With the continuous development of society and the church, diverse activities are organized by the church. However, preaching, the most important ministry of the Protestant church, has been neglected.
Reverend Liu, who serves in a city church in South China, proposes that pastors must diligently prepare their sermons to bring about change in people. He has observed that in recent years, many pastors attribute their inability to properly prepare sermons to the increasingly busy pace of life, as well as the secularization and critical attitudes of believers towards sermons.
Regarding this, Liu insists that, regardless of the circumstances, ministers cannot blame the negative environment or passively accept it. For the church, the most crucial tasks have always been preaching the gospel and pastoring the congregants well.
He declared that the main reason why some churches aren’t growing is that pastors deviate from their focus. For example, many churches now engage in small groups, varied fellowships, discipleship training, staff worker training, and leadership training. However, despite being busy with these activities, there is often little or no growth in those churches.
The pastor explained, “For example, a pastor is busy attending a retreat today and participating in an event tomorrow, and often there are meetings.” The end result is that pastors do not have enough time to pray earnestly, read the Bible, quietly meditate on God’s word, or prepare their sermons.
Liu asserted that without powerful sermons, believers lack sufficient spiritual nourishment. Over time, they feel indifferent about attending church services, with no sense of anticipation. When newcomers come, they often leave without having gained anything meaningful and may not return.
He emphasized, “As pastors, we must seriously reflect before God and look over our own issues and responsibilities.” He said that in the eras of John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, or the Great Awakening in America, there were not many fellowship activities. Yet, when the gospel message was proclaimed, people listened attentively and earnestly.
“Many activities are conducted, but there is no significant church growth or revival. This is not just an issue in churches within our country; it’s a global phenomenon.” The reason is that the preaching lacks appeal and fails to attract young people.
Pastor Liu reiterated that while small groups, fellowships, training sessions, and discipleship programs are necessary and should be conducted, they should not consume too much time and energy or become the main focus of the church.
Every pastor, whether during Sunday services, midweek meetings, or youth fellowships, must deliver good sermons. “I believe this is more important than anything else,” said Pastor Liu.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
社会和教会的不断发展，教会举办各种各样的活动，但是最重要的——讲道却被轻视了。
在南方某城市教会服事的刘牧师认为牧者必须要用心预备讲章，这样才能改变人。
刘牧师发现，最近这些年以来很多传道人把很多问题，也包括传道人不能好好预备讲章的问题，归咎到了愈来愈忙碌的生活节奏以及信徒的世俗化和对讲道的挑剔上。
对此，刘牧师认为无论如何我们都不能怪环境，并且不能只是被动接受这些。对教会来说，最重要的一直都是传福音，然后牧养好教会。
刘牧师认为教会之所以没有多少增长，最重要的原因是教会偏离了焦点。比如说，现在很多教会开展了小组、各种团契，然后还做了门徒培训、同工培训、领导力培训。但是忙活了一大堆教会可能没有什么增长或者增长很少很少。
为什么会这样？刘牧师说：“作为教会牧者，今天有一场退修会我得去参加，明天有一个什么活动我也得去参加，然后经常还要开会什么的。”最终的结果就是牧者常常没有多少时间认真地祷告、读经、安静地默想上帝的话语，也没有充足的时间预备讲章。
刘牧师说，讲道没有力量，台下的信徒就得不到充足的属灵生命的供应。时间长了，觉得教会聚会可去可不去，没有什么期待。有新人过来的话，因为什么也没有得到，下一次很可能就再也不来了。
作为牧者，刘牧师说：“作为牧者和传道人，我们必须要在上帝和基督面前认真反省，检讨自己的问题和责任。”
刘举例说，看基督教历史，比如约翰卫斯理的时代、司布真那个时代，或者是美国的觉醒时代， 那个时候没有多少团契，没有多少教会活动；但当讲道信息被宣布出来的时候，无数的人们认真、用心聆听。
“不仅仅是国内的教会，全世界范围的教会可能都是这样的。搞了很多很多的事情，可是并没有很大的发展和复兴。”因为教会的讲道没有吸引力，吸引不了年轻人。
刘牧师再次强调小组、团契、培训、门训什么的这些确实都可以并且也需要做。但是不能够投入太多的时间和精力，或者说不能够成为教会的主流。
每一位讲道人，无论是在主日礼拜，或者是周中聚会、青年团契中，一定要把道讲好。“我相信，这个比什么都重要”，刘牧师如此说。
南方一牧者：牧者必须要用心预备讲章，讲道才能改变人
With the continuous development of society and the church, diverse activities are organized by the church. However, preaching, the most important ministry of the Protestant church, has been neglected.
Reverend Liu, who serves in a city church in South China, proposes that pastors must diligently prepare their sermons to bring about change in people. He has observed that in recent years, many pastors attribute their inability to properly prepare sermons to the increasingly busy pace of life, as well as the secularization and critical attitudes of believers towards sermons.
Regarding this, Liu insists that, regardless of the circumstances, ministers cannot blame the negative environment or passively accept it. For the church, the most crucial tasks have always been preaching the gospel and pastoring the congregants well.
He declared that the main reason why some churches aren’t growing is that pastors deviate from their focus. For example, many churches now engage in small groups, varied fellowships, discipleship training, staff worker training, and leadership training. However, despite being busy with these activities, there is often little or no growth in those churches.
The pastor explained, “For example, a pastor is busy attending a retreat today and participating in an event tomorrow, and often there are meetings.” The end result is that pastors do not have enough time to pray earnestly, read the Bible, quietly meditate on God’s word, or prepare their sermons.
Liu asserted that without powerful sermons, believers lack sufficient spiritual nourishment. Over time, they feel indifferent about attending church services, with no sense of anticipation. When newcomers come, they often leave without having gained anything meaningful and may not return.
He emphasized, “As pastors, we must seriously reflect before God and look over our own issues and responsibilities.” He said that in the eras of John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, or the Great Awakening in America, there were not many fellowship activities. Yet, when the gospel message was proclaimed, people listened attentively and earnestly.
“Many activities are conducted, but there is no significant church growth or revival. This is not just an issue in churches within our country; it’s a global phenomenon.” The reason is that the preaching lacks appeal and fails to attract young people.
Pastor Liu reiterated that while small groups, fellowships, training sessions, and discipleship programs are necessary and should be conducted, they should not consume too much time and energy or become the main focus of the church.
Every pastor, whether during Sunday services, midweek meetings, or youth fellowships, must deliver good sermons. “I believe this is more important than anything else,” said Pastor Liu.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Southern Pastor Highlights Sermon Preparations to Effect Change
