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J_Edwards said:
You must consider their prior learning, their theological depth, their language, their capacities, et. al. Though the Gospel remains the same, it is preached, and that not all at once, in different forms and even with different emphasis, depending on the audience, the Holy Spirit, et. al.

Here are your notes for next week's sermon. Enjoy.
Sorry, but the sermon for next week has been canceled due to a lack of interest! rofl

Exactly.... and this has been my point, at least that is the point I have been trying to make. BigThumbUp One of the most pernicious errors of our day is that people assume too much about those outside of Christ (and even those united to Christ). Thus to speak of Christ as if the person you are speaking with has any idea whatsoever who the Lord Christ is a major faux pas. Most people today don't have a clue as to the who the true Living God is. To be sure, everyone has their own ideas (aka: misconceptions) about God, but they are 99% of the time far from having an resemblance to the true God. And isn't this exactly what we are to expect from those we meet according to Romans 1? Although human beings "know" God, i.e., they are exposed to His eternal deity and Godhead, they reject all the testimony around them in the natural creation. And even more so, the truth of God revealed in them, yet they totally reject that knowledge and substitute an idol of their own corrupt hearts and minds, being haters of God by nature.

So, to ask someone to "believe in Jesus" is truly foolishness; Jesus WHO? which Jesus are YOU speaking about? And what do you mean by "believe"? Do you believe such a person existed? exists? was He God incarnate? or is to believe on the Lord Christ unto justification an entirely different thing which involves one's entire being (fiducia).

It is one thing to preach a sermon from a pulpit to an unknown audience where you MUST assume that there are unbelievers in the congregation who have a knowledge of God without having been regenerated and who have repented of their sins and embraced Christ with a whole and living faith. And it is another matter to preach to your own congregation where you know there are true believers sitting there and who need comfort, rebuke, instruction, correction and training in righteousness. Thus Paul's sound words of wisdom to his young protégé Timothy:

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2 Timothy 2:15 (ASV) "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth."

2 Timothy 4:1-3 (ASV) "I charge [thee] in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;" (cf. 1Cor 3:1, 2; 1Thess 5:14; Heb 5:11-14)
And here are your notes for next month's sermon! giggle

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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