Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Is God a little bit boring?

Daryl Dash continues to hit long balls at Theocentric Preaching. Here's a sample:
Nobody ever comes out and says it, but I think a lot of people think that theocentric preaching is boring preaching. The underlying assumption is that God is a little bit boring, or at least irrelevant to us. A preacher who helps us understand God, and our lives in light of God, is not as interesting as a practical sermon focused on our needs.
After years of needs-based preaching, I've become convinced that God-centered preaching is the way to go. It may not give listeners the immediate take-home value, but over the long haul it's the way to build disciples.

7 Comments:

Blogger yes2truth aka Charles Crosby said...

Sir,

Would you please explain the difference between a Born Again Son of God and a disciple. In my travels across Churchianity cyber space I get the impression that they do not know the difference.

I also find it breathtaking that 'God being boring' could ever be considered a subject for discussion. Unless of course these people don't know God, (and I have my suspicions) which in turn would explain the subject matter.

I trust and hope you are not one of them!

y2t

5:16 AM, September 06, 2006  
Blogger Milton Stanley said...

Reading over your blogs, it looks like you've given this question a lot more thought than I have. What would you say is the difference?

7:34 AM, September 06, 2006  
Blogger yes2truth aka Charles Crosby said...

A disciple isn't Born Again, because they are still in need of discipline, whereas a Born Again Son of God is now a brother and friend of Jesus Christ - a Royal priest.

Peter the disciple denied The Lord Jesus Christ three times. Peter the Apostle healed people with his shadow. That's the difference and what took place at Pentecost made the difference, i.e. The indwelling of The Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, most of mainstream Christianity doesn't seem to understand this most basic fundamental Truth and continue as disciples, indefinitely, even after Baptism. A most wretched of wretched conditions.

y2t

8:26 AM, September 06, 2006  
Blogger Milton Stanley said...

Thanks for the explanation. I think I see what you're saying, and you make an interesting distinction. What do you make of Luke's use of the word "disciple" in the book of Acts to refer to Christians (especially Acts 11:26 and 13:52)?

5:00 PM, September 06, 2006  
Blogger yes2truth aka Charles Crosby said...

The Holy Spirit works from without as well as from within and frequently did, especially with The OT Prophets and King David.

Exodus 28:3; 31:3 35:31; Psa 51:11

The Holy Spirit can also enter a human being temporarily and then withdraw, as in the case of Peter when he declared Jesus Christ as The Messiah in Matthew 16. It was the same for those disciples in Acts.

Disciples are also followers of Jesus Christ and therefore Christians. As soon as The Father begins to call us to His Son [John 6:44] (Always beware of those who say they have 'found' Jesus) we are Jesus' followers, but not yet Born Again.

y2t

6:18 PM, September 06, 2006  
Blogger Milton Stanley said...

Thanks, y2t, for taking the time to explain.

7:47 PM, September 06, 2006  
Blogger yes2truth aka Charles Crosby said...

You're welcome.

y2t

1:58 AM, September 07, 2006  

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