(The following is shared by brother Ron Bridge, an article written for his church newsletter)
By the time this Newsletter is published I will be preaching in the 28th. chapter of Matthew. The series began in December 2005, so with time off for the Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, vacations and Missions Conferences it has taken almost three years and over 100 sermons to complete. Looking back over the series it is valid to ask what impact has been the impact of such an in- depth study of one book of the Bible? You will have to answer that question for yourself but it would be interesting to survey the congregation. Perhaps you have a better understanding of the sequence of events in Jesus' life. Perhaps the Sermon on the Mount gave you a fresh understanding of the kind of character the Lord expects of His disciples. Perhaps the treatment of the Olivet Discourse shed some light on biblical prophecy. I would be interested to know in what ways your life has been impacted by the exposition.
If you have 20 minutes or so, take the time to watch these videos. The first, "Bullhorn Guy," is by Emergent guru Rob Bell. (It is not available in full on You Tube, so you will have to watching by clicking this link
which will play through Windows Media Player). On the surface, the video is a piece against offensive "street preachers," but as it proceeds you will see that it is actually against the preaching of sin, Hell, and repentance. The "bullhorn" guy is just a caricature designed to make an easy target.
The second video, "Bullwhip Guy," is a very clever parody response which effectively exposes the unbiblical approach of Bell's original. I highly recommend that you not view this until you have watched Bell's original in full. It will make a lot more sense to you that way.
If you have more time, here is a very thoughtful video by a young man defending "Bullwhip Guy" from those who complained that it was somehow being unfair to Rob Bell.
Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, vacations and Missions Conferences it has taken almost three years and over 100 sermons to complete. Looking back over the series it is valid to ask what impact has been the impact of such an in- depth study of one book of the Bible? You will have to answer that question for yourself but it would be interesting to survey the congregation. Perhaps you have a better understanding of the sequence of events in Jesus' life. Perhaps the Sermon on the Mount gave you a fresh understanding of the kind of character the Lord expects of His disciples. Perhaps the treatment of the Olivet Discourse shed some light on biblical prophecy. I would be interested to know in what ways your life has been impacted by the exposition.
