Preaching and Paper

[Alive4Jesus]

Dear beloved,

We often have a debate about preaching: should a Pastor or any preacher inspired by and from the Holy Spirit use a paper to preach or not, I mean, when a preacher is stood up the Assembly, should he have a paper on which he prepared hois sermon or not? Since the Holy Spirit is the only oe to teach us and no one and nothing else.

What to say when he prepared his sermon from home and that it happens the sermon changed when being before GOD's people because the Holy Spîrit let him know he has something else and better for His people. It happened with one pastor I know: he prepared his sermon at home but when he was before the GOD's people, his sermon was otherwise. In the beginning, he wanted to teach what he planned from home ut his mouth could and definately, he taught what the Holy Spirit wanted. And it was done.

GOD bless you through Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen!!!

 

[Trishann]

Allive4Jesus, sometimes when the Holy Spirit said something within my heart sometimes I write it down on paper. Maybe as the Preacher reading the Word of God that he is receiving a message from God and he is writing it down.

Years ago I taught Sunday, definitely want to prepare yourself, but I do remember I study all that week trying to put a lesson together, I just couldn't get it together so the children could understand it, so I walked in that class room not knowing what I was going to say. But somehow that study I did all week came together and I knew it was the Holy Spirt that made it come together.

Yes I do believe the Lord can change a sermon or lesson but I also believe that you need to be prepared and sometimes writing it down help.

God Bless, Trish

 

[stephen]

Dear beloved,

We often have a debate about preaching: should a Pastor or any preacher inspired by and from the Holy Spirit use a paper to preach or not, I mean, when a preacher is stood up the Assembly, should he have a paper on which he prepared hois sermon or not? Since the Holy Spirit is the only oe to teach us and no one and nothing else.

What to say when he prepared his sermon from home and that it happens the sermon changed when being before GOD's people because the Holy Spîrit let him know he has something else and better for His people. It happened with one pastor I know: he prepared his sermon at home but when he was before the GOD's people, his sermon was otherwise. In the beginning, he wanted to teach what he planned from home ut his mouth could and definately, he taught what the Holy Spirit wanted. And it was done.

GOD bless you through Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen!!!

I guess it is a valid question. But I do not think it matters. The main act is to preach the word. It is better to have notes than to forget what you wanted to say. The use of notes does not restrict the blessing of God, or the Salvation of people.

I often use notes particularly if I want to make a point clear from the bible, and have many ref. to scripture.

WE all recall how Peter stood to preach on the day of Pentecost
Acts 2:14. and preachers and Christians often do that. But the use of notes is not excluded

 

[Hekuran]

A personal response

I preach from time-to-time. I spend a long time in prayer and preparation. By the time I get to preach, I have explored the theme and Bible passage from every angle I can think of. I am usually confident that what I have prepared is what God wants me to say.

I would be happy to divert from my notes and plans if I felt God's hand in it, but to be honest, I find that my mind is racing, and every bit of energy I have goes into communicating my message. Mid-sermon is not an ideal point to make wise judgements about the Holy Spirit's direction.

Incidentally, what I preach is not always what people hear. When people say something along the lines of "God spoke to me when you said ..." And more often than not, it is something that I didn't say, or don't remember saying, didn't plan to say, or had said, but meant something different by it.

I think that the style of preparation, dependence on notes and method of delivery and so on, is down to the personality and preferences of the preacher more than a right and wrong way of doing things. Some of us like to be flexible and respond to the moment, others only feel confident with detailed advance preparation. God can work through us in many different ways.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

In the beginning, he wanted to teach what he planned from home but his mouth couldn't and definately, he taught what the Holy Spirit wanted. And it was done.

I've been in my current church for almost twenty years and the man who's pastored it all those years is the most Spirit-filled man I know. When he preaches.he's constantly walking back and forth, stopping occasionally to look at his sermon outline. And he's a truly anointed preacher.I've also heard anointed preachers who stand still in the pulpit and use sermon notes. But, they all use notes.

Quite frankly, I have to wonder about preachers who regularly speak off-the-cuff. I doubt very much that the Spirit feeds words machine gun style into the ears of those folks for thirty minutes (or however long the sermon lasts), which means they have to often make things up as they go along and that can leave room for error.

SLE

 

[Hekuran]

Quite frankly, I have to wonder about preachers who regularly speak off-the-cuff. I doubt very much that the Spirit feeds words machine gun style into the ears of those folks for thirty minutes (or however long the sermon lasts), which means they have to often make things up as they go along and that can leave room for error.

I agree.

When a preacher stands up with no notes to refer to, you can assume that either

• the preacher is so confident and inspired that there is no need for notes - they would be an encumbrance
• the preacher hasn't bothered to prepare.

Usually it doesn't take long to work out which.

 

[stephen]

S.L.E. said Quite frankly, I have to wonder about preachers who regularly speak off-the-cuff

So do I. Maybe they use the text "Open thy mouth and I will fill it" I have seen such mouths filled...with fresh air. HaHa Forgive me

We recall that in the book of Acts the first followers of Jesus had such mighty experience of Fellowship with Jesus, over years Witnessed such miracles on so many occasions, and the Resurrection. They did not need notes. They had been eye witnesses of "His Glory"

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Something to note about this thread: The member who wrote the OP is in the Congo in Africa. The circustances there are probably quite different from what most of us are acquainted with.

SLE

 

[Gideons 300]

I agree.


When a preacher stands up with no notes to refer to, you can assume that either

• the preacher is so confident and inspired that there is no need for notes - they would be an encumbrance
• the preacher hasn't bothered to prepare.

Usually it doesn't take long to work out which.

I do not think God is limited in his use of a man as to how He shall get him to preach the gospel. Sometimes, a written sermon is fine but there are times with certain preachers, who have the fire of God in their belly and tears in their eyes, just speak from their hearts the burden God has placed there. Words come out like molten lava and the truths cut people to the heart and God's work is done, and done well, but simply in a different manner from the read sermon. The results though are the same. God can use ANY circumstance. As Jesus said, the rocks could preach. Now wouldn't be silly watching a bunch of rocks having to read their sermons?

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Sometimes, a written sermon is fine but there are times with certain preachers, who have the fire of God in their belly and tears in their eyes, just speak from their hearts the burden God has placed there.

No one is saying that powerful sermons cannot be adlibbed. Certainly, under a special empowering of the Holy Spirit (fire of God) such sermons are preached. But, as you indicate, only certain preachers are anointed for that role.

Also, I spoke of preachers using sermon notes, not preachers reading their sermons word by word. I used to know a Catholic priest who read his sermons word by word. He qualifies as the most boring speaker I've ever heard.

SLE

 

[wordzspitta]

I believe the word says to study to show thyself approved. we need to prepare a sermon but still be open to the holy spirit moving. I think that the holy spirit will tell you what you need to preach when you are preparing the sermon.