Here are a few unbiblical ways in which preachers preach today. We discussed these in Homiletics and they are quite fun (although they should be avoided):
Hobby horse sermons:The minister relates every sermon to their favorite secondary or tertiary doctrine. (Examples: Satan, the Millennium, the Nation of Israel, Evangelism, etc.)
Rocket sermons:
This type of sermon is begun from the text but quickly launches into space and goes off on tangents that no-one can follow.
Heart on the sleeve sermons:
The sermon is preached with such great emotion that the hearers are moved to great emotional highs or lows....but they do not know what the text was about.
Sky scraper sermons:
Patchwork quilt of entertainment and other things. They are one story piled on top of another. The text is never really developed but the stories and illustrations are piled high as the sky.
Grasshopper sermons:
A preacher takes a text and he finds a theme and then hops all through the bible making the listener try to follow in their Bibles. It is a string of texts that are connected with a few sentences. (A child with a concordance can preach like this).
Sherlock Holmes sermons:
The preacher wows everyone with the depths and the mystery of the Bible but never really tells you anything about what the text means.
I think that all preachers tend to lean in one way or another to one of these errors. As a Calvinist I have heard some of these from time to time. Although I believe in the doctrines of grace whole-heartedly (and would die defending them) I do not think that every page of the Bible is talking about unconditional election!
12 comments:
Yikes... I think I've heard all of those sermons. Sometimes all at once.
When I was in school, my pastor refused to preach on "topics" for this very reason. He always preached through entire books of the Bible because he felt like if he didn't he would end up preaching "Hobby horse sermons."
I don't know which way I lean towards in my sermons. Maybe they're still too bad to count. lol. I like the idea of preaching through books of the Bible, or Catechisms in general. But, I don't feel that a pastor should be tied down to such. He should also have freedom to follow the Spirit's leading in taking up other topics or passages as necessary. Without having / using this freedom, my guess is that a minister would be at least partially negligent in shepherding his flock.
That's a good list, Nate. Thanks for the warnings.
Where are you taking your class?
A child with a concordance? I'd like to see that.
I have yet to hear a proper "Jonathan Edwards" sermon: preaching in monotone apparently was very effective.
what do you mean, not every verse of the bible talks about election? are you some kind of arminian?
I'm not so sure that preaching in monotone ought to be our goal. (Notice how I say "our" as though I'm a preacher or something.) I understand the goal is to focus on the words and what's being preached, but at the same time we were given emotions as well as logic. Obviously we want to avoid the mindlessness of the charismatics, but we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater either. 'Cuz he's the cutest widdle baby. Oh yes he is.
Very interesting overview.Since preachers will continue to be human, we will continue to hear imperfect preaching. Inspite of this, seeds will be planted in the hearts and minds of those receiving the message.While it's good instruction when your learning to preach,keep in mind God is working even when our pastors get off topic.
Re the " mindlessness of the Charismatics" To suggest that Charismatics are without a mind is to suggest those with minds are without a soul. I encourage all to keep an open mind in regard to the Greatness of our God and the vastness of His Nations and Peoples.
Thanks to all contributors for the Planting of Seeds which will further His Kingdom, touching us Spiritually,Mentally, touching our Flesh, etc. Charismatically Your, Ellie
Well done Nate!
See as though I am not a pastor, but thinking of getting my M.Div. if am fearful of this topic. I agree with you but I wonder how many students understand the seriousness of it.
Isn't this year the year of the hobby horse on the Chinese calendar?
Friends
God's word makes it clear that he uses the foolishness of preaching to convert sinners to Christ.
If that is the case...it should be done as a fine science.
Nate, let me first say thank you for all of your hard work on your blog. I have been blessed to drink deeply from its content. My brother-in-law Joe Schelling turned me on to it.
Secondly, this is a very interesting topic and one, I believe, deserves a bit more thought in modern churches today (as given relevance by the comments). As to NateR's comment about preaching through an entire book, what credibility do you lend to the statement "All Scripture is equally inspired, though not all of Scripture is equally inspiring?"
In other words, how would one preach through Leviticus or Chronicles? What's the point of reading through a list of names and places? How would one draw relevancy out of these passages to today's church? Or do we simply chalk these passages up to God's faithfulness through generations?
Again, thanks for the hard work and perserverance. I enjoy the thoughts and look forward to future posts and comments from "the remnant".
Heh, I thought we were suppossed to follow the rabbit!?
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