I don't know whether or not I would be able to justify the argument that the evangelical bible believing churches have completely removed the preaching and teaching of the whole Bible from there Sunday celebration services. I would suggest however, that it is becoming more common in emerging culturally relevant protestant evangelical movements that we are seeing a decline of the true preaching of the Word of God. I don't want to confuse you but please understand that there is a difference between preaching from the Word of God from a good translation and not manufacturing steps to less financial stress and flippantly quoting scriptures to support these techniques. Teaching on good solid biblical financial stewardship is good and ought to be taught. But we should be wise to remember the directive of Jesus and that is "To seek the kingdom and all its righteousness" first. A good application of what is true preaching of the Word of God is found in Luke 24:13-27. Jesus himself gives us our example of what the preaching of the Word of God supposed to be. Jesus "beginning with Moses and the prophets..." isn't that incredible how he did that... right? There we have it. The two on the road to Emmaus did not get a part and parcel sermonette or self-motivating message to sooth their saddened souls. Another example is Philip's encounter with the Ethiopian man on the road to Gaza. The Bible tells us that when the Ethiopian man was reading "The Bible" particularly out of "The Prophet Isaiah" (a prophet speaking on be half of God..right?) that this man asked Philip who the writer was referring to in the first person phraseology Isaiah was writing in. Now what would you expect Philip to do? talk about transformational globally relevant hibber gibberish. Nope. Philip opened his mouth and beginning at this scripture (Isaiah 53) preached Jesus. Who else did he expect to talk about? What else was he expect to say? "Well...Jesus to me makes me feel good..."
I wonder if the direction God's church is going, his ministers are going, and his people are going will have us in place not so far of in the distant future in which "The Word of the Lord" will be rare. It is possible and it is historical. Just like in the times of Samuel when Eli and his wicked sons were entrusted with the Word, The Sacrifice, and The Worship of God.
1 Sam 3:1
1 Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.
Preacher I encourage you to preach and preach as long as the Holy Spirit will carry you. People of God I admonish you to come ready to listen and hear the Word of the Lord as long as it can be proclaimed. There may come a day that the Word of the Lord will be rare...and you will hope that you did not spend more time listening to the television and movies then you did listening to the Word of God...as your eyes grew dim unable to see the glory of the Lord.
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