Typical Modern Sinner's Prayer Instructions

[presidente]

These seem to be the instructions many pastors follow to lead people in a "sinner's prayer".

1. Preach a message on some topic that isn't particularly evangelistic, such as marriage, end times, etc.
2. Do not explain Who God is.
3. Mention Jesus, but do not really explain who He is or what He did.
4. At the end of the message, ask people if they want to 'receive Jesus' to solve some emotional issue they have.
5. As in your message, do not mention the fact that Christ died for their sins or rose again.
5. Give a little talk on something that has little to do with Biblical doctrine, but is a modern concern of preachers, like telling them they need relationship, not religion.
6. Tell them if they want to solve the emotional issue, or have eternal life to repeat a prayer.
7. Have them repeat a prayer that vaguely mentions the name of Jesus, without explaining anything about Him, or say in the prayer something about 'accepting Christ', 'receiving Jesus' or 'accepting Jesus into your heart.
8. Make sure not to mention sin, Christ dying for our sins, what Christ means, that Jesus is Lord, His crucifixion or resurrection... and if you let His death for our sins slip, don't mention the resurrection.
9. After the prayer, tell the audience if they prayed that prayer and they believed it, that they are saved.

Then of course the congregation acts like the gospel has been preached and souls saved. It seems like the dozens or hundreds in attendance are oblivious to the glaring omissions.

I do not endorse the above directions, but it seems like that fits with over 50% of these sinner's prayer scenarios that I've seen these days, at least in recent decades.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

Billy Graham following the example of Charles Finney has a lot to do with that IMO.

 

[presidente]

Billy Graham following the example of Charles Finney has a lot to do with that IMO.

I don't think Finney had people repeat prayers for salvation.

 

[Aussie52]

These seem to be the instructions many pastors follow to lead people in a "sinner's prayer".

1. Preach a message on some topic that isn't particularly evangelistic, such as marriage, end times, etc.
2. Do not explain Who God is.
3. Mention Jesus, but do not really explain who He is or what He did.
4. At the end of the message, ask people if they want to 'receive Jesus' to solve some emotional issue they have.
5. As in your message, do not mention the fact that Christ died for their sins or rose again.
5. Give a little talk on something that has little to do with Biblical doctrine, but is a modern concern of preachers, like telling them they need relationship, not religion.
6. Tell them if they want to solve the emotional issue, or have eternal life to repeat a prayer.
7. Have them repeat a prayer that vaguely mentions the name of Jesus, without explaining anything about Him, or say in the prayer something about 'accepting Christ', 'receiving Jesus' or 'accepting Jesus into your heart.
8. Make sure not to mention sin, Christ dying for our sins, what Christ means, that Jesus is Lord, His crucifixion or resurrection... and if you let His death for our sins slip, don't mention the resurrection.
9. After the prayer, tell the audience if they prayed that prayer and they believed it, that they are saved.

Then of course the congregation acts like the gospel has been preached and souls saved. It seems like the dozens or hundreds in attendance are oblivious to the glaring omissions.

I do not endorse the above directions, but it seems like that fits with over 50% of these sinner's prayer scenarios that I've seen these days, at least in recent decades.

"Easy Believism".

 

[Just_A__Follower]

These seem to be the instructions many pastors follow to lead people in a "sinner's prayer".

1. Preach a message on some topic that isn't particularly evangelistic, such as marriage, end times, etc.
2. Do not explain Who God is.
3. Mention Jesus, but do not really explain who He is or what He did.
4. At the end of the message, ask people if they want to 'receive Jesus' to solve some emotional issue they have.
5. As in your message, do not mention the fact that Christ died for their sins or rose again.
5. Give a little talk on something that has little to do with Biblical doctrine, but is a modern concern of preachers, like telling them they need relationship, not religion.
6. Tell them if they want to solve the emotional issue, or have eternal life to repeat a prayer.
7. Have them repeat a prayer that vaguely mentions the name of Jesus, without explaining anything about Him, or say in the prayer something about 'accepting Christ', 'receiving Jesus' or 'accepting Jesus into your heart.
8. Make sure not to mention sin, Christ dying for our sins, what Christ means, that Jesus is Lord, His crucifixion or resurrection... and if you let His death for our sins slip, don't mention the resurrection.
9. After the prayer, tell the audience if they prayed that prayer and they believed it, that they are saved.

Then of course the congregation acts like the gospel has been preached and souls saved. It seems like the dozens or hundreds in attendance are oblivious to the glaring omissions.

I do not endorse the above directions, but it seems like that fits with over 50% of these sinner's prayer scenarios that I've seen these days, at least in recent decades.

This is why the gospel should be preached. Let the Holy Spirit take care of the rest. Preach about marriage in the small groups of adults. Preach about idol worship in the small groups of teens. But to the masses, preach the gospel. A 12 year old doesn’t need a sermon on marriage on Sunday. Everyone needs to know who Christ is and what He did. They also need to know how wretched we are and why we needed Him to do what He did. If you get tired of hearing the gospel, well then you may need to listen to it more often until you enjoy hearing it again.

 

[presidente]

"Easy Believism".

I've read the term 'easy repeatism' since the audience isn't preached the message to believe in.

 

[presidente]

This is why the gospel should be preached. Let the Holy Spirit take care of the rest. Preach about marriage in the small groups of adults. Preach about idol worship in the small groups of teens. But to the masses, preach the gospel. A 12 year old doesn’t need a sermon on marriage on Sunday. Everyone needs to know who Christ is and what He did. They also need to know how wretched we are and why we needed Him to do what He did. If you get tired of hearing the gospel, well then you may need to listen to it more often until you enjoy hearing it again.

Church gatherings should be for the edification of the saints.

The apostles were told to 'go' to preach the gospel and we see them preaching it outside of 'church meetings' repeatedly in scripture.

 

[Just_A__Follower]

Church gatherings should be for the edification of the saints.

The apostles were told to 'go' to preach the gospel and we see them preaching it outside of 'church meetings' repeatedly in scripture.

How many times have you heard the gospel outside of a church gathering in the last year or so? My answer would be zero. I’ve had maybe 2 people preach the gospel to me outside a church gathering in my life. The first step in edification of the saints should be them going and preaching the gospel. So either not enough know the gospel or they don’t know how to share it. Maybe edification of the saints should start there. Would it not make more sense to help build the church before trying to clean it up?

 

[presidente]

How many times have you heard the gospel outside of a church gathering in the last year or so? My answer would be zero. I’ve had maybe 2 people preach the gospel to me outside a church gathering in my life. The first step in edification of the saints should be them going and preaching the gospel. So either not enough know the gospel or they don’t know how to share it. Maybe edification of the saints should start there. Would it not make more sense to help build the church before trying to clean it up?

I Corinthians 15 indicates that it is good to be reminded of the Gospel. I've heard the gospel preached outside this past year because I heard myself do it.

 

[Just_A__Follower]

I Corinthians 15 indicates that it is good to be reminded of the Gospel. I've heard the gospel preached outside this past year because I heard myself do it.

So you’ve heard no one else do it? Why not be reminded of it every week? It also takes some people listening to it many times before they actually hear it. We can’t assume that everyone sitting in a pew has heard it and understood it.

 

[ThroughTheStorm]

These seem to be the instructions many pastors follow to lead people in a "sinner's prayer".

1. Preach a message on some topic that isn't particularly evangelistic, such as marriage, end times, etc.
2. Do not explain Who God is.
3. Mention Jesus, but do not really explain who He is or what He did.
4. At the end of the message, ask people if they want to 'receive Jesus' to solve some emotional issue they have.
5. As in your message, do not mention the fact that Christ died for their sins or rose again.
5. Give a little talk on something that has little to do with Biblical doctrine, but is a modern concern of preachers, like telling them they need relationship, not religion.
6. Tell them if they want to solve the emotional issue, or have eternal life to repeat a prayer.
7. Have them repeat a prayer that vaguely mentions the name of Jesus, without explaining anything about Him, or say in the prayer something about 'accepting Christ', 'receiving Jesus' or 'accepting Jesus into your heart.
8. Make sure not to mention sin, Christ dying for our sins, what Christ means, that Jesus is Lord, His crucifixion or resurrection... and if you let His death for our sins slip, don't mention the resurrection.
9. After the prayer, tell the audience if they prayed that prayer and they believed it, that they are saved.

Then of course the congregation acts like the gospel has been preached and souls saved. It seems like the dozens or hundreds in attendance are oblivious to the glaring omissions.

I do not endorse the above directions, but it seems like that fits with over 50% of these sinner's prayer scenarios that I've seen these days, at least in recent decades.

Sadly, their messages begin sounding like "How can Jesus serve me" rather than "How can I serve Jesus"

 

[presidente]

So you’ve heard no one else do it? Why not be reminded of it every week? It also takes some people listening to it many times before they actually hear it. We can’t assume that everyone sitting in a pew has heard it and understood it.

The teaching of scripture is to provoke one another to love and to good works, to not forsake assembling, but to exhort one another.

Scripture also teaches 'do all things unto edifying.' In the passage it mentions psalms, doctrines, tongues, revelations and interpretation, and prophesying. We should prioritize what scripture teaches we should say and do in church.

If there is no teaching on marriage, or against fornication, no teaching on financial stewardship, and no other teaching on the kingdom of God, that is not a good thing.

I've hear talk of Christ and the gospel outside of church quite a bit this year, maybe not loud 'preaching' style proclaiming more than a few times, outside of a church context.

 

[Just_A__Follower]

The teaching of scripture is to provoke one another to love and to good works, to not forsake assembling, but to exhort one another.

Scripture also teaches 'do all things unto edifying.' In the passage it mentions psalms, doctrines, tongues, revelations and interpretation, and prophesying. We should prioritize what scripture teaches we should say and do in church.

If there is no teaching on marriage, or against fornication, no teaching on financial stewardship, and no other teaching on the kingdom of God, that is not a good thing.

I've hear talk of Christ and the gospel outside of church quite a bit this year, maybe not loud 'preaching' style proclaiming more than a few times, outside of a church context.

I’m not saying don’t teach on anything but the gospel. Let’s say spend 15 minutes on sharing the gospel with the masses. Then break up into groups afterwards for age and sex appropriate teachings. But key is to get the gospel in for it is the reason behind all other teachings. If not for Christ saving us, there would be no point in edifying. We would all be headed to hell anyways.

I’ve also heard talk of Christ but I’ve not had one person friend nor stranger approach me with the actual gospel in 20 years. I still remember the last time. I was in the navy in 2005 and a buddy presented it to me. I listened to it and let it go right out the other ear. Took me another 15 years before I actually heard it and accepted it and that was on a podcast. I attended church throughout my childhood and don’t remember hearing it once. I learned about Noah’s ark, sang in the choir at Christmas, got slapped by my grandma for sleeping, and colored in a notebook. But not once did I learn who Christ was, what He did for me, and why I needed Him to do it.

 

[lrs68]

Since the scare of Y2K when 1999 was rolling over into 2000 I believe has been about the last time I have seen people just go to the Altar and begin weeping and crying out to God.

When we preached Fire and Brimstone people couldn't wait to get Saved.

Since most now are preaching Grace no one feels condemned enough to feel guilty about living in Sin.

But during last Summer during the Church Camp Season the designated preachers including myself preached Fire and Brimstone and every night we never got to the place we had to ask people if they wanted to be Saved because the Altar was full for hours every night.

In February some of us will be Evangelizing and trust me we will be preaching F&B.

 

[timf]

2Ti_4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

 

[Ouch]

These seem to be the instructions many pastors follow to lead people in a "sinner's prayer".

1. Preach a message on some topic that isn't particularly evangelistic, such as marriage, end times, etc.
2. Do not explain Who God is.
3. Mention Jesus, but do not really explain who He is or what He did.
4. At the end of the message, ask people if they want to 'receive Jesus' to solve some emotional issue they have.
5. As in your message, do not mention the fact that Christ died for their sins or rose again.
5. Give a little talk on something that has little to do with Biblical doctrine, but is a modern concern of preachers, like telling them they need relationship, not religion.
6. Tell them if they want to solve the emotional issue, or have eternal life to repeat a prayer.
7. Have them repeat a prayer that vaguely mentions the name of Jesus, without explaining anything about Him, or say in the prayer something about 'accepting Christ', 'receiving Jesus' or 'accepting Jesus into your heart.
8. Make sure not to mention sin, Christ dying for our sins, what Christ means, that Jesus is Lord, His crucifixion or resurrection... and if you let His death for our sins slip, don't mention the resurrection.
9. After the prayer, tell the audience if they prayed that prayer and they believed it, that they are saved.

Then of course the congregation acts like the gospel has been preached and souls saved. It seems like the dozens or hundreds in attendance are oblivious to the glaring omissions.

I do not endorse the above directions, but it seems like that fits with over 50% of these sinner's prayer scenarios that I've seen these days, at least in recent decades.

It sure is sad, and I bet it's over 50% and heading to Hell do to a man started the man-made sinners prayer.

Think what it's going to be like for those who preach it when they stand in front of JESUS.

I ask all the time, how do we get rid of our sins?

It's so easy for some to say, I preached to 5000 and they were all reborn that night.

No one was baptized in JESUS name, JESUS never filled one with the Holy Ghost.

Sad.

 

[Just_A__Follower]

Since the scare of Y2K when 1999 was rolling over into 2000 I believe has been about the last time I have seen people just go to the Altar and begin weeping and crying out to God.

When we preached Fire and Brimstone people couldn't wait to get Saved.

Since most now are preaching Grace no one feels condemned enough to feel guilty about living in Sin.

But during last Summer during the Church Camp Season the designated preachers including myself preached Fire and Brimstone and every night we never got to the place we had to ask people if they wanted to be Saved because the Altar was full for hours every night.

In February some of us will be Evangelizing and trust me we will be preaching F&B.

A man won’t see a need for a cure without first seeing he has a disease. Why take chemo if you don’t know you have cancer.

 

[lrs68]

A man won’t see a need for a cure without first seeing he has a disease. Why take chemo if you don’t know you have cancer.

Amen!