one message, big idea, etc.

it seems like everything that i am reading these days, whether its pop culture business info, emergent church blogs, or even a book from northpoint resources, i am getting basically the same message- "it's all about communicating ONE THING"

i really like this idea, not that it is that original. did anyone else ever see city slickers 2??

all of that to say, this is important for people in ministry to understand because as much as our message has, should, and will stay the same since the time of Jesus, the way that we communicate that message must evolve.

i can't count how many churches that i've been to, or pastors that i've heard who think that because they heard one guy, 30 years ago preach and see a response, then they have to do the same. (i.e. Charles Stanley, Billy Graham, and Adrian Rodgers are so far out of my league i do not even attempt to criticize them, only the lame imitators)

then there are people who think that communication is overrated. that all you have to do is be in good standing and people won't really care how or what you communicate.

i had a friend say to me a few years ago, "a church will forgive you for a lot of things, but bad preaching is not one of them." how true.

all of this comes in the context of scripture- of course!
"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." James 3:1