West Main

Can you tell the difference between good preaching and good speaking? Many I imagine think good speaking makes for good preaching, but that is not necessarily the case. The Apostle Paul makes a distinction between powerful speaking versus powerful preaching (1 Cor 2:1-5):

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. ² For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, ⁴ and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The apostle Paul apparently was not an impressive speaker who captured his listeners with his rhetorical talents. Paul confessed freely, “. . . I am unskilled in speaking” (2 Cor 11:6). I wonder how Paul would fare today in our popular mega-church culture where preachers “pack the pews” with the popularity of their speaking skills?

Congregations typically hire a minister almost exclusively on whether or not they like his preaching. After all, to be blunt, the majority of members of most congregations only come to Sunday morning worship, and so only hear the preacher preach and know virtually nothing else about what he does for the congregation.

But must good preaching and good speaking be mutually exclusive? Can you have good speaking that is also good preaching? Paul gives us insight when he tells the Corinthians his message to them was a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” Is Paul talking about performing miracles? I do not think so. Paul says he claimed to know nothing among the Corinthians “except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

What did Paul “know” about Jesus Christ and him crucified that makes for powerful preaching? Paul was not imparting “words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words” (1 Cor 2:13). Paul attached revealed meaning from God to human words that no human being could ever have conceived themselves (1 Cor 2:9-10). Paul literally preached a message from “out of this world.” We are incapable of defining the truth for our lives unaided, separate and apart, from the revelation of God. Therefore, when Paul preached he was giving revealed light of truth to a lost, dark, and ignorant world through the words he spoke.

But there is one more necessary element for good preaching and good speaking to be experienced: belief. The Hebrew writer tells us concerning Moses preaching to Israel (Heb 4:2): “For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.” A minister may be speaking “spiritual truths with spiritual words” but his speaking will fall on deaf ears and bored minds if those listening do not believe the revelation of God being spoken. The reality is many preachers are not boring speakers as much as many listeners are unbelieving (….ouch!).

We can experience good preaching and good speaking, but we need ministers who are faithful in speaking the revealed words of God in Scripture, and members who are willing to believe such “out of this world” meanings.

– Terry

Prime Timers  --  All Prime Timers and your guests are invited to a potluck luncheon in the Fireside Room at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 28. We will have a fun afternoon of games following the luncheon. Please bring a lunch dish to share and your dominoes if you have any. Contact Joan Tisdel if you need more information.

Clothing & School Supplies Giveaway -- Please be thinking of how you can help with our Clothing and School Supplies Giveaway that is coming up soon on August 24. Please be watching for more details to come.

Picnic in the Park – Due to the health hazard of the smoky air conditions in the valley this week, we had to cancel our picnic in the park on Wednesday, July 31. We hope to be able to re-schedule this event at a later date.

James II Pantry Needs  --  Our pantry is in need of the following items: Pancake Mix, Syrup, Jams or Jellies, Peanut Butter, Spaghetti Sauce, Mac and Cheese, and Chili. Any help would be appreciated - thank you for your support.

Coffee Servers Needed  -- Coffee servers are needed for the months of October, November and December. If you can help one of these months, please sign-up on the list posted in the hallway by the stairs. Thank you for all of your help.

Thank You Note  -- I would like to say thank you to the CIA group for painting for me. You worked hard and fast and did a beautiful job. I appreciate it so much.    -- Mandy Breithaupt

2^nd Sunday        225

3^rd Sunday         219

4^th Sunday         224

Calendar of Events 

August 10: Redding Water Slides

August 21: Set Up for the Clothing and School Supplies Giveaway

August 24: Clothing and School Supplies Giveaway, CIA Carnival & BBQ

August 25: Emigrant Lake Encampment