Are Sermons Biblical ?

Constantine replaced Dialogue with Monologue !!

Believe it or not, sermons, as they are carried out today, actually thwart true spiritual growth. Furthermore, they have probably prevented you from forming a closer connection to your Creator, as well as to your brothers and sisters in Yeshua (Jesus). The problem extends far beyond the Latin origin of the term “sermon” continue reading

Pulpits and Peripatetics- The Greek Origin of the "Sermon"

There can be no justification for dependence upon a class of professional orators. All are to study, all are to exhort, all are to teach. The Church needs mentors, not orators.
There is nothing sinful about listening to a lecturer with an even greater adherence to a preacher delivering a monologue, but he is NOT  a necessity, and a fellowship of believers is a true church of Christ without one. In fact, with the reduced chances for becoming dependant upon one man, and increased chances that they are able to search and apply the Scriptures for themselves, the informal "group grope" may be better off without the orator (Acts 17:11). continue reading
  

Are sermons Biblical ?
Where are sermons found in the Bible? The truth is, there are no sermons in the Bible. Even the so-called “Sermon on the Mount” is really not a sermon; it is simply but another of our Lord’s teachings. Have you ever questioned the origin of sermons or the effectiveness and usefulness of their existence? Most of Christ’s recorded teachings were instructions for his followers and his disciples as to how they should live and pray. They were not delivered to an assembled audience or congregation. Paul’s teachings are to be found in his letters or Epistles to the “church”. When he attended synagogue he did not give sermons, rather, he always appeared to spend his time in discussions and attempts at persuading believers to do the things Jesus desired of them (Acts 17:2; 18:4; 19:8).

So, does this really matter? After all, shouldn’t it be more about the message and not the method? Read on and you’ll see, the method of presentation is important.continue reading


What does 'Preach' mean ?

There were no one-man lectures (monologues) in the early Church until Greek philosophy was imported into the Church. The traveling philosophers (peripatetics) were popular in the Greco-Roman world, and were too easily imitated among Believers. What passes for "preaching" in our day has absolutely no Biblical warrant. Nowhere in the New Testament is there an example of a "sermon" in the Christ's assemblies.

We need to emphasize this point. If the Apostle Paul were invited into one of our meetings and saw only one man give an oration patterned after the Greek philosophers of his day, with absolutely no interaction with the "laymen," Paul would demand to know "What's going on here?" This modern pattern bears no resemblance to the New Testament pattern, although it is unwittingly patterned after ancient Greek itinerant moralists. The "sermon" is an unscriptural tradition, imported from Greco-Roman paganism. Some preachers, of course, fail to meet even the standards of the Greek philosophers. Their "preaching" is pure entertainment.
Believers are to Preach God's Word (2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 20:7-9; 1 Timothy 4:6-16). Also mentioned is "exhort" and "teach" in these verses. Far more significant, however, is the entire notion of "preaching".
 
Acts 20 is used to establish many modern practices of the church, and yet it supports none of them. Consider "preaching." The Greek word for "preach" in Acts 20:7,9 is word #1256, dialegomai: it's a "dialogue" not a "monologue." Dialegomai means "to converse, discourse with one, argue, discuss". It comes from the word "di" which means "a combining form meaning 'two', 'double'." We do not have "dialogue and discussion" in most "churches," and therefore do not obey Acts 20:7. Does the church really believe that Paul gave an uninterrupted lecture -- for twelve hours?!? Dialegomai is also translated as "reasoned" in Acts 17:2, where Paul "reasoned" in the synagogue out of the scriptures. Paul "reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath" (Acts 18:4,19). In church, the preacher doesn't "reason" with anybody, but simply talks with no chance of interaction with those in the audience. Dialegomai is also translated as "disputed" in Acts 17:17, where Paul "disputed he in the synagogue", and in Acts 19:8 where he was "disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God." In Church, the pastor does not give anyone the chance to "dispute" or "question" him. Is this biblical?

For now, note the inescapable fact that there simply was no "preaching" or "sermon" as we popularly conceive it today. When we proclaim the Gospel to our neighbor, we engage in "official and professional instruction" as priest-kings of Christ! The gates of hell are assaulted and overcome by our "informal discussion". Modern churches have replaced the discussion and animated conversation of the New Testament with "sermons," an invention of the Greeks, and a man-made tradition.

As a result, I cannot obey the Scriptural commands as cited in 1 Corinthians 14:26,31 when I "attend church"; I cannot edify and prophesy. Neither can I obey 1 Timothy 4:13 and 2 Timothy 4:2 when I "attend church"; I cannot exhort, I cannot "teach", except through hymns (but not of my choosing). Only one person exhorts in a "church"; the whole congregation violates Hebrews 10:24-25, at least when they are "attending church." Perhaps they obey these commands later in the afternoon, when in colloquial discussion they bring all thoughts captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), but certainly not during Church services
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2 comments:

  1. May i use parts of your article on sermons on my Christianity Revealed Facebook page and in a letter to pastors seeking to influence them to return to the truth of Christian assemblies?
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete