My people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. . . . Yes, to them you are like a singer of love songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. They hear your words, but they do not obey them.    (Ezekiel 33: 31,32; HCSB)

There was nothing wrong with the prophet’s preaching—the problem lay solely in his listeners! They were interested in how he preached—not in what he preached.

Today, people flock to popular preachers, some of whom preach well, and truthfully, but the listeners fail to live changed lives. The reason might be the same as it was in Ezekiel’s day.

If all those who attend popular preaching were to go out and live as they are told in the preachers’ messages—even for one week—what a difference it would make!

Truth must be mixed with faith, and faith with obedience.

Obedience is a lost concept today in some circles. All one must do to grow by grace is to listen to and contemplate the Gospel. This quasi-mystical and quazi-monastic viewpoint is dangerous. It also leads to listening to preachers “sing!”

Think about why you go to hear preaching. It may be because the preaching you hear doesn’t demand much of you. But even if it does—as in Ezekiel’s case—you must come in the right attitude. Listening to love songs won’t cut it.

Books dealing with Preaching:

1.  Preaching with Purpose by Jay Adams
2.  A Consumer’s Guide to Preaching by Jay Adams
3. Authority in the Church by Jay Adams

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams

Visit our online bookstore for all your biblical counseling resource needs.
For biblical counseling training, check out our list of INS Online Courses.

Follow INS on Social Media:
– Facebook: noutheticstudies
– Twitter: @noutheticstud
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The post People Listened! appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

There is just so much a man can preach about in a lifetime—or, for that matter, in a given pastoral charge. He has to choose. Now which ought to be more important for his people to hear—preaching from Old Testament narratives, or preaching from the material that belongs to our new age? Jesus told us to teach our people to “observe,” to use His exact words, “whatsoever I have commanded you.” How will you fulfill that requirement if yours is not largely a New Testament preaching ministry?

New Testament preaching itself could not be exhausted in a lifetime of preaching. How much of it, then, will be neglected even if a preacher largely chooses to preach from New Testament passages? It seems to me, therefore, that New Testament preaching ought to be every preacher’s priority.

“Do you advocate preaching from the Old Testament at all?”

Of course. I’m speaking about what you ought to emphasize. But, when I say “of course,” I mean two things. First, you ought to preach some from pivotal OT texts, but even more, perhaps, from OT texts as a backup to those NT passages that you preach. The OT exposition, in such cases, will grow out of the NT passages, often as background information that helps understand the NT text. Since many things in the NT can be explained only by reference to OT teachings, and many times when preaching from NT passages, you will find it necessary to mention OT Scripture portions, in this way you will preach from many OT portions.

Whether you agree with me or not, think about the matter, preacher. You will—you do—you must choose. What will be your choice?

Books dealing with Preaching:

1.  Preaching with Purpose by Jay Adams
2.  A Consumer’s Guide to Preaching by Jay Adams
3. Whole Counsel by Donn R. Arms, et. al.

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams

Visit our online bookstore for all your biblical counseling resource needs.
For biblical counseling training, check out our list of INS Online Courses.

Follow INS on Social Media:
– Facebook: noutheticstudies
– Twitter: @noutheticstud
– Instagram: @noutheticstudies

The post Preaching from the OT appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Books dealing with Preaching:

1.  Preaching with Purpose by Jay Adams
2.  A Consumer’s Guide to Preaching by Jay Adams
3. Whole Counsel by Donn R. Arms, et. al.

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams

Visit our online bookstore for all your biblical counseling resource needs.
For biblical counseling training, check out our list of INS Online Courses.

Follow INS on Social Media:
– Facebook: noutheticstudies
– Twitter: @noutheticstud
– Instagram: @noutheticstudies

The post Preaching and Counseling appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

What I am about to say may not strike you as being as specific as other things I have written, yet I believe it is at the bottom of a number of other difficulties. My point is that good preaching demands hard work. From listening to sermons and from talking to hundreds of preachers about preaching, I am convinced that the basic reason for poor preaching is the failure to spend adequate time and energy in preparation. Many preachers—perhaps most—simply don’t work long enough on their sermons.

You may question my charge, and (of course) you may be one of the notable exceptions to what, regrettably, has become the rule. Good! But if so, remember, you are an exception. For the rest of you, note well, I did not say that preachers don’t work hard; for the most part I believe that Bible-believing preachers work very hard—probably too hard! And, indeed, therein may lie the clue to the problem: many work so hard at everything else that, as a result, they neglect their preparation for the ministry of the Word.

Not enough time is spent either in doing the historical-grammatical-telic exegesis of the preaching portion or in thinking through the format, form, and style in which the message ought to be presented to the particular congregation to which it will be delivered. Inadequate study of the biblical text means that the purpose of the preaching portion will not be clear to the preacher himself. When that is true, there is no way in which he can make it clear to his hearer.

But even when adequate time has been given for the preacher to discover the telos (i.e., the Holy Spirit’s purpose) in the preaching portion, there is still the matter of allotting the time necessary to produce the best outline, to work out the most appropriate language, to develop the right sort of illustrations, and to think through concrete recommendations for implementation. And, care must be taken to adapt all of this work to the peculiar knowledge, circumstances, background, etc., of the particular body of people to whom the message will be delivered. That too takes time and study to arrive at a good congregational analysis.

From what I see and hear, very little time is devoted to such work. Yet, without work on form, the best exegesis falls flat on the floor.

“But,” you protest, “I have so little time. I’d like to do more of what you say, but I simply don’t see any place in my schedule for it.”

Granted, you may not have room in your schedule for it, but that just proves my point—you are working hard too hard, at the wrong things. You must make room. Preaching is a high priority item; others must go. Let me ask you some pointed questions. An honest answer to these will help you to re-evaluate your priorities. But before you answer, remember how much the apostles had to do and how they handled this very problem:

So the Twelve called a general meeting of the disciples and said, “It isn’t right for us to stop preaching God’s Word to serve tables. Now then, brothers, look for seven of your men who have a good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them to this work, while we continue to devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.” (Acts 6:2–4, The Christian Counselor’s N.T.)

1.   Do you pray earnestly for the members of your congregation?
2.   Do you waste time on the telephone, talking about matters that others could handle?
3.   How much TV do you watch each week?
4.   How much time do you spend in committee meetings?
5.   What are you doing that someone else in the congregation could do instead of you?

I could ask any number of other questions like these, but I don’t think it is necessary to do so. We can all find the time to do whatever God wants us to do—if we only search for it.

One reason why pastors lose so much time is because they have not disciplined themselves to say “no.” The way to say “no” with freedom is to have a carefully planned schedule that does not permit you to say “yes” to events that you ought to avoid. Nothing frees one up so much as a well-planned schedule. Such a schedule is planned in terms of priorities.

In Acts 6:2, the apostles allotted time in terms of priorities when they set the ministry of the Word (preaching and counseling) above waiting on tables. That was not snobbery; it was dedication to divine duty. Today, as in their time, whether he knows it or not, whenever a pastor says, “I don’t have the time,” he is really saying, “I am misusing my time waiting on tables.” Discover which tables you currently are serving, delegate them to your deacons, and start giving that time to prayer and the ministry of the Word—especially to preaching!

Check out our online course, The Use of Scripture in Counseling, taught by Jay Adams!

1. What to do on Thursday
2. The Christian’s Guide to Guidance 
3. A Call for Discernment

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams

Visit our online bookstore for all your biblical counseling resource needs.
For biblical counseling training, check out our list of INS Online Courses.

Follow INS on Social Media:
– Facebook: noutheticstudies
– Twitter: @noutheticstud
– Instagram: @noutheticstudies

The post Good Preaching Is Hard Work appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Ever feel like that in Church? Well, you’re certainly not the first, and you won’t be the last!

“What makes people respond to preaching that way?”

There are, of course, many reasons, but let’s look at it from the point of view of the pew-sitter. Too often, the preacher gets a bad rap!

What can you do to respond to preaching in a livelier, more productive manner? Let me give you just two suggestions:

1. Come prepared to learn something from the sermon.
2. Come after having gotten enough rest the night before.

Two simple suggestions, I admit—yet two that can make all the difference in your worship experience.

How should you prepare yourself for preaching?

First, you can read up on the passage beforehand when possible. If a preacher is going through a Bible book, then read ahead to the next set of verses. Write out any questions you may have. Bring them with you and see if the sermon answers them. If not, at a convenient time, ask an elder or the pastor about what you wanted to know. In addition to your Bible, have a pencil (pen) with you to write down such answers and any other insights, admonitions, and the like that are important to remember or do something about when you leave. In other words, don’t be a pew potato—take an active listening role during the sermon.

Second, you can be sure to go to bed on time, rather than stay up inordinate numbers of hours the night before. You can involve yourself in calm, unexciting activities that will not keep you awake after you lie down and try to sleep. Also, do some study of the passage to come, or some other related study that will make going to church helpful rather than boring. In other words, think about the fact that the very next day you’ll be in church and get your mind fixed on that so fully that it affects your attitude. Plan the exciting things for Friday night whenever you can!

Check out our online courses, including, Introduction to Nouthetic Counseling and  The Use of Scripture in Counseling, taught by Jay Adams!

Books related to counseling others:

1. Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams
2. The Christian Counselor’s Manual by Jay Adams
3. How to Help People Change by Jay Adams
4. Check out our Bookstore for all the best counseling books!

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams

Visit our online bookstore for all your biblical counseling resource needs.
For more biblical counseling training, check out our list of INS Online Courses.

Follow INS on Social Media:
– Facebook: noutheticstudies
– Twitter: @noutheticstud
– Instagram: @noutheticstudies

The post Pew Potatos appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Concerns of all of the members of the congregation should be mentioned in preaching. Just as Paul frequently speaks in categories of young men, young women, old men and old women, addressing those belonging to each according to their peculiar circumstances, so too should we be aware of the particular needs, problems and responsibilities of each (in his first letter John also makes such distinctions.) And we should be sure that what we preach is adapted just as regularly to the old as to the young.

What are some of the concerns of older persons to which we ought to direct our attention in preaching? Here is a list with which you may begin:

• Death—the fear of it, the biblical facts about it, the certainty of eternal life and eternal damnation, etc.
• Grief—proper and improper ways of grieving.
• Work—how to be useful in doing non-remunerative things for Christ.
• Pain and suffering—its meaning, how to endure it, etc.
• Sickness—why it comes, what can be done about it, the relationship of attitudes to sickness, etc.
• Wisdom—how it may be shared with others, especially the young.
• Grandchildren—what can be done to become a powerful influence for good in their lives.
• Time—how to use it wisely rather than frittering it away before the TV.
• Attitude—the importance of this, especially in relationship to children, in-laws and others.
• Weariness—how to avoid and how to handle it when it comes.
• Growth—how to keep from drying up in old age.

These are simply a few suggestions about the sorts of things that concern older persons and ought to concern others who must care for them. You may wish to preach some entire sermons on the biblical teaching concerning one or more of these areas, and in considering other topics, you might touch on any one of these areas illustratively. You do not always have to single out the elderly by name, but you must deal with their interests (obviously, their interests also are interests to others.) Yet, it is wise at times to speak to them directly. That is true especially when they are likely to plead age as an excuse to call what you have said generally, “not applicable to older persons.” Should you suspect the possibility of such a response, you might anticipate it and cut it off at the gate by saying something like this:

Now I know that there may be some of you more elderly folk out there who are saying to yourselves ‘Well, that’s fine for the young folk, but I’ve served my time. I just don’t have the gumption to get up and do things that I once did …’ Let me tell you that there is a place for every person in this congregation to serve Christ. We’re not planning to wear you out—we need you older members for a lot of projects around here—no, you’re too valuable to us for that. But, we do have some tasks that are suited to you and that I am certain you will be excited to do for Christ. Let me tell you about some of them . . .

You see, preaching like that holds the elderly in respect. They are noted as persons of value to the congregation (they are so long as Christ gives them life); they are considered when allocating tasks for congregational projects; their tasks are suited to their age and they are not allowed to use age as an excuse for not serving Christ. All of these factors—but especially the last—are of importance in conserving and utilizing the wisdom and energy of older Christians in the church.

But while there is also need to preach to them directly about their ills and ailments, etc., perhaps it is even more powerful to use exemplary and illustrative material about older persons incidentally. Pleasant incidents about the joy that an aged saint gave to those who were with her on a hospital ward might be mentioned illustratively. The witness of an older person that led a youth to Christ may be held up as an example. How an older person adapted to a very difficult change with Christian flexibility might be used powerfully for the benefit of all. (“If he, at his age, in his circumstances could do that, what of some of the rest of you younger members who are complaining that your lives are too routinized to alter? Once again it seems that it is our older people who are setting the pace for the rest of us.”)

And, it certainly wouldn’t do any harm when preaching about Abraham to point out incidentally how much God expected of a very old man, and how—by the grace of God—Abraham was enabled to do everything that was expected of him. That God expects much of older persons today ought to be emphasized.

When preaching to older persons there is wisdom in using illustrative material from the days when they were young. You will capture their attention and hold it raptly if you do. You don’t have to preach it as “the good old days,” but you certainly should learn something from such an expression about the interest that older persons have in times past.

One final suggestion: you ought always to be concerned about the hearing of the older members of your congregation and you should be sure that they can hear what you say. Don’t assume that they can hear because they don’t complain; they maybe too embarrassed by their hearing impairments to do so. Ask them. There is no excuse for people failing to hear because of poor acoustics, faulty sound systems, etc. Today, all such problems can be solved easily. Be sure they are. And, when you have something in a sermon that is especially for them, it is good to speak loudly, slowly, distinctly and in a low pitch. I stress the latter because the ability to hear sound at a high pitch usually disappears first in the elderly.

So, what am I saying? Simply this: keep older persons in mind as you prepare your sermons. It is all too easy to focus on the young as the rest of our worldly society has been doing. But the church, and (especially) its minister, ought to know better.

Check out our online courses, including, Introduction to Nouthetic Counseling and  The Use of Scripture in Counseling, taught by Jay Adams!

Books related to counseling others:

1. Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams
2. The Christian Counselor’s Manual by Jay Adams
3. How to Help People Change by Jay Adams
4. Check out our Bookstore for all the best counseling books!

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams

Visit our online bookstore for all your biblical counseling resource needs.
For more biblical counseling training, check out our list of INS Online Courses.

Follow INS on Social Media:
– Facebook: noutheticstudies
– Twitter: @noutheticstud
– Instagram: @noutheticstudies

The post Preaching to the Elderly appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Sure, but you can always put a rubber gasket in it if the problem is with the hose.”

Exactly. If the problem is with the hose, deal with it. But if the spigot leaks, well . . . that’s another story.

If the spigot leaks; you may need to replace it or move the hose.

If there’s a leak in your spiritual life, then fix it by inserting the gasket of repentance. If the spigot leaks, then you may need to get a new one.

“How do I do that?”

Perhaps you’re hooked up to the wrong spigot. If so, you’ll end up with a mess if you continue to use it. And, in the meanwhile, like those plants, you may dry up spiritually.

“What faucet would be a leaky one?”

Any that isn’t attached to the Source of truth.

“But what does replacing it mean?”

Move the spigot in the pulpit, or remove the hose.

Changing churches if the truth is leaking out of the pulpit of the one you attend. It’s no virtue to be “true” to a church that fails to deliver the spiritual water of life, Christian. A liberal church delivers polluted water out of a rusty spigot, and the little bit of truth that you receive is so infinitesimal and so thoroughly mixed with rust that it won’t help  you. What you need is a steady, continual flow of pure, spiritual water.
“Sure, but our family’s always been members of our church.”

Look at them with a careful eye—what has it done for them? How much do they know of God’s Word? What spiritual benefits have they received over the years? Make a careful assessment; then make a good decision.

Check out our online courses, including, Introduction to Nouthetic Counseling and  The Use of Scripture in Counseling, taught by Jay Adams!

Books related to counseling others:

1. Competent to Counsel by Jay Adams
2. The Christian Counselor’s Manual by Jay Adams
3. How to Help People Change by Jay Adams
4. Check out our Bookstore for all the best counseling books!

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams

Visit our online bookstore for all your biblical counseling resource needs.
For more biblical counseling training, check out our list of INS Online Courses.

Follow INS on Social Media:
– Facebook: noutheticstudies
– Twitter: @noutheticstud
– Instagram: @noutheticstudies

The post If the Hose Leaks, Fix It! appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.