Closed Thread
Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: What is to be preached from the pulpit?

  1. #1
    Andres's Avatar
    Andres is offline. Puritanboard Junior
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Abilene,TX
    Posts
    1,908
    Thanks
    874
    Thanked 591 Times in 331 Posts

    What is to be preached from the pulpit?

    A dear friend and I were discussing what should and should not be preached from the pulpit. The discussion originated in regards to Joel Osteen. I took the stance that Osteen was wrong because he does not present the Gospel and the truths of the scriptures properly. My friend's stance is that Osteen could still be beneficial to the church as an "encourager". My friend said that many Christians may be struggling in their faith and Osteen's messages could be used by God to encourage believers in their walk. I disagreed because I feel that as a pastor, Osteen, or any minister of the Gospel, has an admonition to proclaim God's word, including the Gospel message, including the need for reconciliation to God, repentance, salvation by faith in Christ alone, etc. I was then challenged to provide specific scripture to show where God commands us what is to be preached from the pulpit. This thread is NOT intended to profess our feelings towards Mr. Osteen, but rather I am asking for some help as to how to continue this discussion with my friend. Thank you in advance for your wisdom.
    Andrew Silva
    Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC)
    Abilene,TX

    My wife - jennay1913
    My blog - Lose Your Life
    Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!

  2. #2
    Herald's Avatar
    Herald is offline. No posts for you!
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Gambrills, MD
    Posts
    13,158
    Blog Entries
    13
    Thanks
    2,278
    Thanked 3,909 Times in 1,941 Posts
    2 Timothy 4:1-2 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

    Romans 1:15 15 Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

    1 Timothy 4:13 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
    The preacher is to proclaim the Word of God; to teach the Word of God. Encouragement is gained through the scriptures, not by some feel-good message that is based on psychology and marketing.
    Bill Brown
    Elder
    Grace Baptist Church
    Maryland

    Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?
    Visit my BLOG Theology for the Rest of Us
    Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to Herald For This Useful Post:

    Rich Koster (07-22-2009)

  4. #3
    AThornquist's Avatar
    AThornquist is offline. Puritanboard Postgraduate
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Ukiah, California
    Posts
    4,796
    Thanks
    1,836
    Thanked 1,351 Times in 828 Posts
    No lie is justified by how fluffy and good it makes me feel about myself. Thus, Osteen's message is not an encouragement but a plague. It is a lie. There is so much room for true and lasting encouragement though and Scripture is by no means lacking in this regard! What is to be preached from the pulpit? The whole counsel of God's word.
    Andrew Thornquist My Photo Album
    Calvinistic Baptist
    Ukiah, California
    To follow Christ was the best decision God made for me!
    Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!

  5. #4
    SolaScriptura's Avatar
    SolaScriptura is offline. Puritanboard Postgraduate
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Manhattan, KS
    Posts
    4,570
    Thanks
    578
    Thanked 2,604 Times in 975 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Andres View Post
    My friend said that many Christians may be struggling in their faith and Osteen's messages could be used by God to encourage believers in their walk.
    I boldened this phrase.

    This is besides the point. God is sovereign and in His sovereignty He uses all sorts of people with all sorts of motives to accomplish His will. We are not privvy to the secret things of God. Something is not legitimized by the fact that God "can" use it. Instead, we are to judge something as "right" or "wrong" on the basis of how it conforms with God's revealed will, His holy Word.

    If Osteen and his "ministry" are found to be in conformity with Scripture, then he is a legitimate Christian minister doing legitimate biblical ministry. If, however, Osteen and his "ministry" are found to be in contradiction of the dictates of God's Word, then he is a false teacher with an illegitimate ministry... even if sometimes someone is "encouraged."
    Ben
    Chaplain, US Army
    Ft. Riley, KS
    TE Ohio Valley Presbytery, PCA
    Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to SolaScriptura For This Useful Post:

    Ask Mr. Religion (07-22-2009)

  7. #5
    Rich Koster's Avatar
    Rich Koster is offline. Puritanboard Senior
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Browns Mills NJ
    Posts
    2,793
    Blog Entries
    3
    Thanks
    714
    Thanked 842 Times in 495 Posts
    No preacher should be a one trick pony. The whole counsel of God should be preached, even the tough or seemingly crude passages. They are there for a reason.
    Rich Koster
    Browns Mills NJ USA
    Member of Covenant Baptist, Lumberton NJ (1689ers)
    http://cbclumberton.wordpress.com/

    The Often Goofy Reformed Eccentric
    Romans 7:14-25
    Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!

  8. #6
    Romans 9:16's Avatar
    Romans 9:16 is offline. Puritanboard Freshman
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    40
    Thanks
    4
    Thanked 35 Times in 18 Posts
    To isolate a truth from the larger system of thought can actually be the presenting of an untruth. To unmoor the supposed ‘encouraging’ bits of the gospel from the larger framework will actually take all the force and logic out of the gospel. It is actually a case of new gospel (which is no gospel at all). It is only discernable as an indivisible unity. What Osteen presents is not Biblical and therefore is not an encouragement. What God intended us to know is revelation en masse, not detached ‘fundemantals,’ or worse, selective ‘fundementals.’ Much of this could be averted by following Calvin’s excellent example of exegetical preaching. We should preach texts, not abstractions. Moreover, we should labor to show the systematic relation of all texts, expounding the mind of God in all its logic and beauty.

    I wrote a paper on Osteen, dealing with all the material in his two books. I don’t feel I am being a ‘island unto myself’ hyper reformed guy when I dismiss him as unbiblical. A nice smile and fancy suit is not substitute for proper teaching.
    Steve
    Pastoral Intern, RPCNA
    Ottawa, CA
    Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!

  9. #7
    kvanlaan's Avatar
    kvanlaan is offline now. Puritanboard Doctor
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    6,587
    Thanks
    2,071
    Thanked 1,807 Times in 988 Posts
    What is to be preached from the pulpit? The gospel, the whole of Scripture, the Word of God. I have visited churches who think that the pulpit is a great mouthpiece for all manner of goings on at church, but I think that the pulpit is the exclusive property of the Word.
    Kevin, husband of a truly angelic woman, and father to ten.
    Zion United Reformed Church of Sheffield
    Ontario, Canada
    Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to kvanlaan For This Useful Post:

    LawrenceU (07-23-2009)

  11. #8
    A.J.'s Avatar
    A.J. is offline. Puritanboard Junior
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Taytay, Rizal, The Philippines
    Posts
    1,832
    Thanks
    784
    Thanked 554 Times in 381 Posts
    The minister is to preach the whole counsel of God.

    Larger Catechism

    Q159: How is the word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?
    A159: They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine,[1] diligently,[2] in season and out of season;[3] plainly,[4] not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power;[5] faithfully,[6] making known the whole counsel of God;[7] wisely,[8] applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers;[9] zealously,[10] with fervent love to God [11] and the souls of his people;[12] sincerely,[13] aiming at his glory,[14] and their conversion,[15] edification,[16] and salvation.[17]

    1. Titus 2:1, 8
    2. Acts 18:25
    3. II Tim. 4:2
    4. I Cor. 14:19
    5. I Cor. 2:4
    6. Jer. 23:28; I Cor. 4:1-2
    7. Acts 20:27
    8. Col. 1:28; II Tim. 2:15
    9. I Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12-14; Luke 12:42
    10. Acts 18:25
    11. II Cor. 5:13-14; Phil. 1:15-17
    12. Col. 4:12; II Cor. 12:15
    13. II Cor. 2:17; 4:2
    14. I Thess. 2:4-6; John 7:18
    15. I Cor. 9:19-22
    16. II Cor. 12:19; Eph. 4:12
    17. I Tim. 4:16; Acts 26:16-18
    Albert, The Republic of the Philippines
    Pasig United Covenant Reformed Church (a Reformed church plant)
    United Covenant Reformed Churches in the Philippines
    Three Forms of Unity and Westminster Confession of Faith

    Psalm 27:1a (AV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
    “Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same as long as life lasts.” -
    Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!

  12. #9
    ewenlin's Avatar
    ewenlin is offline. Puritanboard Junior
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Singapore
    Posts
    1,580
    Thanks
    485
    Thanked 320 Times in 203 Posts
    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXcPLnKmBRQ]YouTube - Joel Osteen and Self-Esteem According to Paul Washer[/ame]

    -----Added 7/23/2009 at 08:49:41 EST-----

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWMrKcFKqzk]YouTube - Joel Osteen, it's just the Truth - Paul Washer[/ame]

    Joel Olsteen is a man of God! God's judgement that is!
    Ewen
    1689 LBCF
    Trinity Theological College.
    Perth, Australia
    Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!

Closed Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69