MANY METHODS – ONE MESSAGE
“Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Mt. 28:19). The Great Commission. We have entered the age of technology with cell phones, iPods, iPads, iPhones and every other “i” you can think of. We have CD’s, DVD’s, video cameras, streaming. Many methods but one message.
In emphasizing the methods let’s not forget the message. A few months ago a speaker made the statement that many times we use too much scripture. The late Bro. Johnny Ramsey replied to a fellow who said that to him, “What words are better? Those of God or man.”
Panel discussions, dialogue and conversation are good but don’t forget that “…It please God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21). Paul said this, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16).
Yes, we preach the gospel by using tracks and many written publications. We use the Bible Correspondence Course and other excellent methods of this nature but don’t lose sight of preaching. Several years ago there was a book entitled, The Gospel Blimp in which several Christians were talking about how to reach a next door neighbor who was not a Christian. They devised this plan to hire a blimp to fly over the neighborhood and drop tracks from the air. The tracks were to land in the neighbor’s yard and he was to pick it up and read it and obey the gospel. In the process they decided to buy a blimp instead of renting, then they had to hire a pilot, then they had to have a fundraiser to pay for all this. Finally in the end the Christian neighbor just stepped next door and taught his neighbor who was not a Christian.
There are many methods all of which are good and are tools to help us carry out the preaching of the gospel. There is not a one of them that I would want to eliminate but don’t forget the wonderful method of standing in the pulpit and with a love for the word, quote or read from the scripture and with zeal, desire, determination and passion proclaim the precious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Solomon was a preacher (Ecc. 1:1), Isaiah was a preacher (Isa. 61:1), Jonah was a preacher (Jonah 3:2), John the Baptist was a preacher (Mt. 3:1), Our Lord Jesus Christ was a preacher (Mt. 4:17), the twelve were preachers (Mk. 3:14).
John Wesley said, “Either put fire in your sermon or put your sermon in the fire.” Let’s get fired up and preach it from the roof tops.
Larry