The Next Sermon Series (A few words on Post-Easter series)
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This week we've been doing a bit of inspection as to the process of choosing sermons, both individual sermons and whole sermon series. We've taken a conceptual look at the tools Preachers have at their disposal to make Godly choices in sermon texts and topics. We've also taken a look at an example of how those tools move from concept to reality in the choice of our last sermon series on the book of Esther. Today we will take a look at how these tools come into play for our upcoming sermon series for April-May.
Our next sermon series is going to be topical in nature. What is topical preaching? Topical preaching is the systematic practice of taking a question or concept to God's Word to search broadly what the Bible has to say about that question or concept. Topical preaching differs from verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter preaching in the method of opening up God's Word to see what it says. Verse-by-verse preaching is a wonderful, glorious approach that exposes us to every nook and cranny of God's Word. Verse-by-verse preaching doesn't allow for a preacher or church to skip passages, topics, or books that may cause us to get uncomfortable, awkward, or have questions. I personally believe (and have practiced in my ministry) verse-by-verse preaching through whole books should be the regular "default" approach for churches.
So topical preaching isn't taking a whole book and preaching verse by verse or chapter by chapter. Rather topical preaching is taking a question or concept and searching God's Word for answers. There are challenges that come with both verse-by-verse preaching, and with topical preaching. That's a discussion for another day. Today let's focus on the next sermon series.
Our next sermon series will focus on the question: What is the Church?
This is a pretty broad question, with tons of potential aspects to consider. We will only be spending 7-8 weeks in this topic at this time (before starting another series in the Summer on the Psalms). While that may sound like a ton of time to answer a single question, it's not much time to get into all the various questions that arise out of the answers to that single question. One question often demands one answer, but one answer may lead to many more questions.
In this topical series we will hope to faithfully and briefly consider what the church is, and what that reality means for our local church. I hope that we are provoked to questions as we study the church from God's Word. Some of the questions that I hope we provoke are as follows:
- How were the decisions made in the early church?
- What did the early church DO?
- How were disputes handled in the early church?
- What does it look like (for a person, and/or a church) to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
- How should the church conduct it's responsibilities in comparison to a business?
- What does God's Word say about leadership in the church?
- What does God's Word say about participating in the church?
This is a big topic, and plenty of differences exist between strong, believing Christians regarding the church. If I start this series with my opinions, beliefs, experiences, and research, I've failed from the get go. In praying through different passages I've been overwhelmed with God's explicit direction he has given to his church through his Word. We Christians have not been left without instruction regarding our conduct, relationships, and processes as Christ's church. We have been given God's life giving, sharply pointed and empowering Word to guide, teach, and correct our ways .
My prayer has mostly focused staying true to God's Word, avoiding pitfalls of rabbit trails, and staying silent on things which are not helpful during this study. Sometimes we preachers bring up, mention, or "go off the rails" with topics that are not central or in the worse cases, even helpful at all. I want to strengthen me to have a clear conscience in preparing and preaching this series that I have been faithful to the Word of God and conducting myself in a way that is pleasing to Christ.
2. Start with the Bible, not with a commentary.
A couple of different passages have stuck out to me as I've been reading and preparing for this study.
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. - Acts 1:14
This was after Jesus ascension into heaven. The disciples came together and were "constantly" in prayer. The phrase here gives the ongoing sense that this was a regular part of their lives moving forward. In other words, this wasn't just an event that happened on a day, but rather, this was a disposition of attitude and regular priority of the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus to gather for prayer.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. - Acts 2:42
Here we have a specific instance after Pentecost that those who became believers made devotion to the apostolic teaching a priority, the celebration of the Lord's Supper (breaking of bread) and prayer. The teaching of the apostles was not something to be received "one time" or even "a few times". Learning from the apostles was the devoted intent of the new believers after Pentecost.
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. - Acts 4:2-4
The commitment of the apostles and the early-post-ascension-church was to the teaching and proclaiming of Jesus resurrection of the dead. Even with great opposition and fleshly consequences, the committed church of Christ taught, proclaimed and believed. The reality of Christ's resurrection demanded it take center stage in the words and actions of the early church.
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:2-4
In speaking with his disciples, Jesus taught that he was the source of growth. Growth apart from growth in Jesus isn't really growth. Absent of faithful continuation in Jesus the disciples were devoid of power or effect. Present in faithful continuation in Jesus the disciples were filled with good produce. Growth is therefore measured by Jesus' metrics of evaluation, not our own.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Paul, writing through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, instructs the church of Thessalonica to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. These things weren't merely instructions or a "PS" add on at the end of an otherwise important letter. These things were "God's will for you in Christ Jesus". We may all have questions about God's will, but this is very clear that as we rejoice, pray continually, and give thanks, we are living in God's will.
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. - Matthew 4:18-20
Jesus called Peter and Andrew to follow him. I wonder what drew Peter and Andrew to Jesus at that point. Had they heard of Jesus? Was it his overwhelming divine power that demanded a response? After all, the verb used about God's creation of the universe is often "spoke" or "said" in Genesis 1. Was the power of Christ's Word such that Peter and Andrew responded in kind? Jesus first command to these two disciples was one which he communicated a comparison from their old life (fishing) and promised something about their new life (disciples). In short, Jesus spoke, and Peter and Andrew were changed.
3. Study God's Word in light of the opportunities observable.
At present, nearly every church in the United States (and many other places throughout the world I'm sure as well) has an opportunity. Thinking about life after Covid-19 is something on the horizon for many. While some places are "more open" and some are "more restricted", every group of believers has a chance to question what is of chief importance. What is worth doing together? What is worth risking health for? What is the best way to love our community and witness to our God's great redeemer Christ Jesus? How is the church to function in the midst of such turbulence?
These are some of the questions that the present moment gives us opportunity to consider. In my own local context we have a whole host of specific questions. We have questions about the duties and accompanying benefits of church membership. We have questions about the efficacy of our official constitution as a body. We have questions about the structure in place for governance of the church. We have questions about Godly interpretations of the Bible. We have questions about trust and fellowship.
All of these questions and circumstances give us a special moment in time. In this moment we can both diligently search the scriptures and then dedicate ourselves to the service of God and love of one another in light of God's Word.
I'm prayerful, hopeful, and looking forward to seeing how God uses the questions of our present moment for his glory and our growth in faith.
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