Ben's Type of Sermon, Tozer's Type of Preacher

Hm... well, my sermon didn't turn out EXACTLY like my outline. It was close enough, I suppose. The most common comment I recieved afterward from people was, "Well, you don't pull any punches!" This is scary for a preacher, because you know it's likely that you've hurt some feelings. I don't want to be cruel or a jerk or anything.

However, when I felt God's call to the ministry, I promised that I would be passionate about trying to become the RIGHT kind of preacher. I hope and pray that Sunday's sermon was in that vein. There's a link at the end of this post so that you can listen to it! Also, I've included an article by A.W. Tozer that describes the kind of pastor and preacher I hope I am becoming in God's strength and God's time (and hopefully God's wisdom, as well!).


Pastoral Ministry: A New Type of Preacher

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. --Acts 20:24

If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than any now being used. If the Church in the second half of this century is to recover from the injuries she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of preacher. The proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue type will never do. Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting.

Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many), he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt-spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation of the other. But he will fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath.

"Lord, in the first half of this current century this need is even greater. Send to Your church today many who have 'seen visions of God and...heard a voice from the Throne.' Amen."

-A.W. Tozer

http://www.allbyself.com/music/03.19.06%20-%20SacrificialWorshipInTheChurch.mp3