Preaching an Ancient Faith
to the Modern World
Views of Preaching
• To the worldly minded
– 1 Corinthians 1:18a “For the message of
the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing….”
– They will use various means to capture
attention
•Rock bands
•Carnivals
•Plays
•Light shows
Views of Preaching
• To those “who are being saved”
(footnote ASV)
– 1 Corinthians 1:18b “…it is the power of
God.”
– Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ, for it is the power
of God to salvation for everyone who
believes, for the Jew first and also for the
Greek.”
Views of Preaching
• To those “who are being saved” (footnote
ASV)
– 1 Corinthians 1:18b “…it is the power of God.”
– Romans 1:16
• God does his calling in preaching
– “But we are bound to give thanks to God
for you, brethren beloved by the Lord,
because God from the beginning chose
you for salvation through sanctification by
the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which
He called you by our gospel, for the
obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (2 Thes. 2:13-14).
Making Preaching Relevent
• Yet, the gospel preacher is not
excused from making his preaching
relevant to his listeners.
– When the numbers of the divisions
equipped for war came to David in
Hebron, it is said, “…of the sons of
Issacher who had understanding of the
times, to know what Israel ought to do,
their chiefs were two hundred; and all
their brethren were at their command”
(1 Chr. 12:23, 32).
Illustrations and Anecdotes
• C. H. Spurgeon wrote,
– We must try thus to get the truth into the
people, for it will never get in of itself; and
we must remember that the hearts of our
hearers are not open, like a church door, so
that the truth may go in, and takes its place,
and sit upon its throne to be worshipped
there. No, we have often to break open the
doors with great effort, and to thrust the
truth into places where it will not at first be a
welcomed guest, but where, afterwards, the
better it is known the more it will be loved
(The Art of Illustration p. 52).
Illustrations and Anecdotes
• C. H. Spurgeon continued,
– Illustrations and anecdotes will greatly help
to make a way for the truth to enter; and
they will do it by catching the ear of the
careless and the inattentive….You must
endeavor, brethren, to make your people
forget matters relating to this world by
interweaving the whole divine truth with the
passing things of every day, and this you will
do by a judicious use of anecdotes and
illustrations.
Illustrations Used By
the Prophets
• Amos wrote of Israel’s inability to
escape God’s punishment.
– “It will be as though a man fled from a
lion, And a bear met him! Or as though
he went into the house, Leaned his hand
the wall, And a serpent bit him! (5:19)
• In speaking to David, Nathan
“resorted to a parable by which he led
on the king to pronounce sentence of
death upon himself” (Keil, 388).
Illustrations Used By
the Prophets
• The prophet described a rich man with many
sheep and oxen who lived beside a poor man
who had only one little lamb “which he had
bought and nourished…so that it grew up in
his house along with his son, and was treated
most tenderly and loved like a daughter. The
custom of keeping pet-sheep in the house, as
we keep lap-dogs, is still met with among the
Arabs” (Keil, 389).
• The story likely struck a strong cord with the
“shepherd king.” David laid bare his own
soul as a result of the story and saw himself as
a sinner after condemning the actions of the
rich man.
Jesus Used Illustrations
• The remarkable growth of the mustard seed
well illustrated the way the church would
grow (Mat. 13:31-32).
• “Jesus knew how well men are acquainted
with material matters – a farmer sowing in the
springtime and workers at the harvest
separating the wheat from the tares, a
merchant who give his life in quest of a rare
pearl, or children who play in the
marketplace – and using these timeless
pictures He sought to tell men principles that
count in the unseen world” (Lightfoot, 14).
Jesus Used Illustrations
• The Lord was also familiar with
current events which were being
discussed by the people.
– When a group of people told Jesus
about those who were killed by Pilate
while offering their sacrifices, thinking
they were an example of punishment for
being particularly sinful, Jesus called to
mind the case of eighteen upon whom a
tower in Siloam fell (Luke 13:1-5).
Jude Used Illustrations
• Jude described false teachers by using
images which would have been very
familiar to his readers.
– “They are clouds without water, carried
about by the winds; late autumn trees
without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by
the roots; raging waves of the sea,
foaming up their own shame; wandering
stars for whom is reserved the blackness
of darkness forever” (12b-13).
Peter Used Illustrations
• Peter describes the tragedy of having
found the truth and turning back by
citing a proverb.
– “For it would have been better for them
never to have known the way of
righteousness than after knowing it to turn
back from the holy commandment
delivered to them. What the true proverb
says has happened to them: ‘the dog returns
to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing
herself, returns to wallow in the mire’” (2
Peter 2:21-22).
Paul Used Illustrations
• Paul quoted from poets known to his
listeners.
– On Mars Hill, it seems he quoted from
Epimenides of Crete when he said, “for in
Him we live and move and have our being.”
– He also said, “as some of your own poets
have said, ‘For we are also His offspring,’”
from the poem “Phainomena,” written by
Aratus (Acts 17:28).
– In Titus, Paul again quoted from
Epimenides when he wrote, “One of them,
a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are
always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons’” (1:12).
Paul Used Illustrations
• The twenty-four Olympic games were
an area of comparison.
– “In 2 Thess 3:1he speaks of the word of
the Lord as running (throughout the
world—an idea that goes back to Ps
147:15) and of being feted wherever it
went, as was the successful competitor in
the games” (Williams, 268).
– “In Gal 5:7 he laments that his readers
had been running well (specifically, in
their obedience to the truth of the gospel)
but someone played foul and caused
them to stumble” (268).
Paul Used Illustrations
• An allusion to Olympic races is seen (Rom.
9:31-32) when the Jews are said to have
“…stumbled over Christ in their ‘race’ to
win God’s acceptance” (272).
• Boxing is used as a metaphor in 1
Corinthians 9:26-27 to show his
“determination to live a disciplined life and
especially to keep his natural desires under
control: ‘I am not boxing,’ he says, like a
man beating the air’ (sparring or shadow
boxing, skiamachia)—I am not making a
pretence of Christian discipline—‘but I beat
my body black and blue [as it were] and
make it my slave’” (269).
Paul Used Illustrations
• Later in verse 27, “He pictures
himself as the herald who has called
the athletes to the line (although in his
illustration he remains an athlete
himself). How sad it would be if,
having instructed others in the rules
of the contest, he should himself be
barred from the crown by a breach of
those rules” (269).
Today’s Preacher Should
Use Illustrations
• Preachers who would effectively
preach the ancient faith to our
modern world must stay in tune with
what is going on around them.
• It is a good idea to stay up with the
news, particularly near where we live,
like Jesus did.
• Read a newspaper to know what is
going on locally and around the world
that impacts the congregation.
Today’s Preacher Should
Use Illustrations
• Quotes from songs, or poetry with
which the audience would be familiar
would be useful.
• The discipline it took for Michael
Phelps to win eight gold medals was
well chronicled during the past
Olympic Games and could serve as a
good illustration of an important
element of our Christian life.
• Reading biographies is a good way to
discover illustrations from real life.
Preach Sound Doctrine
• While illustrations from the world around
us draw listeners to our lessons, it is
important for sermons to include solid
teaching from God’s word.
• “There must be some ‘body’ in every
discourse, some really sound doctrine,
some suitable instruction for our hearers to
carry home; not merely stories to amuse
them, but solid truth to be received in the
heart, and wrought out in the life”
(Spurgeon, 53).
Preach Sound Doctrine
• Preachers must carefully study
God’s word knowing they are not
the originators of the message
but stewards of the truth.
• “Let a man so consider us, as
servants of Christ and stewards
of the mysteries of God.
Moreover it is required in
stewards that one be found
faithful” (1 Cor. 4:1-2).
Preach Sound Doctrine
• As Stott says,
– The steward is the trustee and dispenser of
another person’s goods. So the preacher is a
steward of God’s mysteries, that is, of the selfrevelation which God has entrusted to men and
which is now preserved in the Scriptures. The
Christian preacher’s message, therefore, is
derived neither directly from the mouth of God,
as if he were a prophet or apostle, nor from his
own mind, like the false prophets, nor
undigested from the minds and mouths of other
men, like the babbler, but from the once
revealed and now recorded Word of God, of
which he is a privileged steward (The Preacher’s
Portrait, 15).
Preach Sound Doctrine
• Instead of arguing over meaningless things,
Timothy was to be studious and cut a straight
line through the Word, a clear reference to
using a good hermeneutic (2 Tim. 2:14-15).
• Knowing scripture is the God-breathed, or
spoken, word should have compelled him to
know it, correct mistakes, have a right
relationship with God and become perfectly
adapted to the task of doing every good work
God desires (3:15-17).
• With God and the Lord Jesus as witnesses,
the apostle went on to challenge Timothy to
proclaim God’s word like a herald, both
when it was convenient and inconvenient
(4:1-2).
Know Your Audience
• Jesus knew his audience.
– Without any introduction, the Lord
knew both Simon and Nathanael (John
1:42, 47-48).
– “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the
Passover, during the feast, many
believed in His name when they saw the
signs which He did. But Jesus did not
commit Himself to them, because He
knew all men, and had no need that
anyone should testify of man, for He
knew what was in man” (John 2:23-25).
Know Your Audience
• He knew about the life of the woman at
Jacob’s well to the point that she told the
people of Sychar, “Come, see a Man who told
me all things that I ever did. Could this be the
Christ?” (John 4:16-18, 29).
• The Master knew the complaints of some
disciples who followed him, though they
never told him, and the one who would betray
him (6:61-64; 13:11).
• As God incarnate, he knew Lazarus’ sickness
would be used to glorify God and told his
disciples when his friend was dead (John 11:4,
14).
• God’s Son knew the type of death Peter
would suffer (John 21:18-19).
Know Your Audience
• While preachers today cannot know the
hearts and personal history of men like the
Lord did, we can become acquainted with
their thinking.
• It can be helpful to read books on marital
relations, rearing children, caring for aging
parents, money management, etc.
• Researchers like George Barna have been
particularly helpful at defining the thinking
of each generation. No matter what the
thinking, God’s word has what each of us
needs.
Design a Conclusion to Get a
Desired Response
• Many good lessons concerning the ancient
faith come to an ineffective end because of
a weak conclusion.
• “A pertinent question is, ‘As a result of this
message, what changes does God want in
my life and the lives of those who hear it?’”
• Once that question has been answered,
“Be direct and brief….Direct the
conclusion to cause people to change their
beliefs and/or behavior” (Mayhue, 209).
Design a Conclusion to Get a
Desired Response
• It is important to realize the
composition of your audience.
• Most groups will include listeners
who have never obeyed the gospel,
those who are novices, mature
Christians and Christians struggling
with sin.
• Be sure people in each category
recognize the action they need to
take.
Design a Conclusion to Get a
Desired Response
• On the day of Pentecost, Peter used good
hermeneutical principles to establish the
fact that God knew his Son would be killed
by the people and their wicked rulers.
• He also foretold the resurrection of Jesus
on the third day.
• Peter declared that the Father had raised
his Son from the grave and concluded,
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know
assuredly that God has made this Jesus,
whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ.”
Design a Conclusion to Get a
Desired Response
• His listeners “were cut to the heart, and
said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,
“Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
• He clearly stated, “Repent, and let every
one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”
(Acts 2:36-38).
• After further pleading, some three
thousand were added to the church.
Using Blogs to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• Some preachers have established a
“blog,” a shortened form of the term
“weblog,” to preach the ancient faith.
– It “a website that displays in
chronological order the postings by one
or more individuals and usually has
links to comments on specific postings”
(“Weblog”).
Using Blogs to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• A blog is a good means of posting
materials and resources which can
help members of the church do more
thorough study on a given topic.
– It is also possible to host on-line
discussions, embed online video, audio,
slide shows and multimedia
presentations.
Using Podcasts to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• Some churches have begun
“podcasting” each week’s sermons.
• “Podcasting” is a word that originally
came from use of the Apple
Computer Corporation’s iPod, which
is “a portable digital audio player that
allows users to download music from
their computer directly to the device
for later listening.
Using Podcasts to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• The term is no longer specifically
related to the iPod but refers to any
software and hardware combination
that permits automatic downloading
of audio files” (7 things…).
• People who have an interest in the
subject could hear the message
whenever they choose and could
listen again and again.
Using Videos to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• Neil Richey, preacher for the Piedmont
Road Church of Christ in Marietta,
Georgia, makes short videos, from 60 to 90
seconds, and posts them on You Tube
under the title, “Thinking Out Loud.”
• These little devotionals are a good means
of making contact with friends and friends
of friends.
• They can easily be sent as a link in e-mails.
• The videos can also be posted on a
Facebook account.
Using Web Sites to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• Churches place outlines of sermons and
study materials for classes on their website.
• Students interested in a wide variety of
subjects can be sent to http://thebible.net
for over 1,000 hours of video instruction.
• There are also Bible correspondence
courses available through the site.
• Wayne Jackson’s Christian Courier
(http://www.christiancourier.com/) has
excellent studies on a variety of topics and
is searchable.
Using PowerPoints to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• Many churches have now acquired the
means of using PowerPoint in the
auditorium, if not in all their classrooms.
• This method can be especially effective
because the listener uses both sees and
hears the points being made.
• To have the greatest impact, presentations
should be limited to no more than two
graphics per slide.
Using PowerPoints to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• If a graph is used, it should not show
much detail.
• Our eyes tend to land in the optical
center of the slide so it is important to
maintain an optical balance, not
crowd information.
• Leave a little space between lines.
• Only use a few colors per slide and
remember it is easier to read light
colored text on a dark background.
Using PowerPoints to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• Templates may be helpful.
• Font size should be used to
communicate importance.
• All capital letters are hard to read.
• Use upper case letters to start words
and lower case for the rest.
• Avoid abbreviations (Lindsay).
Using PowerPoints to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• Be sure to make your text large
enough to read.
• A good test is sitting seven feet away
from your monitor and trying to read
your presentation.
• Use no more than six lines of not
more than seven words per slide.
• Keep the text and any animation
simple and to the point.
Using PowerPoints to Preach
the Ancient Faith
• Use different colored fonts to
emphasize particular words.
• Use numbers for things that are in
sequence and bullets for points that
are without priority or sequence.
• Remember, size implies importance.
• Limit the number of slides to not
more than three per minute (Chen).
The Ultimate Goal in
Preaching the Ancient Faith
• However, we should be careful not to
let modern tools become the focus.
• Our ultimate goal must be just like
that of the apostle Paul.
• “For I determined not to know
anything among you except Jesus
Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor.
2:2).