"Preaching the Distinctive Adventist Message" - presented by Adam Ramdin on 12/4/2207 at WestPoint of Evangelism in Simi Valley Sermon Preparation ------------------ - Life is a preparation - Prayer: Morning, Midday, before preach - Go over slides: 1 hour at least - Learn notes - aim to preach without but not critical - Further Reading: Pastoral Ministry, p.187-199 Note: Adam goes over slides in the morning, and then whips through them in the afternoon before preaching Why Preach It? -------------- Is it not more important to let people know about Jesus? False Doctrine -> False Christ Fallen Protestantism may have some light but most do not correctly understand Christ, His mission and the Great Controversy. True Doctrine -> True Picture of Christ Example: Sabbath Hell Fire Health State of the Dead Secret Rapture "Through the misrepresentations of the enemy, many were so deceived that they worshiped a false god, clothed with the attributes of the satanic character. Those in ignorance and moral darkness must have light, spiritual light; for the world knew not God, and He must be revealed to their understanding. Truth looked down from heaven and saw not the reflection of her image;" CT 28 Practical Ways to present ------------------------- (preaching is an art and a science - what follows is more about the science part) - avoid trap of railing against error - spend less time proving popular beliefs wrong and more presenting the truth in it's beauty. [Daniel 9] - Make truth so clear that error is obvious. Some things you do not need to go over repeatedly. [MOB quotes, Objections in Q and A...] "A few forcible remarks upon some point of doctrine will fasten it in the mind much more firmly than if such a mass of matter were presented that nothing lies out clear and distinct in the mind of those ignorant of our faith. There should be interspersed with the prophecies practical lessons of the teachings of Christ." --Letter 48, 1886. {Ev 171.3} Keep the approach Christ Centered, especially with more pointed subjects - Diet, Dress, EGW, MOB, State of the Dead Proverbs 16:21 - Sweetness of speech increases persuasion Catch more flies with honey than vinegar AIM - challenge peoples deep-seated beliefs and yet put a smile on their face. Get people to laugh at themselves. GOAL: Make it clear that people are not bad Christians because they have held onto erroneous beliefs but rather sincere people who have nto had the opportunity to know the truth Sermon Order ------------ "People cannot be expected to see at once the advantage of truth over the error they have cherished. The best way to expose the fallacy of error is to present the evidences of truth. This is the greatest rebuke that can be given to error. Dispel the cloud of darkness resting on minds by reflecting the bright light of the Sun of Righteousness." --Pacific Union Recorder, Oct. 23, 1902. {Ev 170.2} NO PERFECT SERMON ORDER - Copy someone else's taht you are comfortable with (Adam likes Gary Gibbs) - Find what works for you and one you can intelligently get your head around - Must be logical (Cognitive Consistency) -Transfer night: High Subject. Must be a crowd puller [Rapture, State of the Dead] -Most important subjects for nights of highest attendance - Something will have to give, decide which is area of least concern Basic Rules: Law before the Sabbath Death before Millenium and Hell Remnant before SOP? 70 Weeks before Second Coming? No perfect sermon order Distinctive Beliefs - Revelation Chapter 1 ------------------------------------------ The seven S's (1) Scriptures (Rev 1:1-3) 1 sermon at the most. Opening Night. Or weave principles into several lectures - repeat and enlarge, prophecy vindicates Word etc. Handle basics in Q and A - Which Bible? How to Study? (2) Salvation (Rev 1:4-6) Handle early. Challenge is to make it fit into a prophetic theme. [Daniel 4] Can take out but important to make first appeal. Card Appeal - Altar call: sets tone Steer clear of once saved always saved (too early) Basics of salvation, not the finer points (3) Second Coming (Rev 1:7) Two ways - hit hard or dance around One of the hardest to preach due to the strategic importance of it. [Left Behind] Use as transfer night subject Have to cover 490 [and 2300] first Objection: One taken, one left, Dan 9:27, Who is Antichrist? If covered 490 first and its Christ Centered and they accept it, then they logically have to accept your conclusion in the rapture If the 70th week is adequately covered, do not need to go into details of the Oxford Movement, Francisco Ribera at length. It's more supporting evidence. Appeal - ready for Jesus SC; Leave rapture out of appeal. Stand, hand, altar, not a card... Important to visit soon afterwards to clear and set with those from Rapture background Do not date set "We are not to be engrossed with speculations in regard to the times and the seasons which God has not revealed. Jesus has told His disciples to "watch," but not for definite time. His followers are to be in the position of those who are listening for the orders of their Captain; they are to watch, wait, pray, and work, as they approach the time for the coming of the Lord; but no one will be able to predict just when that time will come; for "of that day and hour knoweth no man." You will not be able to say that He will come in one, two, or five years, neither are you to put off His coming by stating that it may not be for ten or twenty years. . . . We are not to know the definite time either for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or for the coming of Christ." --Review and Herald, March 22, 1892. {Ev 221.1} (4) Sabbath (Rev 1:9,10) Preach around nights 7-10 Can do twice followed by Change of the Sabbath or First Day Texts Best day of week to do it? Important to make sure its watertight - life and death sermon Keep in mind, they may accept the knowledge but not apply it to their lives. Therefore, you must make it personal and applicable. Need to see why, the benefits and ultimately the importance. Include: Which day? Origins and Why? How to prove? How was it changed? Main Objections? Appeal? Make it more general the first time. Love Jesus and do His will. Thankful for Creator and Saviour. Can do appeal the second night, or a week or so later when MOB is covered Objections: Col 2:14-18 (Ron duPreez book is very good) just for the Jews? [Genesis 2] Keep any day of the week [Rom 14:5,8] Visit after the sabbath but do not make it a make or break visit if they are wavering as it's too early for that. Visit afterwards. Ask three questions: New? Clear? Obstacles? Those who come to church Sabbath morning gives a good indication of where the crowd is "The days in which we live are times that call for constant vigilance, times in which God's people should be awake to do a great work in presenting the light on the Sabbath question. . . . This last warning to the inhabitants of the earth is to make men see the importance God attaches to His holy law. So plainly is the truth to be presented that no transgressor, hearing it, shall fail to discern the importance of obedience to the Sabbath commandment. . . . {Ev 232.2} (5) Sanctuary (Rev 1:11-17) "The correct understanding of the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary is the foundation of our faith.--Letter 208, 1906. {Ev 221.2} The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise, it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time, or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. Every individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days. {Ev 221.3} One night: can be done Saves time/night Rushes hte 490 and also the concept of the judgment Focus on the redemptive work of Christ in Heaven rather than dates, etc. Two nights: 70 weeks (increasingly important) 2300 days Three nights: Daniel 8 70 weeks 2300 days Shows clearly the links between Daniel 8 and 9, without which it is easier to misinterpret Daniel 8. Shows/reinforces the principle of repeat and enlarge Four nights: Daniel 8 70 weeks 2300 days Judgment Comprehensively covers all four areas within context of evangelistic campaign Keep it CHRIST Centered. Focus on the mediatorial work Christ is doing, His intercessory work, that Jesus is our Advocate, Judge, and Friend (6) State of the Dead (Rev 1:18) "The question of the nonimmortality of the soul also needs to be treated with great care, lest in introducing the subject there be started a deep and exciting controversy which will close the door to further investigation of the truth. {Ev 247.4}" Points to cover: - must understand the mechanics for body, soul, and spirit - spirit=breath - spirit is not a separate entity - soul is not a separate entity - death = a sleep Millenium - concept of two resurrections and great white throne judgment Hell Fire - Vindicates character of God. Present not to disprove but rather to show God's Love throughout Objections: Rich man and Lazarus (cover during Hell Fire) Thief on the cross (in death sermon) Absent from the body (death sermon) King Saul and Samuel Out of Body Experiences (death sermon) (7) Spirit of Prophecy (Rev 1:19) After Remnant Church Sabbath Morning - Only A interests get to hear it - Less hassle from people less likely to accept - Members get a reaffirmation of key teachings that is often misinterpreted Don't need 10 identifying marks of a prophet (e.g. not breathing...) (Adam just uses about 4) "As the end draws near, and the work of giving the last warning to the world extends, it becomes more important for those who accept present truth to have a clear understanding of the nature and influence of the Testimonies, which God in His providence has linked with the work of the third angel's message from its very rise.--Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 654. (1889) {Ev 255.2} Preach at the end of your seminar to show that everything you have proved comes from the bible The testimonies of Sister White should not be carried to the front. God's Word is the unerring standard. The Testimonies are not to take the place of the Word. Great care should be exercised by all believers to advance these questions carefully, and always stop when you have said enough. Let all prove their positions from the Scriptures and substantiate every point they claim as truth from the revealed Word of God.--Letter 12, 1890. {Ev 256.2} (8) Saints/Remnant Church Beginning of last week Gives you a week to clear and find out where the final crowd is Cover the woman of Revelation 12 in contrast with the woman of Revelation 17 Decision card [Adam does not use altar call] Balance sensitivity and confidence in same message (9) Christian Standards (Not in Rev. 1) Entertainment - music, TV, recreation Adornment - dress, jewelry Smoking and dietary lifestyle Two focii: Jesus [Sanctuary and Cleansing, ambassadors for Christ, Reflect Jesus, getting ready for SC, etc.] Principle - Modesty, What would Jesus Do? Use humor to enforce points to avoid seeming to austere [Adam does health at the end of 3rd week] Distinctive Beliefs Scriptures Salvation Second Coming Sabbath Sanctuary State of the Dead Spirit of Prophecy Saints [Remnant Church] Christian Standards