Preaching
Prayer and the Pulpit
Sometimes you will find a preacher who studies impeccably, the preacher brings together sermons that make the people shout and holla. The preacher gets invitations to preach in many locales, but there is no lasting change among the hearers. They come, shout at the entertaining presentation and leave. There can be many reasons for such an outcome. However, one of the primary ones is a lack of prayer.
Where Does Your Wisdom Come From?
Prayer and the Pulpit Read More
Creating Consumerist-Oriented Christians
It has been about seven years since I took the course “Theology and Preaching in Worship” from Vanderbilt Divinity School under Dr. L. Susan Bond, but I will ever be thankful to her for her prodding of the students to have a sound theological rationale for all that we do. It was in that class that I was introduced to the marvelous works of the Lutheran theologian Marva Dawn.
Creating Consumerist-Oriented Christians Read MoreThe Connection of Style to Substance
James Harris, in Preaching Liberation, writes:
I am suggesting that style and substance are partners in preaching liberation. The way the sermon is preached–the style of delivery, the involvement of body and mind, the engagement of the audience, the rhythmic crescendos and decrescendos of the voice punctuated by staccato cadences and words uttered in musical style–all this is, to a degree, as important as the substance of what is being said.
Preparation or Inspiration?
Dr. Gardner Taylor, in How Shall They Preach wrote:
Most of us discover that sermons are born of a mysterious romance between preparation and inspiration. Dr. Paul Scherer used to say that inspiration is 10 percent genius and 90 percent firm application of the seat of the pants to the chair.
The Kingdom is not Good News for Everyone
James Harris, in Preaching Liberation writes:
The Kingdom is not Good News for Everyone Read MoreJesus didn’t come after John Inquiring about a consensus of beliefs or taking an opinion poll in order to tell folk what they wanted to hear or reinforce what they had already heard. No! Jesus didn’t come “shucking and jiving,” not even praying and singing…He came with a message–a message from God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Is Your Sermon a Balm or Band-Aid?
Salve is applied to a wound. It covers the wound like a band aid, but it does much more. Certainly it is important to cover the wound. It is important to block things from getting into the wound. Yes that is important, but a healing balm doesn’t just stop there.
Balm Goes Into the Wound
A healing balm actually goes into the wound. It attempts healing not from the safety of an outsider looking in, but from within the wound. Balm seeps into the wound and attempts healing there.
Is Your Sermon a Balm or Band-Aid? Read MoreDon’t Just Preach to Yourself
Preachers must know themselves, if they are going to be effective preachers of the Gospel. Why is this? The reason is that many preachers can fall into the trap of preaching only to themselves rather than preaching to the people.
Don’t Just Preach to Yourself Read MoreThe Necessity of Getting With the People in the Sermon
The preachers who preach truly great messages often come into the lives of the people. Listen to the preachers who really touch their congregations. Listen to the illustrations used. They are illustrations from regular life. They are illustrations that we all can understand.
The Necessity of Getting With the People in the Sermon Read More
Preaching Matters
Charles E. Booth wrote: “Therefore, the serious revivalist should always seek to preach as as if life or death hangs in the balance.” He was writing specifically about the revivalist, but it can actually refer to any preacher’s sermon.
Audio 29 – The Easy Sermon Resolution
The easy sermon resolution. Do your sermons take seriously the reality of pain?
Audio 29 – The Easy Sermon Resolution Read MorePathetic or Transformative Relevance
James Forbes, in his very helpful work The Holy Spirit and Preaching writes: “Preaching under the anointing of the Spirit deeply touches the hearer, evoking either acceptance or rejection of the gospel.”
Sometimes We Motivate Rather than Preach
Pathetic or Transformative Relevance Read More
Slow Down and Listen to Preach Effective Sermons
Kirk Byron Jones, in his book Jazz of Preaching writes: “Slow down and listen in life, in sermons preparation, and in the pulpit.”
Preaching for Transformation
James Harris writes:
Preaching for Transformation Read MoreThose who worship God week after week should not display the same actions and behavior as those who do not. Their perspective and attitude should change, and they should also be able to help to change others.