How do you preach against the grain...

[Autumnleaf]

How do you approach preaching on touchy topics such as women taking their proper place in marriage, abortion, men speaking out against sin, and spreading the good word everywhere?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Are you ready to lose everything ?

 

[djsterf]

Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), but don't compromise a message that's blatantly Scriptural (e.g. Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 for men & women in marriage, Romans 1 for homosexuality, though most sermons about homosexuality are alienating, etc.).

Scripture convicts and can turn people from sin, even to the salvation of their souls in Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Timothy 3:15 and 16). It's pretty sweet stuff.

Preaching includes being faithful to God's message to the world.

 

[vespasia]

Begin in prayer, study a great deal, then pray some more.

Then begin to write with compassion.

 

[plmarquette]

revelation 12.11 .... witness, testimony, blood and name

what works, what bears fruit ...

what is found in the mouth of 2-3 witnesses

what should be , can be ...

by your example and the fruit of the Holy Spirit onyour life...

by making suggestions ... like Peter Faulk on Columbo

 

[Touma]

The real question is how do you preach the word accurately , when ever the mainstream church believes quite differently

 

[Autumnleaf]

The real question is how do you preach the word accurately , when ever the mainstream church believes quite differently

I think the answer is honestly. You speak the word and take the heat from people who want to be comfortable in the lies they're use to. When word gets out about what you are doing you get a response like Mel Gibson got when he made Passion of the Christ. The reward is there along with the scorn of the enemy. You just need the hueavos to do it.

 

[Sadpenguin]

Honestly. Just because people don't like some things doesn't make them wrong. Conversely, just because people enjoy some things doesn't make them right. Sometimes, honesty is not always welcomed.

2 Chronicles 24:17 After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. 18 They abandoned the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God's anger came upon Judah and Jerusalem. 19 Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen. 20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, "This is what God says: 'Why do you disobey the LORD's commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.' "
21 But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD's temple. 22 King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah's father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, "May the LORD see this and call you to account."



The point is, some things have to be said, but they should also always be said in love.


Galatians 6:1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Like "ye brood of serpents!" ? in the Gospels.

 

[Caeroth]

How do you approach preaching on touchy topics such as women taking their proper place in marriage, abortion, men speaking out against sin, and spreading the good word everywhere?

I only preach part-time, but as I was preparing a message, I remembered something I had heard in several places recently: Pastors these days talk a lot about loving God and about following Jesus, but they almost never talk about sin and salvation. That got me to thinking about Galatians chapter 5, where Paul gets brutally honest with a whole bunch of churches all at once:

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. -- Galatians 5:16-25
​

Paul pulled no punches in pointing out the sins of the flesh that he had seen before among those churches, the sins they were supposed to have turned from. And unlike his other epistles, where Paul addresses a specific church, Paul here is addressing a whole group of churches who all seem to have fallen under the sway of someone who was trying to get them to circumcise themselves and follow Mosaic Law. Can we do any less when we see the church we love, the people we cherish, falling under the sway of those who try to say "Well, that part of the Bible is wrong."?

Touchy subject or not, there are some things that plainly need addressing in our churches. Not that anyone is specifically doing any of the things we might address, but because it's all too easy to preach "easy" messages that keep things all light and fluffy. Leave the light and fluffy to the pastry chefs. Let's keep it real and based in Scripture:

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. -- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
​

Reject part of God's Word, and you may as well reject all of it. But to accept the gospel message, we must necessarily accept all of Scripture. And as servants and teachers, it is our duty to preach it all. That being the case, there are still many ways to approach touchy subjects with love and understanding, so that people see how to live it out in their own lives without offending their own sense of freedom in Christ.