GOD’S ALL-SUFFICIENT RESOURCES FOR DEALING WITH STRESS

Lesson 4

The Sufficiency of the Bible – Part 4

Don’t Underestimate Preaching

TEXT:  1 Thess 5:20  

I. INTRODUCTION  

A.  I believe that the trend of Christian psychology and psychiatry can be found to begin around the time when churches began to contemporize (yes that’s a word)

1. I have no facts to back this up but believe that it’s likely true

2. Laodicean Age began about 1881 and shortly thereafter began contemporary movement

a. Small compromises such as alternate Bible versions ended up in churches today that are completely full of the world

b. Much emphasis today on making church just like the world to draw in the crowds

(1) Sports programs, entertainment methods, contemporary music, marketing techniques (United Methodist commercials)

(2) Some of this is not bad in and of itself but once the people are in the church nothing is done to change their lives

(3) The emphasis is no longer on the preaching but the entertainment or the gimmick

c. This is where Christian psychology comes in

(1) It’s another example of bringing the world into the church

(2) Who’s job is it to provide counseling and help to Christians in need?

(3) Wouldn’t it be best to do things God’s way?

(a) Are we saying that God’s way isn’t good enough?

II. DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS – 1 Thess 5:20  

A. Prophesyings –

1. Old Testament prophets mostly foretold events from the mind and mouth of God

2. New Testament, before the completion of the Scripture, meant:

a. To speak forth the mind and counsel of God

b. The declaration of that which cannot be known by natural means

c. The forth telling of the will of God, whether with reference to the past, present, or future

d. Men would declare the counsel of God by special revelation from God, before the completion of the New Testament; they were New Testament Prophets

3. Today, prophesying is preaching.  Ultimately prophesying means to proclaim the words of God.  Today we use the words that were spoken by God through prophets of old as are recorded in written form.  

B. Despise not

1. To despise means to lightly regard or esteem; to regard as being of no account; to give little importance or regard to.

a. It can also mean to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, or disdain; loathe

2. This was either a warning to them of something that could come or an admonition to stop something they were already doing

a. This can happen to anyone

b. Sometimes prophesyings can make us very uncomfortable  

C. Application for then and now

1. However Paul meant for the Thessalonians to take it we can certainly learn from it today

2. Prophesying is definitely despised today; both meanings of the word

a. Preachers can see it on the faces of the crowd

(1) Sleeping, talking, day dreaming

b. The lack of people responding during invitations (if they have an invitation at all)

c. Preaching taking the back seat to entertainment:  song services, drama teams, videos, dramatic situations

d. Sometimes the preaching is even completely replaced

(1) Brian Welch

3. Preaching is extremely important in the lives of Christians and people in general

III. PAUL ELEVATED, ACCENTUATED, AND EMPHASIZED THE POWER OF THE PREACHED WORD – 1 Cor 1:14-24  

A. Vs. 14-24 To proclaim, declare, and preach and speak forth God’s word is to rescue lives from the stress and oppression of sin and being lost  

B. 1 Cor 6:9-11 What does preaching accomplish?  

C. Rom 1:14-16 The power of the preached word can change lives!

1. Paul believed the greatest need of the Romans was not psychological assistance or some self-help book by Dr. Phil, but soul repentance brought about by preaching the word of God!

2. The word salvation can mean salvation of the soul from the wages of sin but it can also mean the salvation from the problems and cares of this world.  God is certainly able to do both with the same words!  

D. Paul’s entire ministry was about preaching and teaching the word of God

1. The churches that he started were born in cities filled with sin and wickedness and the same words he preached in one he also preached in another and they worked in both

2. The preaching of God’s word is sufficient to heal whatever the problem  

IV. GOD GAVE GIFTS TO MEN TO DECLARE HIS WORD – Eph 4:8, 11-32  

A. Vs. 8, 11 These offices were given as gifts to the New Testament churches

1. God has always provided men to preach His word

a. They have different titles and different responsibilities but they all preach

b. Apostles are no longer around

c. Prophets are also no longer around because God’s Book is complete

d. Evangelists, pastors and teachers remain to take the written words of God and proclaim them to a needy people  

B. Notice what all is to be accomplished by the exercise of the pastor/teacher’s main duty – Vs. 12-32

1. Many of these issues are driving people to psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, when the need is a proper response to God’s truth proclaimed by a man from a pulpit!

V. CONCLUSION – 1 Thess 5:20  

A. The world will continue to despise preaching  

B. Believers have no excuse for this.  It is essential for believers to be receptive to preaching.