Preach It Seriously
Arthur Vess emphasizes the importance of serious preaching that focuses on holiness and spiritual truth rather than entertainment.
Arthur Vess emphasizes the importance of preaching with seriousness and eternal significance, rather than focusing on amusing or entertaining the congregation. He highlights the danger of neglecting the spiritual hunger of souls by resorting to jokes and light-heartedness in the pulpit, which can leave individuals feeling disappointed and starved for truth. Vess stresses the need for sanity and seriousness in delivering the message of holiness, cautioning against using humor as a substitute for the weighty matters of salvation and sanctification. He challenges preachers to prioritize the impartation of a holy nature and the deliverance from sin over mere entertainment, especially in a world that is increasingly distracted by amusement and entertainment.
Text
Preach it seriously, not as a joke, but as a serious eternal issue. There is too much chaff inour modern pulpits. Many try to tickle and amuse people rather than bless them. If we are blessed,we do not need to be amused and entertained. It is all right to be cheerful, but not chaffy. They saidthat Jesus often wept but never laughed. How could He? A young man was seriously affected by anevangelist's message, and went over to the parsonage after the service to inquire more about thetruth; but the pastor and evangelist cracked jokes and cut up so much that the hungry soul wentaway grieved, disappointed and starved, wondering if there was anything to it after all. No onewas ever saved or sanctified in a jocular mood.
We must be sane and serious.
There may be anoccasional use of wit to embarrass the adversary, but holiness is not a joke. Some cowards in thepulpit crack a joke and explode their occasional denunciations of the world. Many, or most, of ourmodern once-holiness preachers vie with each other in keeping their hearers laughing and roaring with fun. Is this why the "glory has departed?" The world stresses amusement and entertainment,while the world is lost, and communism is rushing in on us. They want to forget their sins and sorrows. They need deliverance from slavery of sin, and the impartation of a holy nature so thatthey can live a holy, happy life free from all sinful strife. Only miserable people have to beamused and entertained.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The seriousness of preaching - Distinction between entertainment and blessing - The impact of humor in ministry
- II points: - The example of Jesus' demeanor - The consequences of a jocular approach - The need for sincerity in spiritual matters
- III points: - The dangers of modern entertainment culture - The necessity of holiness in preaching - The call for deliverance from sin
- IV points: - The role of the church in addressing societal issues - The importance of serious discourse - The need for a holy nature
Key Quotes
“Preach it seriously, not as a joke, but as a serious eternal issue.” — Arthur Vess
“No one was ever saved or sanctified in a jocular mood.” — Arthur Vess
“Only miserable people have to be amused and entertained.” — Arthur Vess
Application Points
- Preach with a focus on the eternal significance of the message.
- Encourage a culture of sincerity and holiness in church settings.
- Address the needs of the congregation by providing spiritual nourishment rather than mere amusement.