Do We Need More SMART Leaders or WISE leaders?
Christians today are Biblically malnourished—severely so. A dearth of Biblical preaching is the No. 1 reason the evangelical movement is so spiritually anemic. (John Macarthur)
The Bible foretold times like these. The Old Testament includes this prophecy: “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord God, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord’” (Amos 8:11, NKJV). Lamentations 2:9 seems to indicate that prophets will not be able to find a vision from the Lord. In others the Deity of God will become obscure not because He withholds himself, but because the people have rejected Him.
The Apostle Paul likewise foresaw an era that would be marked by a severe shortage of God’s Word. He predicted that a time was coming when people in the church “will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). As you study the context for Paul’s instruction what you see is a stubborn resistance to the gospel message. Paul describes three features that indicates a restless craving for novelty. (1) Listeners would grow weary of sound doctrine (2) People will amass teachers to suit their own desires (3) They will do this to satisfy their “itching ears” – a satisfying message that is pleasing to hear. In other words, they want a gospel without the cross.
The primary question is “Are we experiencing a modern-day famine?” The implication is not that people are incapable of hearing with their ears. The issue is the passion of life have drawn people away from God to such an extent they cannot hear him any longer. Coupled with this fact, is the challenge for Ministers that speak regularly to their attendees. The Bible is a message about the Gospel! Christ declared that all that had been written in the Law, Prophets, and Gospels were about Him. The American church has allowed novelty to creep in to such an extent that sermons are being referenced as TEDx Talks. For a thorough review I strongly encourage you to watch American Gospel – Christ Alone.
It is interesting to note that Paul understood this gospel famine was already at work in his day. We can declare no less for our day. In fact, the spirit of this famine is strong. Present Christ to as many as you can, as often as you can, for as long as you can.
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Key Note Speaking, and Executive Coaching.
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