Chasing Sermons and Rabbits

As I reach the end of another sermon series (this one 2 Corinthians) it becomes time to start another one. My entire ministerial career (1981 to present) the mantra has always been “expository” or “verse by verse teaching.” It seemed this type of preaching was the only type allowed in truly Biblical churches. Any pastor that did not engage in verse by verse teaching was guilty of heresy (or at least that was implied). I did not grow up in Baptist churches with this type of teaching; for the most part the sermons I heard were topical sermons each week (although every sermon was going to be what we called a “salvation sermon”). So it becomes necessary to reevaluate the priority of what is studied and how it is studied every time a series begins.

Another comment that is frequently heard in “verse by verse” churches is that it takes so long to get through a book or series. This can be a legit criticism if the preacher is deliberately going slow or “chasing rabbits” as we like to call it in order to make the study time stretch out. However, many times the verse by verse teaching is interesting and brings up a lot of different subjects for discussion. Therefore more time is taken to get through a particular verse or portion of a verse because it brings up more subjects that are relevant and timely. Folks need to understand that some verses take longer just because they are “meatier,” much like you should take your time getting through a good quality piece of steak and not just wolf it down unappreciatively.
Topical preaching (or subject preaching) can be effective but since it stays “on topic” many get bored because the subject is mentioned frequently. “What, are we still talking about sin again? Why can’t we study something else?” (Insert your best whiny voice impression here) The balance of keeping a subject interesting but being thorough and practical is a delicate act indeed. The preacher must constantly keep his skills sharp so as not to be boring but he must also be thorough and “plumb the depths” of a subject so that true knowledge can come from it.
I have never heard of a bored student learning anything; but I have also never heard of a shallow preacher being interesting. We all need to understand that it takes time to get through a subject or a series; shallow knowledge is not edifying to anyone. Bored listeners might mean there’s a boring preacher in the house. Keep it in balance, people, and keep it real; your desire for something “interesting” or “practical” can change from Sunday to Sunday and we don’t yet have an app for your smartphone for you to punch in your “subject of the week” prior to Sunday. The key is that the information being presented in the sermon is vital and necessary to spiritual life. If it’s important to knowing Jesus Christ, then you need to know it no matter how often it is repeated. On the other hand, the preacher must learn to say the vital information in an interesting manner and not say the same thing the same way week after week.
The nature of truth is that it’s eternal, and if it’s eternal it’s been around awhile. If it’s been around awhile it’s old and therefore if you’ve been in church more than 30 minutes in your life you’ve probably heard it before. The mantra of “we want something new” can be very unhealthy and in fact could be a sign of the coming apocalypse! (They heap to themselves teachers having itching ears) Be careful what you wish for when you constantly want something new.
I find this subject interesting because I think many preachers are pretty full of themselves and don’t like any criticism of their preaching at all. They’re such strutting peacocks they’re funny: who are you to think you’re the be-all and end-all of preaching and that if you’ve said it there’s nothing left to be said? Get over yourself. And people need to realize the nature of learning the Bible and applying it to your daily walk: repetition, repetition, repetition. Achieving a good balance of this in our churches will lead to spiritual health and edification of all.
So, what am I going to preach when 2 Corinthians is over? Haven’t made up my mind yet but whether it is topical or expository we’ll try to continue to learn and grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the goal of every sermon to result in the edification of the people and what best represents Jesus Christ in whatever we study and learn from a sermon or a Sunday School lesson.