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Preaching with Humility
When I even think about writing on the topic of preaching with humility, I feel like a conference preacher I heard several years ago who was assigned to preach on this same subject. He opened his message by asking, “Doesn’t preaching on the subject of humility immediately disqualify you from possessing the quality?” Maybe that’s why we don’t hear preachers talk about it any more than we do.
Preaching Without Notes
“Try it! You’ll like it!” no doubt was one of the most successful and effective advertisements of the 1970s, maybe of all time. It was the creation of some brilliant ad execs for Alka-Seltzer, the well-known effervescent antacid and pain reliever.
I Am Prayer!
What does it mean to have your identity defined by a practice? Crying out to God regarding the oppression of his enemies, the Psalmist said, “In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer” (Psalm 109:4, ESV; emphasis mine).
Preaching by GPS
Like most people, I’m spoiled with the GPS app on my phone. All I have to do is plug in my destination, and I get step-by-step instructions on how to get to where I‘m going. While I regret not memorizing addresses and directions much anymore, I have to admit that the GPS feature is so accessible, off-the-charts convenient, and relatively dependable.
The New Normal: Preaching to a Camera
In a perfect world, preaching is normally a point-in-time experience in front of a live audience. However, we don’t live in a perfect world, and these certainly aren’t normal times. We’re currently living with a ‘new normal’ in just about every area of life and ministry, and that includes preaching.
The Proverbial Pandemic
If there has ever been a time that pastors could legitimately say, “They didn’t teach me this in seminary,” it would certainly be now during this COVID-19 global pandemic. We’re all having to navigate new territory and uncharted waters, whether it be learning how to use unfamiliar technology or just finding an ample supply of toilet paper.
The Trigger of the Spirit
Some time ago I bought a handgun for my wife to have at our house, just for safety when I’m away traveling. When we went to the gun shop to pick it up, the seller took some time to show us all of its features.
The High Place of Preaching
I will forever be indebted to Rick Ferguson, my predecessor at Riverside Church in Denver, Colorado, for paving the way for me to have one of the most fulfilling pulpit ministries I ever experienced as a pastor. Rick’s tenure at Riverside came to an abrupt and tragic end when he was killed in an automobile accident while on vacation
Preaching Christ from Psalms
Some things in life are not open for discussion. Whether we can and should preach Christ from the Psalms is one of them. Jesus was unmistakably clear when He said to His disciples, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Lk. 24:44 ESV).
The Spirit of Preaching: Allowing the Holy Spirit to Lead the Preacher in His Study
The preaching ministry is a spiritual enterprise. John Knox says, “True preaching from start to finish is the work of the Spirit.”[1] Consequently, preaching has to be navigated in utter dependence on the third person of the Trinity from the very beginning of the sermon journey.
Preaching as Cultural Engagement
“Cultures are shaped by communities, and communities are shaped by individuals. Consequently, engaging and forming cultures through preaching begins with engaging and forming individuals with God’s Word. Several years ago I developed some concentric circles to help me think through how preaching affects life change in an individual and ultimately in his or her community.[1] Consider this development:
Helping People Read the Bible Better
“They only do what they see at home!” I hated hearing those words from a witty observer when my kids said or did something embarrassing in public. But it’s true. Children have a tendency to mimic in public what they hear or see their parents do in private.
The Pastor as Steward of the Gospel
At the 1988 summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, the U.S. team was highly favored to win the sprint relay. Carl Lewis, then considered the fastest man on the planet, was supposed to run the anchor leg. But Lewis and the U.S. team never got to the finals.
The Pastor as Preacher
One morning during my first pastorate I decided to break my sacred routine of sermon preparation and make a hospital visit. A close friend and church leader was having surgery, so I thought I’d pop in and pray with the family. When I walked into the waiting room, I was pleased to find other church members already present.