This installment is particularly geared toward preachers, but may be of interest to all. Eric talks about preaching clearly to unchurched people, without losing the depth of Reformed doctrine. (Note: These are all stand alone videos, but if you’ve missed the earlier installments you can find them here: Hausler Series)
Questions for Thought or Discussion:
1) To preachers, how could you do an audit of your preaching to see what terms and ideas you are using that outsiders and unchurched wouldn’t understand? It’s one thing for you to look at your notes, but we are often blind to these things because we are so familiar with them. For example, Eric mentions that you can’t say “you know the church in Corinth” to unchurched people without explaining it. How many phrases and ideas in your sermons are people not understanding that you are too familiar with to see? Who could you get to help you think through that? Do you know an unbeliever that would listen to a sermon and give you an evaluation of things he/she doesn’t understand? (that would also allow you to have a meaningful conversation with them)
2) Are you listening to or reading examples of preaching for the specific purpose of learning how to be clear to unchurched people? Eric mentions Spurgeon, Lloyd Jones, and Begg. Who are yours for that purpose?