Preaching For Life Change: It’s All In Learning To Preach Like Jesus
What I’m trying to say is this: The crowd does not determine whether or not you speak the truth. The truth is not optional. But your audience does determine which truths you choose to speak about. To unbelievers, some truths are more relevant than others.
Can something be both true and irrelevant? Certainly!
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.
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Your audience also determines how you start your message. If you are speaking to the unchurched — and you spend the first part of the message on historical background — by the time you get to the personal application you’ll have already lost your audience. When speaking to unbelievers, you need to begin where your sermons normally end up!
Today “preaching to felt needs” is scorned and criticized in some circles as a cheapening of the gospel and a sell-out to consumerism. I want to state this in the clearest way possible: 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 theological 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).
The examples go on and on. God always meets us where we’re at — our point of need. Preaching to felt needs is a theologically sound approach to introducing people to God.
Preaching that changes lives somehow brings the truth of God’s Word and the real needs of people together through application. Which end of the continuum you begin with is irrelevant as long as you bring them together!
Jesus related truth to life.
I love the practicality and simplicity of Jesus’ teaching. It was clear, relevant, and applicable. He aimed for application because his goal was to transform people, not merely inform them.