Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

New Wineskins

Home
Evangelical
The Unpardonable Preaching Sin of Matthew 13:19 and How Not to Break It

The Unpardonable Preaching Sin of Matthew 13:19 and How Not to Break It

Last updated on: February 22, 2018 at 7:29 am by Josh Daffern

The Unpardonable Preaching Sin of Matthew 13:19 and How Not to Break It 2018-02-22T07:29:02-06:00 Josh Daffern

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sandrachile .

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. Matthew 13:19

In the famous parable of the farmer and the seed (Matthew 13), Jesus lays out four possible scenarios, different interactions between people and the word of God. Any communicator worth their salt will avoid the first three scenarios and achieve the fourth, “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown (Matthew 13:23).” The difference between the first scenario and the fourth is the idea of understanding. People either understand the word (fourth scenario) or they don’t (first scenario). And much of that weight rests on the communicator, the preacher.

There’s a seemingly subtle but profound difference between knowledge (Greek word ginosko) and understanding (Greek word suniemi). Knowledge implies immediate learning while understanding implies reflection and pondering. You can have knowledge about how to drive a car without the understanding of how a car engine works and fuels the car, how a steering wheel interacts with the axle and how the combustion of gasoline propels the car forward.

Too often it’s easy to preach for knowledge. It’s quicker, it’s simpler, just get the facts out and hopefully they’ll understand it. But the unpardonable preaching sin of Matthew 13:19 isn’t concerned with knowledge, it’s concerned with understanding. If you preached a theologically sound sermon with all the right words, but if they don’t understand it, you are committing the sin of Matthew 13:19. If you tell them the facts without helping them grasp the why behind the facts, you’re teaching for knowledge, not understanding.

Here are five ways to teach for understanding, not mere knowledge, and keep from causing the enemy to snatch the word you preach from the minds and hearts of your hearers.

1. Don’t focus on what you’re teaching, focus on what they’re learning. My wife, who is a public school teacher, got this sage advice years ago. Instead of being consumed with getting through your lesson or through your outline, spend time during the talk or sermon focusing on the audience. You can sense whether it’s getting through or not. If they’re not understanding it, change tracks. You’re not successful when you get through your outline, you’re successful when they understand the word, and sometimes those are two different things.

2. Don’t give the answer before they’ve asked the question. This is a classic preacher mistake. Because we rightfully value Scripture, we jump to it within the first thirty seconds of the message and we start giving the answer to questions people aren’t asking. If you want people to care about the answer in Scripture, you need to get them to ask the right questions first. Utilize the first few minutes of your message to build tension, to throw out strategic questions, to get people thinking. The goal is to get people tripping over each other rushing down to the pulpit (metaphorically speaking) demanding to know the answer to the question burning in their hearts. Before you give the answer, you’ve got to give time for the question to catch fire. (This is the fatal mistake your preacher may be making this Sunday).

3. Tell better stories. There’s a reason Jesus told so many stories. There’s a reason movies still generate billions of dollars each year. We’re wired for stories. If your sermon has all the facts but no compelling stories, you’re in danger of teaching for knowledge, not understanding. Stories help complex and deep truths penetrate the outer shell of our minds. Stories many times are the vehicles that carry truths from mere knowledge to deeper understanding. Utilize stories and illustrations not as time fillers, but as strategic lynch pins of your message. (This is why preachers can learn vital truths about preaching from movies such as Thor: Ragnarok and shows such as Stranger Things).

4. Create environments that foster an atmosphere for deeper learning. For preachers, your sermon begins in the parking lot. If people feel welcomed, loved, accepted, if they’re comfortable in the physical environment you’re teaching in, if their kids are well taken care of, if the music is done with excellence, that all fosters an atmosphere where people are open to deeper learning. But if people are uncomfortable, if they’re unwelcomed, if the service is awkward, if the kids are crying, then their minds have too many walls to try and understand what you’re trying to teach.

5. Check the fruit. The easiest way to check whether you’re teaching for knowledge or understanding is to check the fruit of your audience, of your church. Are they following through with what you’re asking them to do? Are they living it out? If not, it’s time to go back to the drawing board. If there’s no long-term fruit in your audience, you’re teaching for knowledge. Jesus himself said that when you teach for understanding, “this is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:23).

Previous Post

February 13, 2018

"I'm Not a Christian But I Like Listening to You Preach"

Next Post

March 1, 2018 5 Practical Ways to Preach More Effective Sermons For the Non-Believers in Your Audience

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Family Matters Ministry in the Trenches Morning Brew MTVpastor New Wineskins Top Menu Truth from Life Uncategorized Watch Sermons

Select a Month June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am the first to fall asleep in death for following Jesus. I saw heaven opened as stones struck me. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

John Stephen Peter James