Truth And Practicality (Mt. 23:3-4)

Read Matthew 23:3-4.

There is an application here to preaching.

• Speak truth.  Speak it clearly, courageously, concisely, consistently and compassionately. 
• Give listeners something to do with the truth (an application) and then help them do it.  The harder you preach, the more practical your help needs to be.  Help interested ones to implement truth.
• Lower the boom and pick up the backpack.  Don't create a burden. Lift one.

Quote by A. W. Tozer

"I confess that it is hard for me to accept the fact that it is now very rare for anyone to come into the house of God, silently confessing: 'Dear Lord, I am ready and willing to hear what You will speak to me today.'"

Tozer, A. W.  "Christ Came To Save."  Mornings With Tozer.  Chicago, IL:  Wing Spread Publishers, 2008.  Entry for February 10.

My Thoughts Inexactly(03/19/16)

NOTES:

1. Today's subject is the cross.  More specifically the subject is "The Cross In Your Preaching."
2. Is the cross blending in too easily?  If so, why?  
3. In your preaching, does the cross blend in or stand out?
4. Is the work of the cross permeating your preaching?
5. Let's make sure the cross doesn't get lost in the cause.

RESOURCES:

1. Preaching The Cross by Mark Dever et al.  You can buy the book here.
2. Proclaiming A Cross-Centered Theology by Mark Dever et al.  You can buy the book here.
3. "Preaching The Cross" by International Bible Teaching Ministries
4. "Preaching The Cross" by Alistair Begg
5. "The Preaching Of The Cross" by Rolfe Barnard

The Most Important Thing (Mk. 1:38, 44-45)

Reminder:  The most important thing is the message, the gospel.  Keep focused on the gospel.  The most important thing is not a prophecy or an interpreted message in tongues or a healing or a miracle (enjoyable as those things are to experience).  That's why Jesus commanded the former leper to be quiet.  Jesus wasn't trying to stifle the man's testimony.  Rather, Jesus didn't want the demands of healing to distract Him from the priority of preaching.

Neither a Critic nor a Blind Follower

Saturday I posted about a cougar in Apollo.  You can read the post here.

The whole thing turned out to be a fraud!

No one who forwarded the picture is at fault.  We wanted to believe such an unusual thing occurred in our town. We were taken.  We didn't think to double-check the information.  Why would we?  We trusted the people who sent it.  In the end, a bit of embarrassment.  We'll get over it.  No big deal.

Want to know what is a big deal?  Accepting everything the preacher says every Sunday only because he's a preacher.  Remember that the preacher is human.  To be human is to be fallen. To be human is to be capable of error.  You believe the preacher would never deliberately shade the truth.  That doesn't mean he never says something inaccurate or incomplete.  Preachers have listened to their own recordings and thought, "What?  Why did I say that?  That's not quite right." Sometimes the mind and tongue don't cooperate.  Sometimes we haven't been as prepared as we should have.  Nevertheless, we are responsible for what we said.

We know you will forgive us.  Many times you didn't even notice.   Thank you for your graciousness!  However, you owe it to yourself to be familiar with your Bible.  Copy a page from the Bereans:  "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." (Ac. 17:11)

Good Advice for Preachers

Again I mention Seth Godin.  In yesterday's post, he distinguished between persuading and convincing.

• Persuasion appeals to the emotions and to fear and to the imagination. Convincing requires a spreadsheet or some other rational device.
• It's much easier to persuade someone if they're already convinced, if they already know the facts. But it's impossible to change someone's mind merely by convincing them of your point.

You can access the article at http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/11/persuade-vs-convince.html.

It is the Holy Spirit's role to convince (Jn. 16:8-11).  It is the preacher's role to persuade (Ac. 18:4; 26:8; 28:23; 2 Cor. 5:11).

Good Advice for Preachers

At his blog, Seth Godin talked about the fermata.  This musical notation gives conductors liberty to determine how long to hold a pause.  Godin applies that to public speaking.  It's good advice for preachers too.  

• When we finally have the attention of an audience, our instinct is to rush.
• If you've got something to say, say it. Slowly. With effect.
• No, don't waste their time.
• If you have to rush to say it, it might not be worth saying.

Read the post at http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/11/the-fermata.html.

"Small and Tall" (New Sermon Series) to Begin May 1

   May 1 > "The Fight for Socoh"
   May 8 > "It Started with Cheese"
   May 15 > "Two Heads at the End"
   May 22 > "Piercing the Bronze Helmet"
   May 29 > "Getting Your Shout Back"

Analysis of My Preaching

Some time ago I watched a few VHS tapes and realized I'm still doing some of the things I used to. Lately I've been listening to MP3 files of my newer sermons. I'm still falling into the same patterns. I know what's wrong, but don't know what to do to change it. Is it just as simple as "Stop it"?

These things occur often enough that I know they're problematic. My sermons are...

• Too fast. It's not just during the sermon. I talk fast all the time.
• Too long. There is too much information. I find it hard to break one long sermon into two or three shorter ones.
• Too intense too soon. There is little "umph" left for the end. What really needs to be emphasized can't be.
• Too gramatically incorrect. Lately, I've noticed more run-on sentences and incomplete thoughts. Perhaps I'm just not prepared enough? The mind and the mouth aren't in sync.

Do you have any suggestions?