SERMONETTES
HOW TO GIVE SERMONETTES:
by Colin Adair.
Sermonettes have been referred to in the past as "the
warm-up " to the sermon. This is still true today. The sermonette is not the main
part of the church service. It is an opportunity for the speaker to lift the minds of the
congregation to spiritual things. As such, it is an important part of the service and
should not be treated lightly.
There are some things to avoid and some things to include. Let's deal first of all with
what not to do.
1. Do not try to cover a sermon topic in the sermonette time. This
is perhaps one of the most common errors of those who give sermonettes. In one sense it is
harder to give a sermonette than a sermon because of the time constraints. Topics are
often too general and there is no way you can do justice to a general topic in such a
short time. So be sure your subject is not too large.
2. Do not go overtime. Going overtime (15 minutes is the maximum)
is usually the result of the error mentioned above. If you find your time running out,
then cut out part of the material you have prepared, usually in the body, and go straight
to the conclusion. You can still make an effective sermonette by leaving out some things.
It is better to do this than either rush through your subject or go overtime by five or
ten minutes (it happens).
3. Do not use too many scriptures. In the past we have said there
should be a maximum of four scriptures. While we don't make this a hard and fast rule, it
is not good to load your message with scripture after scripture where most of the time is
taken up reading them and little time is left to comment on them or give supporting
material.
4. Don't waste time on small talk when you get up to speak. A
simple greeting is enough. It is easy to eat up the time by talking about how nice it is
to be there, or what a good (or bad) week you had, or other unnecessary comments.
5. Do not give sermonettes attacking any other Church, especially
churches of God and especially do not name the organisation. Also do not mention names of
leaders of these other groups. Remember the legal implications of what is said in
a public forum. We need to be very careful as we live in a litigious society.
6. Do not use the sermonette time to air personal gripes or
complaints about the Church, the organisation, members of the local congregation, the
ministry, or any other church problem. This is totally unethical.
7. Do not take a personal problem of someone in the congregation
and give a sermonette about it. If you do, some or many will know who you are referring to
and this will be unkind and embarrasing for everyone.
8. Avoid inappropriate language. The pulpit is not the place to
describe explicitly the sins of mankind (Eph. 4:29, 5:12). Paul and the other apostles do
mention the types of sin, but they do not describe them in detail. The same goes for slang
bordering on bad language.
Now for the positive side of the subject.
1. Make sure your message has one main point. A sermonette can
have too many points given. Have you heard a speaker tell us he is going to give us six
points on some topic, when a more effective approach would have been just one point
discussed thoroughly.
2. Try to determine needs. A good way is to keep your eyes and
ears open in fellowshipping with the brethren. Often, good ideas come from discussing the
Bible with others. Someone may ask about a particular Bible verse which is hard to
understand. This leads into the next point.
3. Many feel they understand all the "difficult
scriptures." Perhaps, but we can all learn something new about something old--from a
new perspective. Also we have new brethren coming to church who have never heard the
answers to these verses. For those in the church a long time, it is a good reminder, and
strengthens their foundation.
4. Organise properly. The old rule of "introduction, specific
purpose statement, body, and conclusion" is still valid. A good introduction grabs
the attention of the audience and leads right into the topic. Avoid wandering all over the
place, in a disjointed discourse. This only leaves the congregation bewildered as to where
you are going, where you have been, and why you went there.
5. The sermonette is a time to teach, not preach. Do not use the
sermonette time to correct the congregation. Correction is the job of the pastor.
6. Consider that giving a sermonette is a privilege not a right.
James says "be not many masters," because we shall receive the greater judgment.
We need to appreciate the opportunity to edify and help the brethren in their Christian
growth.
Becoming a Pillar
by Doug Winnail
Introduction: One of the promised rewards to the
Philadelphia era of the Church is that overcomers will become pillars in the temple of
God (Rev.3:12).
These individuals will be given the opportunity to reign
with Jesus Christ for 1000 years when He returns to earth to establish the world-ruling
government of God (Rev.5:10; 20:4-6).
But just what does it mean to be a pillar in the coming
kingdom of God? How do you prepare to become a pillar? What qualities will you need
to develop to rule with Jesus Christ?
SPS: In this sermonette we will
define just what a pillar is, and describe three important qualities of a pillar.
I. Just what is a pillar?
Let’s look at several examples: (architecture) a firm, upright, separate support;
able to stand alone; something that supports a superstructure (a roof, or upper story)
(people) one who strongly supports a work, an organization or a cause; a strong, stable,
supportive, unshakable, unmovable person.
Paul describes Peter, James and John as pillars in the
Church at Jerusalem (Gal.2:9)
II. What Qualities enable
individuals to become pillars in Christ's Kingdom? In architecture and construction, in
order to be supportive, a pillar must rest on a firm foundation, and that pillar must have
be free of flaws and imperfections that would weaken the supporting role of the pillar.
The same is true of individuals who aspire to become pillars in the kingdom of God.
(1) Future Rulers must have firm
foundation in the Scriptures. The kings of Israel were to make a personal copy of the Law
of God and study it daily. This way they would develop the mind and perspective of God
(Deut. 17:18-20).
Jesus said we
should live by every word of God (Mat.4:4).
Paul admonished
Timothy to thoroughly study the Scriptures (II Tim.2:15).
Isaiah
prophesied that in the kingdom of God that the Law would go forth from Jerusalem (2:2-4)
and that the whole earth would be full of the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea
(11:9).
The efforts of
Jesus Christ and the saints--who know and understand the Scriptures, will fulfil
these prophecies.
(2) Spiritual Pillars have a close
relationship with God.
The scriptures
tell us that David was a man after God’s own heart--that he had an extremely close
relationship with God. David valued what God values--he strongly supported God’s plan
and purpose.
Psalm 119:97-100 describes his love for God’s law and its impact on his life.
Psalm 23 reveals the trust and confidence in God that made David strong
We, too, can have this kind of strength if we draw close to God (James 4:8).
(3) Pillars are
People of Principle. Abraham was chosen by God to be the father of
the nation of Israelite because he was a man who chose to
live by the principles of God’s law.
III. Gen.17:1-8
states that God commanded Abraham to walk before Him and be
perfect, and that
if Abraham would do this he would become the father of many
nations.
Gen.18:17-19 indicates that God chose Abraham because God knew he would teach
his descendants
to follow his example of walking in God’s way.
Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to strive towards this same kind of perfection
(Mat.6:33).
He knew if Christians would live by every word of God, (Mat.4:4) they would be real
lights to a
darkened world (Mat.5:14-16).
III. Conclusion:
Jesus Christ is coming back this earth
to establish a world-ruling government. He is calling and training individuals to
function as pillars--as kings and priests in that coming kingdom. He is looking for people
who are developing a firm foundation by studying and learning to apply the word of God,
who are developing a close relationship with God on a daily basis, and who are learning to
live by, and old fast to, the immutable principles found in the Bible. Let’s make our
calling and election sure.
Let us all fulfill our calling--to
become firm pillars in the kingdom of God!
Doug Winnail
PENTECOST
by Norbert Link
INTRODUCTION:
The primary text used by many to
"prove" that the Sabbath and Holy days were "done away" is COL. 2:
16-17.
Does this passage show that Christians don’t have to keep the
Sabbath or the Holy Days anymore, and that Paul is telling the Colossians "Don’t
worry about the fact, that you don’t keep them?"
In a book, "Difficult Scriptures", (ed. 1996) written by Dr.
David Albert, a former presenter of the World Tomorrow broadcast, wrote on page 134
regarding this passage:
"Paul knew when he wrote the book of Colossians that Christ was the very image and
substance, the true reality indicated and anticipated by all the Sabbath days, new moons,
and festivals. Let us all rejoice in the Reality and no longer insist on celebrating the
shadows."
But is that Paul’s message to the
Colossians and to us today?
First, let us point out that the word "is" in the phrase (in
Col. 2:17) "but the substance is of Christ" is NOT in the Greek. So it would
just say, "but the substance of Christ."
But what is meant by
"substance"?
The word substance is a translation of
the Greek word, "soma", which is otherwise translated "body"
throughout the Bible. It appears 147 times in the NT. Within the pages of Colossians, the
word "SOMA" is translated repeatedly, by the New King James Version, with
"BODY". Only here, in Col. 2:17, do they use a different translation, namely,
"substance."
Let’s look at a few examples in Colossians, and let’s also
see what is meant by the phrase, "BODY OF CHRIST."
[Col. 1:18; Col. 1:24; Col. 2:19; Col.
3:15]
If we are honest with the scriptures, we
must admit that the term "BODY OF CHRIST" refers to His Church. If we re-read
Col. 2:16-17 with this understanding, we find that Paul says: "Let no one judge
you...but the body of Christ, i.e. the Church."
In other words, the Church should do the
judging.Greek scholars recognize, from the Greek structure of the sentence, that the first
statement in Verse 16 ("Let no one, or no man, judge you...") requires a second
statement, in Verse 17, explaining who should do the judging.
In 1995, Prof. Troy Martin published an
Article, in "Journal of Biblical Literature," entitled," But Let Everyone
Discern the Body of Christ (Col. 2:17)." He referred, as an example, to 1 Cor. 10:24.
In order to get the meaning, one needs to add here, in the second phrase,
"let...seek."
This Verse is grammatically parallel to Col. 2:16-17. Therefore, the
words "let judge" in Col. 2:16 have been omitted in Verse 17, but must be added
(as the words "let seek" were omitted in the second phrase in 1 Cor. 10:24, and
must be added there).
Dr. Martin says:
"The verb ‘judge’
determines the action that is forbidden...(by the first phrase) and then enjoined (by the
second phrase). "The correct meaning is: "Let no man judge...but let the church
judge."
He gives a second example in Rom. 14:13 The words for "judge"
AND for "resolve" (old KJB says, "judge") are the SAME in the Greek,
and it is ALSO the same word used in Col. 2:16. (i.e., "krino.")
Dr. Martin points out that it is first stated in Rom. 14:13, that one
should not judge, but it is then stated that one should judge, resolve or discern, not to
become a stumbling block.
Comparing this with Col. 2:16-17, this
would mean, so Dr. Martin, that a man should not judge the church members for keeping the
Sabbath, etc., but that the Church, the body of Christ, should resolve or discern
this matter. This confirms the position, taken by the Church of God for decades.
Prof. Martin then explains that the practices by the Colossians, to keep the Sabbath or
the Holy Days, are criticized by their opponents, and NOT by Paul.
If Paul was addressing this attempt,
then he was telling the Colossians this:
"Let no one judge you for keeping the Sabbath and the Holy Days with eating and
drinking, rather than fasting, but let the Church determine it."
In any case, Paul was encouraging the
Colossians to continue keeping the Sabbath and the Holy Days the way they were
doing.
So we see then that the Greek structure of this passage in Col. 2:16-17
shows, as Greek scholar Prof. Martin confirms, that the Colossians should not worry about
being judged by man for their keeping the Sabbath and the Holy Days, but that they should
let the Church continue to guide them in this regard.
So let NO man judge you either for keeping the Sabbath and Holy Days.
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