Preaching is a powerful event in the life of the congregation. The attitude, topics, and presentation from the pulpit has an everlasting impact on the congregation. A negative pulpit has negative affects on the congregation. Years ago Ira North wrote a short book on church growth. The book was called “Balance” This book maybe outdated, but the lessons are never outdated. The practical wisdom given is applicable today. As preachers we must not fall out of balance in sermon topics. Some pulpits have never heard a strong call to repentance while other pulpits have never uttered a positive word in years. Today we are going to brag on the church in Waynesboro. There is a ton of good work that people should be proud of doing. A balanced pulpit is the most powerful pulpit of all.
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on Sunday, February 17th, 2008 at 9:32 am and is filed under Christianity.
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About The Author
Matthew is originally from Nova Scotia, Canada. He has a beautiful wife named Charity and a precious baby named Gabrielle. He has graduated from the Brown Trail School of Preaching, Heritage Christian University with his Bachelors of Arts in Biblical Studies, Lipscomb University with his Master’s of Arts in Biblical Studies and his Master’s of Divinity at Freed-Hardeman University. He is presently working towards his Doctorate of Ministry at Harding Graduate School of Religion. His articles have appeared in the World Evangelist, the Highway to Holiness, The West Virginia Christian, The Christian Echo, The Firm Foundation, Church Growth, and the Gospel Advocate. He enjoys hockey, golf, boxing, and chess. In his spare time he enjoys reading numerous genres of books. Also, he is working on climbing all of the 14ers in Colorado. Matthew is the Pulpit Minister for the Castle Rock church of Christ.
The lesson is now on the podcast.
it is said that all of heaven rejoices when the evil repent of their waywardness. we must therefore be on the side of the Angels. We must avoid the trap of making lists of people who are going to hell and then celebrating their fall from grace. There are many reasons to avoid this behavior. Among them is this: if you spend your time celebrating that the fall from grace of the hellbound, aren’t you a cheerleader for Satan? Shouldn’t you be celebrating when the evil turns to good rather than the other way around?
Great article and great sermon today! I’m going to download the podcast to my iPod so I can listen to it anytime I get discouraged.
There is a lot of need for balance in topics we choose and the purpose (e.g., encouragement, corrective, etc…) for why each sermon is chosen. Churches are people and people, just like children, respond to what they hear. If the only thing they hear is how wrong they are…well, then it should not be surprising to see that church become an unhealthy environment.
Poetryman, amen, and I see too many people rejoicing that they are more righteous than others. Good point. Mitchell thank you for the kind comment.