Comments on: We Don’t Preach Ourselves!

By: Jim Clark

Jim Clark — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:12:17 +0000

I just finished the massive volume 2 of Martyn Lloyd-Jones biography (recommended to me for summer reading by someone responding to Mike’s blog).

Of the many things that hit me by this man’s remarkable ministry, one that fits what you noticed in 2 Cor. 4, Mike, is the witness of those who heard this brother preach. They sensed a deep awareness of the power and majesty of God under Lloyd-Jones preaching.

Which is what happens when we preach the crucified and risen Christ — and not us, the church, etc.

By: Matthew Morine

Matthew Morine — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:59:53 +0000

A congregation a while back, the elders were always bragging on themselves for being a godly and sound eldership. The problem was that the members did not believe it. If fact, it was making them sick. Sometimes people are tired of the brag.

http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org

By: Matt Dabbs

Matt Dabbs — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:42:26 +0000

Right on target Mike. We are not here to transform people into our likeness. We have tried that and they end up more broken than they started out. We are here to point people to God. When we preach Christ and a transformation into his image rather than our own good things will happen and the church will be the church. The hard part is, we feel if we don’t pipe up and tell everyone how much we are the church God wants us to be no one will do that for us. So the focus comes off of God and goes onto self, particular worship practices, etc.

We end up being Churchians rather than Christians.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 05:11:00 +0000

Wow-powerful words-and right there in our own Bible-if we just stepped out of the way and allowed Jesus to be His own constant sermon-many more would be drawn to Him. It is never about us and “our church”-but only about Him!! I love it-thanks for the reminder!!

Hope everyone fit today and is safe from all of the flooding!

By: Adam G.

Adam G. — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 02:41:29 +0000

I served a church in New Mexico where everyone yearned for visitors to believe that the congregation was wonderful and nice and good and right, but no one wanted to do much to make people believe that. That was the preacher’s job. He was the salesman, the church’s “face.”

I’ve posted on my own blog on church hopping and shopping. People are looking for a better deal than they already have, and churches play right into the market-atmosphere.

http://tinyurl.com/yrag9n

By: Keith Brenton

Keith Brenton — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 13:16:19 +0000

Vic, I fully agree with you. But preachers who are intent on concentrating on the gospel also have to be prepared for the kind of results that Wade Hodges (along with Greg Taylor) experienced and documented in their Christianity Today / Leadership Journal article earlier this year.

By: Justin

Justin — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 03:31:25 +0000

Amen Mike! Im tired of churches trying to convert people from other churches. If we just live like Jesus I believe people will flock to the church and we wont have to do that much talking.

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 18:50:28 +0000

When I visited New York in 2000, they had posters up everywhere that said, “They call it the World Series, but we usually play it here.” I thought that was hilarious and it summed up Yankee pride very well.

Enjoy my niece and nephew. Put Avery to work, huh?

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:00:28 +0000

“We don’t preach ourselves.” Ever since that began to sink into me, it’s always been such a welcome relief. Thanks for the reminder.

By: David U

David U — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 15:56:03 +0000

Human nature is to make it all about US! Our restoration movement, our distinctiveness, our brotherhood, our members, our doctrine, our schools and graduate schools, and the list goes on and on.

OUR Lord and Savior takes a back seat to everything else many times.

May God forgive us,
DU

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 15:49:39 +0000

Believe by Brooks and Dunn is a great video to show when speaking about doubt. It’s available for $1.99 on iTunes.

I’m in Dallas this morning to see Robarts before picking up family and heading to ACU.

See you Sunday.

Peace.

By: laura oldenburg

laura oldenburg — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 14:05:13 +0000

Mike
This verse “that we don’t preach ourselves”, is especially true here in Zambia. For too long missionaries attempted to preach American or western cultured, Christianity. Despite this His Church bloomed where it was planted. Now, we try each time we teach or preach or interact with believers here, that it is indeed, not about us. The Zambians are often the ones who teach us. They have clear insight about whose we are and what we should be teaching . We try to focus on Jesus not a particular congreagation which we feel is better than another one. Here each small congregation of 10-100 people are hungry to hear the Word read, preached and taught. They don’t compare themselves to anyone else. They really don’t understand the competition American Churches have with each other. They have only joy for the success of each little church and what they are doing for others. I hope this lesson we are learning stays in my heart.

By: Rex

Rex — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:49:29 +0000

In my undergraduate years at Harding U., Dr. Stockstill said to us “What we win them with is what we win them to.” If we want to win someone to Jesus Christ then we must tell them about Jesus… not the church, not the doctrine of the church, not the fear of judgment, but Jesus.

By: Kathy S

Kathy S — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:54:51 +0000

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesusâ€™ sake.â€ WOW. We’ve had some guest speakers who preached this and these sermons were so inspiring, so convicting, so devastating….I would never get tired of this.

By: preacherman

preacherman — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 00:47:45 +0000

As a minister we preach as Paul says, “We preach Christ & Him crucified.” And we understand as His servants of His people that it is no longer I but Christ. In everything we do may Jesus Christ be glorified: In our lives (self and family( the way we treat and meet the needs of our family and children), ministry, (prayer life, personal study, sermon prep, class prep), finances, other relationships, hobbies and other things that we do in life.