Opening New Horizons through Preaching
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- jerrib
- Pinky102
- jerrib
- Craig93
- oldkarl
- Pinky102
- oldkarl
- Pinky102
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» Craig93 - some good points
G'day Karl.I enjoyed your article. As a part time preacher myself I liked what you said about delivering sermons as your own from the net.
I have sometimes seen something on the net that I have picked up on and personalised it, and once I used with permission one of Bob Kuhns writings "Religious humour and satire" in the writing and publishing thread, though I adapted it to the congregation as a small play.
Sometimes going to the net, or a commentary can help inspire ideas and help gain insight into the meaning of scripture and how to put it together - though there can be a lot of rubbish out there.
My favorite way though is through prayer, I say for every sermon or article I write, "Lord you have a specific word to speak / write to the congregation / audience - what is it that you would have me say?"
I ask him to instill wisdom, revelation, inspriration, fresh application and illustration to every message and I ask him to still all thoughts that are not of him.
Preaching can be one of the hardest but the most rewarding thing one can do, and it is great when the Lord inspiries us so that we know what it is he would have us say in a short time, 3 points, or the gist of the message.
At our church we do follow the lectionary for Christmas and Easter, normally though we work through a book or a theme, and if we feel that the Lord is leading us elsewhere then that is OK as well.
My own bent and passion is on prayer and I need to be careful when preaching at the church I fellowship that I'm not beating the same path, no matter what i preach on though, prayer always comes into it it.
Your insightes were refreshing, one of the Holy Spirit gifts to the church is the gift of administration, and if used effectively and wisely under his annointing the church should go from strength to strength.
Blessings craig
-- posted by Craig93
» oldkarl - Re: I like it!
In response to I like it! posted by jerrib:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In truth, I find a lot of excitement and personal satisfaction in preaching. There is a real surge of personal reality in standing at the pulpit, then asking God to speak to the congregation, and asking the congregation to speak to God, both through me.
This, of course, seems like a big ego trip, and that is a danger. But it has to be risked if the ministry is to mean anything.
I have preached to 1,800, and I have gone a couple times to small country churches when no one showed up. And a lot of times for a crowd of less than 10.
But the boost and the excitement are always there. When I have gone and no one showed, I have spent the time in prayer, talking with God about the community, my family, my world and myself. It was not a wasted trip.
I like to get to the church early, usually an hour or so. I like to spend the time walking around, checking out the pulpit, the table, the hymnals, the windows, etc. Every piece has something to say about the congregation, the community, the individuals, and, of course, about God.
This gets me ready for the task. It is part of the way the congregation feeds me with the "stuff" I need to talk with God about them. I love this pre-worship exercise just as much as I love reading the Biblical passages one last time before the service begins.
You are right. I love to preach, and feel sort of empty when I cannot.
Karl Evans
-- posted by oldkarl
» Pinky102 - Re: Re: I like it!
In response to Re: I like it! posted by oldkarl:Your tag line, "Our world is filled with people who can love one or two persons. Many can love five or six, some can love a few hundred. What our world needs is people who can and will love billions of people. oldkarl", almost seems to suggest that your sermons would presnt what some folks call, The Social Gospel of Liberalism.
Just an observation. But, it seems to jump out at me.
-- posted by Pinky102
» oldkarl - Re: Re: Re: I like it!
In response to Re: Re: I like it! posted by Pinky102:Naw, Pinky. It is just old fashioned Jesus-like. If it happens to be the social gospel of liberalism, that is all right with me!
karl
-- posted by oldkarl
» Pinky102 - Re: Re: Re: Re: I like it!
In response to Re: Re: Re: I like it! posted by oldkarl:Sorta like what Jesus taught, isn't it.
-- posted by Pinky102
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