Featured Andy Stanley Trashes Expository Preaching; Calls it “Easy” and “Cheating”

Good job by Andy stirring the pot.

 

When I was in seminary I was taught by Dr. Luther Door (I am sure that I misspelled his last name) that expository preaching was the only acceptable method. In fact, he was very adamant about it. I didn't buy into it then and I don't now. With that said I have no problem with expository preaching. What I have a problem with is someone telling me how I am supposed to preach as if one method is superior to another. Personally, I prefer the eclectic method where a variety of methods are employed. More so, the best method is whatever suits a preacher's unique Holy Spirit gifting, talents, and the audience.

 

Agreed! The way the Lord leads is the way in which a man should preach.

 

Andy's point is unfounded and is merely a baseless opinion, not constructed upon any research. A lazy preacher will be lazy no matter which style he uses. A diligent preacher will be diligent no matter which style he uses. Different situations and audiences may call for different styles. Different stages in the growth of Christians individually, and the Church corporately may call for different styles. In my opinion, the key is being faithful in prayer and sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Any preacher who steams ahead in the direction "he" has chosen, without following the leadership of the Spirit, demonstrates laziness, no matter what his style tends to be.

I've preached every style of sermon there is, some styles I prefer more than others, I do not preach one style exclusively. It is not the style, but rather the lack preparation which determines the laziness of the preacher. I've preached verse-by-verse through a book, and it was very needful at the time. I've started a verse-by-verse, and was interrupted to preach several topics. Then came back to the verse-by-verse and there is no doubt the Spirit was in the guidance, as the sermon covered after coming back to the passage was right on target for the day. I've started a verse-by-verse, got interrupted and never made it back to it. I've taken one verse and preached an entire sermon. I've taken a topic and preached using multiple verses from different books. I've preached a passage and not the whole chapter, sometimes I've preached the whole chapter. I've preached using mainly illustrations, I've preached using no illustrations. I've preached using visual aides, I've preached walking all over the stage and among the audience, I've preached standing behind the pulpit the entire time, I've preached without the use of a pulpit. I've preached open air, on the streets, I've preached in a church, I've preached in a park, I've preached in a prison, I've preached to volunteers and first responders at a disaster site, I've preached at an outdoor honky tonk venue, I've preached in foreign countries in a foreign language; my style varies as much as the location, whatever is appropriate for the situation and the audience.

Andy may have a particular style that he uses and a particular audience that he preaches to, but to label another style that he does not like as being lazy, demonstrates a lack of charity and grace. Additionally he is placing bounds on the ability of God to use a man to reach an audience according to that man's talents and abilities.

 

Andy Stanley is lost and without Christ. We need to pray for him

 

His views on God, scripture, sin and salvation.

Just look it up

 

Well since you have cornered the market of who is and isn't lost, anyone else we should know about?

 

No, you tell us, since you're the one making the judgment on his "lostness".

 

Here is just one example

http://juicyecumenism.com/2014/04/17/andy-stanleys-troubling-new-sermon/

 

Read the article. Talk about straining at gnats...good grief. If that is the best you've got, you have failed miserably.