It was a good day of worship and fellowship today at Shiloh. The Lord blessed both of our services today in a special way.
We had quite of few guests in worship with us today. Some were special guests - teachers and administrators from local schools. And others who were invited by our members. However, they got there today, I was glad to have them in worship. For the record, a church cannot grow if no guests are attending.
When is the last time you personally invited someone to church?
Praise God for the one who was baptized today.
Our young adult chorale and youth choir led the musical praise today. It is always encouraging to have our young people serving in worship.
Deacon Harold Simmons, a member of the 8th Street Baptist Church of Kansas City and president of the Laymen's Department of the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc., led a special class for our men today during our Bible Study Fellowship time. Deacon Simmons was with us this week to speak at our Deacons' retreat. He was a blessing to our men all weekend.
In our 10 AM worship service, we held a special time of prayer for the school administrators, teachers, and students who begin classes tomorrow. As always, my prayer is that our children will grow as Jesus grew - in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:51).
Pastor Kenneth A. Duke, who has served the New Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church in MIami, was our guest speaker today. He preached from Habakkuk 3:17-19 in both services. He entitled the message, "I Still Have Joy!" It was a very encouraging message.
I met Pastor Duke a few years ago, as we were both preaching in Oklahoma City. It was during that meeting that I heard him preach for the first time. I have followed his ministry since then. And I have a great respect and appreciation for him. It was an honor and blessing to have him minister the word to our church family today.
Habakkuk is a Minor Prophet with a major message! My faith is always stretched in great and unique ways when I read or hear this book.
Praise God for those who were saved and added to the church today.
I cannot describe how good it was today to sit under the teaching of the word and to join the saints in being ministered to today. Most Sundays, I am preaching in worship. Today was a rare treat to be under the teaching of the word today.
Not being scheduled to preach today, I was all more prayerful today for my brothers who had to stand today to declare the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I have a compulsion. Before I was out of church three hours, I was thinking about the next sermon I have to preach on this Wednesday night. Woe unto me if I do not preach!
Throughout the day, I have been thinking that the real strength of a church is not found in what happens on Sundays, but on what happens between Sundays.
Just in case you did not know, NFL football has begun. I know it's only preseason. But I am enjoying the games anyway. I am ready to get the season started and cheer the Dallas Cowboys onto a Superbowl championship!
Wondering what AFC team will meet the Cowboys in the Superbowl. Any predictions?
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
You Have To Do What You Have To Do
"You have to do whatever the Lord says you have to do in order to preach that Bible."
When I heard a friend say this in a conversation with a group of preachers, I laughed. He was asked his philosophy of sermon preparation. Specifically, they wanted to know what steps he takes to get from text to sermon. How long does it take him to prepare? Things like that. His answer: "You have to do whatever the Lord says to do in order to preach that Bible."
I laughed.
(Some things we laugh at because they are funny. Some things we laugh at because they are true. And some things we laugh at to keep from crying.)
Sermon preparation is both an art and a science. It is a science in that there are basic rules and principles you must follow to develop a biblical sermon (assuming you are seeking to prepare a biblical sermon). But it is an art in that the dynamic of each person's process is unique. Two men can go through the same steps of sermon preparation on the same text. But that does not mean they are going to end up with the same sermon (that is, unless they both wind up stealing a sermon from the same internet site).
But one thing is the same for all who would preach faithfully. You have to do whatever the Lord says you have to do in order to get ready to faithfully preach the word of God.
There are times when you go through all the steps and still end up without a sermon. You have read the text dozens of times. You have performed word studies and examined comparative translations. You have researched the historical and contextual background of the passage. You have looked up cross-references. And you have consulted the commentaries. As the Gospel song says, "You prayed and cried... You prayed and cried...." But still no sermon.
I have a cartoon picture in my study of a man on his hands and knees crawling through a dessert. He approaches a sign that says, "SERMON." Under the sign is a map with a dot that says, "You are here." But there is absolutely nothing else on the map! I have approached the weekend feeling that way many times.
Other times you sit at your desk and it almost seems that the Lord is sitting next you whispering in your ear. "This is what I meant in that text. And this is what I want you to say to my people Sunday." The point of the text is clear. You have a good idea about how to organize the text for preaching. The material you need to develop the sermon just falls into your lap like manna from on high. It rarely happens like this. But some times it does.
I think this mystery of sermon preparation is meant to both encourage and humble preachers. The sermon can be hard to come by when you have had a great week of study to remind us that scholarship alone does not produce the message God wants us to deliver. And the sermon can just come to you when you have had a hectic week that has stolen hours from your study to remind us that God is with us and he understands the burden we bear.
Above all, this mystery of sermon preparation keeps us from cheating! You have to do whatever you have to do to get ready to preach.
We preachers need to remember this. And so do those who sit in the pew and listen to us from week to weak. I often think that church members either misunderstand or underestimate what it takes most preachers to prepare. It seems they think that preachers learn everything they need to know in seminary. And from week to week, we just pick a text and stand up to preach from some storehouse of biblical wisdom. Believe me, you do not want to sit under a preacher who just picks a text and stands up to preach! If your pastor makes preaching look easy, it is usually the result of much hard work.
When the MacArthur Study Bible was being released, I saw an advertisement in a magazine that said something like this: "A young preacher asked Dr. MacArthur was the different is between average preachers and great preachers. He was surprised by the answer. 'Good preachers stay in the seat until the hard work is done.'" How true.
You have to do whatever the Lord says that you have to do to get ready to preach the word of God.
When I heard a friend say this in a conversation with a group of preachers, I laughed. He was asked his philosophy of sermon preparation. Specifically, they wanted to know what steps he takes to get from text to sermon. How long does it take him to prepare? Things like that. His answer: "You have to do whatever the Lord says to do in order to preach that Bible."
I laughed.
(Some things we laugh at because they are funny. Some things we laugh at because they are true. And some things we laugh at to keep from crying.)
Sermon preparation is both an art and a science. It is a science in that there are basic rules and principles you must follow to develop a biblical sermon (assuming you are seeking to prepare a biblical sermon). But it is an art in that the dynamic of each person's process is unique. Two men can go through the same steps of sermon preparation on the same text. But that does not mean they are going to end up with the same sermon (that is, unless they both wind up stealing a sermon from the same internet site).
But one thing is the same for all who would preach faithfully. You have to do whatever the Lord says you have to do in order to get ready to faithfully preach the word of God.
There are times when you go through all the steps and still end up without a sermon. You have read the text dozens of times. You have performed word studies and examined comparative translations. You have researched the historical and contextual background of the passage. You have looked up cross-references. And you have consulted the commentaries. As the Gospel song says, "You prayed and cried... You prayed and cried...." But still no sermon.
I have a cartoon picture in my study of a man on his hands and knees crawling through a dessert. He approaches a sign that says, "SERMON." Under the sign is a map with a dot that says, "You are here." But there is absolutely nothing else on the map! I have approached the weekend feeling that way many times.
Other times you sit at your desk and it almost seems that the Lord is sitting next you whispering in your ear. "This is what I meant in that text. And this is what I want you to say to my people Sunday." The point of the text is clear. You have a good idea about how to organize the text for preaching. The material you need to develop the sermon just falls into your lap like manna from on high. It rarely happens like this. But some times it does.
I think this mystery of sermon preparation is meant to both encourage and humble preachers. The sermon can be hard to come by when you have had a great week of study to remind us that scholarship alone does not produce the message God wants us to deliver. And the sermon can just come to you when you have had a hectic week that has stolen hours from your study to remind us that God is with us and he understands the burden we bear.
Above all, this mystery of sermon preparation keeps us from cheating! You have to do whatever you have to do to get ready to preach.
We preachers need to remember this. And so do those who sit in the pew and listen to us from week to weak. I often think that church members either misunderstand or underestimate what it takes most preachers to prepare. It seems they think that preachers learn everything they need to know in seminary. And from week to week, we just pick a text and stand up to preach from some storehouse of biblical wisdom. Believe me, you do not want to sit under a preacher who just picks a text and stands up to preach! If your pastor makes preaching look easy, it is usually the result of much hard work.
When the MacArthur Study Bible was being released, I saw an advertisement in a magazine that said something like this: "A young preacher asked Dr. MacArthur was the different is between average preachers and great preachers. He was surprised by the answer. 'Good preachers stay in the seat until the hard work is done.'" How true.
You have to do whatever the Lord says that you have to do to get ready to preach the word of God.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Day 1 of Proclaimer's Place 2010
I am in Oxford, England. I am participating in Proclaimer’s Place – a week of group Bible study and seminar of sermon preparation led by Joel Gregory.
I flew all night Monday night. I was armed with books, magazines, calendars, notebook, and study tools. I boarded the plane with big plans to get a great deal of study and reading done during the uninterrupted quiet time. But I basically went to sleep not long after the flight took off.
It was 6:30 AM when I arrived in London (five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time).
The ride from London to Oxford is a little more than an hour. After I checked into my hotel, I walked a few blocks down the street and joined the session that had already begun.
Yesterday, we spent the entire day studying Jonah 2. I cannot believe how much I learned! I just preached a series on Jonah last summer. Yet I learned so much out of that chapter that I had missed before. I also learned several tools and keys to help me dig a little deeper in my studies.
Today we will study Acts 27.
More than the specific study of the text, I benefited greatly from the discussion about preaching. I believe that most preachers preach too often. We are always in the batter’s box, and do not get enough batting practice to check our swing. Or let me just speak for me. Preaching is my passion. But with so many other things I am responsible for, it is hard to give my preaching as much attention as I desire, during this season of my life. So it was very refreshing to just spend a day just studying the Bible and talking about preaching!
It is about fifteen of us studying together this week.
Several of us followed one of my friends to a special place he found to eat for lunch… Kentucky Fried Chicken!
I am staying at the historic Randolph Hotel, where some of the filming of the C.S. Lewis movie “Shadowlands” was filmed. It is said that was in the restaurant of this hotel that Lewis first met his wife in person. Way cool!
I did not get an opportunity to do much sightseeing. I hope that I will be able to get some in before this trip is over.
They are not pants here. They are trousers. It is not an elevator here. It is a lift. It is not a bathroom or restroom here. It is the toilet.
Please pray for the remainder of this trip. I hope to come home spiritual refreshed and with my skills for preaching sharpened.
I flew all night Monday night. I was armed with books, magazines, calendars, notebook, and study tools. I boarded the plane with big plans to get a great deal of study and reading done during the uninterrupted quiet time. But I basically went to sleep not long after the flight took off.
It was 6:30 AM when I arrived in London (five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time).
The ride from London to Oxford is a little more than an hour. After I checked into my hotel, I walked a few blocks down the street and joined the session that had already begun.
Yesterday, we spent the entire day studying Jonah 2. I cannot believe how much I learned! I just preached a series on Jonah last summer. Yet I learned so much out of that chapter that I had missed before. I also learned several tools and keys to help me dig a little deeper in my studies.
Today we will study Acts 27.
More than the specific study of the text, I benefited greatly from the discussion about preaching. I believe that most preachers preach too often. We are always in the batter’s box, and do not get enough batting practice to check our swing. Or let me just speak for me. Preaching is my passion. But with so many other things I am responsible for, it is hard to give my preaching as much attention as I desire, during this season of my life. So it was very refreshing to just spend a day just studying the Bible and talking about preaching!
It is about fifteen of us studying together this week.
Several of us followed one of my friends to a special place he found to eat for lunch… Kentucky Fried Chicken!
I am staying at the historic Randolph Hotel, where some of the filming of the C.S. Lewis movie “Shadowlands” was filmed. It is said that was in the restaurant of this hotel that Lewis first met his wife in person. Way cool!
I did not get an opportunity to do much sightseeing. I hope that I will be able to get some in before this trip is over.
They are not pants here. They are trousers. It is not an elevator here. It is a lift. It is not a bathroom or restroom here. It is the toilet.
Please pray for the remainder of this trip. I hope to come home spiritual refreshed and with my skills for preaching sharpened.
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Notes from Sunday - 08/08/10
We had a good day of worship and fellowship today at the Shiloh Church.
Praise God for those who were baptized in worship today.
Our children’s choir led in musical praise today. As always, it was encouraging to have the little ones participating in worship today.
It was really cool to meet some of the guests who were in worship today. It is great that the members are inviting their family and friends to church with them.
Our choir sung “But God” today from Ron Winans Family & Friends IV. I really love this song. And it was a great blessing to hear it today. I was tempted to get a piece of it when I stood up to preach, but my better judgment prevailed. I had work to do.
I continued my brief series on the book of Ruth today with a message on Ruth 2 that I entitled “Nothing Just Happens!”
I’ll let you in on a little secret: I needed that sermon that I preached today more than anyone else!
This is the second week in a row that I have struggled to organize the text for preaching. Late last night, I wrestled with two different ways to preach the text. I am glad the Lord led me to preach it the way I did.
I had a lot of text and a limited amount of time. It was a challenge. But I really enjoyed preaching this message today. What a mighty God we serve!
I read a statement years ago that has really stuck with it: “The Bible is filled with stories about people. Let them live.” The more time I spend studying the stories of the Bible, the more I am learning to appreciate the rich theology embedded within biblical narratives.
I cannot wait to get to chapter 3.
I am thinking about and praying for a family that suffered a tragedy this weekend.
Praise God for those who were added to the church today!
Crystal cooked dinner today. It is rare for her to cook on Sundays. It was a rare treat! We “fared sumptuously”!
The Dallas Cowboys are playing the Cincinnati Bengals in a pre-season game this evening. It is still in the first quarter as I write, but you already know my prediction. Cowboys win!!!
In the morning, I am scheduled to fly to London to participate in The Proclaimer’s Place preaching seminar under the leadership of Dr. Joel Gregory. Pray for my travels and that my skills as a student of the word and preacher will be sharpened.
Praise God for those who were baptized in worship today.
Our children’s choir led in musical praise today. As always, it was encouraging to have the little ones participating in worship today.
It was really cool to meet some of the guests who were in worship today. It is great that the members are inviting their family and friends to church with them.
Our choir sung “But God” today from Ron Winans Family & Friends IV. I really love this song. And it was a great blessing to hear it today. I was tempted to get a piece of it when I stood up to preach, but my better judgment prevailed. I had work to do.
I continued my brief series on the book of Ruth today with a message on Ruth 2 that I entitled “Nothing Just Happens!”
I’ll let you in on a little secret: I needed that sermon that I preached today more than anyone else!
This is the second week in a row that I have struggled to organize the text for preaching. Late last night, I wrestled with two different ways to preach the text. I am glad the Lord led me to preach it the way I did.
I had a lot of text and a limited amount of time. It was a challenge. But I really enjoyed preaching this message today. What a mighty God we serve!
I read a statement years ago that has really stuck with it: “The Bible is filled with stories about people. Let them live.” The more time I spend studying the stories of the Bible, the more I am learning to appreciate the rich theology embedded within biblical narratives.
I cannot wait to get to chapter 3.
I am thinking about and praying for a family that suffered a tragedy this weekend.
Praise God for those who were added to the church today!
Crystal cooked dinner today. It is rare for her to cook on Sundays. It was a rare treat! We “fared sumptuously”!
The Dallas Cowboys are playing the Cincinnati Bengals in a pre-season game this evening. It is still in the first quarter as I write, but you already know my prediction. Cowboys win!!!
In the morning, I am scheduled to fly to London to participate in The Proclaimer’s Place preaching seminar under the leadership of Dr. Joel Gregory. Pray for my travels and that my skills as a student of the word and preacher will be sharpened.
Notes from Sunday - 08/08/10
We had a good day of worship and fellowship today at the Shiloh Church.
Praise God for those who were baptized in worship today.
Our children’s choir led in musical praise today. As always, it was encouraging to have the little ones participating in worship today.
It was really cool to meet some of the guests who were in worship today. It is great that the members are inviting their family and friends to church with them.
Our choir sung “But God” today from Ron Winans Family & Friends IV. I really love this song. And it was a great blessing to hear it today. I was tempted to get a piece of it when I stood up to preach, but my better judgment prevailed. I had work to do.
I continued my brief series on the book of Ruth today with a message on Ruth 2 that I entitled “Nothing Just Happens!”
I’ll let you in on a little secret: I needed that sermon that I preached today more than anyone else!
This is the second week in a row that I have struggled to organize the text for preaching. Late last night, I wrestled with two different ways to preach the text. I am glad the Lord led me to preach it the way I did.
I had a lot of text and a limited amount of time. It was a challenge. But I really enjoyed preaching this message today. What a mighty God we serve!
I read a statement years ago that has really stuck with it: “The Bible is filled with stories about people. Let them live.” The more time I spend studying the stories of the Bible, the more I am learning to appreciate the rich theology embedded within biblical narratives.
I cannot wait to get to chapter 3.
I am thinking about and praying for a family that suffered a tragedy this weekend.
Praise God for those who were added to the church today!
Crystal cooked dinner today. It is rare for her to cook on Sundays. It was a rare treat! We “fared sumptuously”!
The Dallas Cowboys are playing the Cincinnati Bengals in a pre-season game this evening. It is still in the first quarter as I write, but you already know my prediction. Cowboys win!!!
In the morning, I am scheduled to fly to London to participate in The Proclaimer’s Place preaching seminar under the leadership of Dr. Joel Gregory. Pray for my travels and that my skills as a student of the word and preacher will be sharpened.
Praise God for those who were baptized in worship today.
Our children’s choir led in musical praise today. As always, it was encouraging to have the little ones participating in worship today.
It was really cool to meet some of the guests who were in worship today. It is great that the members are inviting their family and friends to church with them.
Our choir sung “But God” today from Ron Winans Family & Friends IV. I really love this song. And it was a great blessing to hear it today. I was tempted to get a piece of it when I stood up to preach, but my better judgment prevailed. I had work to do.
I continued my brief series on the book of Ruth today with a message on Ruth 2 that I entitled “Nothing Just Happens!”
I’ll let you in on a little secret: I needed that sermon that I preached today more than anyone else!
This is the second week in a row that I have struggled to organize the text for preaching. Late last night, I wrestled with two different ways to preach the text. I am glad the Lord led me to preach it the way I did.
I had a lot of text and a limited amount of time. It was a challenge. But I really enjoyed preaching this message today. What a mighty God we serve!
I read a statement years ago that has really stuck with it: “The Bible is filled with stories about people. Let them live.” The more time I spend studying the stories of the Bible, the more I am learning to appreciate the rich theology embedded within biblical narratives.
I cannot wait to get to chapter 3.
I am thinking about and praying for a family that suffered a tragedy this weekend.
Praise God for those who were added to the church today!
Crystal cooked dinner today. It is rare for her to cook on Sundays. It was a rare treat! We “fared sumptuously”!
The Dallas Cowboys are playing the Cincinnati Bengals in a pre-season game this evening. It is still in the first quarter as I write, but you already know my prediction. Cowboys win!!!
In the morning, I am scheduled to fly to London to participate in The Proclaimer’s Place preaching seminar under the leadership of Dr. Joel Gregory. Pray for my travels and that my skills as a student of the word and preacher will be sharpened.
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