Why Preachers Need to Preach Evangelistic to Members

Should the preacher preach evangelistically to his members?

Should we encourage our members to come to each preaching service?

I have often said, every service you come to just might be the one that the Spirit of God might just change your life.  

I am saying that all the people who attend a church need to be brought under the power of the Gospel.  Here is what I am learning, if the Gospel is merely and only for the intellect; and if our preaching is always expository and for edification and teaching it will produce church members who are hard and cold, and often harsh and self-satisfied.

 

While the churches that I have had the privilege to be their pastor-teacher I  have been with people who really seemed to love the preaching of the Word. They would come every time there was a preaching service.

But in many cases, you have the “once-er’s : that is they only come on Sunday morning. Many churches today have only one preaching service per week. They believe that once is enough for them and they do not need any more that one sermon per week.

This in my thoughts is appalling, maybe a strong word, how about deplorable. 

Many who sit in the pew on Sunday Morning have settled in to a Pharisees attitude and they never hear a sermon that will make sure that they really are saved.  Far too many people in the church believe they don’t need to hear an evangelistic sermon.  

I believe that as preachers we would try to create a spirit of expectation in the people and show them the danger of missing some wonderful times of refreshing if they miss a service. (In our church they all come to all the services, well 99% do)

 

Why is it that any Christians should not desire for as much of this as he or she can possibly get?   How about Psalms 84: where David’s expresses misery and sorrow because he could not go up with the others to the House of the Lord.

• “My soul longeth, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. “  Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will be still praising thee.”

The Psalmist thinks of them that can with envy because he cannot be with them.  Nothing is comparable to being in the House of God.  “A day in thy courts is betterthan a thousand….”

 

Would you say this ought to be instinctive in the true Christian?

There is something seriously wrong spiritually with anyone who claims to a believer who does not desire to have all that can be obtained from the ministry of the preaching of the Word of God.

 

While this next point is not true In our church, but I have heard that it is in many churches.  There is a tendency among the congregations to dictate to the preacher as to the length of his sermon. (That just doesn’t happen at First Baptist Church in Altoona, Kansas or in the Rivers of Joy Baptist Church in Minford, Ohio.

The Order of Service provide by the deacons will tell the preacher just how much time his had to give his sermon.

These people have nothing bad to say if a football game goes in to overtime, mind you, but they through a fit if the preacher goes pass twelve noon.

Those Christians (we are assuming they are) who are putting a time limit on sermons they are more or less confessing that they are not Christians, and are in fact lacking in spiritual life.

Then there are the people who will come that  one Sunday Morning service and give the preacher the impression that they are there, and might listen if he is brief.

Once in a while I see those who come who in a literal physical sense settle down to endure the sermon. Those you can see clearly when you preach. Some literally come with the idea I can get some sleep while I am hear. They have this attitude, I am hear, not I need to get out of here as soon as possible. My question is why is there   so much apprehension for the service and preaching to end.  They may love the praise music, and the drama, but they can’t wait for the sermon to be over. Why is this?

 

“And they continued steadfast in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” “and they, contining daily – daily! With one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

Here in this place at that time, were Christians who gathered together every day from preaching and teaching and instructions. Not only on Sunday or once on Saturday night and anxious to get home as soon as they could, hoping it would be short and sweet and were annoyed with the preacher if it is not short. 

I could mention Peter’s point of view of a Christians:

• “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow in the Word.” 1 Peter 2:2

I point out again, (I am not talking about the shut-ins, those who have to work on Sunday) If you 

think you are a Christian and who do not want to hear the preaching of the Word, and do not really care to hear it, and you really do not rejoice in it, I will suggest that the right question to ask those folks. “Are these people Christians?”

New Testament Christians love the preaching of the Word (I would suggest to get in a church that will feed you the clear teaching and preaching of the Word of God.) They were people who did not attend their meetings mechanically, or just believe that it was their duty to be there just to keep the babies or children.

The Apostles had a problem with the people -  they didn’t want to go home. The atmosphere was such they could spend the whole day in the house of the Lord.

 

There was a time we would have a fellowship meeting of preachers and the preaching would go for three days. Revivals that my Dad had would last several months. He would put up a tent and stay there until the Spirit said to leave. Our the people would say, we need to start local church. That happen for Dad many time.

 

So what am I saying?  The Christian will have the desire to be in the house of the Lord, even when it might be impossible for him to be there. You not only want to be in the service but you will want to listen to the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And in today’s modern tech. you could listen to a sermon every day. John MacArthur is on radio every day.  If you so desired you could find the time to listen to the Word of God every day, twice a day.