What Does a Word and Power Movement Look Like? Part 2, Preaching and Teaching

In the first part of this series, I began to explore how a Word and Power movement values having doctrinal absolutes that are in line with historic Christian orthodoxy.  In this post, I will explore a similar theme.  I will suggest briefly that Word and Power churches should have an unapologetic commitment to the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, the Bible.  

Without spending too much time complaining, it does seem that in many places, clear and precise preaching and teaching has fallen on hard times.  The reasons are many.  Some want the teaching to be short and "practical" (as if the Bible by itself was somehow not practical).  Others want the teaching to be "relevant."  Practicality and relevance are not bad things in themselves.  I would suggest however that by simply and plainly teaching the Bible (which seems to primarily be the responsibility of the elders of the Church, though not exclusively), relevance and practicality take care of themselves.

Some ministries so emphasize teaching that they forget to preach, admonish, and exhort.  Others make the opposite mistake.  The truth is that Jesus Himself used both approaches and there really is a lot of overlap between them (Luke 4:15, 43-44).  The job of the man occupying the pulpit is to both convey information from the text and its backgrounds, well as to exhort, rebuke, and admonish the hearers to do something about it, all under the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Scriptures themselves put a high premium on the clear and regular teaching of the Bible to the Church.  Consider these Scriptural examples:

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  (Acts 2:42 NKJV)

In this example, the fledgling Church gives great attention to hearing the Word of God being preached by gifted men.

 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God.

Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.  (Nehemiah 8:5-8 NKJV)

This has to be one of the most clear Scriptures about how the Word read, taught, and preached can affect a whole community of people.  It is not just enough for the man of God to read from the Word, he must help the people understand the reading.  Another thing in these verses that stands out is the there were many men who read the Word and taught.  Part of this may have been a logistical necessity with the virtually the whole nation gathered together, but I still believe that churches should make room for a number of gifted men to use their gifts of teaching and preaching.

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.  Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.  Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.  (1 Timothy 4:12-16 NKJV)

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.  (1 Timothy 5:17 NKJV)

These two examples speak for themselves, but I want to point out a few things.  Firstly, Paul instructs young Timothy to "give attention" to the reading and expounding of the Word.  This tells me that preaching is not an obligatory exercise between worship sets, but something that has to be an emphasis in Timothy's life and ministry.

Secondly, as verse 16 makes plain, eternal destinies ride on how Timothy discharges his ministry.  Now of course I believe in justification by faith alone, but if the Word is not taught properly and regularly, people may never actually hear the Gospel and be saved!

Thirdly and finally, the last Scripture I referenced makes plain that teaching and preaching are hard work.  The elders "labor" in word and doctrine.  I am not an elder, but I have prepared and delivered sermons before.  Believe me, it is hard work! 

All of that said, I am only beginning to scratch the surface of what a Word and Power movement might, by God's grace, look like.  I hope that I can have some small part to play in God bringing it to fruition.  Amen.

What Does a Word and Power Movement Look Like? Part 1, Doctrinal Absolutes

Blogging is not always easy.  One reason is that I am a regular guy with a regular job and a family.  I don't always have spare minutes to write and publish. But another reason is that I have had difficulty in finding topics to blog about, or the topics I want to address would almost require a book to be written.  

With all of that said, as sort of a New Year's resolution of sorts, I have decided to begin a new emphasis and to begin discussing those elements that specifically pertain to what I believe is biblical ministry, i.e., word and power.  In that vein, this post will start a series exploring specific applications of the same.  Today I will discuss doctrinal absolutes.

What exactly do I mean by doctrinal absolutes?  Basically, I mean that any individual, church, ministry, etc... will be committed to certain propositional truth statements about important biblical topics.  I know I know; how horribly foundationalist, fundamentalist, literalist, etc..,  Nevertheless, that is how the Bible speaks.  It tells us certain things about itself, God, creation, humanity, sin, salvation, the Church, and so on.  It certainly offends (post)modern Western sensibilities, but I hold to it without apology.  Any ministry of word and power will also hold without apology doctrinal standards that are enforced and that are in harmony with the historic Christian faith of the creeds and reformation era confessions.  

So what does the Bible exactly say about the doctrinal aspect of the Church's ministry?  I am glad you asked!  Here is a small sampling:

 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.  Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.   (Acts 20:25-27 NKJV)

Please notice how Paul reasons.  He declares to the elders of the Church at Ephesus that he is innocent of their blood should they fall away and be destroyed.  He can say this because He has not withheld anything profitable (Acts 20:20).  Indeed, he has declared to them "the whole counsel of God."  Eternal destinies are at stake in maintaining doctrinal absolutes and teaching them boldly.

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  (Romans 6:17 NKJV)

What does this verse imply except that there is, in fact, a "form of doctrine" which exists and which is taught to the churches.

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.  (2 Timothy 1:13,14 NKJV)

One thing I like about this passage is that Paul tells Timothy that it is through a special work of the Holy Spirit that he is able to hold fast to the "pattern of sound words".  Having a strong doctrinal basis is not something that we do on our own.  God the Holy Spirit Himself is assisting us.

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  (1 John 2:24 NKJV)

This passage is yet another exhortation to hold on to something previously given.  In this case, John is instructing the churches under his care to cling to that which they had heard from the beginning.  What was it that they had heard from the beginning?  Among many other things is that God is light and in Him is no darkness (1:5), that Jesus Christ Himself is the propitiation for our sins (2:2), that they must not love the world nor the things in the world (2:15), that Jesus is the Christ and implicitly is one with the Father, and that anyone who denies that is the antichrist (2:22,23).  

Again, these are but a small sampling of Scriptures that make plain that part of the mission of the Church is to maintain a healthy, sound doctrinal basis.  It must have no part of watering down the unpopular truths of the Bible to suit the whims and fancies of the world.  As the passage from 2 Timothy makes plain, all of this is done by and through the power of the Holy Spirit who has been given to the Church.  Amen.