Borrowed Light

Will It Matter If They Reject It?

February 27, 2015Mike Leake

Pastor, allow me to ask you a couple of questions. First, what was the main point of what you preached this past Sunday? Secondly, what will happen if your people reject that main point?

I found myself reading through John Newton’s first public sermon delivered at St. Mary Woolnoth in London. Newton had been pastor at Olney for 16 years. After answering a few objections in his own heart, he agreed to become the pastor of this church in London. One particular statement from Newton’s introductory sermon stood out:

I came not to amuse you with subjects of opinion or uncertainty, or even with truths of a cold, speculative, uninteresting nature, which you might receive without benefit, or reject without detriment; but to speak the truths of God, truths of the utmost importance to the welfare of your souls in time and in eternity. (Newton, Works of Newton: Volume 5, 133)

Newton is saying nothing more than the apostle Paul said when he urged Titus to, “avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” (Titus 3:9) There likely were people involved in those quarrels about the law that were taking a correct side. Likewise there were probably true points being made about genealogy. Regardless, this controversy and division was foolish because they were, at the end of the day, “unprofitable and worthless”.

The Result of Maturity

Maturity has a way of filtering out many would-be sermon points. Immature people (regardless of age) tend to get themselves into foolish and ignorant controversies. And it’s easy to do. Study any passage of Scripture and you’re likely to find diverging opinions about what God’s Word actually says.

Consider 1 John 3:19-20 as an example. The general point is relatively easy to understand, but grammatically it is a nightmare. First, what do the two hoti clauses mean in verse 20? Is John saying, “whenever” our hearts condemn us? Or is John saying “in whatever way our heart condemns us”? It’s difficult to decide. Secondly, what does it mean that God is “greater than our conscience”? Does John say this to reassure us that God is more merciful than our conscience? Or does John say this to tell us that God is far more searching than even our conscience? That’s a significant difference. Yet, at the end of the day it’s difficult to be certain which option is the best.

The mature pastor will not spend a good chunk of his sermon exploring the different grammatical options in 3:19-20. He might mention them, briefly scan the options, share what he prefers, and then move on to the major point of the text. The immature pastor will draw lines in the sand. He’ll really squeeze out the different grammatical options. He’ll use all of his Greek training to pick a side and show why the other options aren’t solid. He’ll use all of his persuasive skills to convince his congregation that this verse teaches that God is far more searching than even our conscience (if, of course, that is the side that he chooses).

Such a controversy is foolish. It is foolish because the immature pastor has drawn a line in the sand on a matter that someone could reject without detriment or receive without benefit. The mature pastor knows to only draw lines in the sand only upon those “truths of the utmost importance to the welfare of your souls in time and in eternity”.

Helping with the So-What

Bryan Chappell would say that such an immature preacher—focusing all his energies on solving the grammar of 1 John 3:19-20—has only preached a pre-sermon.Chappell reminds us preachers that,

Information without application yields frustration…preachers who cannot answer ‘so what?’ will preach to a ‘who cares?’…We are not simply ministers of information; we are minister’s of Christ’s transformation. He intends to restore his people with his Word and is not greatly served by preachers who do not discern the transformation Scripture requires or communicate the means it offers. (Chapell, Christ-Centered Preaching, 56-57)

Newton’s quote should help preachers formulate a “so-what”. As you break your sermon down into a main point consider that quote of Newton’s. Will it be to their detriment if they reject the main point? Or if they accept that main point will they greatly benefit? When you can answer “yes” to both those questions, you are well-prepared to answer the “so-what” of your sermon.

Brothers, let’s not flit away our Sunday’s giving our people pre-sermons. Let’s preach full sermons that point people to the all-sufficient Christ. It is my prayer that churches are filled this Sunday with men boldly preaching God’s Word and not their own opinions about the Word. Preach in such a way that the people that reject your main point will have to deal with God. Likewise proclaim Christ in such a way that those that heed will greatly benefit.

—

Originally published here.

Newton was a man that wanted to give his live to preaching and teaching on that which is absolutely vital. It’s a question not only for those of us who are preachers but for all of us. If people reject the central tenet of our lives will it be to their peril? Or will it not matter?

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The Most Shared Verses In Their Context (2 Chronicles 7:14)

February 26, 2015Mike Leake 1 Comment

Last year I looked at the Top 10 Most Shared Bible Verses from 2013 in their context. They have recently posted their 2014 list and to my surprise there are ten new most shared verses, so I figured I’d look at these ten popular verses in their context again this year. Today we will look 2 Chronicles 7:14, which is the third most shared verse of 2014.

The Verse:

…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

The Context:

2 Chronicles begins with Solomon taking over for King David. His big project will be to build a temple for Yahweh and a huge palace for himself. In chapter 6 we read Solomon’s grand prayer and dedication speech. Note especially 2 Chronicles 6:26-28. Solomon is asking God to hear from heaven and to bless this temple.

In 2 Chronicles 7 Yahweh responds in the form of fire coming down from heaven. Several years (upwards of 13 years) pass between verse 10 and verse 11. In 7:11 Solomon has finished the temple and the Lord appears to him at night (likely going back to 2 Chronicles 1:7).

2 Chronicles 7:12-22 is God’s response in covenantal language to Solomon. It is filled with blessings and curses. 7:14 is part of the blessing section. If you do this (walk in obedience) then I will do this (bless you). But if you do this (rebel) then I will do this (curse you).

This is a very specific promise to a specific people about a specific place. But is this a general principle? Can we apply this in our day? Is it true that if America would humble themselves that God would heal our land?

The Meaning:

Consider with me the date of 1-2 Chronicles. Most scholars have it as around 400BC when the exiles have returned to the land. Also note that the Hebrew Bible closes with 1-2 Chronicles.

I mention this because I believe Stephen Dempster is correct in his book, Dominion and Dynasty, that there is a purpose in the order of the Hebrew canon. It ends on 1-2 Chronicles for a reason.

After the judgment of the exile, the command to rebuild the temple is nothing less than a catalyst for the fulfillment of the prophetic hopes…The goal of the canon is clearly the great house of God, which is as inclusive as the globe…But this has to be understood in the dual sense of ‘house’, meaning ‘dwelling’ and ‘dynasty’…The [Hebrew Bible] orients its readers to the future. As such the Story is unfinished. The long, dark night of exile awaits a sequel—the dawning of a new light that will radiate to the ends of the earth. (227)

The original readers of 2 Chronicles 7:14, as they are rebuilding the temple, would have used this text as a call to prayer that Yahweh would once again bless them and heal their land.

But what of us? We don’t have a temple. Nor do we want one. Christ has fulfilled the purpose of the temple. And so there is a grand sense in which we know from the gospel that when we turn to the Lord in humility he forgives and he heals.

But can America claim this promise? I don’t think so. I believe it is a general principle that when a nation turns to God and humbles themselves that God responds (look at the Ninevites) but even still there is no promise that America will remain as a nation (look at the Ninevites).

Conclusion:

It is not, though, as if 2 Chronicles 7:14 has no meaning for us. Let us use this verse to draw near to Christ. To call upon him for healing. To pray that he would heal our land—but at the same time know that we await a kingdom not of this world.