Thoughts from The Bible

A Pulpit in Need of Repair, Part 3
by Joey Carroll Corinth Missionary Baptist Church

Over the last two weeks, we have considered how the Apostle Paul sought to repair a wayward pulpit at Corinth. The content of preaching should always be centered around Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The method of preaching should be defined by one word – proclamation. A simple and clear method that does not seek to entertain, but rather instruct and exhort. This week, let’s consider how Paul instructs the heart of the preacher.
I grew up in the church and in the last 54 years, I have seen and heard many things. Faithful men who made much of Christ, and unfaithful men who made much of themselves. Few things are more detrimental to the pulpit and the glory of Christ than an arrogant preacher. I have seen men’s attitude in approaching the pulpit as if they were some kind of rock star or superhero. They climb the steps to the pulpit with all the self-reliance of Rocky or all the swagger and self-confidence of a talk show host. It’s utterly shameful.

The Apostle Paul spoke of a different attitude toward preaching. “I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,” (1 Corinthians 2:3, NASB). Now if you read commentaries on this verse, you will get as many different opinions as commentators. Some say Paul was sick coming into Corinth. Others offer the excuse that he was afraid because he was alone or fearful that the Corinthians might reject his gospel. All of those excuses fall short. I offer four reasons in brief that “weakness, fear and trembling” are a faithful way for a minister to stand in the pulpit.

First, consider the holiness of God. Even a casual reading of the Old Testament demonstrates the profound need to approach the presence of God fearfully. Some did not and suffered a terrible fate. I do realize that He is a God of love, and when God came in the flesh, John was found lying upon his chest. But do not forget when that same John saw the Resurrected Lord in Revelation 1:17, he fell before Him like a dead man. There is a flippancy in worship services today that should not be. We have forgotten the words of the writer of Hebrews when he says “may (we) offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire,” (Hebrews 12:28-29, NASB).

Second, consider the character of Christ. When the Living Word came, He came in the greatest of humility. In fact, we refer to the first advent of our Savior as the condescension. It describes how our Savior, the Son of God, humbled Himself by taking the form of a man and dying as a man in our place. And even before His death, remember His prayer to the Father. “…not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42, NASB). Profound humility. How then can a man stand to preach the words of Christ and be contrary to the character of Christ?

Third, the fact is that the preacher is a sinner. Paul said, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all,” (1 Timothy 1:15, NASB). Paul understood his desperate need of forgiveness for sin is only found in Jesus Christ. So his preaching modeled that understanding. How can a man preach against sin when he himself is guilty of that same sin and do so with an attitude of self-confidence and arrogance? His only hope is the same hope of his congregation. He must point to Christ. And to do so, he must emphatically point away from himself.

Fourth and finally, remember the reason Paul gives in the same passage. “So that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God,” (1 Corinthians 2:5, NASB). Growing up, some men manipulated the emotions of his congregation to elicit some sort of response. Today, men like to be witty and entertaining to elicit a response. But in the end, if a man is converted by a man, he will die. But if that man is converted by the Spirit of God, that man will live. Faithful men will proclaim the message, exhort the hearers to faith and obedience, and rely upon the Spirit to do that necessary inner work.

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