Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: Effective Broadcasting – Part 1

Theme: Planting the Word of God

Series: Essentials for Church Growth

Acts 6:4 and then verse 7, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to ministry of the word.”

“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”

(ESV) Let us pray!

At different times in the Word of God there are references to farming.

These metaphors deal with the teaching of God’s Word and the different effects it has on the heart of mankind.

Back in the 1960’s in rural Northwest Kansas, a farmer could make a good living for his family on only 80 to 100 acres of farm ground.

Many of these farmers raised a garden and different crops such as wheat, corn or other crops.

Not only did these farmers raise crops, they raised different types of livestock, providing not only for themselves, but for other Americans as well as for people in different parts of the world.

Today, in Northwest Kansas a farmer needs far more than 100 acres if he wants to provide for a family.

Even small gardens are being replaced for the most part with large produce farms.

The fact is, farmers do not even plant their crops like they once did – they use a whole new method in preparing the fields, planting the seeds and harvesting their crops.

Like it or not, if you want to make a living for your family in the farming industry, you will change the way you broadcast your seed and harvest your crops.

Farmers who update their methods will produce food for people around the world.

Proposition: I would propose to you that the Body of Christ that God will use to evangelize the next generation has members who are specialized in different methods of broadcasting the seed of God’s Word in the fields of the world.

The church that has a lasting effect on the present and future generation will be efficient in using modern day tools to broadcast the life giving written Word of God.

The cutting edge church will be committed to the foundational truths in this message, while applying modern tools to getting the Word of God outside the church walls.

Interrogative Sentence: Just what is the priority of the Bible believing, preaching, teaching church?

Just what seed is the church of Jesus Christ to broadcast?

Where is it to be broadcast?

In this message you will discover powerful truths that must not be ignored.

In the second message we will look at the charge to the soldier of Christ and the fertilizer that ensures a healthy harvest of souls for the Lord.

Have Biblical priorities

The first step to effective broadcasting of God’s Word is to have a Body of Christ that has Biblical priorities.

The Holy Spirit led, anointed and empowered church birthed forth from Pentecost had men of God who knew their priorities.

Acts 6:2 says, “So the twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the Word of God in order to wait on tables.’”

Our key text says, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.”

(Acts 6:4)

These passages of Scripture came forth at a time when the New Testament church was growing and the people of God needed Divine instructions.

God in His mercy and grace sent forth His Holy Spirit to give the Body of Christ administrative direction in regard to proclaiming the Word of God.

In order for the conviction of sin, the conversion of sinners, and the edification of the Body of Christ, there must be men and women of God who devote their time, strength, and gifting to the proclaiming and teaching of God’s Word.

No one is denying the importance of tongues, miracles, and supernatural healings.

However, these are not enjoyed unless there are those who employ themselves in the service of preaching and teaching the written Word of God undergirded with prayer.

The word “devote” (proskarteréō) means to occupy oneself diligently, to pay persistent attention to, (Analytical Lexicon of the Greek Language) to persist, keep on with devotion, (Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains) or to give constant attention to.

(Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament)

Every preaching and teaching ministry used of the Lord has someone who takes seriously 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

True modern day preachers and teachers of God’s Word spend much time privately in prayerful study of the sword of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) so they can be effective in the cause of Christ and God.

The truth is, faithful prayerful students of God’s Word become servants whom the Lord uses long after their physical death, just like the writings of those the Holy Spirit used to bring us the written Word of God.

One great man of God who the Lord and the Holy Spirit is still using even today is Matthew Henry, the man who laid the foundational work of the well known Matthew Henry Commentaries.

He and the church he oversaw for the Lord were illuminated with the truth of being devoted to the preaching of God’s Word.

One year he preached 211 times, besides his expounding of the written Word and his daily family devotions.

Dr. Daniel Williams said, “He preached seven times per week.

He learned from the early puritans and other non-conformists the joy of getting up early to spend time in the intense toil of prayerful study of God’s Word.”

Matthew would often say to those he taught, “Do not lose the morning!”

He practiced what he learned from Christ’s example, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”

(Mark 1:35)

Pastor Matthew Henry was commonly in his study at four o’clock in the morning.

Around 8:00 a.m. he would have some refreshment and spend time with his family.

After family worship he would return to his study until noon, when after eating he often returned to his study until 4:00 P.M.

He then would visit the sick or spend time with his family, and occasionally, other business.

Often before going to bed he would return to his study.

Mr. Henry writes, “…return to thy work.

O my soul; rest in the arms of God’s mercy and strength.”

Nothing caused Matthew Henry more uneasiness than needless intrusions.

Whether those inroads upon time and strength arose out of mistaken politeness, or the influence of inconsiderate friendship, they invariably extorted lamentations and self-reproach.

In his diary Matthew often complains of the precious hours lost in the company of those he loved and he often laments that friends are thieves of time.

Matthew experienced the spiritual grieving that comes when the preacher of God’s Word has been robbed of His time of getting prayerful revelation from God’s Word.

In his diary Matthew Henry wrote, “…I am always best when alone.

No place like my own study, no company like that of good books, especially His Book [the Bible].”

(Matthew Henry Commentary 1708-1710 / originally published in 1706; Foreword, the Life of Matthew Henry, page lxviii, section 1)

Matthew Henry was willing to pay the cost to prepare to follow God’s administration for the New Testament church.

“While millions of pastors have come and gone since the 1700’s, most preachers’ works have not achieved the respect and usefulness that the Matthew Henry Commentaries have accomplished even to this day.”

(Encyclopedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition)

The people of God who in practicality live out the protection and provision of the preaching and teaching of God’s Word have Holy Spirit illumination of Psalm 119:140, “Your word is very pure, therefore your servant loves it.”

(NAS) The Body of Christ who is used by the Lord to plant the Word of God sees their Pastor’s office as a place of fasting, prayer and study, not a place where a CEO works.

Where the Holy Spirit is truly working, there is a church who desires that their Christ appointed preachers and teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12) become skilled with the sword of the Spirit while the Body of Christ sets their key focus on servant-hood ministries.

(Acts 6:1-7) (Please note: The truths presented in this portion of the message came forth after prayerful study of God’s Word with the assistance from these time tested commentaries: Matthew Henry Commentary; The Bible Knowledge Commentary; Commentary, Critical and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments; The Pulpit Commentary; The New American Commentary; The Expositors Bible Commentary; Barnes Notes; Thru the Bible Commentary)

For application’s sake; Does your life epistle say to an on-looking world that the Body of Christ you worship with has her priorities in line with the written Word of God regarding the preaching and teaching the Bible?

Seed that will produce a crop

The second step to effective broadcasting is to plant seed that will produce a crop.

If a famer wants to raise corn, he must plant corn seed.

If he wants to raise wheat or some other type of crop, he must plant the type of seed which will produce the desired crop.

There is a seed to plant that will produce the harvest God desires and achieve the purpose for which it is sent.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The prophet Isaiah writes, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

(Isaiah 55:10-11)

The great Biblical commentator, Matthew Henry writes, “According to the different errands on which the Word is sent it will have its different effects.

If it be not a saviour of life unto life, it will be a saviour of death unto death; if it do not convince the conscience and soften the heart, it will sear the conscience and harden the heart; if it do not ripen for heaven it will ripen for hell.

One way or the other, it will take effect.”

Albert Barnes writes regarding the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.

“God has a design in giving His Word to men.

Whatever is His design in giving the Gospel, it will be accomplished.

Just as God has designed each raindrop and every snowflake to fall on its certain place, whether rock, sand, or fertile ground, He has destined His Word to fall on different hearts.

(Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8) Though often rejected – it still keeps mankind without excuse.”

I have a great concern that the Body of Christ as a whole does not have a Biblical understanding of the full effect of the powerful life challenging and changing Word of God.

We think that if we can make the Word of God appealing to its hearers, there will be a positive response.

In regard to men sent from God (2 Corinthians 2:17) to preach the Word regarding the message of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:16) the Apostle Paul sets before us a truth to the reception of the message.

He writes, “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life...” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

Christians who are Holy Spirit illuminated with the whole council of God’s Word have understanding of the teachings of Christ about the sowers of the seed.

They joyfully plant the seed of God’s Word, knowing that Jesus taught that there are four types of soil that represent the hearts of mankind.

1.)

The hard trodden-down pathways are like the hearts of those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the Word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

2.) The rocky ground is like the hearts of those who believe for awhile, but in the time of testing fall away.

3.) The thorny ground is like those who have hearts with faith that is quickly choked out by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, and they never mature.

However, 4.) The fertile soil is like those with good and noble hearts.

They will hear the Word, retain it, and by persevering, produce a crop.

(Luke 8:11 - 15) They also understand that the results of the harvest from the planted seeds of God’s Word come from God, for only He can bring growth.