How can “ordinary” pastors compete with the vast range of well-known and greatly gifted preachers who are just one mouse-click away from everyone in their congregation? I know this is a sore point for many discouraged pastors. They visit their flock and all they hear are comments about the latest Internet sermon by Pastor Faimus and Dr Bigname. The only sermons that people seem to get excited about are ones preached hundreds of miles away!
Tag Archives: Preaching
Haiti’s Restavek System and Preaching on Adoption to Haitian Pastors
April 17, 2010 – 1:30 PM
At the Haitian pastors conference (sponsored by HORT) next Wednesday (April 21) Jason Weber (Hope for Orphans) and I are tag-teaming as we present Scripture’s teaching on spiritual adoption and its implications for indigenous orphan care and Haiti’s current restavek system. Please pray for us!
Who Were You Carrying the Stone For?
April 9, 2010 – 11:42 AM
On Easter Sunday afternoon, my wife mildly rebuked me after listening to me complain about how I didn’t think I preached a good sermon that morning. Embarrassingly, she had to remind me that Easter is not about how little I liked my sermon and that to spend the rest of the day moaning and groaning about [...]
Power For Preachers -- and Listeners
March 5, 2010 – 3:07 PM
With Sunday quickly approaching and sermon prep happening all over the world in anticipation of what God will do this Lord's Day, it is vital that we remember where the preacher's power resides. In his excellent book on preaching Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ From All the Scriptures, Dennis Johnson unpacks the apostle Paul's theology [...]
Why Expository Preaching?
February 19, 2010 – 4:26 PM
It seems like a good week to highlight wisdom from D.A. Carson. As I looked to the "vault" I found a helpful article from Leadership journal (Summer 1996) entitled, "Accept No Substitutes: 6 Reasons Not to Abandon Expository Preaching." After distinguishing expository preaching from textual preaching and topical preaching ("Expository preaching emerges directly and demonstrably [...]
A Preacher Who Dreads Sermon Prep?
February 18, 2010 – 7:53 AM
"Can I be called to the ministry, if I dread sermon preparation?" I was recently asked.
101 Writing Tips
February 11, 2010 – 7:47 AM
Here's a great short video on how to avoid the five biggest writing (and preaching?) blunders. In summary: 1. Don't bury the big news Don't build long case up to climax. Hit them with the big news first. Get the key points across early. 2. Don't use unnatural language. Using fancy and showy language diverts [...]
Sunday Prep
January 23, 2010 – 10:30 PM
Here's how C.H. Spurgeon summarized what he believed the matter of a sermon should be: Of all I wish to say this is the sum; my brethren, preach Christ, always and evermore. He is the whole gospel. His person, offices, and work must be our one great, all-comprehending theme. The world needs still to be [...]
Humility as Supreme Virtue
January 9, 2010 – 4:26 PM
From Burk Parsons in John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine and Doxology: Humility is the supreme virtue according to Calvin, not only in attitude but in all of life. The Christian's humility should shine forth into the pompous darkness of this world. It is neither our eloquence nor our brilliance that directs men to God; [...]