Not suitable for exhortation #1 'Prophesy Smooth Things' with Gary Steel

Christadelphians Talk

A @Christadelphians Video: Session one under the title “Prophesy smooth things” a quotation from Isaiah 30:10, looks at the attitude of the children of Israel and offers the opportunity for us to examine our own expectations of speaking brethren. The children of Israel are criticized by God for wanting to hear prophecies that suited their expectation rather than what God wanted the people through the prophet to hear. The people are presented as those wanting to control the message and would be happy with something illusionary rather than the facts of their actual circumstances. We will examine what scriptural directions there are for the preparation and presentation of exhortations and think about the responsibility of the speaker in relation to the circumstances of the audience.

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: In the time of the prophet Isaiah the people were saying: “Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things”. This attitude can also manifest among ourselves today. What are the principles of exhortation? It should be drawn from the Word of God; It should provide comfort and teach patience; It may include admonition when appropriate; It may deal with serious issues facing the Ecclesia which may be unpalatable to some people. Exhortation should be designed to meet the needs of the Ecclesia, not the wants of the Ecclesia.

# Summary The presentation titled "G0@ Not Suitable for Exhortation #1 'Prophesy Smooth Things'" by Gary Steel explores the dynamics of exhortation within the Christadelphian community and broader Christian contexts. It discusses the voluntary nature of the Christadelphian organisation, the role of lay speakers, and the evolving expectations of congregations regarding sermons. Steel warns against the trend of congregations desiring only comforting messages, which he compares to the biblical admonition in Isaiah to “prophesy smooth things.” He emphasises the importance of addressing sin and providing a balanced approach to exhortation, which should include both comfort and admonition, while encouraging speakers to draw from scripture to meet the spiritual needs of the congregation.