So hard to find a good, biblical church these days, but I do have to commend my pastor at Calvary Chapel, Greer, SC, who shies away from none of these topics. In fact, he says that preaching expositionally prevents a pastor from doing that.
You can listen to the livestream of either Sunday morning service here: https://calvarygreer.org/livestream. We're in Galatians currently and studying Jonah at mid-week service. Pastor Randy Lucero.
As a pastor, I wouldn't say expository preaching *prevents* pastors from preaching on those topics. One does need to "stick" to the text in expository preaching, but good expository preaching also properly utilizes the "whole context" of Scripture, and when such topics do impact the particular text the preacher is expositing, he ought to bring them to bear to buttress the main point of his specific text. On the other hand, just to preach topically on the sins of the culture is to risk feeding the flock in an imbalanced way. I'd rather preach the occasional topical sermon, or sermon series, that tackles cultural sins (a series in the Ten Commandments, for example), while preaching through Bible books "lectio continua" (sequential expository preaching) and hitting "hot topics" as they naturally emerge in relationship to that week's text. That way you get the big picture as well as the details of specific Bible books ingrained into your soul.
The lack of conviction in the pulpit is largely due the prevalence of the consumer mentality in the pew.
2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires," (NASB 1995)
The assault on womanhood has been particularly on my mind over the last few years, and more so recently.
I was at the church building when I overheard two Christian women talking about the possibility of one of their daughters marrying young and staying home to rear her own children. The mother sneered that the daughter would be “bored” and that such ideas were beneath her. It’s not often that the open disdain for prioritizing the family is so fully on display as it was that night. But I wonder when and why it became so practically the standard.
It’s never been my secular friends who disapproved of my young marriage, young motherhood, and homeschooling. Discouragement and disdain have always come from the church.
Mr. Walker, please continue speaking on these topics and encouraging pastors to rise up.
My observation is that many pastors don’t see the problems you are pointing out, and those that do are afraid of the consequences of preaching as explicitly as you have here.
I am in the so called Bible Belt in Oklahoma there are as many Churches as Casinos and Pot Disepesaries. I have pretty much stopped searching for a Church. Most are entertaininment driven lack of severance play Hillsong, Bethel and Elevation not gonna give a tithe to any church that plays that. I am my moms sole caregiver so we watch Church on TV. I will move eventually God willing to a Biblical Church or drive an hour. God willing.
So hard to find a good, biblical church these days, but I do have to commend my pastor at Calvary Chapel, Greer, SC, who shies away from none of these topics. In fact, he says that preaching expositionally prevents a pastor from doing that.
Oh? I’m in Clemson but might should move to Greer!
You can listen to the livestream of either Sunday morning service here: https://calvarygreer.org/livestream. We're in Galatians currently and studying Jonah at mid-week service. Pastor Randy Lucero.
Thank you!
As a pastor, I wouldn't say expository preaching *prevents* pastors from preaching on those topics. One does need to "stick" to the text in expository preaching, but good expository preaching also properly utilizes the "whole context" of Scripture, and when such topics do impact the particular text the preacher is expositing, he ought to bring them to bear to buttress the main point of his specific text. On the other hand, just to preach topically on the sins of the culture is to risk feeding the flock in an imbalanced way. I'd rather preach the occasional topical sermon, or sermon series, that tackles cultural sins (a series in the Ten Commandments, for example), while preaching through Bible books "lectio continua" (sequential expository preaching) and hitting "hot topics" as they naturally emerge in relationship to that week's text. That way you get the big picture as well as the details of specific Bible books ingrained into your soul.
The lack of conviction in the pulpit is largely due the prevalence of the consumer mentality in the pew.
2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires," (NASB 1995)
The assault on womanhood has been particularly on my mind over the last few years, and more so recently.
I was at the church building when I overheard two Christian women talking about the possibility of one of their daughters marrying young and staying home to rear her own children. The mother sneered that the daughter would be “bored” and that such ideas were beneath her. It’s not often that the open disdain for prioritizing the family is so fully on display as it was that night. But I wonder when and why it became so practically the standard.
It’s never been my secular friends who disapproved of my young marriage, young motherhood, and homeschooling. Discouragement and disdain have always come from the church.
Mr. Walker, please continue speaking on these topics and encouraging pastors to rise up.
My observation is that many pastors don’t see the problems you are pointing out, and those that do are afraid of the consequences of preaching as explicitly as you have here.
Amen my brother, that is exactly right 🙌🙌🙌 no accountability 😞
A sermon I never hear is the topic of the Bema Seat Judgement.
It would shake people up a little.
I am in the so called Bible Belt in Oklahoma there are as many Churches as Casinos and Pot Disepesaries. I have pretty much stopped searching for a Church. Most are entertaininment driven lack of severance play Hillsong, Bethel and Elevation not gonna give a tithe to any church that plays that. I am my moms sole caregiver so we watch Church on TV. I will move eventually God willing to a Biblical Church or drive an hour. God willing.
All TRUE, Virgil Walker! Thank you from a happy complementarian wife, mother, and grandmother.
This is why I'm a paid subscriber. To hear this. Amen and amen, brother.