Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/14
 

Someone PM'd me and suggested I watch / listen to Steve Pixler's sermon last Sunday at the church he pastors, Cornerstone Apostolic Church in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Because of a thread a few weeks ago about another SP sermon I had already listened to a couple of his sermons online and have been very impressed.

Last Sunday's sermon "Welcome Fellow Christians" (8/17/14) is apparently part of a series of sermons that I will now try and go back and listen to the previoius ones.

In any case I thought this sermon was one of the best I have ever heard about the subject matter in or out of old time Pentecost.

If I could pick one sermon to be preached at a UPC General Conference or WPF meeting it would be this one.

I don't think the fortitude it takes to preach messages like this in the context of an old time Pentecostal enviroment and history can be over emphasized. Men have been misunderstood, mischaracterized, and alienated for much less frankness than this.

So far the three sermons I have heard in the last month or two are amazing examples of the right way to prepare a church to carry out the Great Commission in a better way. What he preaches about goes to the core of parts of Pentecostal culture that are not just extra biblical but unbiblical.

My hope will be that conservatives who would never be open to a word from a liberal will be open to considering this word from one of their own.

Here is a link to the Cornerstone Apostolic media page where you can find the link to the 8/17/14 Sunday sermon;

http://cornerstonefortworth.org/media/webcast/

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

I enjoyed the message also. I believe there is a balance though when it comes to our Christian liberty. Paul's message about meat was to let us know that there was things in the OT law that had been fulfilled and we had been set at liberty, but that we should not judge one another concerning OT ceremonial laws. I don't think that he was excusing division among his body in morality, modesty, sexuality, etc.

I know sometimes we split hairs over things that may not be important with God, but we are seeing a generation that has taken Christian liberty to whole new level. We have seen a thread about homosexual churches and that is gross sin. Paul's teaching among the Jews may have been characterized as a liberal in his day. I believe if we heard him today there probably wouldn't be a conservative like him.

I believe we are one of the most material, immodest, self centered cultures in all of history. Although, being critical of one another is not the answer. I believe we need to place a strong focus on being pleasing to Jesus Christ and that he wants us to freed from the bondage of sin in our lives. We still need to strive to live a holy life unto God and there shouldn't be divisions with that truth.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

I no longer listen to anything from Pixler

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Yea. Don't rock that old boat it might sink!

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

I come from a fairly conservative background. This post makes me very very sad. I don't know Steve Pixler and I have never heard him speak or listened to any of his messages on media; however, the idea that you would automatically cut him off bothers me.

I have tears in my eyes now just thinking about it. I don't know you AR - but your spirit comes across very harsh and critical. (Not just this particular post, but previous ones I have read as well.)

May God have mercy on us all.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

any particular reason?
has he said something that was not biblical?

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

AR, is your statement based on a sermon or sermons you have heard him preach or my comments and others about these recent sermons? If the latter then I would urge you to listen for yourself before making a judgement.

Can you elaborate on why you no longer listen to anything from him?

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

I am not being harsh. But he is going a different way than I am so he can do as he sees fit and I will do the same.

I do not agree with the direction he is going.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Really not the sermons but the direction that I know he is going. Things that I know for a fact that have changed.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

A church should be playing all kinds of music?

Hope no one gets the idea to do a Cannibal Corpse rendition of The Water Way.

:foottap

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

You ultra cons should have been suspicious of him all along as he is not a screamer. We all knowthat loudness = annointing!!!!

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Sir I would not be considered an ultra con. I am conservative and know lots of preacher would are also conservative and they are not screamers as you call them

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

What about spitting and sweating?

My daughters met Pixler a few years ago at a pastoral installation service of a very small church in our area. They even got to go out to eat with him. Said he was a real nice guy. I've been real impressed with some things of his I've read. Being a protected UPC'r all my life I never knew there were so many GIB's out there who had big churches and were influential.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

You are correct. How could I not mention spitting, sweating and most importantly of all "holy breath" (for those who don't know that is breathing heavily and dramatically into a handheld microphone).

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

I think you would concede that you non screamers are a minority?

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Didn't say I was a nonscreamer, though I really wouldn't call preaching that. But I know of several who don't get loud.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Isaiah 58:1    Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Your post makes a point I have repeatedly stated on this forum - that many Pentecostal preachers model their style after the Old Testament and not the New. It seems they want to emulate Old Testament Prophets in style rather than the ministry Jesus demonstrated in the Sermon on the Mount, etc.

Sad. More friendly fire and killing their own.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

But using informal language over the pulpit is real anointing?

http://media.tumblr.com/3d80b5ef7dd5...v8n1qf6i04.gif

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

You go get'em! Sic'em boy! :heeheehee

Carl made one mention of spitting and swearing, but went on to post about how his daughter met Brother Pixler and said he was nice. Carl then posted on being U.P. his whole life and not knowing that there were any influential Independent Apostolics out there, but what do you focus on? one line on spitting and sweating?

:killinme

I've got a feeling EB is a "full package" evangelist (and I'm not talking about salvation). ;)

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Poor Steve.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Yes, in Churchity there are those who get lots of feelings about what people do or don't do. Yet, alas, they are just feelings.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Brother Pixler probably doesn't care what people on a forum think about him or his ministry.

:)

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Jesus whispered to the crowd? :)

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Maybe they're following the example of angels.

Rev 5:11    And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

Rev 5:12    Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

:heeheehee

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Hey, not being critical, I like Steve.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

what is wrong with screaming, spitting and sweating. Don't knock it till you try it. I am very passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ and I think it is judgmental to say that unless we preach or teach a certain way you or wrong. I have heard screamers with no content and I have heard talkers with no content(about the Bible). I have heard screamers with plenty of content and talkers with plenty of content.

I don't think there is a biblical prescription to voice tone that must be followed. I won't judge you if you don't scream and you shouldn't judge me if I do. We should judge the content, but we become like movie critics when we run people down because of their presentation. I liked Pixlar's message over all, but I did get the impression he was getting unity in the church mixed up with unity with the world.

I am fine with different music styles of Christian music, styles of Christian dress, styles of Christian living, but we must not leave off being Christian. I don't know what Pixlar meant by differences, but he is accountable for how he uses his influence. I don't want to make people feel good about ungodliness, but I do believe that people are at different stages in their walk with God and we must be patient. If leadership models and teaches the Bible's teaching we do our part.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Different music styles?

Thrash Metal rendition of Jesus my Rock? :throwrock

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

"Fear Factor 1 and 2" Steve Pixler at Mile High Conference Denver, CO


http://livestream.cacdenver.org/main/main/20140591

http://livestream.cacdenver.org/main/main/20141059

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

I'm not against loud preaching, I just say be real. I'm passionate about the Lord. My whole life is defined by my relationship with Him. I believe the gospel of Jesus Christ to be the power of God to salvation for all men. I believe it is urgent, and needs to be proclaimed urgently. However I am not very animated at all (most sermons I do not even move from behind the pulpit, much less walk all around the platform or church). I despise gimmicks.

But I do believe God uses each of us without violating our personality or individuality, I think thats why we see such a variance of styles and gifts in the church and in the ministry. I recognize that, and I've heard some pretty intense preaching that absolutely blessed my soul (Paul Washer, Leonard Ravenhill, Steve Lawson, Art Azertia) and other that were equally passionate but with a very different method of delivery (John MacArthur, Phil Johnson, etc). I think as preachers we need to be real, not concern ourselves with putting on a show or working the crowd and speak from the heart, allow the burden the Lord laid on us to be present in our preaching, and we can be effective as we follow the Spirit, rather than use red meat phrases, voice inflection, slinging our suit jackets all over the church and working the crowd for amens and applause.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

:D

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

I will be happy to tell you what is wrong with being a screamer. We have been given a mission with the great commission to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ. Screaming and yelling is not effective communication to the vast majority of the unsaved and unchurched.

Many old tie Pentecostals seem to equate sincerity, truth, annointing, etc with how loudly one proclaims the gospel message when that is not the truth from both a logical standpoint and a biblical one. As I mentioned before it seems many preachers want to model their ministries after Old Testament judges and prophets rather than the New Testament example of the ministry of Jesus.

The first part of my life I was in old time Pentecost with all of the hollaring, screaming, holy breath, spinning, twirling, the helicopter, chanting "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus over and over as fast as could be said and on and on.

After that in churches that don't have all of these public extra biblical displays I have seen just as many lives changed, healings, deliverances, etc etc.

I absolutely don't want a boring preacher but I also don't want one who preaches as if he is in a 19th century campmeeting and is trying to make thousands of people hear him without amplification.

This Pentecostal culture of screaming while preaching also lends itself to preachers preaching for response and not results. If they don't get the immeidate gratification of folks whooping and hollaring and jumping around themselves then they are unhappy and accuse the congregation of "being dead" or "not getting it".

I hear you CC and have agreement with a lot of your post but I don't think you are being balanced. You're creating a caricature that someone who lifts up their voice is a raving mad lunatic preacher, which simply is not always the case. You accurately point out some of the problems in pentecostal sub culture, but then broadly categorize all "screamers" as the same animal. That is simply not the case. And it need not been linked to Pentecost, I have heard some Baptist and Presbyterians flat out preach. Very loud with a gospel presentation and call to repentance.

I also think you are doing the same with Jesus in implying he never raised his voice to preach. The word translated preach implied that of a herald making a proclamation. While this doesn't necessarily include "screaming" (and by screaming I mean lifting up ones voice, loud preaching....NOT screaming like kids fighting with each other)--it no doubt did include that at times. Such as when Jesus came preaching "Repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Or when he preached in John 7:37-39, and so on. I'm sure there were many instances Jesus preached and preached strongly (remember some people even thought he was Jeremiah).

Second to that, while Jesus is our ultimate example, I think we do well to remember that Jesus life and ministry were unique. And if we are going to talk about examples of how to preach, while I think we should consider Jesus, I think we do well to consider others.

Not just OT prophets, but John the Baptist (Jesus didn't seem to have a problem with his methods), the Apostle Peter, John & James (sons of thunder), Paul many places in Acts, especially when proclaiming the gospel in open air was no doubt preaching with everything within him. Throughout church history we see the same, look at Luther, Zwingli,Wesley, Whitfield, Edwards, etc.

I'm all for being relevant and connecting with people. But this philosophy that Rob Bell's Bullhorn Guy video is the new standard for reaching people is hocus pocus. I'm not sure you are proclaiming that but certainly others are within american Christianity.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

I bet those old tie Pentecostals are killer!

You make sure you beat the tin drum on those old tie Pentecostals Mr CC1.

You get'em boy, you go get'em them old tie Pentecostals.

Good grief. :lol

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

All I know is that I am who I am. If I feel to get louder I will, and if I choose to walk off the platform I will. My goal is to minister to the people. I personally feel that it is the anointing that I feel while I am preaching and feel it has been effective. My grandmother when I was a child would dance all over the church even when no else would. I remember her telling me when I was a boy not to quench the Spirit.
My grandma wasn't a theologian, but she was sincere and lived a consecrated life. I know that people like that have shaped who I am today. If I felt like whispering would help reach someone that is lost I would. Many have complimented Pixlar on his message of tolerance, but many seem to be intolerant of the way others may preach.
People today would rather have dim lighting, mood lights, a preacher sitting from a bar stool in blue jeans and you say that screamers our performance based. I'll be honest every person is performance based to a degree. I enjoyed Pixlar's sermon and he didn't scream, but I would do a poor job trying to preach like him. We all are entitled to our opinions, but I think both sides need to open minded. There is going to be people I may reach at my little church that your church may not and their will be those that you may reach that I can not. We all must do our best to be biblically accurate in following God and one day we will find out whether or not God likes southern gospel or contemporary praise and worship.
P.S. EB I wasn't meaning styles of music that is lewd, but I do mean that as long as it gives praise to God than I can care less about the melody or the tempo.

CC I also would let you know that a large number of our church congregation are not 2nd generation Pentecostals and have little church background and we seem to be growing. with the unchurched so I believe being ourselves is the only way to be loud or not.

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

OK, let's go with that thought.

Then as long as the Thrash Metal is a cover of "I'll fly away" or "Over In The Glory Land" the sound means nothing? If the band Slipknot converted but kept their music the same but just changed the lyrics, you would still view it as worship?

Re: Welcome Fellow Christians - Steve Pixler 8/17/
 

Steve Pixler .... just listened to him speak & I truly enjoy his style of delivering a message. "Easy listening." Wish there were more Apostolic preachers like him. :nod