I am going to Lay it on the Line...

Turkey Fife · 03-04-2008, 10:12 PM

I been thinking today what to say. How to say it (I know it better be in Love) I watched a church of Christ TV Show today ON DISH 9407 at 11:00 A.M. The first time, I have seen it. It's on for an Hour everyday at 11:00.

Tom Holland was talking about what we Hear. He said we must becareful what we hear. We all want to hear the things we want to hear. Example: our preacher is VERY dry, Has a very good understanding of the Greek and use's Very Little Life Experiences, Storyies, Joke's, Current Events, it makes for a long 40 Min.'s My Cousin was here from CA and he noticed I have a Short Attention Span. He said 30 Min.'s I think it's more like 15 Min.'s.

So this is to me as well as everyone here. Am I just wanting to hear Sweet things, Smooth Things, Do my Ears Eitch? I pray not!

Its hard to pay close attention to what others Say or Teach. We must RESPECT the one doing the teaching. If Sam Walton were alive. And came to this site(And we knew for sure it was him) We would hang on every word he said about church, Hunting,or Money. However even if we RESPECT the one doing the teaching can he be wrong? Why, Sure he can. My Mother lived and Died a Baptist. My Father later in life found the ODD FELLOWS My Dad wanted me to be apart of that with him.

Is the Bible so complicated we MUST have someone tell us what it VS says? Why, things are INTERWEAVED in the bible I don't have a clue. But we are told to Search the Scriptures! In them you think you have life.

CAN WE STUDY THE BIBLE AND LOOK AT WHAT IT IS SAYING?

tf

CalHunter · 03-04-2008, 11:05 PM

A lot of good questions. I think some ministers, pastors, priests, etc. are very dynamic in how they deliver a message and explain it well. Just like any other type of speaker, they can be interesting or boring.

LBR · 03-05-2008, 07:02 AM

I think a lot of us struggle with that. We want to be entertained during the service--be it during singing, preaching, Sunday school, etc. It's not hard to loose track of the reason we go--to learn and to praise God. IMO, that is the reason a lot of man's ideas get incorporated into the service.

Some of the best speakers I've heard barely, if at all, taught anything scriptural--they were interesting, entertaining, but weren't worth a bag of sand as a preacher/teacher. Some of the most educated and well versed preachers/teachers I've heard were also some of the least entertaining--it was hard to pay attention, and I have to keep reminding myself why I'm there.

Of course there are some that are both--they keep your attention, keep you interested, keep you thinking, all the while focusing on God's word. It would be nice if they were all like that, but preachers are just as human as anyone else.

As far as can we look at the Bible and study it ourselves? I think so, but it takes a lot of dedication, and a good preacher/teacher can open your eyes to things you wouldn't have thought about, give new perspectives, and make you think harder. Besides, we are commanded to not forsake the gathering of ourselves together.

Chad

DaveH · 03-05-2008, 07:05 AM

I've been a member of several different churches over the years. Some have had very good "interesting" (don't want to say entertaining because it gives the wrong impression) pastors and others have had some "not so interesting" preachers. I'm like you in that, if it's not intersting, I find my mind drifting - to things like where I can re-position a stand to outwit a buck I'm after, or something like that. The problem around here is that, the pastor of the church I've been going to for 15 years isn't as intersting to listen to as some others I've heard (he's getting much better though), but his teaching comes straight from God's word and most closely aligns with what I believe. We have attend some other churches and found some were more interesting, but were just so much "fluff" and not real teaching, or that they weren't what we were searching for. In short, we're mostly pleased with where we go, but it would be better if the teaching was a bit more interesting. I don't know if this is where you were headed with this . . .

Snooky · 03-05-2008, 08:38 AM

TF, I was told early in my ministry, (40 years ago) that 30 minutes was long enough for a good speaker and too long for a poor one. I try to take no longer than 20 minutes to get to my message, and no more than 30 minutes in closing. That allows me 30 minutes of preaching time.
Looking back on my experience as a heared of others, my ears have changed over the years as I matured in Christ and the knowledge of his word. The messages that were so intertaining and informative 40 years ago are still great, however they don't satisify as they used to. The dull and boring teaching messages are now much more attractive andhold my attention much longer than before. That which is somewhat, "old hat" to you, because of you level of knowledge, is just exactly what another needs and he couldn't ask for anything better for his needs. The minister must feed the young as well as the old. The newest convert as well as the olders warrior in the Church. That is a tremendous responsability.
I know a fellow who has been known to stand up and declare that the devil wasn't going to rob him of hearing the message, and then stand the remainder of the service in order to receive the word. It must have worked as he is about 70 years young and still as faithful as they come.

Snooky · 03-05-2008, 08:45 AM

TF, I might add that the minister, if he is "Spirit led" will sense it when the congregations attention begins to wane and wander and know it is time to end the sermon. However there will be some who are asleep before he ever begins to preach.

dabowhunter · 03-05-2008, 09:24 AM

I had a former pastor who could not tolerate it when some one would not pay attention. In fact on more than one occassion he threw a hymm book at a dozing church member. That usually kept them awake for the remainder of the sermon.[:-]

Rebel Hog · 03-05-2008, 09:51 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Turkey Fife

Is the Bible so complicated we MUST have someone tell us what it VS says? Why, things are INTERWEAVED in the bible I don't have a clue. But we are told to Search the Scriptures! In them you think you have life.

CAN WE STUDY THE BIBLE AND LOOK AT WHAT IT IS SAYING?
tf

Many in the congregation do not have that good reading Comprehension or reading skills. Our pastor reads from the KJV and explains what the verse is saying for the benefit of those that do not comprehend what he just read.

"CAN WE STUDY THE BIBLE AND LOOK AT WHAT IT IS SAYING"?.......Some can and some can't! It's very important to have a pastor who explains andmakes sure you understand what he is preaching. Some pastors overlook the illiteracy of some farm folks that he pastors to.......and by explaining the verses in the sermon as he preaches, everyone in the congregationbenefits...

Brother, we belong to an old fashion Independent Baptist Church.......No Radio or TV telecasts! Our motto, "COME IN COVERALLS, IF YOU WILL"

Kosherboy · 03-05-2008, 10:49 AM

I stop Conducting Churchianity a long while ago.
I don't stand there and preach and expect people to be glue to what I say, Right now Our Temple does not a Pew in rows or a pulpit, I sit in a circle with my brothers and sisters andI teach, sometimes a funny story comes up to illustrate a point ,but I wasn't elected to be a clown or entertainer.
we do it as The Apostles used to, friendly and everyone participates, of course we don't allow questions outside the subject,that is done in different settings.

LBR · 03-05-2008, 10:55 AM

Not trying to get off the topic here, but why would "entertaining" give the wrong impression? It may not sound good, but it's the honest truth.

Isn't that why some congregations have choirs, solos, bands? Some go as far as the service consisting of watching a movie and eating hamburgers. We don't have even one example of the early Christian church having any of these, and it's obvious that these additions are chosenbased on the entertainment value. For example, the choir is generally made up of the singers considered "best" to human ears, as are solos, as are the band members, as is any addition to the service that isn't described as New Testament Christianity in the Bible.

Yes, I know there are exceptions--that's not the point. It's natural for people to crave entertainment. An entertaining preacher will draw a bigger crowd. A service that has all the bells and whistles draws a bigger crowd--because it entertains.

I think one of the biggest problems with religion in general is people forget (or ignore)the fact thatthe purpose behind assembling is (or should be) teaching, learning, and praising God. I don't think there's a thing wrong with the service being interesting, even entertaining, as long as it follows the examples we are given.

Chad