Four Lessons for Preachers (part 2)

This week, I’m going over four lessons on preaching that I’ve learned from Jesus in John 6:51-66. Yesterday I talked about the importance of preaching the message that has been given to you.  Moving on to lesson number 2: Expect people to not like the message.

If you are preaching the message God has given, then you can expect some people to not like it.  This push back will come from all over: people close to you, people not close to you, the denominational leadership (or covenant partners for you independent types), the deacons, the first time guests, the lifetime members. The folks following Jesus didn’t like His message at all.  ”This is a hard saying.  Who can hear it?”  This complaint can fall under two categories.

1. This message is too hard for me.
2. This message is too hard for them.

There will be those in the crowd that will be personally challenged by God through the message He gives us to preach.  God is not satisfied with living on the fringes of Christianity.  Jesus said things like:

“You’re either with me or against me.”
“You’re either gathering or scattering.”
“Because you’re lukewarm, I’m spewing you out of my mouth.”

This sort of message flies in the face of the relativism that is generally embraced by people both outside and inside the church (note the lower case “c”).  A message that challenges the crowd, stretches crowd, or tells the crowd that something is not right will generally be rejected by the crowd.

There will also be people that will pressure you to change the message because it is too challenging on the crowd, and might drive them away.  In other words, you will be pressured to do all you can to keep the attendance from declining.  The disciples of Jesus were in the middle of a record attendance:  5000, not counting children’s church.  To them, a crowd meant success, but, and I love how Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv puts it, “Jesus didn’t die for a crowd, He died for His church.”

So let’s recaps the lessons so far…

Lesson #1:  Preach the message God’s given to you.
Lesson #2:  Expect people to not like the message.

Would LOVE to hear your thoughts so far.

~ by John on May 27, 2009.