Note: Alan is currently in Malawi with limited internet connectivity. In his absence, this week's blog article is written by Jeff Cox.
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Introduction. In part 1 last week, we observed that sermons, homilies, and related teaching from the Bible are a key element of public worship, education, and dealing with sin. But we also noted that the Bible provides abundant warnings about such teaching, many of which are focused on us as listeners. Having "itching ears" for "smooth things" and figuratively stopping our ears to God's Word are dangers we all can potentially face for a variety of reasons.
We began to briefly look at a list of over thirty topics conveniently grouped into eight categories. We covered the first two categories in part 1 (Genesis along with God, Sin, and Punishment). In part 2, we will continue this process and briefly examine a couple more categories:
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Introduction. In part 1 last week, we observed that sermons, homilies, and related teaching from the Bible are a key element of public worship, education, and dealing with sin. But we also noted that the Bible provides abundant warnings about such teaching, many of which are focused on us as listeners. Having "itching ears" for "smooth things" and figuratively stopping our ears to God's Word are dangers we all can potentially face for a variety of reasons.
We began to briefly look at a list of over thirty topics conveniently grouped into eight categories. We covered the first two categories in part 1 (Genesis along with God, Sin, and Punishment). In part 2, we will continue this process and briefly examine a couple more categories:
- Salvation
- The Local Assembly
- Sexuality
Salvation. At the center of Christianity is the critical concept of salvation from sin by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. While sermons on this topic can be very comforting and uplifting, others can cause feelings of discomfort or even rejection. For example:
- “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matt. 7:13-14) In many denominations people hear "Just accept Jesus as your personal Savior", "All you need is faith", "Salvation is by faith only", or "Once saved, always saved". For these people, sermons that highlight Jesus' words above can be unsettling. So can sermons that emphasize, "unless you repent you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3-5). Or sermons emphasizing "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9) For more, see "F" for "Faith", "O" for "Obedience", "R" for "Repentance", and "C" for "Confession of Sin".
- "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved . . ." (Mark. 16:15-16) Views on baptism are as diverse as the religious groups that claim to follow Jesus. Depending on your religious background, sermons that focus on baptism as being for believing adults (versus infants), as immersion in water (versus sprinkling), and essential in order to have forgiveness of sin & be saved can sound odd, narrow, or just plain wrong. For more, see "B" for "Baptism".
- "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. . . . I will build My church . . ." (Matt. 7:21; 16:18) You may often hear things like "One church is as good as another", "Join the church of your choice", "The church you're a member of isn't important", or "You can be saved without being in a church". If you were raised that way, you may be surprised or uncomfortable with a sermon that proclaims just the opposite – that Jesus built only one true church (singular). See "D" for "Denominationalism" and "C" for "Church, The True".
The Local Assembly. Some sermons focus on the functioning of the local assembly, congregation, or group of Christians in a particular area. Topics you might not want to hear include:
- "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some," (Heb. 10:24-25) People who rarely attend worship services or only on special "holy days" may get uncomfortable with sermons that emphasize the commands for Christians to assemble on a regular basis. See "A" for "Attendance".
- "I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15) Some churches emphasize serving the physical needs of the community (free meals, food banks, clothing drives, etc.), correcting social/political injustices (equal rights for women/minorities), or providing recreational entertainment (gymnasiums, fellowship halls, etc.). People raised in such an environment may be surprised by sermons that emphasize the spiritual nature, responsibility, and work of the local congregation. See "C" for "Church Benevolence" and "C" for "Church Work".
- "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Col. 3:16) Many "contemporary" worship services resemble modern rock concerts with bands, stage singers/choirs, flashing lights, and such. Sermons that emphasize the spiritual intention of religious music, mutual action ("one another"), or a capella singing without instruments may be odd or undesired. See "M" for "Music".
- "On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper . . ." (1 Cor. 16:2) One of the more sensitive topics among believers can be the subject of giving, sometimes based on lavish misspending of church funds by the leaders on themselves. Sermon topics focused on commands to give weekly, proportionately (versus fixed percentage tithing or paying annual dues), liberally, and cheerfully can be uncomfortable or unwanted. See "G" For "Giving".
- "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us." (2 Thess. 3:6) People raised hearing "Judge not" (Matt. 7:1) can easily get uncomfortable with sermons that focus on the need for church discipline, holding members accountable for their sin, and withdrawing fellowship from the unrepentant. This can get especially troubling when family members are involved. See "F" for "Fellowship".
Sexuality. The free and open expression of human sexuality plays a major role in our modern culture. To say anything against it seems antiquated, "prudish", or even "hateful". This is especially true for sermon topics restricting sexuality from a Biblical perspective.
- "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, . . . nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, . . Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (1 Cor. 6:9; Heb. 13:4) Is it any wonder people quickly get uncomfortable with sermon topics that condemn consenting sex between two unmarried heterosexuals, "living together", adultery, homosexuality, group sex, pedophilia, and so on? See "A" for "Adultery", "F" for "Fornication", and "H" for "Homosexuality".
- "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt. 5:28) What is said above about quickly becoming uncomfortable on the topic of fornication can be said even more for lust, pornography, immodest clothing, dancing, and other sexual activity short of the actual sex act. See "P" for “Pornography”, "D" for "Dancing", “D” for “Dress”, and “S” for “Self-control”.
- "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. . . . Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself." (Eph. 5:22-28) This sermon topic can definitely be something liberated wives and selfish husbands would rather not hear. See "M" for "Marriage", "F" for "Family", and "W" for "Women".
- ". . . whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. . . . Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." (Matt. 5:32; 19:6) In our modern "no-fault", no-regret divorce culture, this topic can be easily perceived as antiquated and not worth listening to. See "D" for "Divorce" and "R" for "Remarriage".
Conclusion. Yes, many scripture-based sermon topics can make people uncomfortable today. In part 3, we'll conclude this series with even more.
- “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matt. 7:13-14) In many denominations people hear "Just accept Jesus as your personal Savior", "All you need is faith", "Salvation is by faith only", or "Once saved, always saved". For these people, sermons that highlight Jesus' words above can be unsettling. So can sermons that emphasize, "unless you repent you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3-5). Or sermons emphasizing "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9) For more, see "F" for "Faith", "O" for "Obedience", "R" for "Repentance", and "C" for "Confession of Sin".
- "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved . . ." (Mark. 16:15-16) Views on baptism are as diverse as the religious groups that claim to follow Jesus. Depending on your religious background, sermons that focus on baptism as being for believing adults (versus infants), as immersion in water (versus sprinkling), and essential in order to have forgiveness of sin & be saved can sound odd, narrow, or just plain wrong. For more, see "B" for "Baptism".
- "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. . . . I will build My church . . ." (Matt. 7:21; 16:18) You may often hear things like "One church is as good as another", "Join the church of your choice", "The church you're a member of isn't important", or "You can be saved without being in a church". If you were raised that way, you may be surprised or uncomfortable with a sermon that proclaims just the opposite – that Jesus built only one true church (singular). See "D" for "Denominationalism" and "C" for "Church, The True".
The Local Assembly. Some sermons focus on the functioning of the local assembly, congregation, or group of Christians in a particular area. Topics you might not want to hear include:
- "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some," (Heb. 10:24-25) People who rarely attend worship services or only on special "holy days" may get uncomfortable with sermons that emphasize the commands for Christians to assemble on a regular basis. See "A" for "Attendance".
- "I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15) Some churches emphasize serving the physical needs of the community (free meals, food banks, clothing drives, etc.), correcting social/political injustices (equal rights for women/minorities), or providing recreational entertainment (gymnasiums, fellowship halls, etc.). People raised in such an environment may be surprised by sermons that emphasize the spiritual nature, responsibility, and work of the local congregation. See "C" for "Church Benevolence" and "C" for "Church Work".
- "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Col. 3:16) Many "contemporary" worship services resemble modern rock concerts with bands, stage singers/choirs, flashing lights, and such. Sermons that emphasize the spiritual intention of religious music, mutual action ("one another"), or a capella singing without instruments may be odd or undesired. See "M" for "Music".
- "On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper . . ." (1 Cor. 16:2) One of the more sensitive topics among believers can be the subject of giving, sometimes based on lavish misspending of church funds by the leaders on themselves. Sermon topics focused on commands to give weekly, proportionately (versus fixed percentage tithing or paying annual dues), liberally, and cheerfully can be uncomfortable or unwanted. See "G" For "Giving".
- "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us." (2 Thess. 3:6) People raised hearing "Judge not" (Matt. 7:1) can easily get uncomfortable with sermons that focus on the need for church discipline, holding members accountable for their sin, and withdrawing fellowship from the unrepentant. This can get especially troubling when family members are involved. See "F" for "Fellowship".
Sexuality. The free and open expression of human sexuality plays a major role in our modern culture. To say anything against it seems antiquated, "prudish", or even "hateful". This is especially true for sermon topics restricting sexuality from a Biblical perspective.
- "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, . . . nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, . . Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (1 Cor. 6:9; Heb. 13:4) Is it any wonder people quickly get uncomfortable with sermon topics that condemn consenting sex between two unmarried heterosexuals, "living together", adultery, homosexuality, group sex, pedophilia, and so on? See "A" for "Adultery", "F" for "Fornication", and "H" for "Homosexuality".
- "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt. 5:28) What is said above about quickly becoming uncomfortable on the topic of fornication can be said even more for lust, pornography, immodest clothing, dancing, and other sexual activity short of the actual sex act. See "P" for “Pornography”, "D" for "Dancing", “D” for “Dress”, and “S” for “Self-control”.
- "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. . . . Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself." (Eph. 5:22-28) This sermon topic can definitely be something liberated wives and selfish husbands would rather not hear. See "M" for "Marriage", "F" for "Family", and "W" for "Women".
- ". . . whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. . . . Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." (Matt. 5:32; 19:6) In our modern "no-fault", no-regret divorce culture, this topic can be easily perceived as antiquated and not worth listening to. See "D" for "Divorce" and "R" for "Remarriage".
Conclusion. Yes, many scripture-based sermon topics can make people uncomfortable today. In part 3, we'll conclude this series with even more.