The Pastor and his Bible

Using this definition, church signs, bulletins, pulpits, platforms, tracts, etc. would be gimmicks.

prima facie I'd agree with every word of this. However, the Puritans encouraged note-taking - is this a gimmick? Whitefield encouraged journals. Spurgeon did publishing. These are not gimmicks but tools.

A tool can be used for God's glory. To fail to use tools to glorify God through means of the Word and the Spirit's power is to deny all. So you and I agree that gimmicks have no place. But you call way too much a gimmick.

 

RAdam, who are you to simply declare that issuing a congregation a fill in the blank outline is a gimmick. It's boarding on arrogance.

 

Hey hey ... we have skipped a bit here. You have yet to show that a fill in the blank outline is a gimmick. Can you defend that first?

Please tell me this isn't serious. Surely you know that they didn't have copy machines, paper to pass out, and the like. The fact that you go here as proof shows a pretty weak argument.

Actually, it is the gospel itself that is hte power of God (Rom 1).

Does it need an outline? Surely you preach with an outline right? And you make explanations along the way, using illustrations and the like. So I imagine you are rather inconsistent here, aren't you?

Is someone saying that? I haven't seen it.

A fill in the blank outline is not something else. It is a part of the preaching.

I don't dispute that. But again, you have yet to define a gimmick and show how something fits into that.

Do you use an outline while preaching? If so, is that a gimmick? If not, then why it is not a gimmick when you say it, but it is a gimmick when someone writes it down?

Is notetaking a gimmick? If someone in your audience is taking notes, is that a gimmick? Or is it only a gimmick when you help them take notes?

Help us understand here.

 

I have not ever heard or read of anyone telling a person how to receive eternal life the way Jesus did. Is that a gimmick?

Mt. 19:16-21, "And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

 

Can you provide proof for this? Unless you have a transcript (or recording) of every message (lesson) taught by every apostle, this claim is mute.

As far as using what you call gimmicks seems to be denying the way God created us.

Some people learn through visual means, some through audio means, and some through tangible means (touch). A good teacher would follow the Master Teacher's example and use all means to teach. But you have formed an argument (which is your right) and are unwilling to see others arguments.

I attempt to use as many means in teaching that will help my students learn. It is not a gimmick; it is not usurping the Holy Spirit. It is simply trying to help students learn the Word. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to change lives. Our work is to present the Word as clearly as humanly possible. If using various methods to preach (or teach) is so wrong, why did God create us with these different learning styles?

 

Proto-PowerPoint at the Metropolitan Tabernacle?

From Drummond's Spurgeonrince of Preachers:

 

I once carried in a Huge rock and placed it on the pulpit. Preaching from Joshua 4. I guess it was a gimmick, but the people remember it. Makes me wonder if God having the people carry the stones and set them up as a memorial was a gimmick????

I also sowed seeds on a few occasion preaching the parable of the sower in youth. Once was outside and the other on a concrete floor (I cleaned up after the service).

So was Jesus using a gimmick when he used parables?

 

You would have found many of the OT prophets mighty "gimmicky."

Oh well.

 

Not always. Jesus exhorted some of them when they were wanting to know who be at his right side. Peter cut off a man's ear.

 

A lumber baron's wife and daughter came to church every Sunday, but he never came. I met him in the local shop and asked him why he never came to church. His quick response was, "Too many hypocrites!"

I responded, "Always room for one more"

You might say gimmicky! The next Sunday, however, he was seated with his wife and daughter. A few weeks later he came to Christ in salvation. Gimmicky? No trust in the Holy Spirit you say? I shall employ all human means and trust the Lord to utilize even my "gimmicks" to draw all men to Him.

Cheers,

Jim