After any preach whether it’s at a church, conference, concert or some person on the corner of a busy street, there is always talk about how enjoyable or valid the message was. You’ll notice in the foyer after the Sunday services that most of the conversation circling the congregation is about the message, however it can be a touchy subject. Something that one person might have loved, another might have strongly disagreed with.
Take your brain church
Discussing the message after a service is not a bad thing even in the slightest and should be encouraged, as it is our responsibility to discern the validity of what we are hearing so as to not be mislead. Talking with others is a good way to start thinking critically about the information we are hearing, although, it’s often easier to take things as they are since challenging someone’s opinion or perspective can be taken the wrong way.
Second Timothy chapter 4 verse 3 says: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
If we don’t know the Scriptures ourselves, we lean only on what we hear to tell us what we believe when it’s our own responsibility to know what the Word of God says. For example, the media has the power to manipulate a story to suit their own agenda which people take at face value without seeking the truth. Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 21: “but test everything; hold fast what is good.” In other words, bring your Bible to church and take your brain too.
The Gospel is enough
One of the hardest things to spot when listening to a message is whether it’s biblical truth being spoken, the preacher’s opinion or whether it's just what we want to hear. Some preachers have the ability to communicate the Gospel and a biblically sound message in a fun and entertaining way, which is awesome, Church should be fun. The trick is discerning an entertaining message with no real substance—you’ll find they avoid ‘harsh’ truths and keep the Bible light so as to not offend someone’s way of life (just to clear that up though, the Bible is meant to challenge everyone’s way of life).
Truth is, the Gospel is powerful enough on its own that it doesn’t need the most eloquent speaker to present it in a fun way, although it doesn’t hurt. We are frequently warned about false prophets and incorrect teachings in the Bible and to be aware that people will be mislead by them because they aren’t grounded enough in their own study of the Bible to realise they have been deceived.
John chapter 4, verse 1: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
Again, we are told to test what we are being taught because it's our own responsibility to determine the truth. John chapter 4 verse 2 shows us how we can discern the truth: “This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist…”
The ability to entertain a crowd while preaching sound doctrine is a gift from God and something God uses to engage people with his Word, as the power of the Gospel is not limited to a messenger’s effectiveness. It’s no one else’s fault if we are mislead, but thank God we’ve been given the tools and wisdom to prevent it.
Jesse Moore draws from the Bible and classical literature for insight into life’s tough questions. He is currently studying at university to become a film-maker.
Jesse Moore’s previous articles can be viewed at: https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/jesse-moore.html
Jesse Moore draws from the Bible and classical literature for insight into life’s tough questions. He is currently studying at university to become a film-maker.
Jesse Moore’s previous articles can be viewed at: https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/jesse-moore.html