be willing to talk to those you were taught to avoid/stop looking to bible for sermon

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CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,170
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#1
what are your thoughts?
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#2
Ummmm, got problems with the advice:
1. I was never taught to avoid anyone.

As I get older, the only ones I avoid now are the ones who have no intention in listening.

2. If it's not biblical, why would I want a sermon on it?

And, yeah. Not saying I'm anti-learning. But most of the stuff not in the Bible, yet sermon worthy, (usually health related, or manners related), I had those sermons often enough that I don't need another sermon on it.

So, errr, why do you ask?
:confused:
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,862
9,579
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#3
Now why would I be willing to talk to Mormon missionaries and Jehovah's Witnesses? lol
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,170
4,000
113
#4
Ummmm, got problems with the advice:
1. I was never taught to avoid anyone.

As I get older, the only ones I avoid now are the ones who have no intention in listening.

2. If it's not biblical, why would I want a sermon on it?

And, yeah. Not saying I'm anti-learning. But most of the stuff not in the Bible, yet sermon worthy, (usually health related, or manners related), I had those sermons often enough that I don't need another sermon on it.

So, errr, why do you ask?
:confused:
lol two things I heard today .


these two preachers very well-known who I will not mention. One said The church has taught us to avoid other churches and denominations of Christianity “be willing to speak to those who you were taught to avoid”.

Then he said “the big issues with Pastors today is they are looking into the Word of God for their next sermon and not for hearing what God is saying to them.”.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#5
what are your thoughts?
I was taught to avoid strangers, homeless people, strange men and anyone who wasn't family.

My husband has said I have never meet a stranger and I have been adopted into the family of God....so my family is quite large.

I have spoken to homeless men but they are no stranger than anyone else in my life.

My thoughts?

Why should we stop looking to the Bible for a sermon?

When did we start looking to the Bible for a sermon?

I thought we looked at it to better understand God and His will for the world and our lives?

If we are looking for a sermon is it to be preached at or to Preach to others?
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#6
lol two things I heard today .


these two preachers very well-known who I will not mention. One said The church has taught us to avoid other churches and denominations of Christianity “be willing to speak to those who you were taught to avoid”.

Then he said “the big issues with Pastors today is they are looking into the Word of God for their next sermon and not for hearing what God is saying to them.”.
Oh okay...did he mention prayer?
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#8
lol two things I heard today .


these two preachers very well-known who I will not mention. One said The church has taught us to avoid other churches and denominations of Christianity “be willing to speak to those who you were taught to avoid”.

Then he said “the big issues with Pastors today is they are looking into the Word of God for their next sermon and not for hearing what God is saying to them.”.
The church does seem to talk a lot about avoiding others, but if we avoid others it causes two distinctly bad things:
1. The gospel being told to the infamous "others."
2. Training on how to rub elbows in fellowship together.

I come from a normal sized family in my generation, and yet nowadays it's considered a large family. Six siblings. I enjoy the company of some of my siblings and don't like being around the others, but I love them. They're family. God teaches me how to work it out, because we are family and don't really have much of a choice, (particularly when the chips are down), but to work together. It has worn a bunch of rough spots among us over the years. (One brother I used to go so far as "hate" him. Over the years God has gotten me all the way up to deep respect, and a little bit of "like" in there.)

Christians are more family than blood family is family. We're going to spend eternity together, and there will be no sorrow during most of that time. That means we're going to have to get along, if it kills us. lol

So, it seems best to avoid avoiding anyone. Either we're going to end up spending eternity together or we're going to have to explain to the Lord why we never reached out to someone who needed him.

To me, Earth is our practice field to get ready for the big game.

And the second one? One of the things I like about Presbyterianism is the sermon will be the next verses from last weekend's sermon. That's all the sermons are about -- verse-by-verse from beginning-to-end of Bible. The good news for the teaching elder is he will never have to do a sermon on the same verses, simply because he will never have a long enough life to go from beginning to end. BUT, every sermon, whether it's those chapters about what each family brought to the tabernacle in Numbers to the Sermon on the Mount will, somehow, relate to life now for most of the church-goers. If you will be teaching on 2-10 verses the following weekend and take 35 hours to prepare for it, guaranteed, the Lord will reveal what he wants you to say. What else can you do after the research and context are established?
:eek:
 
Dec 9, 2011
13,703
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#9
what are your thoughts?
You never know when a door will open so to speak ,the just shall live by faith and we who are reborn of Incorruptible seed are led by the SPIRIT of GOD so then If GOD tells us to talk to the person that has been avoided we should be obedient knowing by faith that GOD has equipped us and HIS WORD will be yes and amen.
 
N

NoNameMcgee

Guest
#10
You never know when a door will open so to speak ,the just shall live by faith and we who are reborn of Incorruptible seed are led by the SPIRIT of GOD so then If GOD tells us to talk to the person that has been avoided we should be obedient knowing by faith that GOD has equipped us and HIS WORD will be yes and amen.
amen brother
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
12,763
113
#11
what are your thoughts?
be willing to talk to those you were taught to avoid
The Bible tells us that there are some whom we must avoid, and some from whom we should simply walk away.
stop looking to bible for sermon
Where else would one go to put together a sermon, other than the Bible?

So looks like this faulty advice should be simply ignored. It has no basis in Scripture.
 
J

joefizz

Guest
#13
lol two things I heard today .


these two preachers very well-known who I will not mention. One said The church has taught us to avoid other churches and denominations of Christianity “be willing to speak to those who you were taught to avoid”.

Then he said “the big issues with Pastors today is they are looking into the Word of God for their next sermon and not for hearing what God is saying to them.”.
Well some parts make sense,for example the "avoiding" part it's pretty "foolish" to enter a place of satan such as a false doctrine church,or cult residence,that's like "looking for trouble" and I believe a sermon should be "both" bible based and "from God" it's pretty silly to "separate" the two a preacher ought to be "well read" in the bible and "open to" God/Jesus's influence and voice.
 

joaniemarie

Senior Member
Jan 4, 2017
3,198
303
83
#14
what are your thoughts?
I'm assuming this is not a "trick" question CS1. I saw the topic of your thread and the first thing I thought was Yes... we usually don't speak to those who see the Bible differently than we do and we have been taught to avoid them. And should we come in contact with them be ready to "fight" them. I was also taught to study the Bible as if to get a sermon out of it instead of for feeding my spirit.

Both approaches for me personally were wrong. I don't need sermon material I need personal redemption material. The Holy Spirit shows us how to allow Him to flow in and through us so we have fruit in our lives for Jesus and those around us and ourselves. The fruit of the Spirit is not rules and regulations but a matter of the new heart we were given.

Gal.5:22

[SUP]22 [/SUP]But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
[SUP]
23 [/SUP]Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [[SUP][a][/SUP]that can bring a charge].
[SUP]
24 [/SUP]And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.
[SUP]
25 [/SUP]If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit [SUP][b][/SUP]we have our life in God, let us go forward [SUP][c][/SUP]walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]
[SUP]
26 [/SUP]Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.
 
Dec 28, 2016
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#15
Avoiding people? Hmmm.

Fundamentalist secondary separation has caused great harm.

I used to hear 1 Corinthians 5:10 preached by several as if it were a warning that associating with the lost would cause God to "take us out of this world." That is one gravely misused text that has caused me to appreciate and seek proper context.

We cannot be salt to the world, and light to the world (Matthew 5:13-14) if we isolate and insulate ourselves from the lost.

This text would be difficult to heed if we are to avoid the lost: 1 Peter 3:15.

I happen to work around lots of lost people, and lately have had opportunity to witness to several of them the Gospel of Christ. I know, "Calvies" don't witness, right? :D

As far as the "sermon" thing, that's a touchy subject. The mere mention of a Biblical point to some is a sermon and they can become antagonistic about mentioning that. I try to avoid a person in that state of mind and pray for a good opportunity.

We do not always have to mention Scripture to the lost, why not just have general conversation and seek good opportunity and an open door of God's leading to go deeper in witness? Years ago I knew a guy who would hunt down the newly hired people at work and hit them between the eyes with the Gospel as soon as he found them. Not very wise imho.

Funny thing here, God tells us to avoid those who cause division &c, those within the body, obviously; Romans 16:17.
 
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,718
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#16
Where else would one go to put together a sermon, other than the Bible? So looks like this faulty advice should be simply ignored. It has no basis in Scripture.
...you missed the point entirely. Take a deep breath, or several, consider context, use critical thinking skills, and relax. No one intended nor was there unbiblical advice offered.
 
R

Ralph-

Guest
#17
what are your thoughts?
It's actually very wise counsel.

I've learned tons by being willing to at least hear people out who have differing doctrines and beliefs. But that goes against the general counsel of the church which is to not let ourselves be exposed to and thus influenced or deceived by differing doctrines and beliefs.

I can honestly say I have learned a lot about the truth of Christianity by engaging an avowed atheist on-line, and engaging our Messianic brethren in forum discussions. Sometimes those outside of your own doctrinal construct can help you see things that you can't see because you're stuck in your doctrinal construct.
 
R

Ralph-

Guest
#18
Now why would I be willing to talk to Mormon missionaries and Jehovah's Witnesses? lol
Because they will probably be more helpful in seeing something stupid or confusing or irrational or illogical in what you believe than will someone who believes like you do.
 
R

Ralph-

Guest
#19
I have noticed pastors can be so under the strain of trying to find a sermon week after week that they don't have any calm, quiet, personal time of their own in the Bible in which they can hear from God like the flock has.