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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.
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 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
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:
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.