Category Archives: Preaching

Church Growth

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

Problem Stated Christians today have become discouraged. In our classes, we read the book of Acts. We see how rapidly the church expanded during this period of time. Then we turn, examine ourselves, and want to know why similar results … Continue reading →

Posted in Meaning and Purpose, Preachers, Preaching, Soul Winning | Tagged billy graham, brad pitt, burt lancaster, church growth, dale carnegie, eloquent speech, elvis presley, ezekiel, few will make it, God gives the increase, growth by watering down message, growth from problem in sister churches, hide behind cross, in season and out of season, james earl jones, jeremiah, Jesus, jimmy swaggart, martin luther king jr., message over method, morgan freeman, nice buildings, Noah, oral roberts, orson welles, paul, preach the word, purpose of church, rapid growth due to fertile soil, same message with different results, substence over style, the parable of the four soils, tony robbins, zig ziglar | 1 Comment

Austin McGary – A Radical

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

Austin McGary (1846-1928) was a Texas lawman. He served as sheriff of Madison County. He once disarmed and arrested the notorious John Wesley Hardin. Later, he worked for the State of Texas transporting prisoners to penitentiaries. In the early 1880’s, he began … Continue reading →

Posted in baptism, Preachers, Preaching | Tagged austin mcgary, david lipscomb, denominational baptism, e.m. forster, edmund burke, extreme, firm foundation, gospel advocate, harry hamilton, j.d. tant, john f. kennedy, john s. durst, john wesley hardin, madison county, madisonville, methodist, one person makes a difference, passion of one person, power of one person, radical, shaken in the denominations, texas preacher | Leave a comment

Brethren, We’re Drifting!

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

J.D. Tant (1861-1941) was not impressive by the standards of many. He was not a large man. He stood 5’7″ and never weighed more than 160 pounds. He was not eloquent. Fanning Yater Tant acknowledged, “Tant was no orator. The rolling periods, the fine … Continue reading →

Posted in Preachers, Preaching, Restoration History, Uncategorized | Tagged culture, david lipscomb, dress, drifting, fanning yater tant, firm foundation, g.c. brewer, gospel advocate, grammar, j.d. tant, n.b. hardeman, texas preacher, tim perkins, u. g. wilkinson, why mot give up, why preach | Leave a comment

Making It Understandable

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

It is sometimes frustrating for preachers, and members of the church, who are trying to teach the Bible to others. People can think technically, and deeply when they want. If the job, or school demands that they learn something new, … Continue reading →

Posted in Preachers, Preaching, Textual study | Tagged 1 Corinthians 15, Acts 17, aratus of cilicia, areopagus, common people heard him gladly, crete, epicurean maxim. crete poet, epimenides, ezekiel, ezekiel visual aids, finding common ground, illustrations, Jesus master teach, know the audience, mars hill, natural phenomena, Parables, paul, paul use of pagan literature, preaching, speaking to pagans, teaching, thinking Biblical speaking secular, Titus 1, visual aids, zeus | 2 Comments

In The News: How Many Heard?

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Bryan Hodge

We read in the Bible of Jesus and the apostles speaking before large crowds of people. Could so many really hear and understand what was said? This is a question asked by critics of the Bible. It is also joked … Continue reading →

Posted in Apologetics, beatitudes, Preachers, Preaching, science, sermon on mount | Tagged Abraham Lincoln, agnieszka roginsha, areopagus, benjamin franklin, braxton boren, george whitefield, gettysburg address, gossip game, hearing, how many heard, in the news, Joel N. Shurkin, life of brian, listening, mars hill, miraculous amplification, monte python, moses, mt. sinai, nyu, p.a.system, public address system, sermon on mount, speaking | Leave a comment

The Purpose of Teaching and Preaching

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Bryan Hodge

What is the objective? What is it that we are trying to accomplish in our Bible classes and from the pulpit? Some specialize in the trivial. What man had twelve fingers and twelve toes? What tribe was filled with left-handers? … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, christian growth, Doctrine, Faith, Love, Meaning and Purpose, Phrase Study, Preachers, Preaching, Textual study | Tagged 1 Timothy 1, a good conscience, albert mangus, alexander of hales, angels intelligence and time of day, angels on pin head, anselm, ass drink consencrated water, bonaventura, can holy spirit become incarnate, could God take on female form, day of atonement, duns scotus, facts, faith, finacial training, hadden robinson, harder to creat man or universe, history, hour adam and eve sinned, love, love from a pure heart, middle ages, mouse eat host, potty training, preaching, pure heart, purpose, scholars, schoolmen, sincere, sincere faith, teaching, thomas aquinas, trivia, weight loss plans | Leave a comment

Aren’t You Special?

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Bryan Hodge

Have you ever noticed how some political, and even religious leaders have two sets of rules? One set of rules they have for the masses and another set for themselves. Politics James Madison wrote in the Federalist Papers that Congress … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Islam, mormon, Mormons, Preachers, Preaching, World Religions | Tagged book of mormon, civil rigths act, doctrine and covenents, double standard, federalist papers, james madison, joseph smith, koran, muhammad, polygamy, quran | 1 Comment

What to do With the Word

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

“All scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable …” (2 Tim. 3:16). Two things are affirmed: (1) Inspiration. The word translated “inspiration” (theopneustos) literally means, “God breathed”. Geisler and Nix explained, “It does not mean, as … Continue reading →

Posted in God`s word, Preaching, Textual study, Word Study | Tagged 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 4:2, coreection, doctrine, exhort, inspiration, instruction, longsuffering, rebuke, reproof, reprove | Leave a comment

Qualifications of Preachers

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

Like elders, preachers are referred to by different terms in the Bible. Each of these terms reveal much about their role. They are called: (1) Ministers or servants – Rom. 15:16; 1 Cor. 3:5; 4:1; 2 Cor. 3:6; 6:4; Eph. … Continue reading →

Posted in Church Organization, Preachers, Preaching | Tagged 2 Timothy 2, evangelist, minister, preacher, qualifications | 3 Comments

Acts of Worship – Proclamation of God’s word (Preaching/Reading)

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Bryan Hodge

We show reverence to God by listening to what He has said. The early church listened to preaching (Acts 20:7, 20; Romans 1:15; 1 Corinthians 14; 2 Timothy 4:1-5). They also listened to the scriptures being read (Colossians 4:16; 1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Preaching, stewardship, worship | Tagged apply to life, ask questions, hearing, listening, preaching, worship | 1 Comment