Henry H Halley (Halley's Bible Handbook) has made a simple but deeply concerning comment which is not altogether startling- regrettably. "New Testament epistles were written to be READ IN THE CHURCHES [sic], a practice now generally overlooked".
I really don't need to say anymore. How would your congregation respond if the preacher read from the Bible for 1/2 hr or more? I really wonder, and part of me would believe that God would release His Spirit and a reverent quietness and gratitude would be the attitude of the moment. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17)
But truly, listen to the sermons of yesteryear's men of God and hear the Word of God not only read but unfolding right before you. Not so much today.
My challenge to you is to spend some time with godly preachers who spoke and really taught God's Word. See if you are not moved and so to desire a more pure preaching of God's Word.
C. H. Spurgeon
D. L Moody
A. W Tozer
G. Campbell Morgan
Jonathan Edwards
More...
We could go older:
ReplyDeleteAugustine
Luther
Antony
Kempis
Lawrence
Or we could go more recent:
Piper
Spurgeon
Sproul
Manning
Foster
The problem today is saturation in the market. The voices that speak truth seem few and far between because the quiet contemplative life that used to demand attention by the immense integrity is easily overlooked and unheard with the noise and distractions. So let's not dismiss those who are just as devoted to living a surrendered life even though it may be harder to find them in the lights and sounds of today's productions.
Agree. I find it uncanny that some of these men of God from yesteryear describe exactly the Christendom in which we live today. What with its seeking aesthetic worship that makes the worshiper feel better but lay little on the alter for God, and its lowering the standard of Divine Government (i.e. excusing sin). But praise God that there are seven thousand that have not bowed the knee to Baal.
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