Preaching to Youth

Mike Leake

Preaching the gospel to teenagers would absolutely mortify some people.  Thankfully Peter Mead as offered 5 level-headed tips (click through to see his explanations).

  1. Be engaging, don’t be silly
  2. This generation values meat
  3. Recognize that you are speaking cross-culturally
  4. Don’t be longer than necessary, but realize that attention spans are as short as ever
  5. The younger generation value authenticity more than previous generations

I agree with each of these.  I am thankful that many people are beginning to realize that a good number of teens actually value the meat of God’s Word more than spam-eating contests. 

Alongside of these five I would add a sixth:

6. Allow for interaction.  Teens today are accustomed to being able to comment online, text, tweet, etc.  Making room for healthy interaction is a sure fire way to keep a short attention span. 

Pulpit or No Pulpit?

Mike Leake 1 Comment

On Tuesday we looked at the use of the pulpit in a church service.  At the end I asked this question: Should pulpits be discarded?  Or do they carry a symbolism that ought to be preserved within our churches?  My friend David responded with this comment:

My opinion, for what its worth, is that we should not abandon the pulpit. There is a great amount of symbolism wrapped up in its very presence in our churches. Unfortunately, I think that a lot of people in our churches are ignorant of why it is there. They probably just think that it is an over-large fancy lectern, rather than symbolizing the centrality of the preached Word in the formation and sustaining of a true church.

David’s comment will serve as the outline for this post. 

The symbolism of the Pulpit

“There is a great amount of symbolism wrapped up in its very presence in our churches”

What is that symbolism and where did it come from?  David is correct that it symbolizes the centrality of the preached Word in the formation and sustaining of a true church”.  At least that is what it symbolized after the Reformation period. 

The term pulpit was used in the early church by Cyprian.  But the “pulpit” that he mentions was not used necessarily for preaching.  It was more of a raised platform that was more apt to symbolize the difference between clergy and laity than the task of preaching. 

During the Middles Ages the pulpit was moved away from center and often elevated.  The more liturgical elements of worship took center stage.  They also slowly became more ornate.  But this all changed during the Reformation.  With the renewed emphasis on the Word of God the pulpit once again took center stage. 

The Wittenburg Door points out the symbolism behind the pulpit.  It is central, raised, and solid.  The article continues:

Overall, the pulpit represents what the church service is to be primarily about—God’s people coming together to worship Him, and, as mentioned, God addressing His people through the preached word.

But is this what the average person thinks when he/she views a pulpit?  Apparently David doesn’t think so…

“Unfortunately, I think that a lot of people in our churches are ignorant of why it is there. They probably just think that it is an over-large fancy lectern,”

What happens when the symbol no longer signifies?

If the point of the pulpit is to be a symbol—and the symbol is no longer known or important—what is the point of having it? 

Consider the holy kiss.  4 times in the New Testament we are encouraged to “Greet one another with a holy kiss”.  Yet we now settle for a handshake or a hug.  Is this because we are not following the Bible?  Or is it because the holy kiss was a cultural symbol that is no longer used? 

Because kissing means something different in our culture we preserve this injunction by handshakes and hugs rather than kissing.  Why?  Because the symbolism has changed.  So if the symbolism of the pulpit has changed or been lost do we still need to preserve it? 

Perhaps we should teach on what the pulpit is and the symbolism behind it.  Undoubtedly we need to do everything we can to preserve the centrality and sufficiency of the Word to present the all-sufficient Christ.  But will this preserve the symbol?  Is it even necessary to preserve the symbol?  Is it possible that there are other ways—those more in touch with our culture—to convey the centrality of the Word? 

I’m not saying burn your pulpit.  I’m simply saying don’t burn those that use a music stand.  We should labor to preserve the centrality of the Word.  But I find it unnecessary to fight for something that is not found in Scripture.  In fact I think that may be closer to Reformational principles than ensuring that our churches have pulpits. 

But then again, I could be wrong…

Newton on Keeping Jesus Center Amidst a Stack of Books Part 2

Mike Leake

Continued from Part One…

But the primary concern of this young divinity student was how to “fill up his outlines”.  To this Newton advices the young man to learn people.  Speak a word to each:

The tempted and distressed will be most probably relieved by opening the various states and exercises of the heart, and by showing, from scriptural and other examples, that no new thing has befallen them. The careless and backsliders, who have made a profession, should be reminded of that blessedness they once spoke of, and warned of their danger. Those who are now upon the mount, should be cautioned to expect a change, and to guard against security and spiritual pride. To the dead in trespasses and sins (some such will be always present), it is needful so preach the spirituality and sanction of the law, that they may be stirred up to seek to Jesus. Of him all awakened souls love to hear much. Let Jesus therefore be your capital subject. If you discuss some less essential topic, or bend all your strength to clear up some dark text, though you should display much learning and ingenuity, you will probably fall short of your main design, which I dare say will be to promote the glory of God, and the good of souls.

I love how Newton (aware of a divinity students temptation to discuss a “less essential topic) sum his point up by saying preach Jesus—he will fit them all.  You must forgive me for the length of this, but I cannot allow any of these gems to remain on page without highlighting them for your attention:

Your inquiries respecting my own experience on this subject, must be answered very briefly. I have long since learned, that if I was ever to be a minister, faith and prayer must make me one. I desire to seek the Lord’s direction, both in the choice and management of subjects; but I do not expect it in a way of extraordinary impulse, but in endeavoring to avail myself, to the best of my judgment, of present circumstances. The converse I have with my people, usually suggests what I am to preach to them. At first, my chief solicitude used to be, what I should find to say: I hope it is now, rather that I may not speak in vain. For the Lord has sent me here, not to acquire the character of a great speaker, but to win souls to Christ, and to edify his people. As to preparation, I make little use of books, excepting the Bible and a concordance. Though I preach without notes, I most frequently write more or less upon the subject. Often when I begin, I am at a loss how I shall proceed; but one thing insensibly offers after another, and, in general, I believe the best and most useful parts of my sermon occur de novo while I am preaching. When I can find my heart in frame and liberty for prayer, every thing else is comparatively easy.
The sum of my advice is this: Examine your heart and views. Can you appeal to Him who knows all things, concerning the sincerity of your aim, that you devote yourself to the work of the ministry, not for worldly regards, but with a humble desire to promote the Redeemer’s kingdom? If so, and his providence has thus far concurred with you, trust him for your sufficiency of every kind, and he will not disappoint you, but will be near to strengthen you according to your day. Depend not upon any cisterns you can hew out for yourself, but rejoice that you have liberty to come to the fountain that is always full, and always flowing. You must not expect a mechanical sufficiency, such as artificers acquire by habit and exercise in their business. When you have preached well nineteen times, this will be no security for the twentieth. Yes, when you have been upheld for twenty years, should the Lord withhold his hand, you would be as much at a loss as at first. If you lean upon books or men, or upon your own faculties and attainments, you will be in fear and in danger of falling continually. But if you stay yourself upon the Lord, he will not only make good your expectations, but in time will give you a proper confidence in his goodness, and free you from your present anxiety.

But if it is our business, and our pleasure, to contemplate Jesus, and to walk in his steps, he will bless us: we shall be like trees planted by a constant stream, and he will prosper the work of our hands.

Newton on Keeping Jesus Center Amidst a Stack of Books Part 1

Mike Leake

It is taking much restraint for me to not post this letter in its entirety.  It is a little lengthy so I will post this in two parts.  If you are a theological student, a nerd like me, or a minister of the gospel it would be wise to read the whole thing. 
The first part of this letter is very beneficial but the part that I want to blow up and make into a poster begins close to the middle.  Newton has previously exhorted us to rely fully on the Holy Spirit and to use the means that he has given us.  Then encourages us that we can expect the blessing of the Spirit if He is “diligently sought using proper means”.  But what does he mean by such diligence?

By diligence, I understand spiritual diligence. Such an active, improving, industrious habit, as is peculiar to a heart impressed with some real abiding sense of the love of God, the worth of souls, the shortness of time, and the importance of eternity. Without this turn of mind, though a man should spend sixteen hours every day in his study, he may be a mere trifler.

He then goes through great lengths to show that prayer and the Scriptures are the chief means for attaining wisdom.  I love this quote, speaking of Scripture and prayer, “The one is the fountain of living water, the other the bucket with which we are to draw.”  These are the means of first importance.  There are subservient means—such as the use of literature, languages, and logic.  To these he counsels:

If these things are held in a proper subservience, if they do not engross too much of our time, nor add fuel to the fire of that self-importance which is our great snare; they may contribute to increase and enlarge our ideas, and facilitate our expressing ourselves with propriety. But these attainments (like riches) are attended with their peculiar temptations; and unless they are under the regulation of a sound judgment, and a spiritual frame of mind, will prove (like Saul’s armor to David) rather cumbersome than useful in preaching. The sermons of preachers thus qualified are often more ingenious than edifying, and rather show off the preacher, than commend the Gospel of Christ.

Continue to Part Two…