THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T MENTION WHILE PREACHING OR TEACHING

Ephesians 5:12-13
(12) It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. (13) But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

In the heat of the moment, while preaching or teaching, we may be tempted to mention everything as we explain God’s will. However, the Apostle Paul tells us that we shouldn’t mention everything. There are things that we do not mention for the sake of ministry.

Preaching and teaching from the Bible have two general parts. The first part requires that you elucidate what the Bible meant when it was written. The text you have chosen to read must first be understood from its historical setting and meaning. This part ensures that you do not force the text to say what you want it to say (eisegesis), but that you let it say what it is saying to all and sundry whether it is likable or not (exegesis).

You relate the text to your topic while placing the listener to the ancient moment when God expressed this message to the people for the first time. Once that is clear, you move on to the second general part of preaching or teaching. The second part consists of the application of the text to the present situation. What does this text mean today in relation to the topic? If the text was to be written for the first time today, what things would it be pointing out?

The present-day situation may require that the preacher or teacher narrates the situation. This is where today’s message comes in. You do not have to mention everything. While explaining the sins of the present generation, do not be tempted to mention all the details of the sin. You are not expanding sin, you are expounding the gospel. Do not mention all details of how sin is committed.

Sin must be called by its right name, but it doesn’t have to be narrated in detail. All sins must be openly condemned, but that doesn’t mean a detailed breakdown of how the sin was committed. Exposing sin is different from a blow-by-blow account of how it was done.

We condemn sexual immorality, but we don’t have to explain how people engage in it. You do not have to mention everything. Make your point and sit down.

Apostle Paul tells the Ephesian church that he cannot mention what sinners do in secret. Apostle Paul says that it is so shameful and therefore doesn’t have to be mentioned. If you mention it, shame be on you who mentions it.

Ashaming and disgusting details. All these have no place in preaching and teaching the gospel. Apostle Paul writes that he won’t mention those things because it is disgusting and brings shame.

A preacher and teacher have no business giving us details of what happens in darkness and in secret. Some detailed explanations may end up glorifying sin and evil. Some detailed explanations may leave the listener suspicious of the preacher. You know so much and you explain it so well that it is difficult to believe that this is not still part of your life. To avoid this risk, the Apostle tells the church that he will not mention those things.

A sensitive preacher or teacher will not mention things that will make parents and children seated together uncomfortable. The aim of preaching and teaching is not to make the listeners uncomfortable and suspicious. The aim of preaching and teaching is to present God’s will and plead with people to accept it.

Sexual content requires parental guidance even in secular spaces before it is presented to the public. The description of female body parts can be disturbing. Narrating how one enjoyed a sinful act before the conversion can leave the listeners doubting your conversion.

Preaching and teaching have been said to be a means of disturbing the comfortable and comforting the disturbed. That is not permission to narrate sinful activities in details that glory it and leave you looking suspicious. May God save us and grant us the sensitivity to know what to mention and what to leave out, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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