After Adrian Rodgers announces his first point – “Reign,” he makes a statement which illustrates how to develop content and/or how to clarify a truth, concept, or principle within a message.

Now, as with all of the various rhetorical techniques which we quantify and explain, this technique . . . .

√ can be employed “exactly” as Rodgers lays them out — That is, there is nothing proprietary about the three areas he calls up.  They are not categories which we have not all considered and employed using the same or different words.**

√ can be employed using other passages of Scripture, which are completely unrelated to the specific passage which Rodgers is making reference.

√ can be “hybridized” – That is, it can be adapted using different or varied concepts and categories of thought.  This will be illustrated further on.

√ cannot be used to develop or clarify content when it comes to all the various messages and/or passages preached.

 

The Three Levels Of Action:  Adrian Rodgers clarifies what he is saying and/or develops the content of his message, after stating the first point of his message by calling-up three distinct biblical categories.

1. Hellish / Satan’s Approach / The Devil’s Morality / From The Pit Thinking
2. Human / The Natural / The World / The World’s Morality / The Natural Man
3. Heaven’s / Kingdom Thinking / God’s Morality /Spiritually Mindedness / Heavenly

 

NOTE!  — The three categories [H-H-H] are not found in the passage.  They are biblical categories, but they are NOT “exegeted” from the passage.  But they are used to clarify, explain, illustrate, and/or apply the truth of the passage.  The three categories are “biblical rhetorical categories” of thought, applied to this particular passage.

 

Adrian Rodgers – “How to Prepare For Persecution”* — @21: 50-minute mark  – Clip #1

 

Well, #1 — Just continue to reign in the life.

Reign R-E_I_G_N — Not  r-a-i-n — to reign in life
Notice what he says
Look at it!
Go back to Matthew 5

He says — Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the what? —the Kingdom.

We’re in the kingdom.

We’re in the kingdom.

 

There are three levels of life 

There is the hellish level.

There is the human level.

There is the heavenly level.

 

 

What is the hellish level?

That’s when good people are persecuted – by bad people – for doing good.

That is returning evil for good.

That’s the hellish level.

 

Then there’s the human level. 

You know what the human level is.

Good for good – and – evil for evil.

That’s the human level.

 

What is the heavenly level? 

The heavenly level is those who are children of the King.

And that is — we return what?

Good for evil

Good for evil

 

 

 

Another Clip from the same message — Adrian Rodgers – “How to Prepare For Persecution” — @23:27-minute mark  – Clip #2

 

People persecute you — don’t get even don’t “get even!”

Why?

Where are you?
You are reigning with the Lord!
You’re in the kingdom.
Where are they?
They’re either on the human level or the hellish level.

 

Now watch it?
You say — I’m going to “get even.”
Here you are.  —  Here they are.
So you “get even.”
You see what you did?
You get even  – You get even.
No! – Don’t get even!

 

REIGN – RULE –
You’re in the kingdom.
You’re in the kingdom.

 

 

Thes categories are not unique to Matthew 5 or the area of use employed by Adrian Rodgers.  When you work on a passage – think . . . .

Do the same “H-H-Hs” work to explain, clarify, drive, explain, develop, etc. —  the truth found in the passage I am addressing?

Do Hybrid “H-H-Hs” work [see below] work with the passage on which I am preaching?

 

Hybrids:  If you think about what Adrian Rodgers did you can probably come up with yet other  – hybrid – ways to “categorize” the . . . .

• actions of men
• motivations of men
• growth
• ages of “men”
• responses
• approaches
• etc.

 

actions of men (constrained / accidental / intentional / purposeful)

motivations of men (pure selfishness / self-centeredness / WIN-win / best for others)

growth – levels of spiritual growth (babes / carnal man / spiritually minded / mature)

ages of “men” – (little children / fathers / young men – I John 2:13-14)

responses – (retalitory / accepting / acknowledge)

approaches – (wise / foolish / preverse / naive)

etc. — (There are many more!)

 

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*Love Worth Finding by Adrian Rogers — Oneplace.com and/or Radio Broadcast 3/16/2018

** I do not think that we are even approaching plagiarism by employing these same categories – Hellish / Human / Heavenly.  I understand that there is much discussion as to what counts as plagiarism.  When one thinks about all, he/she has learned from commentaries, seminary and college teaching, various sacred and secular books, blogs, etc. — it can get fairly fastidious when it comes to making a citation in regards to all we have read and heard — over the years.

Who has not heard of . . .

“Sin will take you further than you want to go . . . .”

“The laws of sowing and reaping . . . We always reap what we sow.  We . . . .”

“Temptations come from the world – from Satan – and from the flesh.”

“We struggle with the world, the flesh, and the Devil.”

“There are three heaven’s in Scripture.  First, the localized presence of God . . .”

“God delivered us from sin – death – and the grave.”

“Delivered us from the penalty of sin – the power of sin – the presences of sin.”

“You can be bitter or you can be better.”

“Etc.”

I believe that most all Bible preachers and teachers understand Adrian Rodgers’ three levels of behavior.  Some might not have put it together as concisely as Rodgers.  Others might have different appellations, but they are not unique to any particular speaker.

Nevertheless, if you believe these categories to be patented, then feel free to cite Adrian Rodgers as the source.