The last time we observed the Lord’s Supper at The Church at West Franklin we did so in the middle of the song service, rather than the end of the sermon. Usually (9 times out of 10), I will preach TO the Lord’s Supper. This time, however, I preached OUT OF the Lord’s Supper. I did so due to the point of the passage I was preaching that day (Acts 11:25-26). I wanted to emphasize that the Antioch Christians gathered... Read more
Though I mentioned this in a recent post, I want to expand this idea. Much of my preaching ministry has not even given this a second thought. My aim has been to communicate biblical truths to people in the room, hope for a response, hope that some jotted down notes to refer to later, and move on to next week’s sermon. And, to be very honest, I still struggle with implementing this. However, Jesus said we are to be about... Read more
Okay, so this may not be a good sermon illustration. However, I have a pretty good feeling you (preacher) can use this somewhere. In a sermon. In an article you write. In a talk you give. In a counseling session in your office. For the good of your own soul. This is one of the best paragraphs I have read in a while. Winn Collier wrote this in chapter 6 of his book Holy Curiosity: Encountering Jesus’ Provocative Questions. Enjoy.... Read more
I do my best to start the sermon off with something that will help me gauge the temperature of the audience. I like to get a feel early on whether or not I am dealing with a rowdy bunch or a sleepy bunch; a hungry crowd or a “have to be there” crowd; a happy people or a grumpy people. Though I have my preferences as to which kind of crowd they are, at the end of the day, it... Read more
Below is an illustration I used recently to conclude a Vision sermon for our campus. It is a personal story, but one that can be easily applied with any preacher (especially if you and your wife are due a brunch together!). On Sunday, December 31st, 2017 my wife and I didn’t attend a church service. Our children were with grandparents. We stayed home and went to brunch later in the morning. The brunch was fantastic. This never happens. I... Read more
I often joke that the 11th Commandment is “Thou Shall Not Bore.” It ought to be a rule of life, in other words, to NEVER – EVER be boring. Life is way too short to be a drag. Unfortunately, far too many people assume that far too many preachers are boring. Let’s change that. But let’s also be real. It can be hard. Especially if you preach to a majority of people who have spent much of their lives in... Read more
I am currently reading Winn Collier’s Holy Curiosity. Chapter 3, entitled “Why are You Afraid? The Grace of Letting Go,” is Collier’s meditation on the question Jesus asks His disciples when they assumed they were drowning in the storm. In the middle of the chapter, he gave an illustration I thought would be helpful for when I preach on this story. He writes: After Jesus woke to the barbarous conditions and his unnerved disciples, he stepped to the ship’s edge... Read more
The chapter heading in my Bible tells me Psalm 18 was written after God delivered David from his enemy, Saul (2 Samuel 21). It was a dramatic deliverance, to be sure. It had been a long time coming. A jealous rage came over Saul due to the whole Goliath ordeal and never stopped (you have to go all the way back to 1 Samuel 17). David, as anyone would be, was grateful and full of praise to the Father for... Read more
If you are a preacher, I hope you are a reader. If you don’t like to read, pray for a desire. The Lord will grant it. I am always looking for books to challenge/enhance my preaching. This year, I came across several that helped my thinking and challenged the way I process, prepare, and deliver sermons. As Kingfishers Catch Fire: A Conversation on the Ways of God Formed by the Words of God by Eugene Peterson This book of sermons... Read more
Having a preaching plan is essential for the well-being of both the preacher AND the congregation. Mike Glenn has helped me understand a plan will protect the preacher from the following errors: A Preaching Plan Will Protect You From. . . 1. From last second, rush and stressed out preparation. When you know what are preaching on well in advance, you won’t have to worry about the “Saturday Night Specials” anymore. So much of preaching is figuring out the text... Read more
Churched
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