How to preach like Jesus
preached
“For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 (KJV)
“We won’t
change doctrine. What we will do is
return the church to its true doctrine—the one it has forgotten, the one that
puts man back in the center. For too long, the church put sin in the center. By
putting the suffering of man, and his relationship with God, back in the
center, these harsh attitudes toward homosexuality, divorce, and other things
will start to change.” Serna [read 1 John 5:14-17; Matt. 25:34-46.]
1. The God
who loves us.
"The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because
He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent
Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And
recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are
oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Luke 4:18-19
(NKJV)
Notice His
entire emphasis on meeting needs and healing hurts. Jesus had Good News to
share, and people wanted to hear it. He had a message that offered practical
benefits for their lives. His truth would "set people free" and bring
all sorts of blessings to their lives. Very
few of the people who came to Jesus were looking for truth. They were looking
for relief. So Jesus would meet their felt needs, whether leprosy, blindness,
or a bent back. After their felt needs were met, they were always anxious to
know the truth about this Man.
Our basic
message to people must be good news. If it isn't good news, it isn't the
gospel. We must learn to share the gospel in ways that show it is both
"good" and "news." The gospel is about what God has done
for us and what we can become in Christ. A personal relationship to Christ is the
answer to all of man's deepest needs. The Good News offers people what they are
frantically searching for: forgiveness, freedom, security, purpose, love,
acceptance, and strength. It settles our past, assures our future, and gives
meaning to today. We have the best news in the world.
If you'd been
in a car accident and were bleeding to death in the Emergency Room, how would
you feel if the doctor came in and wanted to talk about the Greek word for
hospital or the history of the stethoscope? All he said to you could be true
but irrelevant because it doesn't stop your hurt. You would want the doctor to
begin with your pain.
Beginning a
message with people's felt needs is not some modern approach invented by
20th-century marketing! It's the way Jesus always preached. It's based on the doctrinal fact that God
chooses to reveal himself to man according to our needs! Both the Old and New
Testament are filled with many examples of this.
Even the names of God are revelations of how God meets
our felt needs! Throughout history when people have asked God, "What is
your name?" God's response has been to reveal himself according to what
they needed at that specific time: to those who needed a miracle, God revealed
himself as Jehovah-Jireh ("I am your provider"), to those who needed
comfort, God revealed himself as Jehovah-Shalom ("I am your peace"),
to those who needed salvation, God revealed himself as Jehovah-tsidkenu
("I am your righteousness").
2. The
Great Commission.
`”And
Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me
in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded
you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Amen.” Matt 28:18-20 (NKJV)
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled
us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of
reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the
word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf,
be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin
for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor 5:18-21 (NKJV)
“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them,
He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them
and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.”
Mark
16:19-20 (NKJV)
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