How Do You Choose

Posted on Oct 27, 2018 in General |

I am often asked the question, “How do you choose what to preach?”  Frankly, after prayerful consideration, I preach what I want to preach, but with a very serious caveat; I don’t skip any verses.

I have no issue with different styles of preaching and I won’t make a big fuss or argue about what I believe to be the best style, but style aside, I think the “why” behind what is preached, and more importantly, what is NOT preached, should be explained.

Too many preachers today are only picking topics and passages that they believe will be most pleasing to the congregation.  A few years ago, I was eating lunch with a preacher and he asked me what I taught in my Sunday school class the past Sunday.  I explained to him that I had just finished a three-week series on the topic of divorce.  He then said something that was shocking to me when he said, “I would never preach about divorce.”  I asked him why.  He responded, “I’m afraid of what the reaction would be.”

I didn’t know what to say exactly.  I shared with him that our class was studying the sermon on the mount and I taught the passage on divorce because it was the next scripture and I couldn’t justify skipping it.  I admitted that teaching that text did cause me some anxiety, but explained that it was the best attended series I ever taught and even though there were some tense moments, I received only positive feedback and thanks for not avoiding the passage.

I favor the expositional style of preaching because I believe that all of the verses are important and none should be neglected.  I understand that I will not please everyone, but that has never been the point of preaching.  Paul didn’t skip any teaching because he didn’t want to be found guilty of people dying in their sins:

Acts 20:26-27 – 26 Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.

I think you’ll find it interesting and encouraging to know that a few months after my preacher friend told me he would never preach about divorce, he preached about divorce, and the reaction he received was positive.  Even if the reaction to the proper teaching of God’s word is not positive, it should not deter preachers from preaching all of the purposes of God.

As we continue to study all of the verses in the sermon on the mount, let us all remember that these teachings do not belong to Wes LeFlore or the church in Wellington.  They belong to Jesus and they are all wonderful and beneficial to those who put their faith in Him.  God bless!