Posting Sermons Online

[mike]

It's a long-standing policy for some churches to routinely post their sermons online.

What are the pros and cons of this? Should all teaching and preaching in local contexts be publicized for all the world to hear? Should this perhaps be judicious and selective rather than being a broad policy for all sermons?

"Sermons/preaching" in the New Testament church is almost always portrayed as an evangelistic endeavor; that is, the audience is those outside the church. The book of Acts contains most of the preaching portrayed in the NT. Other calls to preaching sermons are given to apostles or itinerant evangelists, like Timothy. The NT never describes the elders in the church as preachers. They serve as examples, leaders, and teachers. The church meetings are more akin to fellowship meals, communion, singing, sharing, and "prophesying" discussions.

The purpose of preaching in the NT is proclaiming the Good News to unbelievers.
So yes, posting sermons online is a good thing. Because the internet is the modern day Mars Hill, and Paul "posted" his sermon there. Sermons are not for the church meeting place. They are for the city square. And the internet is the new city square.

Interesting. Would you then not categorize the speaking that is done at church meetings as "preaching" since the audience is the church, generally speaking?

[Heirbyadoption]

The biggest con is it takes work. I see a lot of church websites with several-year-old sermons and nothing new.

We tend to post a fair bit of our sermons online at http://www.ogbbc.org/sermons. Regularity of updates comes and goes, sometimes there are new ones each one, other times, there's a bulk of uploads once a month. The greatest technical challenges to that are A. having someone consistently record and send them in from each congregation (not all do), and then B. having enough competent and willing people to actually edit them and upload.

[Praxis+Theodicy]

Interesting. Would you then not categorize the speaking that is done at church meetings as "preaching" since the audience is the church, generally speaking?

I would classify that as preaching. My point wasn't that what goes on in churches "isn't preaching." It's that it IS preaching, done in the wrong context. The way the church is portrayed in the New Testament is that

preaching is for those outside the church, teaching is for those inside the church.

Therefore, a church that is posting its sermons online is taking a step in a more biblical direction.

I think the idea that "preaching" is what is done inside the church is a result of the Protestant reformation emphasizing "the Word" (to seperate themselves from the Catholic church) but also emphasizing the "parish" model of the local church among the "nationalist" church institution (to seperate themselves from the anabaptists).
The anabaptist reformers sent preachers to evangelize throughout the world, and so new laws popped up forbidding ordained clergy to go about preaching. They must "remain where they are" in their parish, and preach to their local church. Having emphasized preaching the Word to differentiate themselves from the Catholics, and having forbidden actual evangelical preaching to differentiate themselves from the Anabaptists, the magisterial protestants essentially invented the modern church meeting where believers live out "following Jesus" by going to church every Sunday and listening to an ordained man speak at them for 40 minutes and then they scatter and don't participate in each others lives the rest of the week. They are taught that "living the Christian life" consists of nothing much more than listening to a sermon once a week. This is the only thing they will ever be "called out for" slacking in.

[mike]

Interesting. Would you then not categorize the speaking that is done at church meetings as "preaching" since the audience is the church, generally speaking?

I would classify that as preaching. My point wasn't that what goes on in churches "isn't preaching." It's that it IS preaching, done in the wrong context. The way the church is portrayed in the New Testament is that

preaching is for those outside the church, teaching is for those inside the church.

Therefore, a church that is posting its sermons online is taking a step in a more biblical direction.

I think the idea that "preaching" is what is done inside the church is a result of the Protestant reformation emphasizing "the Word" (to seperate themselves from the Catholic church) but also emphasizing the "parish" model of the local church among the "nationalist" church institution (to seperate themselves from the anabaptists).
The anabaptist reformers sent preachers to evangelize throughout the world, and so new laws popped up forbidding ordained clergy to go about preaching. They must "remain where they are" in their parish, and preach to their local church. Having emphasized preaching the Word to differentiate themselves from the Catholics, and having forbidden actual evangelical preaching to differentiate themselves from the Anabaptists, the magisterial protestants essentially invented the modern church meeting where believers live out "following Jesus" by going to church every Sunday and listening to an ordained man speak at them for 40 minutes and then they scatter and don't participate in each others lives the rest of the week. They are taught that "living the Christian life" consists of nothing much more than listening to a sermon once a week. This is the only thing they will ever be "called out for" slacking in.

That's extremely fascinating. What, in your view, should speaking within the church look like, then, if it is not preaching in the "modern church meeting" style?

[Pelerin]

If you do, please invest in your sound quality. It’s really annoying and distracting when the speaker’s voice is too faint or the sound quality is really tinny or worse, staticy.

Also, if there’s a question and answer session afterwards, either pass a (recorded) mic around or just have the speaker repeat a brief summary of the question. That would apply more to conferences than to sermons, but while I have the mic…

[Praxis+Theodicy]

That's extremely fascinating. What, in your view, should speaking within the church look like, then, if it is not preaching in the "modern church meeting" style?

It should look like this (emphasis added on verses that speak more directly to the question):

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written:

“With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.”

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy,and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

[NedFlanders]

It's a long-standing policy for some churches to routinely post their sermons online.

What are the pros and cons of this? Should all teaching and preaching in local contexts be publicized for all the world to hear? Should this perhaps be judicious and selective rather than being a broad policy for all sermons?

"Sermons/preaching" in the New Testament church is almost always portrayed as an evangelistic endeavor; that is, the audience is those outside the church. The book of Acts contains most of the preaching portrayed in the NT. Other calls to preaching sermons are given to apostles or itinerant evangelists, like Timothy. The NT never describes the elders in the church as preachers. They serve as examples, leaders, and teachers. The church meetings are more akin to fellowship meals, communion, singing, sharing, and "prophesying" discussions.

The purpose of preaching in the NT is proclaiming the Good News to unbelievers.
So yes, posting sermons online is a good thing. Because the internet is the modern day Mars Hill, and Paul "posted" his sermon there. Sermons are not for the church meeting place. They are for the city square. And the internet is the new city square.

In my experience every Mennonite church message I've heard in a congregation context although called preaching it really was a sermon for the local body and consisted of teaching. The CA's that see the kingdom of God recognize something bigger in living out the will of God. Our minister calls us laymen evangelist's at times - which if you look up the Greek word means a preacher of the good news.
In my experience every Protestant church message I've heard in a congregation context would always have at least an element of a salvation invitation if not all based on salvation in Christ. - Or what you may call preaching.

Praxis you are new - if you are not finding teaching on the Kingdom of God in the churches you are attending I would urge you to find a more conservative church instead of these many transitional churches becoming more Protestant.

[Sudsy]

That's extremely fascinating. What, in your view, should speaking within the church look like, then, if it is not preaching in the "modern church meeting" style?

It should look like this (emphasis added on verses that speak more directly to the question):

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written:

“With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.”

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy,and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Amen !

[steve-in-kville]

It's a long-standing policy for some churches to routinely post their sermons online.

What are the pros and cons of this? Should all teaching and preaching in local contexts be publicized for all the world to hear? Should this perhaps be judicious and selective rather than being a broad policy for all sermons?

Depending on the church's intentions, and the person watching's intentions, I do not see a downside.

During the pandemic, many groups had to take this route out of necessity.

[RZehr]

My old church put their sermons online. It is work.
When that church sent us to plant a new church, our preacher here didn’t want the sermons online. So my current church doesn’t post them online. We do record them, but only on a thumb drive, and if anyone wants a recording, you have to ask for a copy to be made for you.

We do have a phone line that people can call in and listen live to the service.