Comments on: What’s happened to evangelistic preaching?

By: Alan Kendall

Alan Kendall — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:23:52 +0000

What happened to mature teaching? Most small denominations have evangelistic revivals where they invite Evangelists or Pastors but do not accept teachers except in Sunday School.

By: David Murray

David Murray — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:03:09 +0000

Yes, Danny, on the Scottish mainland also, the majority of unconverted come out in the morning. I’m so thankful for your advice to your interns.I agree with you Dave. Christians need the Gospel too. See my post of April 28. You’re right, even believers can start trusting in themselves again (Galatians!). When I am preaching evangelistic sermons to the unsaved, I will often make an application to Christians.Ian, yes, I read that article by Iain a few weeks ago. I could not agree more with him. I’m hoping that the BOT will post that important article online.

By: Ian Lowe

Ian Lowe — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:10:16 +0000

I also just stumbled across your blog and wanted to say how much I appreciate your thoughts. I am a preacher and am greatly concerned about the lack of evangelistic preaching today. I note that Iain Murray wrote an article that expressed similar thoughts in a recent Banner of Truth magazine. He was expressing concern about there is little preaching other than consecutive expository preaching and I think many are thinking the same thing.In my own experience I have found the issue of presumption being one of the great dangers facing preachers. I have learned that even when there is a very small congregation that there is invariably someone there who doesn’t know the Lord.Thanks again for your encoruaging blog. Looking forward to returning

By: djthomas73

djthomas73 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:19:35 +0000

I do like that you are tackling these issues by the way!!

By: djthomas73

djthomas73 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:15:49 +0000

Dr. Murry-Hey I just kind of stumbled on your blog and I find it interesting and quite awesome that you have a huge heart for evangelism. I do as well. I work with college students as a campus minister. I want to say first that I have not completed a seminary degree though I have taken some classes and hope to finish a degree someday! So I really want to take a learners posture here. Is it possible that there does not have to be a dichotomy between preaching to believers and unbelievers? We have non Christians walk into our meetings every week and are often faced with this question. I may be wrong (and that is why I’m asking ) but is it possible that what both believers and unbelievers need most deeply is the Gospel? So that our preaching would be hitting at the core of the fallen condition of men and women for both believers and non-believers. Certainly the application would be different. For example if you have never placed your trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sins and repented that would be the first step. But for believers our tendency to trust in our works as what makes us feel good about ourselves or our tendency to trust in our job as our provider instead of a sovereign God. Isn’t the gospel the thing that both groups need? If that is true should we be crafting messages that both deeply call non-believers to trust in Jesus and repent as well as believers to …trust in Jesus and repent. Again I’m trying to learn so I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks,Dave Thomas

By: Bill Pols

Bill Pols — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:05:44 +0000

Another objection to such evangelistic preaching is that it is wrong to address the congregation of the Lord in the worship service as if you were addressing unbelievers. I disagree that it is wrong to address unbelievers regularly in preaching, but I am sympathetic to the concern that entire sermons should not be regularly aimed at unbelievers when the congregation of God’s people are gathered for worship.

By: Danny Hyde

Danny Hyde — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:47:24 +0000

Good post, David. I actually follow the reverse pattern of Lloyd-Jones since out here in So Cal it’s unheard of to have morning and evening services! Unbelievers, inquirers, and visitors almost exclusively come in the morning. So, my morning expository sermon is the one that always focuses heavily on Christ, and repentance and faith in him. In the evening we usually have only our own members so that’s when I preach my doctrinal sermons.Regardless, I’ve always told my Seminary student interns that you every Lord’s Day they need on “free offer of the gospel sermon” as I call it.Danny