"Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it."
—Will Durant, Twentieth-century American Historian
Basically, the same disobedience committed by Israel when they possessed the Promised Land and were commanded by Yahweh to destroy all the other peoples was committed by the Christians in the fourth century and beyond—especially by the Roman Catholics. They adopted every form of paganism imaginable in an attempt to "convert" followers. Christians are supposed to remove all elements of sin from among themselves (Eph.5:3, et al.) and live holy lives (2 Tim. 3:12, et al.), living as lights to this dark world (Matt. 5:14-16, et al.). Our lives are the only 'Bible' some people will ever read, and yet we willfully and deliberately live as unbelievers and hypocrites, and then attempt to make excuses for the sin we continue to harbour in our lives. May Yahweh have mercy on our souls!
We ass-u-me there are all these "sermons" in the Bible, but in reality there are none. We call Jesus' instructions on what it looks like to live as His followers and to serve as members of Yahweh's Kingdom the "Sermon on the Mount," and we refer to Peter's speech in Acts 2 and Paul's speaking until midnight in Acts 20 as "sermons," because we are imposing our experience and understanding back upon the text. There were no "sermons" back then. The "sermon" has no roots in Scripture! It was borrowed from pagan culture, nursed, and adopted into the Christian faith. If you would like to debate this irrefutable historical fact, let's have at it! If you would like to learn more, pick up To Preach or Not to Preach by David C. Norrington.
While Augustine was the first person to title Matthew 5-7 as "The Lord's Sermon on the Mount," it was not generally referred to as "The Sermon on the Mount" until the sixteenth century. (Hmm... Notice how all the corrupt teaching the "Church" embraces was first taught by Augustine, quite often in contradiction to that which was taught, practiced, and believed for the first 300 years? Ponder that point promptly.) Not only were there no "sermons" back then, but a "sermon" was not the central focus of the assembling of the saints as it is today. They came together around a feast, in which they partook of the Lord's Supper.
The early New Covenant congregations (A.D. 30-300) did not listen to a 30-60 minute "sermon" based on a couple verses ripped out of their immediate context, with every word scrutinized for its potential meaning (and then choose the one that best fits with their beliefs and agenda), and a preacher spewing his opinion of what the section was teaching. It is important for us to remember that the early Christians shared the same languages, the same customs, and the same culture as that of the apostles. Being of the eastern mindset, they understood precisely what was spoken and written to them. Most of our preachers, having the mark of their particular seminary stamped upon them, engage in proof text methodology, eisegesis, and Scripture twisting when they attempt to convey the Word of Yahweh to the members of their particular organized religious institutions.
The "sermon" detracts from the actual purpose for which Yahweh designed the congregational assembly, and it has nothing to do with genuine spiritual growth. The New Covenant letters demonstrate that the ministry of Yahweh's Word came from the entire congregation in their regular gatherings (1 Cor. 14:26, 31; Rom. 12:4ff; Eph. 4:11ff; Heb. 10:25). From Romans 12:6-8, 15:14, 1 Corinthians 14:26, and Colossians 3:16, we see that it included teaching, exhortation, prophecy, singing, and admonishment. These gatherings were also conversational (1 Cor. 14:29) and marked by respectful interruptions (1 Cor. 14:30). They were not chaotic, as we might imagine such to be today, but were done in order. To be done in order does not mean to follow a pre-set structure that you never veer from. Exhortations from local elders (not the way we understand "elders" today) were normally impromptu, not planned out in advance.
When the saints of Yahweh assembled together, what did they do? Well, if we bother to pay attention to Scripture, it tells us in the plainest words possible. They read!
"Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!"" Exodus 24:7
"when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing." Deuteronomy 31:11
"Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law." Joshua 8:34
"Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan who read it." 2 King 22:8
"Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king." 2 Kings 22:10
"And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law." Nehemiah 8:1-3
"He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance." Nehemiah 8:18
"While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God." Nehemiah 9:3
"On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God," Nehemiah 13:1
"So you go and read from the scroll which you have written at my dictation the words of the LORD to the people in the LORD'S house on a fast day. And also you shall read them to all the people of Judah who come from their cities." Jeremiah 36:6
"Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the LORD in the LORD'S house." Jeremiah 36:8
"Then Baruch read from the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD'S house, to all the people." Jeremiah 36:10
"Micaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read from the book to the people." Jeremiah 36:13
"They said to him, "Sit down, please, and read it to us." So Baruch read it to them." Jeremiah 36:15
"Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it to the king as well as to all the officials who stood beside the king." Jeremiah 36:21
"When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe's knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier." Jeremiah 36:23
"Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "As soon as you come to Babylon, then see that you read all these words aloud," Jeremiah 51:61
"And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read." Luke 4:16
"After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it."" Acts 13:15
"For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him." Acts 13:27
"For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath." Acts 15:21
"Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching." 1 Timothy 4:13
"But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;" 2 Corinthians 3:14-15
"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:3
If you are having a hard time with all the texts from the Old Covenant, then I suggest you pay close attention to 1 Timothy 4:13. To "exhort" is to encourage or advise. What is meant by "teaching"? Modern preachers would claim this means to dissect the Word of Yahweh into all its parts and "exposit" it. Considering "sound doctrine" (or "healthy teaching") to Paul had to do with your behaviour, your conduct (see Titus 2:1-10), and not what you believe, quite obviously "teaching" had to do with how to live rightly while sojourning in this world. Remember, we are called to be salt and light to the world around us. This is not our home, we are only passing through. Anyone who lives for this world is a fool!
In the Jewish synagogues, any member who wished could stand up and read to the people. Today, it requires a "specialist." When the early Christians assembled together, they would read an entire book or letter of the New Covenant. This exposes not only the short attention span of many members today, but also their lack of commitment to the Lord Jesus. Do you know how long it would take (on average) to read each of the books/letters of the New Covenant?
Matthew: 2.5 hours
Mark: 1.5 hours
Luke: 2.5 hours
John: 2 hours
Acts: 2.25 hours
Romans: 1 hour
1 Corinthians: 1 hour
2 Corinthians: 40 minutes
Galatians: 20 minutes
Ephesians: 20 minutes
Philippians: 14 minutes
Colossians: 13 minutes
1 Thessalonians: 12 minutes
2 Thessalonians: 7 minutes
1 Timothy: 16 minutes
2 Timothy: 11 minutes
Titus: 7 minutes
Philemon: 3 minutes
Hebrews: 45 minutes
James: 16 minutes
1 Peter: 16 minutes
2 Peter: 10 minutes
1 John: 16 minutes
2 John: 2 minutes
3 John: 2 minutes
Jude: 4 minutes
Revelation: 1.25 hours
The Israelites and the early Christians were more committed to the Word of Yahweh and the commandments of Jesus than most modern professing believers. Many today want out after 45 minutes to 2 hours, having done their religious "duty" for the week. They are eager to go engage in their worldly activities, affairs, and events. The early Congregation could spend the entire day with each other and they were joyful about it. They had young children, too, so that is an extremely poor excuse used by parents today. We tend to offer up a great many excuses as to why our lives are so shallow in comparison with the early Christians, or even Christians 500 years ago. Some of these Christians had 10 children and wrote volumes of Christian works, and we attempt to offer excuses as to why we don't or can't do the same as them with only two children! Even 100 years ago, they did not have the same distractions that we have today. Be self-controlled and deal with your distractions and you will find you have the same time Christians 100 years ago and more had.
If we pay close attention to the early Christians, we can witness a vacuum being created in the later half of the third century when mutual ministry faded from the Body of Christ. Members put more and more onus on their "leaders" and took less and less responsibility themselves. In such cases, abuse is bound to happen as certain types of people grab for that kind of power and influence. To fill this void, the clergy began to emerge and open meetings began to die out. The gatherings became more and more liturgical, devolving into a "service." During the fourth century, the Congregation had become fully institutionalized. As former pagan orators and philosophers converted to Christianity, rather than leave their philosophies behind, they began infiltrating the Christian community as these people became their leaders. Augustine is embraced by both Roman Catholics and Reformed Protestants alike, despite the vast plethora of false and heretical teachings he either developed or put his name to.
By the way, the concept of a "paid teaching specialist" was borne out of Greece, not Judaism. As noted Jewish rabbi Hillel said, "He who makes a worldly crown of the Torah shall waste away." It was the custom of Jewish rabbis to take up a trade so as to not charge a fee for their teaching. We see this evidence in the life of Paul. The early Christians considered it heresy to be paid to deliver the Gospel. Yet what do 99% of "churches" today do? They pay the preacher! Both Martin Luther and John Calvin vehemently railed against the idea that the Pope was the Vicar of Christ, yet both argued that the preacher is the "mouth of God." Funny how they set themselves up as their own popes over their own State religions. But I digress.
The "sermon" makes the preacher the virtuoso performer of the regular assembly, hampering or precluding the participation of other members, which stalemates spiritual growth and encourages passivity by preventing the Body from functioning as intended. If you doubt this, simply look at the scores of Christians who have been sermonized for decades are are still babes in Christ. We are transformed by encounters with the living Lord Jesus, not by information about Him. How can the preacher learn from other members of the Body when they are muted? How can the members learn if they cannot ask questions during the preacher's oration? If we pay attention to the New Covenant Scriptures, their goal is to get each one of us to function in order to mature (Eph. 4:11-16). The "sermon" lacks any practical value and does not equip the saints (regardless how much the preacher drones on about "equipping the saints for the work of the ministry," which is just empty rhetoric), but rather de-skills them. New Covenant-styled preaching/teaching equips the Congregation so it can function without the presence of a clergyman.
Being that today's "sermon" is highly impractical, how can a preacher speak as if he is an expert on something he has never personally experienced? Hearers should be put into a direct, practical experience of what has been preached. Sadly, this is rarely the case. Doctrine has to be practical: "doctrine that is according to godliness" (1 Tim. 6:3). Paul said, "let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19). Those who do not act according to this righteousness he says, "from such withdraw yourself" (1 Tim. 6:5). God cares more about our fruit than He does our particular theological dogma! As mentioned earlier, "sound doctrine" (or "healthy teaching") to Paul had to do with your behaviour, your conduct (see Titus 2:1-10). A practical "sermon" would convey as much, but more often than not they are designed to convince us to believe a certain belief the preacher holds dear, despite being unbiblical and lacking Christ.
If we rightly understood the Scriptures and the early Congregation, perhaps we would live better lives today, holy and not hypocritical. Our lives are the only 'Bible' some people will ever read, so we should live accordingly. We tend to willfully and deliberately live like the heathen and then offer up excuses as to why the power of Yahweh is not present within our lives.
"My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your
faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."
—Paul of Tarsus in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5