Emotional Preaching?

Blazin Bones

Blazin Bones

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Is it a bad thing for a preacher to weep or show some other emotion as he preaches? Why or why not?
 
I think emotions can be used to bring others to a decision. I've seen preachers shed tears while preaching. I've done it while singing because the song spoke to me. I have never been able to get through the song "I Should Have Been Crucified" without tears when I think about what Jesus did for me on the cross by taking my place and paying my debt for sin. Despite my dad teaching me that "Men don't show emotions", I believe that emotions can be used effectively.
 
Blazin Bones said:
Is it a bad thing for a preacher to weep or show some other emotion as he preaches? Why or why not?
Click to expand...

When a preacher is preaching the Gospel I believe it's out of place to cry.
 
When a preacher is preaching the Gospel I believe it's out of place to cry.
Click to expand...
It's good to see a person moved in their heart over what God has done for them, it can be a sign one is truly saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Someone who never shows human emotion and compassion towards the things of God would make me highly suspicious of thier true salvation.
Some know 'of' God at an intellectual level only, I wouldn't expect these to show emotion or compassion towards the things of God or His people.
 
JM said:
When a preacher is preaching the Gospel I believe it's out of place to cry.
Click to expand...

You gotta be kidding me. How can one help not be moved?

When I think of the gospel I think of God's wondrous grace and I think of the words of the hymn which says:

When I survey the wondrous cross
where the young Prince of Glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the cross of Christ, my God:
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

I weep even now.

Surely you must be talking about a different gospel.
 
Some of the televangelists cry rivers when they are begging for money.
I believe their tears are really sincere.
They can't stand the thought of losing thier stretch limos, multi million dollar houses, and private jets. :-D
 
destiny said:
Some of the televangelists cry rivers when they are begging for money.
I believe their tears are really sincere.
They can't stand the thought of losing thier stretch limos, multi million dollar houses, and private jets. :-D
Click to expand...

Indeed - wolves every one of them!
 
JM said:
When a preacher is preaching the Gospel I believe it's out of place to cry.
Click to expand...

Please elaborate...

When I am speaking about the Gospel, even if it's to my fiance' who shares the same faith I do and we are simply marevling at what He has done for us, I tear up at times.
 
destiny said:
Some of the televangelists cry rivers when they are begging for money.
I believe their tears are really sincere.
They can't stand the thought of losing thier stretch limos, multi million dollar houses, and private jets. :-D
Click to expand...

mutzrein said:
Indeed - wolves every one of them!
Click to expand...

http://www.christianforums.net/viewtopi ... highlight=

Back in November 2006 I conducted a poll. My question was "Do you pray for media ministries?"
There was a total of eight answers. Eight.
Four people pray for media ministries.
Two people do not.
Two don't care.

I have noticed how that for some, it is much easier to speak against them, more fun to ridicule, mock and degrade, than it is to pray for them. Prayer can be hard work sometimes. It has to come from the heart. (Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks) Prayer has to have some level of understanding a need.

TV is amoral. It is neither good nor evil. In the same way that blank sheet of paper can be used for either good or evil. It all depends on what you do with it. It is a tool. The church has handed this tool over to the world, the flesh, and the devil. Scripture calls him the prince of the power of the air. Could it be because we have given him the airwaves?

The church has complained about TV for at least 50 years, but rarely does anything about it. Now and then an anti-TV ministry pops up and wants the church to mail postcards to someone. (There must be some who believe that sending postcards to a producer, an ad agency, or a politician is more effective than prayer.)

From time to time a Christian sees the value of a tool that can reach multitudes of people around the world. But it is rare. And it must be incredibly difficult thing for those who have tried. If every typo and grammar error is pointed out in a forum such as this, how much more must those be criticized who have a broadcast ministry.

We, (the light of the Lord, the salt of the earth, who have been given the authority of the name of Jesus Christ to ask anything that we want according to His will and promised that He will hear and do it for us) we have put this tool into the hands of those who do not know Jesus. We have verbally stoned any Christian who has tried to claim it back. We have ridiculed, mocked, degraded better than any devil can do.

There is a lot of money to be made by standing in front of a camera with the fake tears. Or acting angry over injustice. Or simply being entertaining. Just because the person in front of the camera holds a Bible and quotes Scripture dose not mean that they are a Christian. Neither does having money mean that one is not a Christian.

Someday when we stand before the Lord and He wants us to account to Him for the tools that He gave us, we are not even going to be able to tell Him that we took this talent and hid it in the ground. We are going to have to tell Him that we gave it over to the enemy. We are going to have to tell Him that those who broadcast in the name of Jesus Christ are our representatives to the world.

Like it or not, when someone thinks of Christians, they think of those people. If we are not going to pray for media ministries, if we are not going to pray for evangelist, if we are not going to pray for lost people to be saved, then I think it is a bit ridiculous to ridicule others who, even if they are anti-christ apostate, are in some manner preaching the gospel.

Phl 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Phl 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Phl 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
Phl 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

In the same way that God gave the world to Adam, and Adam handed it over to satan, God has given us a tool to preach the gospel, and we handed it over. We deserve the chastisement that we receive from the Lord as a result of what broadcast media has become.


We deserve the wolves.
 
All we need to do is read our bibles to know the characteristics of a true shepherd from a wolf. Pray for discernment, and pray for those who are being fleeced.
Also pray for the snakes to be removed from their positions of influence.
Thats how I pray.
 
Btw...I know little about Charles Stanly.

I just thought of this: If the bible tells us we can know a wolve in sheeps clothing by his/her fruits. Matthew 7:15-20
Where does it tell us to pray specifically for those types?

Heres another example of how to handle false teachers, but still no call to pray for them:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; AND AVOID THEM" (Romans 16:17).
 
Google Charles Stanley or In Touch Ministries - there's heaps online - even audio / video sermons, daily bible readings etc :D
 
destiny said:
... Pray for discernment, and pray for those who are being fleeced.
Also pray for the snakes to be removed from their positions of influence.
Thats how I pray.
Click to expand...

There is a good starting place.

destiny said:
I just thought of this: If the bible tells us we can know a wolve in sheeps clothing by his/her fruits. Matthew 7:15-20
Where does it tell us to pray specifically for those types?
Thats how I pray.
Click to expand...

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Luk 6:28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Pray in the same manner that David prayed for his enemies. Wolves in sheeps clothing are enemies of the cross. They are enemies of the body of Christ.

Psa 35:1 ¶ [[[A Psalm] of David.]] Plead [my cause], O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
Psa 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
Psa 35:3 Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I [am] thy salvation.
Psa 35:4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
Psa 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase [them].
Psa 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
Psa 35:7 For without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul.
Psa 35:8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
Psa 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
Psa 35:10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who [is] like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
Psa 35:11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not.
Psa 35:12 They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul.
Psa 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
Psa 35:14 I behaved myself as though [he had been] my friend [or] brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth [for his] mother.
Psa 35:15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:
Psa 35:16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
Psa 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
Psa 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
Psa 35:19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: [neither] let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
Psa 35:20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against [them that are] quiet in the land.
Psa 35:21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, [and] said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen [it].
Psa 35:22 [This] thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
Psa 35:23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, [even] unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
Psa 35:24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Psa 35:25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
Psa 35:26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me.
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psa 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness [and] of thy praise all the day long.

destiny said:
Heres another example of how to handle false teachers, but still no call to pray for them:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, MARK them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; AND AVOID THEM" (Romans 16:17).
Click to expand...

People in leadership rarely cause divisions. (Even if they are not Christians)


Any verse on prayer where Jesus tells us to pray. To ask. To ask according to His will. Take those verses, and apply them to the situation.

For example:

Dear God,
Television is a powerful tool that could be used for the spreading of the gospel. Yet it seems to be used by the world and the devil to spread corruption. Also Lord, those who produce "Christian" or "Gospel" programming seem to be wolves in sheeps clothing. They seem to be asking for money all the time.
They do _________________________(fill in the blank with your complaint)
They don't _______________________(fill in the blank with your complaint)
They should______________________(fill in the blank with your complaint)
They should not___________________(fill in the blank with your complaint)

Father I pray that you would remove false teachers, thieves and liars from places of authority in the ministry. I pray that you would raise up those who can and will teach the truth of the gospel. I pray that you would protect the true teachers of the gospel. I pray that you would expose the liars. I pray that you would protect the members of the body of Christ from the false teachers. I pray that you would give your people discernment to know those who you have called to preach and those who have placed themselves behind the pulpit for their own purposes.

Or, for those who are not so aggressive in their prayers, how about something like this:

Lord, I believe that so and so is not really a Christian, yet they are standing in front of a camera with a Bible and preaching in your name. I pray that he would trip over his own sermon and fall on his knees at the foot of the cross.
 
Still need more Scriptural invitations to prayer?


Mat 7:7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
...Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Ask ask ask ask ask. For what? ANYTHING

Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Jhn 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.


Jhn 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do [it].

Jhn 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Jhn 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Jhn 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you. Jhn 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Jam 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Jam 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Jam 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

1Jo 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1Jo 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Phl 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Notice how often that Scripture says "anything" or "whatsoever".
Prayer works. God answers prayer. Ask. Ask in faith, believing that it is God's will for there to be good teachers in the media, that it is God's will that the wolves not be preaching His word. Ask with a right attitude. Ask.

Jam 5:16 .... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
 
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