Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

Preaching the Word, Not Feelings

If I could sit with you over coffee and we opened our Bibles to the text our pastors preached yesterday, could you walk me through the text and show me where it says and means what your pastor taught? Could I go to the text and do the same?

Many gather every week and hear the same recycled felt-need and therapeutic, man-centered messages. It feels personal. It seems he gets you. It feels like God is speaking right to you. How can it be wrong?

If the pastor begins with you, your need, your dreams, your desires, then he is not preaching Christ, His Word or what you truly need to hear. He is preaching you.

Does he begin with himself and stories about him woven all throughout his sermon or does he begin with Scripture and walk you verse by verse through it? Does he begin with you and what is personal to you or does he begin with Scripture?

One preaches you and feels good, the other preaches Christ and is faithful to the text and what you truly need. Shallow theology feels good to false converts but will never satisfy those with the Spirit who desire the Word of God faithfully taught.

The Danger of “Messages from God”

A pastor who claims he gets his messages directly from God is not being humble. If God really spoke to him and gave him that message, then it is authoritative and equal with Scripture. Pastors who claim God speaks to them weekly are not exercising discipline in studying the text—they are being lazy.

As R. C. Sproul writes:

“The Bible alone is our standard; no private revelation or vision can substitute for careful, faithful exposition of Scripture.”

When you begin to study your Bible correctly, you see the lack of discipline in those who seek a message from God outside the text, spark something in their hearts, and then search for verses to support it. They build a message, complete with personal stories, around their feelings. They lack discipline, humility, and faithfulness to the text, and they disobey God’s command to Preach the Word.

Christ loves His bride and He commands pastors to preach the Word!

The Deception of Felt Needs

Many are drawn to pastors who claim to receive messages straight from God. It feels personal. Their pastor seems to have a close relationship with God. The messages feel good and speak to their felt needs and desires. That is part of the deception.

As J. C. Ryle warned:

“Many are deceived by smooth words and flattering messages, yet the heart of the Word is neglected.”

The Pulpit as Example

Many will sit in a church for decades and never hear one sermon where God’s Word is faithfully exposited. They may never hear one book of the Bible taught systematically. They will never learn how to study their Bible correctly from the example of their pastor. The pulpit is an example of obedience or disobedience—it is an example of how we treat God’s Word.

What example are you sitting under?

Grace and peace, y’all.

Soli Deo Gloria

April J. Buchanan