The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his124/preach.lzh/PREACH.TXT

Text File | 1991-07-09 | 4KB | 94 lines

PAS:How to Preach without results  by Charles G. Finney

   I. Let your supreme motive be to increase your own popularity--
then, of course, your preaching will be suited for the purpose, and not
to convert souls to Christ.

   II. Avoid preaching doctrines that are offensive to the carnal mind,
lest they should say to you, as they did to Christ, "This is a hard
saying, who can hear it?"

   III. Make no distinct points, and do not disturb the consciences of
your hearers, lest they become alarmed about their souls.

   IV. Avoid all illustrations, repititions, and emphatic sentences
that may compel your people to remember what you say.

   V. Avoid all heat and earnestness in your delivery, lest you make
the impression that you really believe what you say.

   VI. Address the emotions, and not the conscience, of your hearers.

   VII. Be careful not to testify from your own experiences of the
power of the Gospel, lest you should produce the conviction upon your
hearers that you have something which they need.

   VIII. Do not awaken uncomfortable memories by reminding your
listeners of their past sins.

   IX. Denounce sin in general, but make no reference to the specific
sins of your present audience.

   X. Do not make the impression that God commands your listeners here
and now to obey the truth. Do not let them think that you expect them
to commit themselves right on the spot to give their hearts to God.

   XI. Leave the impression that they are expected to go away in their
sins, and to consider the matter at their convenience.

   XII. Dwell much upon their inability to obey, and leave the
impression that they must wait for God to change their natures.

   XIII. Preach salvation by grace; but ignore the condemned and lost
condition of the sinner, lest he should understand what you mean by
grace, and feel his need of it.

   XIV. Preach the Gospel as a remedy, but conceal or ignore the fatal
disease of the sinner.

   XV. Do not speak of the spirituality of God's holy law (by which
comes the knowledge of sin), lest the sinner should see his lost
condition and flee from the wrath to come.

   XVI. Make no appeals to the fears of sinners; but leave the
impression that they have no reason to fear.

   XVII. Preach Christ as an infinite amiable and good-natured being,
but ignore those scathing rebukes of sinners and hypocrites which so
often made his hearers tremble.

   XVIII. Admit, either obviously or casually, that all men have some
moral goodness in them; lest sinners should understand that they need a
radical change of heart, from sin to holiness.

   XIX. Say so little of hell that your people will think that you do
not believe in its existence yourself.

   XX. Make the impression that, if God is as good as you are, He could
not send anyone to hell.

   XXI. Make no disagreeable references to the teachings of
self-denial, cross-bearing, and crucifixion to the world, lest you
should convict and convert some of your church members.

   XXII. Do not rebuke the worldly tendancies of the church, lest you
should hurt their feelings, and finally convert some of them.

   XXIII. Do not rebuke extravagance in dress, lest you should make an
uncomfortable impression on your vain and worldly church members.

   XXIV. Encourage lots of church socials, and attend them yourself.

   XXV. Make it your great aim to be personally popular with all
classes of your hearers.

   XXVI. Aim to make your hearers pleased with themselves and pleased
with you, and be careful especially not to wound the feelings of anyone.

   XXVII. Especially avoid preaching to those who are present. Preach
about sinners, but not to them. Say "they," and not "you," lest anyone
should take your subject personally. and apply it to their own life,
securing the salvation of their soul.

   Computers for Christ