preached through tears.
Well said! 2 Timothy 4:1-4, 1 Timothy 4:1-2. We must always speak the truth of Gods word and address what is happening in the world. If we haven't, what is the point? We might as well go to a Lions meeting.
I once aspired to the ministry because I was a hungry young Christian and thought it would get me closer to God. I loved church and service and singing and all that stuff. Now, I love the Lord more than ever but am "un-churched" (or maybe "de-churched") because I don't need to be preached at. I needed and still need to be equipped to live as a Christian in a Christ-rejecting culture. #8 could be expanded because lots of pew-sitters spend their non-pew hours in front of TV or otherwise being marinated in the world. These friends of the world have made God their enemy, and they are the "wayside" where the best seed in the world could be dropped and could never germinate. Churches seem to have become superficial Christian Community Centers, but it looks like most folks are too narcissistic to be trustworthy in a Biblical ekklesia. So because the people can't really be trusted and are essentially enemies of God anyway, a church cannot cohere.
Hebrews 10:24-25
So, is that your reason for not attending church? What about iron sharpens iron?
Great points and reminders! Here's a #9: a lack of Christ like love from the preacher for the people adds to the problem of weak preaching.
My Pastor is a faithful powerful expositor and we are blessed to have him. He’s half my age but speaks like a seasoned veteran of the scripture. I try to pray for him weekly for wisdom, love and skill in exegeting the scriptures. We are a reformed Baptist Church in the lost state of Utah. He desperately wants to reach this unreached people group of LDS, we have regular outreaches. Our Utube channel is DRBC. 🙏✝️
This is all a very interesting topic, and, like every topic, there needs to balance in how you view and understand it. The Spirit of God is our "comforter". I remember a sermon I heard once in which RC Sproul shared how the word "comforter" isn't the best word by which to translate the actual meaning of the underlying Greek term. He shared that the Spirit does more than just come next to the believer and give him a big hug during times of difficulty and crisis. In fact, that's not the imagery at all. No, the imagery is better likened unto there being a large log which needs to be moved, where the believer has taken one end of the log, and the Spirit has taken the other, and the Spirit comes alongside of the believer to aid him in dealing with the task at hand. The believer is not passive. So, a good preacher is not passive either. A good preacher will work hard at refining his communication skills. A good preacher will make eye contact. A good preacher will speak clearly and with good English. A good preacher will evaluate his audience. You get the idea. And a good preacher will also trust in God to apply the Word being declared to the hearts of men.
I would add what makes for weak sermons is when the preacher forces the scripture text into the framework of their theological conviction, rather than letting the Word speak for itself. That is a danger for all preachers, but especially so for those who are passionate about their theology. Theological passion can be misinterpreted as unction. Passion can be rooted in pride and therefore condescending and lacking grace, especially towards those who are not of the same persuasion. “We know that… knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1). And, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:6).
“I loved it because i hates it.” I can relate
Wow! That was great Matt!! 😎👍
Amen Brother!
Great, back to the preaching content again
I’m working to revitalize a church who has had weak preaching for generations. To some, faithful exposition is received like a drink of cold water on a hot day. To others it is a source of continual frustration. I keep plugging away and pray God blesses it.
I’m so thankful that I can truly say, I have a really great Pastor. His preaching is Biblical and powerful. God bless the PCA!
Very helpful. Thank you.
This was refreshing, helpful, and very well said, thank you! Proverbs 25:11
Amen on this video. We need men who will unashamedly preach the Word of God and then allow the Holy Spirit to bring about conviction and repentance. I once heard someone say that if we use gimmicks to draw people to church, we’ll have to use gimmicks to keep them in church
Thank you Pastor Everhard for being steadfast and standing on God's Word.
My comment below is a little off topic but it's what is on my heart to share.
I'm right now between moves so without a pulpit thus making these comments is how I can share His Truth.
I'm leaving this comment everywhere I can before it's to late as a testament to the Truth. So those left may understand and know why so many have suddenly disappeared. The true reason will be hidden behind lies and deceptions I can't even imagine but this should help leave no doubt as to what actually occurred.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has come for His Bride, (all true Christians), so that where He is we may be also, just as promised in Scripture.
I want to share some information about His gathering of His Church, Christ's Bride to Himself.
Just some information to help understand why so many are blinded today to the "Doctrine of Imminency".
This should help when you are attacked for a Pre-Trib view or if you are confused about it.
The Great Tribulation is the Holy Wrath of God being poured out on the deserving.
Show me from Scripture where God has allowed His Wrath, to be poured out on those He's found righteous, other than our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus as a propitiation for all?
The tribulations of today and the past that Jesus and Scripture warned us of are perpetrated by the sinful, men/women, not the LORD.
The Great Tribulation will be God's Holy Wrath poured out on the deserving and none else.
P - Placement of His Church (Revelation)
R - Removal of the Restrainer
E - Exempt from God's Wrath (as promised in Scripture)
T - Twenty Four Elders (with crowns priests/kings)
R - Rapture confused with Second Coming
I - Imminent return of Christ
B - Blessed Hope
Augustine of Hippo, (354-430), was one of the church fathers as they're known. He is revered as a great teacher but flawed by the circumstances of his day. He taught during the time of monarchies and rather than offend them he did not teach as those that came before him such as Clement, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Ephraim, Polycarp and many others. He's the first we see in history who downplayed and didn't truly teach the "Doctrine of Imminency" according to Scripture. I'd imagine those in the monarchy would not have liked to be told how the real and true King, our Lord and Savior, the Lord of Lords and King of kings could return at any moment. As a result for all the sound doctrine and his magnificent work against heresies Augustine has left behind in his writings, his lack of teaching on the "Doctrine of Imminency" has left a lasting impression on our faith. There is also another huge issue in that Augustine was a "supersessionist" as in he taught in his work the "City of God" that the Church had replaced Israel as the LORD's Chosen. This of course is not true, the Church has been grafted into the "rich root" of promise and has in no way replaced Israel as the apple of God's eye and His chosen people. The Apostle Paul has amazing teaching on this in the Book of Romans chapters 9-11.
I often hear those that confuse the Trumpet of God with the Trumpets in the Book of Revelation. They apparently have no understanding of how the LORD used the Trumpet of God in the Old Testament to signal His People to come/gather to Him for Instruction, Worship or to follow Him.
Please study these Scriptures:
Gen 5:24, John 14:1-3, Matt 25:13, 1 Cor 15:51-53, 1 Thes 4:13-18, Rom 8:19, 1 Cor 1:7-8, 1 Cor 16:22, Phil 3:20-21, Col 3:4, 1 Thes 1:10, 1 Thes 2:19, 1 Thes 5:4-9, 1 Thes 5:23, 2 Thes 2:1-3a, 1 Tim 6:14, 2 Tim 4:1, Titus 2:13, Heb 9:28, Heb 10:37, James 5:7-9, 1 Peter 1:7 (13), 1 John 2:28 - 3:2, Jude 21, Rev 3:10-13, Rev 4:1 (4), Rev 22:20.
Now tell me what you see in the Word of God. Tell me you don't see it, the (Harpazo/Rapturo/Rapio)? Watch as the early followers of the "Way" are told to encourage each other with the words of Jesus and the Apostles John, Peter and Paul. As their instruction is for us to be ever looking upward for our Lord's imminent return at any moment. Paul's proclaiming of, When the dead in Christ will be raised first and then we who remain will be changed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, and be "caught up" together with them to meet our Lord in the clouds/air/heavens.
Notice it isn't on the ground that we will meet our Lord, but in the air?
An early Hymn of Praise and Hope:
Jesus may come today.
Glad day! Glad day!
And I would see my friend!
Dangers and troubles would end,
If Jesus should come today.
Jesus is coming to earth again.
What if it were today?
the Didache dated about 100-120 A.D., which contains the exhortation: "Watch for your life's sake. Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed; but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh".
The Lord's Return believed by the Apostolic Fathers:
They expected the return of the Lord in their day. They believed the time was imminent because their Lord had taught them to live in a watchful attitude."
And concerning the Ante-Nicene Fathers most of them:
By tradition they knew the faith of the Apostles. They taught the doctrine of the imminent return of the Lord.
So get out there my brothers and sisters and proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Yeshua Ha Mashiach) for time is short and the day is near.
Marana tha !!!
Come Lord Jesus, come, Amen...
If you are reading this after the Rapture find a Bible and read as it truly is your only hope. Start in the Gospel of John and then read Acts and the teaching Epistles. He is the only way and if you're brave enough to want to know the truth of what is to come read Revelation starting at Chapter 6 because that is all that is left to you of our Lord's as yet unfulfilled Prophetic Word. The first 5 chapters dealt with His Bride, His Church/Body made up of true believers, who are now and forever will be with Him. It will not be an easy road and you will loose your earthly life that is but a vapor compared to eternity. Give your life to and for Jesus so you can be with Him in paradise...
Romans 10:9 Say it, mean it, believe it and trust in Him.
He will save you even now no matter what you've done or not done unless you take the mark willingly. No matter what they threaten you with do not take the mark or worship the beast. Do not fear anything they can do to you in this life now but fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in Hell for eternity.
God Bless...
Most people's attention span is about 10 to 15 minutes. You don't need to preach for hours at a time.
My Priest gives a short homily of about 10 minutes.
The expectations of a Pastor is seldom the same as the expectations of the congregation. In smaller churches a pastor is expected to be everything for everybody while receiving very little time for personal prayer and study. Preach two or three times a week. Marry folk and council others. Bury folk and visit the sick. And so on. But when the Pastor makes requests of his elders or congregation all that is heard is the rushing wind (not the Spirit) of the people as they sprint for the doors. Peter and his fellow disciples were fortunate that their leadership group recognized their need to preach, teach, and pray meant that the church body were to minister to other needs. Good preaching requires time and study which a married preacher often needs to tend to his own family. A congregation’s expectations of their preacher-pastor and their own are seldom equal. And as an aside…the preachers on the net are allowed the anonymity of being under the weekly glare of every person tuning into small snippets of their sermons and lives. Your pastors are human and need your support. Blessings.
Never beat yourself up! Your preaching is Great! Thanks for your Dedication!
Great rant! You rightly brought out very valid points of what is happening within so many churches.
So very helpful
This is a lecture on how to preach. Some good points there. Spirit filled preaching is always more valuable than those who are entertainers. The main message should be around the need for Christ - i.e. a sin-filled world needing a Saviour, repentance in order to have freedom from sin and salvation in Christ. Let's not forget those who have been significantly injured by the world and who need a loving father to shelter them.
Thanks for the last challenge - to pray for our preacher.
Thanks for the video. In your view, how does the unction you described differ from the anointing we ALL have received as believers in 1 John 2. I get a little concerned when people talk about having to have the anointing as opposed to the gifting of God. There is a lot of talk of anointing within the charismatic Church. I'm not saying you are saying this, but my concern relates to people like Katherine Kryck and her ...the secret to the anointing, as well as many people who claim to be modern day Apostles and Prophets.
i clicked on this because i was thinking this is me
Couldn't agree more... great video... G-D bless 🙌🙏you...
For everyone: It's spelled "GOD', not "G-D". They love spelling it as "G-D" in that Hebrew Roots movement. The sad part is there are literally millions in that particular boat.
For anyone, praying this all helps. If there’s any “ammo” here that’s either wanted or needed, go for it. As Scripture implies, “Freely you have received, freely give”:
As an FYI, in Judaism, they flat-out deny Jesus as The Messiah, and those in that Hebrew Roots Movement (an offshoot of Judaism) would misinterpret John 14:21, John 14:23, and 1 John 2:3-4 by mixing in John 14:15 and saying, “If you love Me, keep the 613 rules found in Mosaic Law, thereby earning your salvation.” The reality is that if you love Me (Jesus), keep to JESUS’ ways...ONLY. (Here in the A.D. Era that means “INTERNAL” and not some “rule-keeping” thing such as one sees in the Old Testament): Believe in the finished work of Jesus and live in love. John 14:15 gets followed in return as a reflection of how much YOU are loved and forgiven (Ephesians 4:32, 1 John 3:23-24). If you’re in Jesus, it’s known as the Fruit of The Spirit. You’re also a child of God the Father. Jesus calls you a friend, a brother, a co-heir as Romans 8:16-17 would say. The verb “to keep” there is future tense. The proper way to translate John 14:15 is to say, “If you love Me, YOU WILL keep My commandments.” They’re not burdensome since My yoke is easy. Living in love also includes a proper attitude for non-believers by being salt and light as is implied in Matthew 5:13-16. It all boils down to moving the proverbial “flush handle” on those 613 rules seen in the Old Testament Mosaic Law because God the Father writes His Law on the hearts of those in Jesus as Ezekiel 36:26 states as well as He remembers that person’s sin no more as is stated in Hebrews 8:12. As such, it’s basically the difference between the Old Testament way which was, “Would ya/could ya be my Lord versus this New Testament way of God the Father basically saying, “Those ARE My people” (if desired, see Matthew 25:31-46, John 3:3-5, Galatians 6:15-16 & 1 Peter 2:10 for more information). Mark 1:15, John 14:6, John 19:30 have to do with what Jesus did. Those mentioned commands of His are actually PROMISES.
JOHN 6:29 (BSB)
Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”
1 JOHN 3:23-24 (BSB)
And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us. Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.
biblehub.com/
O, that pastors would never preach "gospel trailers" and give the "whole counsel of God" from pulpits so that conviction, clarity, and conversion happen in the pews where hungry souls are dying to know what's so good about the good news!!!!
I agree that preaching from the Bible is best. Why is it though that most churches do NOT use literal, word for word Bible translations? If it is important that the Word of God be preached, why not use the most accurate translation of the original Hebrew OT and Greek NT texts. Many churches use the KJV but that translation has very significant translation errors.
I said in a PCA church this Sunday and I heard a pastor and I thought he had some good themes for his sermon bedroom lights so much on anecdotes and quotes from people long ago that it lost its power because he didn't spend enough time in the actual scripture
Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve visited different denominations of churches and it seems some (definitely catholic and Presbyterian) never even mention the need to accept Jesus Christ as savior and how to do that…I was never crazy about the aggressive fear based approach of the Pentecostal church I was raised in, but I’ve been attending a Free Methodist church for a while now and I appreciate how the message of the sacrifice and gift of salvation is mentioned often yet in Love. That really is the point, isn’t it.
Church is where we as Christians go to worship our Lord yet there are lost souls and wayward souls in those very pews every Sunday and if they don’t hear the truth of our faith and how beautiful and loving is the redemption freely offered by our Lord Jesus, then what is the point? If the message of redemption is not mentioned, then no wonder more people are deconstructing or thinking about where they’ll go for lunch later…
Just my thoughts
My pastor is Jesus. Too many "pastors" try to serve two masters. The need for talk about sin and repentance is needed. Do not tickle my ears. God hates SIN.
Wonderful message, if only there were a pastor like you where I live! Sadly, only weak ones. I would add one other reason, money. They want the money, and truth from the pulpit would significantly diminish their income.
What was it Thomas Watson said, something like, ' preach as if it is the last sermon you will ever preach'.
I’d add one more reason for a preacher failing, which is kind of covered in the first seven of this list: unconfessed sin and moral compromise. You cannot preach with spiritual power if you are in a condition of delayed repentance from sin. Your heart is hardened, you do not have the evangelistic spirit of Psalm 51:13, you are letting your own pride hold sway in your heart instead of the Lord, and you are not submitting to His commands. Bringing this kind of reproach on yourself eliminates the first qualification on both the 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 lists.
This isn't for just pastors, I think. Much of it applies to Sunday school teachers too, I think (which includes me). Thank you.
Right now I'm attending a seminary and taking a Homiletics course, though I don't intend to be a pastor. Its really intetesting trying to write good sermons to be read by one guy, a professor. I think a lot of preachers are on the lazy side and don't spend enough time in sermon preparation.. They obviously aren't taking their time and consulting multiple commentaries on the text ect. Another thing I see from popular Evangelical preachers online is extremely eccentric and clownish interpretation.
Seems like these (great points) fit together largely under the category of recognizing that preaching is first "before the face of God." Especially appreciated your last point - we all, who are quick to click on this thumbnail, in need of being called out in our failure as church members and hearers.
I think each point was solid, and I don't assume you meant each of them to be a categorical absolute. It's a worthy exercise to try to think of the "exception" to each. E.g., was Whitfield wickedly performing when he declared, "I will not be a velvet-mouthed preacher"? Is it wrong to point out how correct the insight into anthropology is in Freebird when the song says repeatedly declares, "I can't change"? And both Edwards and Charnock, to my understanding, were generally manuscript readers - did they have no unction? I'm not at all trying to disprove your points, just considering some nuance.
Thanks again, brother.
At around 8 min you nailed it. Point to Christ. Weak sermons don’t point to Christ.
Our current pastor mixes old school hellfire and brimstone with random and off-topic jokes which fail to hold my attention and make me fall asleep.
Amen!
Excellent. Story telling preachers focus on themselves. This results is weak believers. Expose the scripture verse by verse, word by word
There is also the moral character, purity and holiness of the preacher himself. If a preacher has any sin issues in his life, NO anointing.
HUH???? This, unfortunately, is missing a crucial word: "CURRENTLY". Who knows about 3 seconds from now...Worth considering.
@@ericsikma4764 - I'm not sure what you mean. Obviously if the preacher begins falling into a particular sin starting in 3 seconds from now, then that is the point at which he must repent, forsake that sin, and quickly return to a walk of righteousness. If he fails to do that and continues returning to that sin, he will grieve the Holy Spirit and then the anointing is pulled.
@@thelogosdotnet Major "bingo" on that one. There's the keyword: "REPENT". Unfortunately, there are MANY in today's society who are so focused on performance that they overlook salvation. Example: "I'm not voting for YOU! After all, you had those two beers back in 1978 which means you're...you're...immoral! (GASP GASP)
That's not how it works. Forever's a long time too.
If the normal so called Christian reads their own Bible daily from cover to cover, then one will realize
That it’s NOT always about the Sunday preacher .
The problem in American churches is that , it has created the “man of the hour” complex instead of the whole church being the man of the hour out and about daily.
Amen!!
I find some are to timid. There needs to be excitement to preach the Lords word. Also I enjoy your preaching.
Tell the truth, brother! One of your better videos, Pastor Matt. Yes, get out of the way and let the Word and anointing of the Spirit work. No entertainment, no idiosyncratic postmodern opinions; rather exposit the Word. I would suggest another thought. My experience is that it is important for listeners to really listen. I've heard some "theatrical" preachers who have great oratory skills and an impressive style, but underneath the pomposity they have no substantial message - it's all fluff. And I've heard some more timid preachers who have a great message, but you have to listen carefully to receive it. But as you say, power comes from the Word, the Spirit, and Prayer.
Happy Resurrection Sunday!
"What do you expect from weak men like us if you do not pray for us?"
That hit hard
The biggest reason why so many sermons are weak is because it lacks one thing........TRUTH!!!!!"JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED"
I have to wonder if Matthew Everhard's views on effective preaching are related to his views of the sacraments. If he truly believes in water baptism being appropriate as a once in a lifetime experience regardless of age, then I suppose he views Christian sanctification and adherence to the will of God as a later outgrowth of this baptism. This implies that he and his congregants are selfish and blind, but by learning from the Bible (with baptismal influences), proper repentance will take place in his church. This implies a supernatural effect among his congregants and himself such that he should allow the Bible to do accomplish Godly teachings by pondering and explaining what he learns from the read passages of scripture. It seems to me that a belief in infant baptism implies a belief in a state of ignorance, darkness, and selfishness until the sacraments have resulted in their supernatural effects.
1 John 2:20 ESV
"But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge."
I was looking into this the past several days. Fellowship with Christ is a massive privilege. One important result of being with Christ in prayer and in constant study of the word is that you then have something to say! The two that were with Him on the road to Emmaus said their hearts burned within and they went to go tell it. Peter and John were known to be unschooled, yet when they spoke before the council in Acts 4:13 they reacted, "Now when they saw the *BOLDNESS* of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus."
Weakness and shallowness / emptiness in the preaching is very, very widespread. I can only guess at the reasons for it. Maybe unbelief or pride or apathy, I can't say the reasons for sure. Maybe not time in real praying or in study of God's "living and active" word and so not fellowshipping with the Lord could be the reason why. I only see the result. Cowardice could be a reason the full truth of repentance AND forgiveness of sins is 99.999% never preached at church, much less acted upon. It just shows our complete need for Christ.
At church, the gospel truth is not wanted. It is even effectively silenced. The bishop is a PRIDE false gospel preacher and himself an unrepentant homosexual. We have no pastor now and our bishop controls the whole process of finding and hiring a pastor - he even controls what questions may or may not be asked during interviews. Our lay leaders are in lock-step with the whole process and silence / secrecy about the truth of what's happening results in this whole church falling in line behind false gospels, not only the 'PRIDE" false gospel but several others which are also mutually exclusive to the word of God.
So, weak preaching is just the tip of the iceberg. It is a bigger problem than weak preaching only. But, it is part of the problem in a church where the gospel is barely there, if at all.
"May the name of Whitefield perish, but Christ be glorified" May we have more of that attitude.
My pastor is a good guy and knows his stuff, but each week he makes a point to insert himself and his life into the passages and shows pics on the screen of him and his family and it takes me out of it. I get it is not to be narcissistic or anything bad, but I just wanna go over scripture. that stuff can be posted on facebook or instagram.
A lot of pastors tickle ears because that’s all the truth their carnal mind congregation can handle. The pastors have an hour or so to get a point across. Does the people not have their own bibles? Are they not constitutional in the word, in prayer? I mean what would you expect? I’ve learned to question every teaching and go to scripture myself. I’ve been very surprised by what scripture actually says verses what famous so call theologians or CZcams pastors teach.
I hate to say it but both Baptist and reformed tradition churches like Presbyterians are both guilty of focusing too much on their presuppositions and trying to use anecdotes and stories to fill in the time and because they focus too much on their their preconceived theology instead of letting the text fall where it may I'm just sitting here until it's over I'm not getting a meal
Real exegetical preaching is hard work, combine that with the fear of man and you get “ pop sermonettes for christianettes”.
Great video Matt! You hit the nail on the head! We need Spirit empowered preachers!
Thank you Pastor Everhard for bringing up this much needed matter.
I recognize that pastors engage in spiritual warfare when they preach, and even when they are preparing a message, studying, praying and delivering the message. I have been praying for my pastor, in whom I have noticed a change in delivery of message. He is a good and eloquent pastor, reverent as to the Word of God. Reformed. But in these last years after the virus/shutdown/etc., I have noticed his delivery is changed. Less meaty. More stories/examples/quotations and frequently references to people in the culture. His messages are 30 to 35 minutes, of which plain/pure expositing is perhaps 15 to 20 minutes or so. There is in his delivery no passion. No fire. No meat.
I go in and come out basically unchanged. I am sad. I pray for him. I don't know him very well. It's a large church. I feel bad even making these comments/very conflicted. :(
Maybe we have gotten too dependent on something that's not even found in the Bible.
Dude i just picked up why johnny can't preach last sunday!!! I'm in my second read thru. Please if you lead even a bible study buy this book it only 12 bucks!!!