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The Word Not Cyclones

Discussion in 'Pastoral Ministries' started by PastorSBC1303, May 28, 2005.

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  1. PastorSBC1303

    PastorSBC1303 Active Member

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    I received the following devotional from A.W. Tozer's writings...

    Preaching: Preach the Word

    Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince,
    rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
    --2 Timothy 4:2

    I heard of one graduate of a theological school who determined to
    follow his professor's advice and preach the Word only. His crowds
    were average. Then one day a cyclone hit the little town and he
    yielded to the temptation to preach on the topic "Why God Sent
    the Cyclone to Centerville." The church was packed. This shook
    the young preacher and he went back to ask his professor for
    further advice in the light of what had happened. Should he
    continue to preach the Word to smaller crowds or try to fill his
    church by preaching sermons a bit more sensational? The old man
    did not change his mind. "If you preach the Word," he told the
    inquirer, "you will always have a text. But if you wait for
    cyclones you will not have enough to go around." God Tells the
    Man Who Cares, 86.

    "Lord, I commit myself again today to avoid the sensational and
    to faithfully 'preach the Word.' Amen."
     
    #1 PastorSBC1303, May 28, 2005
  2. All about Grace

    All about Grace New Member

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    I respect Tozer and his works, but he is wrong on this one. Preachers better deal with the current issues around them in a way that addresses the needs of the people. This can be done without compromising the message.

    If a cyclone hits, you had better be ready to deal with it. And the truth is, "cyclones" hit everyday in people's lives. So we better be ready to deal with those issues that are near and dear to people's everyday lives.
     
    #2 All about Grace, May 28, 2005
  3. PastorSBC1303

    PastorSBC1303 Active Member

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    I think Tozer would agree with you. I think his point is that the focus of a message should be the Text, not looking for a new cyclone every week.

    In the process of dealing with the Scripture you must deal with the needs of people, but the focus remains on preaching the Word.

    Just my perspective on what Tozer is saying. I have read a lot of Tozer and respect him greatly and I think he would agree you must give some time and attention to the "cyclones" of life.
     
    #3 PastorSBC1303, May 28, 2005
  4. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    If you preach about the cyclones in life your church will be filled with people experiencing cyclones. If you preach the word the cyclones in life won't seem so much like cyclones because the people will be anchored to God's word and be able to handle adversity.
     
    #4 gb93433, May 28, 2005
  5. PastorSBC1303

    PastorSBC1303 Active Member

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    Great way of putting it.
     
    #5 PastorSBC1303, May 28, 2005
  6. bobbyd

    bobbyd New Member

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    One thing i have noticed as i have been preaching verse by verse through the Gospel of John, that quite often i happen to hit a passage right around the same time a "cyclone" hits; whatever that may turn out to be. Some how God manages to work it out every time.

    in HIS grip
    bobbyd
     
    #6 bobbyd, May 31, 2005
  7. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Agree, bobby - I preach expositionally and find that I can make application of ANY event from the passage for that week.

    This way the people do not think I am picking out subjects or texts just to "preach" but that I am preaching the Word. Period.
     
    #7 Dr. Bob, May 31, 2005
  8. obscureone

    obscureone New Member

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    Jesus made use of the "cyclones" of His day in Luke 13:1-5, but kept the focus on God and His Word. Balance seems to be the key (again). [​IMG]
     
    #8 obscureone, May 31, 2005
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