SOME years ago now, John Chapman, Sydney Diocesan Evangelist, came to Melbourne to lead a workshop for preachers. As you would expect, it was absolutely loaded with good advice conveyed with machine-gun-like speed and precision.
We all went away prepared ‘to preach as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men’ (to quote Richard Baxter, another great preacher) with so much to remember and so much to put into practice.
Of all the standouts from that day, one thing still comes to my mind each year as Christmas and Easter approach. As we all know, there are likely to be a number of people present who we won’t see again until the next big event. Chappo gave us an excellent piece of advice: ‘When they only come to church at Christmas and Easter, don’t go crook at them. JUST GOSPEL THEM!’
When you think about it, there are few greater turn-offs than carping criticism and no greater turn-on than the Gospel – and no better time to be ‘urgent in season’ than the seasons of Christmas and Easter. Of course we are ‘urgent in season and out of season’, but Christmas and Easter give us the opportunity to reach our peak in Gospel proclamation.
But not only is unnecessary criticism a turn-off. It is also a diversion. Will our hearers go home discouraged by the criticism which has been magnified in their minds? Or will they go home challenged, encouraged and rejoicing in the Lord?
‘Don’t go crook at them. JUST GOSPEL THEM!’
– Bob Thomas