Volume 44   Number 5                                                                                     January 2002

When believers in Christ attempt to observe all of the things Jesus commanded His Apostles to teach, disputes over words can sometimes occur, unintentionally and otherwise.

One such dispute is about whether or not a “sermon” is acceptable in the assembly. Some contend that since there is no mention of a “sermon” in the New Testament, it must be a foreign concept that should be rejected by the church.

First of all, it is true that the word “sermon” is not found in the text of any Bible translation this writer has searched. What does this word mean? “Sermon” is defined as: “a religious discourse delivered in public usually by a religious leader as a part of a worship service.” The etymology of the word is interesting: It is a Middle English word, from Old French, from Medieval Latin sermon-, sermo, from Latin ~ “speech, conversation,” from serere ~ “to link together.” (Date: 13th century) The word is related to the word “series”, showing that a sermon is the linking of ideas together in an orderly fashion.

While we don’t find the word used in the Bible, we do find godly men who essentially “preached sermons”, as we would say today. The case of Paul and his Jewish brethren in Acts 9:22 is interesting: “But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.” The word “proving” comes from sumbibazo and it literally means “to drive together, i.e. unite”. Paul was bringing points together concerning Christ; uniting them to prove that the Messiah had indeed come.

One reason that the idea of a sermon comes under fire is because of its abuse. There are many who elevate the sermon to the main attraction of the assembly. How the speaker looks, sounds, and delivers his sermon become the center of attention, more important even than the Lord’s Supper. In fact, the sermon becomes the deciding factor in where many people will attend church. If the sermons at the new church are better than the ones at the old church, you know where most of the people will be headed. The church of our Lord should not be judged in this way.

If we want to use a Bible name for one person speaking to the assembly, the word “exhortation”, is very appropriate, though often neglected. The church this writer was “raised in” had a different “exhorter” (one of the elders, deacons, or members, and occasionally a visiting evangelist) each first day of the week, and he spoke in the time slot we referred to as the “period of exhortation”. Some churches may prefer to hear more than one brother speak in that time period, but it is an opportunity for brethren to edify, admonish, and exhort one another in the faith.

The original word for exhortation is the word paraklesis and is defined by Strong: “imploration, exhortation, solace”. It is translated in the King James as “comfort, consolation, exhortation, or entreaty.” The word comes from the same word used to describe the Holy Spirit, or “Comforter”. The Holy Spirit, in other words, “exhorts” us, or comforts us, as He indwells our hearts and minds.

Paul uses another related term in Romans 15:14 when he said, “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” The word “admonish” means “to put in mind, i.e. (by implication) to caution or reprove gently:”. Instead of expecting a show when we hear a sermon, or exhortation, we should expect to be reminded, cautioned, warned, gently reproved, and exhorted to our duty.

Read the following passages of Scripture which use the word “exhortation”, and see how important it is for us to exhort one another in the Lord. Let us all be sure that we live according to the gospel, and exhort one another accordingly.

“And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.” (Luke 3:18 KJV)

“And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.” (Luke 3:18 NIV)

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” (Acts 2:40 KJV )

“And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” (Acts 13:15 KJV)

“And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,” (Acts 20:2 KJV)

“Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:8 KJV)

“But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”(1 Corinthians 14:3 KJV)

“For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:”(1 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV)

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”(1 Tim 4:13 KJV)

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:” (Hebrews 12:5 KJV)

“And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.” (Hebrews 13:22 KJV)