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[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0page.]<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>It doesn\u2019t just seem<\/strong> like the preaching that comes from most pulpits across the land is different from what it was several years ago\u2014it is<\/strong> different. This is the conclusion reached by Richard Wentz, professor of religious studies at Arizona State University in a study conducted in the early 1980s. Not only the content, but the length of sermons is affected by these changes, the study shows. In the Colonial period (18th<\/sup> century) the emphasis was upon the sovereignty of God. In the 19th<\/sup> century, the emphasis moved more to the requirement for man to act in response to God.\u00a0 Before the 20th<\/sup> century (and even well into it), it was not unusual for a sermon to last two hours. People did not mind it\u2014in fact, they expected it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How does Wentz describe current preaching? He points out that most \u201cmainline\u201d Protestant churches are fed sermons that are liberal and socially oriented. He continues:<\/span><\/p>\n And today\u2019s sermons average 10 to 20 minutes in length\u2026 Many are in the form of stories with \u2018cutesy characters\u2019 meeting apparent needs to be entertaining today. The sermons now seem to give people what they want instead of giving them what they ought to be saying. Most people go and listen to something which they hope will inspire them a little bit\u2014titillate their feelings and emotions.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consider the following observations from the comments of Mr. Wentz:<\/span><\/p>\n Who can possibly imagine our Lord as such a preacher as described above? Peter and John were certainly not arrested in Jerusalem because they were so entertaining. Paul warned of those who demand such preaching (2 Tim. 4:3\u20134). Our aim must be to serve Christ rather than to entertain men (Gal. 1:10).<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> I wrote this article for, and it was published in The Edifier, <\/em>weekly bulletin of Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, TX, February 16, 1984, of which I was editor.<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 0[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2\u00a0\u00a0page.] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t just seem like the preaching that comes from most pulpits across the land is different from what it was several years ago\u2014it is different. This is the conclusion…<\/p>\n\n
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