"My challenge is this..."

I was struck by this thought in Why Johnny Can't Preach . Gordon is responding to those who have dismissed preaching:

I believe the preaching in many churches is so poorly done that it is not, effectively, preaching...If the patients of a given hospital's surgeons continue to die, we could, I suppose, abandon the scalpel. We might also consider employing it more skillfully.My challenge...is this: Show me a church where the preaching is good, and the church is still moribund. I've never seen such a church. The moribund churches I've seen have been malpreached to death.

Comments

[Mat]

Darryl, How would he define what makes preaching good and what makes it malpracticed? Mat

[Darryl Dash]

I knew someone would ask this question! I left the book somewhere else. I'll try to post on this next week.

[Kim]

I think it's possible to have good preaching in a church that has gone moribund. Just because he says it ain't so doesn't mean he's right.

[David Daniels]

I find myself in agreement with Kim. While poor preaching would certainly be a contributing factor in a moribund church, it is also true that the spiritual state of individuals within a given congregation also contribute to its spiritual health or sickness. Powerful, biblically sound, direct preaching is surely needed in our time. But that alone does not solve all our difficulties. The prophet Jeremiah was surely a powerful preacher, but his congregation (Israel) was pretty moribund, wouldn't you think?

[Darryl Dash]

It would be nice if things were as simple as "good preaching = healthy church." But you're right: there are more factors involved. But still, there is some truth in what he says. Maybe we could say that generally, all things being equal, there is a positive correlation between good preaching and churches that are healthy. Maybe there's a positive correlation between good preaching and other factors that are necessary for health (such as a focus on the gospel, etc.). It certainly seems to be true in the churches I know!

[David Daniels]

Without doubt, good preaching is critically needed, and in short supply in too many places these days. I would not want to imply that good preaching does not have a powerful impact. It surely does. I agree that there is a correlation between good preaching and other factors that lead to healthy churches. My point was simply that there is also a critical need for the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of hearers so there is a corresponding action on the hearers' part - "be doers of the word and not hearers only". But in these things, I think you and I are on the same page. Have a great Lord's Day tomorrow.

[Darryl Dash]

Your point was a good one. Thanks, David.

[Art]

Can I add my two cents worth? "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Could it be that, even where there is good preaching and sound gospel, there needs also to be good hearing? A good attitude towards the gospel? A willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to change us? Jesus was definitely a "good preacher", yet there were places in which he was ineffective because of the hardness of the hearers hearts. I guess I am agreeing with David Daniels. But you know, the Holy Spirit may be willing and able to work in our lives, but only to the point WE will allow Him to.