Introduction.This morning we are going to discuss a serious problem that plagues churches all across this country. While certainly it has never been the case from this pulpit, there are pulpit all over the world that are over taken by a hideous disease which must be stopped! The plague of boring preaching. We are going to discuss how to end this problem once and for all. We will consider five simple suggestions.
I. Carry A Sword.
This is an agressive disease that must be treated with a powerful weapon. Ephesians 6:13-17 Note: Word is a sword. To use this to fight boring preaching we should...
II. Keep the Dishes Clean.
Jesus’ on clean dishes. (Matthew 23:25-28) Note: Pharisees had dirty dishes. E.g. Dish you thought was clean - food or drink is fine -- made bad by the dish. Boring preaching may result when our clothes are “prim and proper” but our heart is like a dirty dish.
III. Stay Hungry.
(I Peter 2:1-3) Have you ever eaten a big meal and then remembered you had a dinner invitation? Perhaps at holidays one right after the other. It is hard to eat when you aren’t hungry.
After much investigation brethren have discovered that this plague of boring preaching can result after any one of three things happen:
- We have things of the world on our mind.
- We think that we know all there is to know on a subject.
- We decide that a subject isn’t that important to our lives.
IV. Practice Carpentry.
In a house some carpentry skills must be used regularly or a house will begin to decay. In the Christian life the same is true. (I Peter 2:5) “Spiritual House.” As Christians we must regularly practice carpentry if our service is to be successful. (Romans 15:1,2). Note: KJV & ASV “infirmities.” Each must be concerned with “edification.” In Greek edification=oikodome. Oikos is “house.” Demo is “to construct.” Edification is then litteraly “house-building.” We can go a long way towards avoiding the problem of boring preaching if we are constantly concerned with “house-building.”
Preaching is a powerful thing. We can go through life blind to our own faults, and yet hear something in a lesson and all of a sudden realize our shortcomings. The power to bring this about rests in the word. (Hebrews 4:12,13; I Corinthians 14:24,25).
V. Bring Coals of Fire.
One of the reasons that “boring preaching” spreads is because too many people assemble for worship and don’t bring “coals of fire” with them. There is no way to conquer this problem without it. (Romans 12:20,21) Note: The idea isn’t really doing harm put loving in sincerity. We must...
The same is true in Christ. If we really love each other as we should our concern won’t be...“Boy, that teacher is boring” or “That was the most boring sermon.” Instead it will be... “How can I go to heaven and help others?” or “I appreciate that teachers efforts to help me go to heaven.”
Conclusion. This lesson has been somewhat of a playful approach to an important matter. This is not a defense of preaching (my own or anyone else’s) but a challenge to us all to realize that in matters of worship to God what makes our worship a failure or a success has everything to do with what we do.