http://sermoncentral.com.com Latest Articles from www.SermonCentral.com Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:29:39 -0800 http://www.sermoncentral.com/ http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Larry-Osborne-Making-Place-Table-Young-Leaders&ac=true11/16/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Larry OsborneIn high school, I noticed a strange phenomenon. The freshmen got smaller every year. It was really weird. When my friends and I walked onto campus for the first day of our freshman year, we were legit high schoolers, admittedly a little intimidated by the seniors, but plenty cool in our own right. Not so with the punks that came in the next year. Something must have happened at the middle school to stunt their growth. None of the new ninth graders were anywhere near as big, smart, or mature as we had been the year before. And by the time I was a senior, the middle school was pumping out mental, physical, and emotional midgets. As I said, it was really strange. Of course, that's not what was happening. The freshmen weren't getting smaller, stupider, and less mature; we were getting older, more mature, and arrogant. Fortunately for each incoming crop of freshmen, the seniors keep graduating, giving last year's freshmen, sophomores, and juniors an opportunity to spread their wings and fly. And sure enough, they always ended up flying a lot higher than the seniors would have guessed. Unfortunately, in the church, it's a different story. The seniors never graduate. They also tend to hog the leadership table, shutting out the next generation. It's one of the main reasons why so many churches stop growing and lose their evangelistic touch (and cultural relevance) around the twenty-year mark.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Larry-Osborne-Making-Place-Table-Young-Leaders&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=John-Piper-Effects-Believing-Five-Points-Calvinism&ac=true11/2/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: John PiperThese ten points are my personal testimony to the effects of believing in the five points of Calvinism. I have just completed teaching a seminar on this topic and was asked by the class members to post these reflections so they could have access to them. I am happy to do so. They, of course, assume the content of the course, which is available online from Desiring God Ministries, but I will write them here in the hope that they might stir others to search, Berean-like, to see if the Bible teaches what I call "Calvinism."]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=John-Piper-Effects-Believing-Five-Points-Calvinism&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Paul-Kendall-Preaching-on-Divorce&ac=true10/26/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Paul KendallDivorce is to a family what a lost wing is to an airplane in flight. As the shepherd of your flock, your heart breaks with every report of yet another broken family in your church. You want to do something to reverse this devastating trend, and preaching is your most powerful tool. But how do you approach such a sensitive topic when statistics alone indicate that a significant number of the people in your congregation have been adversely affected by it? The answer is: cautiously, factually, and, above all else, lovingly. The Bible's position on divorce is clear; God hates it (the divorce, not the person) because, with rare exception, it breaks down the nuclear family. This, by the way, is not a statement of judgment; it is a statement of empathy. I would venture to say that those who have been through a divorce will say that they, too, hate divorce. However, because modern culture widely accepts it, the number of cases has risen to an all-time high. The key is not to shame the divorced-it is to influence a reversal to this rising trend by exposing the cause and offering solutions that will help prevent it. Interestingly divorce, in and of itself, it is not a sin. Even the Bible makes provisions for a sanctioned divorce. There are times when a divorce is the right decision. On the other hand, there are times when it is simply used as a way of escaping an otherwise workable situation. In either case, it breaks down the family and brings with it a host of complications and emotional baggage. This brings us back to the reason God hates divorce: first of all, two people He joined together to help each other are now at each other's throats and soon will be separated. And then there are the precious children, totally innocent yet bearing the emotional turmoil of their family falling apart. Chances are they too will consider divorce one day when their marriage hits a tough spot-because, after all, that's how Mom and Dad handled it.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Paul-Kendall-Preaching-on-Divorce&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Larry-Moyer-Six-Things-You-May-Have-Missed-in-Seminary&ac=true10/19/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. R. Larry MoyerRemember staying up all night to study for the hardest seminary exam of the semester? Maybe you simply couldn't stay awake in class the next day, and wouldn't you know? You missed the one lecture that would have profited you the most! Or maybe you had a professor who really knew his material, but he didn't communicate it clearly-maybe you heard him, but you didn't hear him. Perhaps the professor assumed that if she said something once, everybody got it...but you didn't. Maybe you missed something because it was never taught; maybe the school did not include it in their curriculum. Another possibility is that you never attended seminary; after all, academic training doesn't always determine whether God uses a particular instrument. One thing is certain: Regardless of the how, there's a distinct possibility that you could have missed something in seminary that would have been made a marked difference in your life and ministry today. I've had two advantages in my ministry career-one you are likely to share with me, and one perhaps not so likely. The likely one is that, prior to going into evangelism, I pastored two churches: one just outside of Dubois, Pennsylvania, and one in Baltimore, Maryland. My tenure was short, because I served as an interim pastor for three summer months while they waited for the arrival of their new pastor. However, the education was never-ending. As I prepared to minister in churches across the country, I wanted to know what a pastor faces. God taught. I listened. I learned.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Larry-Moyer-Six-Things-You-May-Have-Missed-in-Seminary&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Jim-Belcher-Deep-Church&ac=true10/12/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Jim BelcherWhy do Christians have such a hard time forgiving one another? Why, instead of bearing with one another in love, do we let small resentments build into a flood of bitterness that defiles everyone? Is it true, as John Stott says, that Christians have a pathological tendency to split? In my experience, splits are almost never over theological issues. They are usually over resentments that build up over small differences in philosophy of ministry or personal conflict. I have been thinking about bitterness and forgiveness all week in the wake of the conflict at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, the famous church pastored by D. James Kennedy for 48 years. This past March, Coral Ridge called Tullian Tchividjian, the grandson of Billy Graham, to be their senior pastor. Less than six months later, at a congregational meeting, over 400 members voted for his resignation; two-thirds voted to retain him. What had gone wrong? How did the unity of this church get so badly broken? How did this disagreement get to the point where it was spilling out into the public and getting coverage by the local media? It is not my goal in this article to sort out who is right and wrong. Frankly, I am not sure. There are always two sides to a story, and usually both sides have contributed to the mess. For something to get to this point, people on both sides of the argument have failed to love one another, bear with one another, speak the truth in love, and confront one another properly (Eph. 4:2, 4:31-32; Col. 3:13). Bitterness has taken root, and it has defiled everyone (Heb. 12:15). Unity is broken, and the church's witness to a watching world has been compromised. That much is clear.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Jim-Belcher-Deep-Church&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Geoff-Surratt-Five-Multi-Site-Lessons&ac=true10/5/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Geoff SurrattThe multi-site church revolution is often seen as a threat to the local church. Of all the predictions I hear, one of my favorites is that eventually there will only be four or five superstar preachers whose sermons are delivered via video to almost every church in America. The only question for church attenders will be whether they are more in the mood for a little Hybels or a dose of Warren on Sundays. Such sky-is-falling apocalyptic thinking makes for great blog posts, but I don't think it reflects reality. In fact, I think the multi-site movement could actually be a boon to the local church, rather than mark its demise. As Greg Ligon, Warren Bird and I researched our new book, A Multi-Site Church Road Trip, we visited dozens of multi-site congregations across the country. During our road trip, we uncovered several concepts that are applicable to any church regardless of size. Here are our five most surprising multi-site lessons.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Geoff-Surratt-Five-Multi-Site-Lessons&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Andrew-Farley-The-Naked-Gospel&ac=true9/28/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Andrew FarleyMeds, therapy, and a mental health facility-these were the solutions I was offered. One counselor suggested that my condition wouldn't change for the rest of my life and that I'd always need medication. As desperate as I was, I just didn't buy it. There had to be some other answer to my problem. After trying several Christian therapists, each of whom employed a different approach, no one could alter the patterned behaviors I was stuck in. After all, obsessive Bible study and street evangelism aren't your run-of-the-mill symptoms. "God, I'm doing everything they say to do. I'm reading my Bible four or five hours a day. I'm sharing my faith with everybody I meet. I'm at church every time the doors are open. But I still don't feel like I'm growing spiritually. I'm stalled, and I can't explain why. You say the truth will set me free. I'm anything but free!" I needed God to start all over with me, and He did. Although I was already a Christian, my belief system was poisoned with religiosity. Back then, if I were honest and vulnerable, my sales pitch would have been, "Would you like to become a Christian and be miserable like me?" But today I'd wish my Christian experience on everyone. I've learned some radical, Scriptural truths that were right there in the Bible, that I never knew existed. That's why I wrote The Naked Gospel - to share with others the liberating truths that absolutely revolutionized my life.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Andrew-Farley-The-Naked-Gospel&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Steve-Sjogren-Community-Servant-Evangelism&ac=true9/21/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Steve SjogrenServant Evangelism (SE) connects people to people in a natural, easy, low-risk, high grace way. Who doesn't like to be given a cold soda on a hot day? Especially by someone who is smiling, happy and having fun. SE wins the heart before it confronts the mind. A small act of kindness nudges a person closer to God, often in a profound way as it bypasses ones mental defenses. The average Christ-follower is willing to hand a stranger a can of soda (low-risk). The high grace is seen in the typical reaction. “Oh, thank you!” “This is so nice!” “I can't believe this is for free!” And, “Why are you doing this?” Kindness builds the bridge for the person to receive a touch of love from God. Add a invitation to church or other method of connection-even a simple card with your church's name, phone number and times of services-and you've reached someone with the love of Christ! It's simple, practical, effective, inexpensive and fun! We get reports from pastors, lay leaders and ordinary Christ-followers all over the world who have discovered the power and impact of “showing God's love in practical ways,” and again and again we've seen relationships with God born from these simple acts of kindness in Christ's name. Here are some great ideas to get your church started in servant evangelism.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Steve-Sjogren-Community-Servant-Evangelism&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Greg-Atkinson-Lessons-From-A-Church-Secret-Shopper&ac=true9/14/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Greg Atkinson Recently, we had the hallway in our home painted by some professional painters. The smell constantly reminded us of this each time we left and returned to our house. Once we spent enough time indoors, our noses got used to the strong smell, and we got to where we didn't even notice it. Then I went out to get the mail one day, and when I walked back in-whoa! I was hit with the strong smell of paint once again. What am I saying? Churches can have something about them that “stinks” to a first-time visitor, but perhaps the leadership doesn't notice or remember. Church leaders can lose their fresh perspective-their “new eyes” or, as in my case, new nose. Why does this matter? Because people matter, and you've only got one chance to make a first impression. You've heard it said before, but it's true: Many people will make up their minds whether or not they will return to your church long before you stand up to preach. It's easy for a church to drift into ineffectual ministry. There are endless examples of stagnated churches. But if you have a desire to reach more and more people for Christ-changing your community, city and eventually the world-then I think I have something to share that will help you do that. We simply cannot afford to grow easy with the way our church presents itself to new guests, any more than we can grow easy with our discipleship, our worship, or our preaching. There's simply too much at stake in the spiritual health and safety of visitors; they're people like my parents, your children, his co-worker, her best friend, and countless others throughout the community who need to know Christ.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Greg-Atkinson-Lessons-From-A-Church-Secret-Shopper&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Hal-Seed-Preaching-Tough-Prophecy&ac=true9/7/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Hal SeedAs a preacher I'm called to proclaim the whole counsel of God, yet for years I shied away from the prophetic books. After all, most of them are confrontational, controversial and confusing. Then, one Labor Day weekend, I invited one of my Board members (not even a staff member, mind you) to do a message on the end times. Our attendance usually flags a bit on holiday weekends, but that weekend it surged. I decided it was time to face my fears and tackle the perils of prophecy head-on. Okay, maybe not exactly head-on. I decided to start by preaching the book of Daniel. Ask any small group what they'd like to study next, and a substantial number of them will say, “Either Revelation or Daniel.” Daniel is the shorter of the two, and besides, one-half of it is history, not prophecy. I titled the series Future History and scheduled it to begin December 1. It allowed me to use Christmas Eve to talk about Daniel's influence on the Wise Men. To my surprise, the church filled up during that series! We grew by 17% over the next ten weeks. People were so hungry for more, I ended up writing a book on Daniel. Was that series a fluke, or had I tapped into something? I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet (I work for a non-profit institution), but I've discovered five reasons why you and I ought to preach through the prophets.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Hal-Seed-Preaching-Tough-Prophecy&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=The-Sermon-Postmortem&ac=true8/31/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: An Interview with SermonCentral's Top-Ten Most-Viewed ContributorsRecently, SermonCentral surveyed the top-ten most viewed sermon contributors on our site on the subject of what happens after they preach a message-how they react, how they can tell if the sermon accomplished what they had hoped, how they restore themselves afterwards, and what feedback is important to them. All ten pastors have preached for more than ten years, most more than twenty. They come from all over the United States from churches of all sizes. When asked how they typically feel after preaching, responses varied from "physically tired," to "satisfied and fulfilled," to "grateful/humble." A few even used the word "exhilarated." But clearly there's mixed emotion within the pastor following the completion of a sermon that can defy exact description. Pastor Brian Bill from Pontiac Bible Church in Pontiac, IL said he was "grateful for the awesome privilege" of preaching, and that he often feels "drained and pumped up at the same time." Pastor Rodney Buchanan, a retired pastor from Mount Vernon, OH, said he feels "spent in a positive way." Pastor John Hamby of First Baptist Church in Vilonia, AR said "there is typically a sense of release, whether I feel it went well or not."]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=The-Sermon-Postmortem&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=20-Non-Preaching-Websites-for-Better-Preaching&ac=true8/24/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Toni Ridgaway, SermonCentral.com Content EditorI just love pastors; they amaze me. Watching a person who can skillfully interpret a message from the mouth of God invariably fills me with awe and a deep desire to worship. My calling is not to preach myself, but rather to support those who undergo the regular spiritual and emotional wrestling matches of producing sermons worthy of the great I Am. For more than 10 years I served as staff research assistant to our preaching pastor. His job was to study the Word; mine was to support him with relevant illustrations, facts, data, and imagery to help him better articulate the Word. Since I can't act as personal research assistant to every pastor in the SermonCentral community (although I admit I'd enjoy it!), please accept this gift of 20 website links that might help you in your sermon preparation. These sites have no specific intent to help in sermon preparation, but they do provide great imagery, illustration support, background data, how-tos, cultural applications, and just plain inspiration for better preaching. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=20-Non-Preaching-Websites-for-Better-Preaching&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Joe-McKeever-Why-Sermon-Prep-Takes-Me-So-Long&ac=true8/17/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Joe McKeeverI once heard John Bisagno, veteran pastor of Houston's First Baptist Church at the time, say he did not understand why many pastors require so long to prepare a message. "Give me some privacy, my Bible and a note pad, and in two hours without interruptions, I have the sermon." This, I might say, is just one of the five hundred reasons most of us who know Dr. Bisagno envy this gifted servant of the Lord. To put it bluntly, few of us can produce the kind of sermon we ought to be preaching in that brief a time. Sure, the Internet has great resources to help pastors save time in sermon prep, but I'm talking here about the process a pastor must go through in order to "own" a passage he/she wants to preach. This process (as my friends at SermonCentral would agree) is primary-all the best illustrations in the world won't help a pastor who hasn't gained this ownership before delivering a message from God. In my case, this preparation time is not measured in hours, but in days or even weeks. Perhaps it has something to do with limited intellect, but a sermon has to grow in my mind-marinate as opposed to microwave, I sometimes put it. It just takes time for me to grasp the thrust of what the Lord is saying, how it pertains to the various Scriptures on that subject, how it all relates to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Cross, what it means to the average guy in the pew, and what we want to accomplish in the sermon. Case in point: Recently I brought a message to a congregation about an hour from my home. A group of which I'm a member will host its annual retreat in that area, and a local pastor asked me to bring the morning message in his church. As I prayed for direction, eventually I decided the Lord would have me bring a sermon from Romans 12 on the subject of "what the healthy church looks like." ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Joe-McKeever-Why-Sermon-Prep-Takes-Me-So-Long&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Ken-Davis-Restoring-Passion-Preaching&ac=true8/10/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Ken DavisAlthough I am ordained and have preached in a variety of churches and venues around the world, I have never held a position as pastor of a church. And though I have taught communication skills to thousands of pastors, the focus of this article is not part of my curriculum. However, my close association with pastors who have attended our Dynamic Communicators Workshops and my relationships with my own pastors over the years has given me insight into many of the issues pastors face. These relationships have also given me a profound respect and love for men and women in all facets of ministry who dedicate their lives to communicating the gospel. I agree with Paul: You are people with "beautiful feet" (Romans 10:15). Many of my "front line" friends have confessed that occasionally they lose the passion in their preaching. In fact, most preachers have experienced this at least once in their ministry. Though few openly admit this, it is a secret that can't be hidden, because its symptoms eventually diminish the power of a pastor's preaching. I remember reading several years ago about the account of a man who sat listening to a sermon, uneasy about the emotions he was feeling. The worship experience had been excellent; the sermon was well thought out, understandable and even applicable. Yet, as he listened, the man felt an unshakable sense of boredom. Where did it come from? He wondered why he felt no enthusiasm about the challenge of this message. It was well into the sermon when suddenly it dawned on him: He was bored because the pastor was bored-with another Sunday morning that demanded another 20-minute message delivered out of duty and without passion.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Ken-Davis-Restoring-Passion-Preaching&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Chad-Mccallum-Quoting-Satan&ac=true&csplit=90608/3/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Chad McCallumEver look around the church and get discouraged? I do. The Enemy seems to be making gains on all fronts. However, consider how you'd feel if you were on the *other* side -- the Enemy's side. Put yourself in the shoes of one committed to destroying Christian faith. Talk about discouragement! You'd be thinking something like this: These Christians are a stubborn lot, almost impossible to get rid of. For twenty centuries we've tried to stomp them out; yet, in spite of our efforts, they've spread their religion to every corner of the world. It's an awfully hard religion to destroy-you cut off a head, and twenty grow back. You persecute them, and they go underground and develop a purer strain of their religion. You kill them, and they build on their martyr's blood. Get them to water-down their faith, and a little group somewhere will rediscover the real faith and start over again. They have an infuriating way of regenerating themselves. And these Christians know how to turn a negative into a positive. They turn our best-laid plans upside down. Get a couple of their famous religious figures to commit adultery or visit a prostitute, and they'll simply produce a thousand seminars and books on sexual fidelity, and the net effect will be greater morality among many of them, not lesser. It's discouraging! Denominations are, of course, good targets. However, as quickly as one cools off, they'll start a new one. These Christians produce new denominations faster than roaches reproduce baby roaches. Same with local churches-no sooner do we get a local church to die spiritually, and there'll be two brand-new ones cropping up in some school auditorium across town. It's hopeless, I tell you!]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Chad-Mccallum-Quoting-Satan&ac=true&csplit=9060 http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Jim-Nicodem-7-Ways-Church-Praying-Field&ac=true&csplit=90607/27/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Jim NicodemThe chaplain of the Chicago Cubs recently contacted me to say that he had purchased 20 copies of my new book on prayer to study with members of the team. Given the fact that the Cubbies haven't won a pennant in over 100 years, it makes good sense from them to give prayer a try! If only more churches would give prayer a try! Ask any congregation of Christ-followers if they think that prayer is important, and all heads will nod in unison. Ask that same group how many are committing daily time to prayer (i.e. in the "closet," not just on the fly), and very few hands will go up. Stop and think for a moment about what this prayerlessness means. It means that most believers are not praying for the salvation of their lost friends or for the spiritual protection of their children. It means that they're allowing unconfessed sins to build up in their lives and that they're cheating God of thanksgiving and praise. It means that they're not interceding for pastors, missionaries, Christian leaders, government officials, schoolteachers and hurting friends. What would it take to get the people in our churches off the bench and onto the praying field? Let me share what's been working at Christ Community Church, where I am senior pastor.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Jim-Nicodem-7-Ways-Church-Praying-Field&ac=true&csplit=9060 http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Larry-Moyer-Four-Reasons-Not-To-Give-An-Altar-Call&ac=true&csplit=90607/20/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. R. Larry MoyerAltar calls, when properly handled, are certainly effective. First of all, they remind the listeners that the gospel demands a response. As Billy Graham has said, "You cannot give God a definite maybe. It has to be a definite yes or a definite no." When the altar call is properly handled, lost people are asked to trust Christ as the only way to heaven. The issue is responding to Christ, not to you. The person therefore knows that to trust Him is to receive His free offer of eternal life, and to reject Christ is to reject that free offer. In addition, when a person responds to an altar call, he or she is right there in front of you. Of all the invitation methods, this is the easiest way to get with the person one-on-one. You have not asked them to meet you in another room after the service, which they may not find, nor have you asked them to meet you at another time, allowing them to forget when. Instead, you have said, "Come see me, and come see me now." With them right before you, you can speak to them one-on-one, either immediately or after they are escorted to a side room. A third advantage is what an altar call says to other listeners. As a lost person sees another walk forward indicating a need of Christ, he/she is tempted to think, "If that person is unashamed to admit his need, what's wrong with me?" The one responding encourages others to respond. That said, there are situations and reasons where giving an altar call is not only wrong, it is dishonoring to God ...]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Larry-Moyer-Four-Reasons-Not-To-Give-An-Altar-Call&ac=true&csplit=9060 http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Mike-Slaughter-Unlearning-Church&ac=true&csplit=90607/13/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Mike Slaughter"Church growth" was the mantra of the 1980s and 1990s. I attended my first "Breaking the Two Hundred Barrier" conference shortly after becoming Ginghamsburg's pastor in 1979. Later I enrolled in "Breaking Four Hundred" and "Breaking Eight Hundred." We became experts at methodologies that involved small group and Sunday school ministries. When it was trendy to do so, we shifted from a programmatic approach to a cell-driving approach. We began to develop associations around the successful megachurches of that day. We learned about the pastor as CEO, and I adopted that model. In the late 1990s, I really thought the contemporary megachurch would be the church of the future-it was the kind of church almost everyone seemed to aspire to become. Our culture preferred Wal-Mart superstores to the corner drugstore and giant Home Depots to local hardware stores. It made sense for churches to follow that same pattern. As it turns out, in order to move forward, I have had to unlearn the megachurch and CEO models. If we continue to copy the models of the 1980s and 1990s, we're going to miss the next generation. A one-size-fits-all approach toward growth will definitely not be the most effective model of the twenty-first century.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Mike-Slaughter-Unlearning-Church&ac=true&csplit=9060 http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=John-Barry-Helping-Congregation-Fall-Love-Bible&ac=true&csplit=90607/6/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: John BarryAt some point, congregations around the US and much of Europe got bored with their first love, the Bible, and started looking for media and provocative preaching methods to take her place. When we used the Bible, we abused her-through proof texting and de-contextualizing-because she just wasn't fun enough to stand on her own. We never said it outright or signed any divorce papers; we just refocused, quietly dismissing her in the name of relevance or being friendly to those who didn't know her. We'd like to believe our congregation stopped reading the Bible on their own, and that it isn't our fault. But often we start cheating on the Bible long before our listeners do, even out of good intentions. It's always the right time to reignite your love for the Scriptures and teach your congregation to fall back in love with the Holy Text. Think of the following as an Eight-Step Recovery Program.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=John-Barry-Helping-Congregation-Fall-Love-Bible&ac=true&csplit=9060 http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Richard-Lee-7-Principles-Judeo-Christian-Ethic&ac=true&csplit=90606/29/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Richard LeeAmerica's Founding Fathers gave us the country's founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and others. In order for them to form such documents, they had to lean upon some common understanding of law, government, social order and a basic moral code. These understandings sprang from a common acceptance of what has come to be known as the Judeo-Christian Ethic. The term "Judeo-Christian" refers to "the influence of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament on one's system of values, laws and ethical code." It is not just a system of theological thought, but a culture of values as seen in one's individual's right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Some would argue that a few of our nation's Founding Fathers were not Christians; some were Deists. Whether they were Christians or not, their writings, words and votes indicate that the vast majority of them embraced the Judeo-Christian Bible as the basis for a civilized society and social order. It is especially important during these days of rampant pluralism and situation ethics that we pastors (and our people) remember these same anchors of faith and values that are brought to us through the Word of God. Although there are many biblical principles from which our Judeo-Christian values spring, I have selected seven that seem to have the greatest relevance in America's past and present. These "common sense" values provide moral balance in a seemingly unbalanced world.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Richard-Lee-7-Principles-Judeo-Christian-Ethic&ac=true&csplit=9060 http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Ed-Stetzer-How-Do-You-Handle-Word-God&ac=true&csplit=90606/22/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Ed StetzerRecently I had the opportunity to travel to Europe to speak to pastors, missionaries, and church leaders. Europe is one of the most difficult-and often discouraging-ministry contexts in the world. Yet, the trip was incredible. Along the way, I met courageous men and women who were faithful to Jesus and his Great Commission within a culture that largely rejects their faith. I visited worship services there and on four other continents. In every worship service I visited, no matter what country I was in, I had a simple expectation: the preacher would use the Bible in the sermon. God's Word is certainly (at least some) part of the vast majority of Christian sermons. If a Christian preacher doesn't use the Bible in the sermon, in fact, I'd be hard-pressed to call it Christian preaching. But that's where the sermon similarities end. Pastors handle God's Word in many different ways depending upon their ministry context. In some ways, this variety can actually be good; after all, preachers are charged to preach the Word to a particular audience. Jesus himself taught in different ways at different times in his ministry. When he preached to the religious leaders of his day, he preached forcefully. In the Sermon on the Mount, he preached to his core group, the disciples, and he challenged them to go deeper. To the crowds, he preached differently still. So preachers who preach differently in different contexts should not surprise us. At LifeWay Research, we recently studied the variety of ways pastors use the Bible by looking at 450 different sermons (all by different preachers). We gave our research team the audio files of these sermons and some objective questions about how the preacher handled God's Word.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Ed-Stetzer-How-Do-You-Handle-Word-God&ac=true&csplit=9060 http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Nelson-Searcy-Disconnect-Permission-Power-Down&ac=true&csplit=90296/15/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Nelson SearcyI have a serious question for you. There is only one right answer to this question, so get ready. If you answer incorrectly, don't be too discouraged - there is hope. But this question is a barometer that can't be ignored. Here it is: Did you take your cell phone with you on your most recent date with your wife? If you did, let me assure you that you are not alone. A recent study by Hewlett-Packard found that 62 percent of the adult population is addicted to cell-phone technology: texts, tweets, Facebook updates, instant access to emails and, of course, phone calls. Pastors and other church leaders are not immune to this phenomenon. In fact, we may be among the guiltiest parties. We are a techno-connected bunch. We righteously clutch our Blackberries and iPhones as we accuse the outside world of being unable to free themselves from technology's hold. But how often do we disconnect? How often do we allow ourselves to step away from our pressing responsibilities and spend uninterrupted time focusing on things more eternal? You may already be arguing with me: "But being connected allows me to stay right on top of urgent issues in my church." Okay. "My associate pastor needs to be able to contact me any time." Really? "If I am out of touch, something might slip through the cracks - or worse, there might be a crisis that I'm not there to handle." I hear you. But consider this: Allowing yourself to disconnect at important times for appropriate periods is really a statement of trust, an acknowledgement of God's ability to handle the world without your help.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Nelson-Searcy-Disconnect-Permission-Power-Down&ac=true&csplit=9029 http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Ron-Forseth-Just-What-Pulpit-Plagiarism&Page=1&ac=true&csplit=92976/8/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethRecently, I reviewed a copy of Scott Gibson's book, Should We Use Someone Else's Sermon? published by Zondervan. Scott's the Director of the Center for Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and co-founder of the Evangelical Homiletics Society. His book squarely addresses the issue of plagiarism in the pulpit and has a lot of good insight into answering the question posed by the title of the book. The book is extensively researched and articulately written, including vivid examples of pastors who have gotten into deep water with their sermon preparation practices. Just the book's style and intellectual treatment of the topic makes it worth reading. It's a fairly brief book with just over a hundred pages and carefully prepared with 324 endnotes. I recommend that preachers get a copy. In my observation, the book is a fairly hard-hitting presentation, starting with words like "sermon-stealing" and ending by calling plagiarism "sin." There is a whole lot in between that examines different angles on sermon sharing, including historical examples down through the centuries. I'll share my reflections here, some in contrast to the book. The book basically answers its own question with "We shouldn't use someone else's sermon," or at least we shouldn't plagiarize another's sermon. A better title to the book might be Should We Plagiarize Someone Else's Sermon? I think my article title leads to a bit more of a messy discussion and, perhaps, conclusion.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Ron-Forseth-Just-What-Pulpit-Plagiarism&Page=1&ac=true&csplit=9297 http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Joe-McKeever-Skeletons-Pulpit-Cadavers-Pews&ac=true&csplit=99706/1/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Joe McKeeverHave you ever read something that made all the bells go off inside you? You yell, "That's it! That's what I've been thinking!" because it seems the author has been reading your thoughts. It happened to me this weekend. Warren Wiersbe was the culprit, the reader of my mind. His book is titled Preaching and Teaching with Imagination. I notice that he autographed it to me, but I have no memory of the occasion when it happened. Mostly I wonder why I delayed reading this incredible book. (Published in 1994, it's been around long enough for you to purchase it for a song at www.alibris.com or your favorite used book source.) Dr. Wiersbe put his insight in the form of a story. I suspect it's a parable, meaning he fictionalized it in order to make a point. (He has good precedent; our Lord did this.) Briefly, the story he told was this: Grandma Thatcher sits in church with a number of hurts and spiritual needs. Although she's lovingly known throughout the congregation as a saint, she gets nothing but harassment and trials at home for her faith. When she gets to church, she needs a word from God. On this particular morning, the pastor stood at the pulpit and preached from Genesis chapter 9, the main thrust of which was his outline, with all the points beginning with the same letters. The outline was excellent, as those things go: Creation Presented - Genesis 9:1-3 Capital Punishment - Genesis 9:4-7 Covenant Promised - Genesis 9:8-17 Carnality Practiced - Genesis 9:18-23 Consequences Prophesied - Genesis 9:24-29 As she departs the sanctuary, Grandma mutters to herself, "Last week it was all S's. Today it's all CP's." She walked out of the church that day with her hunger unabated and returned home to face a hostile husband and another week of trials.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articlec.asp?article=Joe-McKeever-Skeletons-Pulpit-Cadavers-Pews&ac=true&csplit=9970 http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Andy-Stanley-Great-Disconnect5/18/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Andy StanleyI'm a reasonably smart person. College took me a year longer than most people, but I finally graduated with a three-point-something. However, when it comes to following directions, I'm definitely not smarter than a fifth grader. I get lost easily and often. My wife would attest to the fact that I've pretty much mastered the "art of lostness." It is so bad that when Sandra sends me on an errand, she carries her phone around the house with her, because she knows I'm going to call. This is in spite of the fact that she sends me out with a map with the route highlighted in yellow, along with a complete set of written directions. My intentions are good. I'm just lousy with directions. And she knows it. The kids know it. Heck, everybody who knows me knows it. I mean well. But my good intentions don't really make any difference. I still get turned around. The upside to all of this is that I can speak as an authority on the art of getting and being lost. There are three things you should know about those of us who are directionally challenged. First, we don't get lost on purpose. Nobody does that. In fact, just the opposite is true. Since we know we are likely to get lost, we work hard at paying attention and following directions. But we just don't do well in unfamiliar territory. The second thing I've learned from getting lost is that I never know exactly when it happens. I never know when I've crossed that line between I know exactly where I am and I have no idea where I am. I never know the precise moment in which I've made an incorrect turn or taken a wrong route. There is never a moment when a light goes off in my brain and I think, Gee, I just got lost. If I back up a hundred feet, I'll be un-lost. Being lost is something that dawns on me. Usually after I've been lost for...well, I don't know how long I'm lost before I realize I'm lost. Which I guess is the point I'm trying to make. There's a third thing about getting lost. The road I'm on always determines where I end up. Pretty insightful, eh? It really doesn't matter where I intended to be; the path I take determines my ultimate destination. Plans, intentions, spousal expectations...none of that counts. I always end up where the road I've chosen takes me. And that, as you know by now, is the theme of this book. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Andy-Stanley-Great-Disconnect http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Dino-Rizzo-Pulpit-Soapbox&ac=true5/11/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Dino RizzoSomeone asked me the question one time about preaching in church as a pastor-whether it was a good idea to use church services to "promote a cause," as they put it. I think it's a question worth exploring. My first thought is that preaching is not just about signing people up to wear a wristband in support of a good cause. The Gospel is much wider than that. Jesus died and rose again, and in doing so He created a way for us to be forgiven of our sins, live an abundant life, and spend eternity with Him. Supporting a cause that helps people can be a part of that, but certainly isn't the whole picture. My next thought is, What greater cause is there than the cause Jesus gave us to serve others, give them hope and let them know the love and grace He has for them? That IS why we are here, isn't it? I believe we should be preaching messages that give people the motivation to devote their lives to the cause of Christ. It is so important to keep this in focus! Our preaching is about reaching the lost with the message of hope that Jesus offers. It is for the lost to hear and believe, and it is for believers to hear and be challenged to do all they can to help others who are lost find hope in Jesus. Luke 15 tells us in the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son that what matters most is that which is lost. The cause of Christ is to seek and to save that which is lost. Looking back over the last couple years at Healing Place Church, it's pretty accurate to say that in every message we preach, there is a part of it that reminds us to serve others. I guess that's how I see the Gospel itself. Jesus modeled serving (Phil. 2:5-7). When He left Heaven to come here, He did it to serve us. He started a cause - the cause to rescue people from their sins and redeem us to the Father. And throughout His life, we see Him serving people in order to advance that cause.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Dino-Rizzo-Pulpit-Soapbox&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Robert-Schnase-Five-Practices-Fruitful-Congregations&ac=true5/4/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Robert SchnaseThe purpose of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. But how do we do that? The most visible way God knits people into the community of Christ and draws people into the relationship with God is through congregations that fulfill the ministry of Christ in the world. Fruitful congregations repeat and improve on these five basic practices: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. The practices are basic and fundamental. But it's the adjectives that make these words come alive, because they stretch us and cause us to ask ourselves, “How are we doing in practicing these qualities of ministry in our congregation? How might we do better?” Now these are practices-they're not qualities that some churches have and some don't. They're not phases that, once we get them done, we can move on to something else. These are practices that we have to learn and improve upon constantly. These are the activities that are so critical to the mission of the church, that failure to perform them in an exemplary way leads to congregational decline and deterioration. Here's at look at the five practices used in fruitful congregations.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Robert-Schnase-Five-Practices-Fruitful-Congregations&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Larry-Osborne-How-Smart-Preacher-Propagate-Dumb-Ideas&ac=true4/27/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Larry OsborneI'm always amazed at the strange things people think they've heard me say. I bet it happens to you, too. Someone comes up after the service or sends me an email telling me how much they've been blessed by something I've said-how it's changed their life or how they made a major decision based on it. Only problem is, I never said it, and I don't believe it. It creates a bit of an awkward situation. I don't want to be rude and pop their balloon. But I don't want to keep quiet and let them go on believing and acting upon something that isn't true - and worse, has the potential to be spiritually harmful. So I usually stumble around, offer a knowing nod, a quick thank you, and then say something along the lines of, "Well, what the Bible actually says is ..." Unfortunately, that's how communication works in our fallen world. It's inherently flawed, because we're inherently flawed. People hear what they want to hear, and we often fail to say what we actually mean to say. It's what makes preaching such a difficult task. Outside of a very small church or house church, few of us have an opportunity to make sure that what we meant to say, what we actually said and what people think they heard us say has much in common. Fact is, the difference is often mind-boggling.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Larry-Osborne-How-Smart-Preacher-Propagate-Dumb-Ideas&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Rod-Arnold-Church-Worth-Second-Date&ac=true4/20/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Rod ArnoldJohnny noticed her the moment she walked through the door. He leaned back from his laptop and stared, fixated on her as she ordered her triple grande white mocha. "This is it. She's the one," he thought to himself. Without hesitating, he jumped to his feet and made a beeline to the woman of his dreams. "Hi," he declared, "my name is Johnny." Startled, she stumbled over her words. "Oh, hi. I'm Suzanne." Yes! This was the opening he had been hoping for. "Would you please join me for dinner on Sunday? My parents will be there, and so will my sister and her family. I can't wait for them to meet you. What do you say?" This is a ridiculous story, right? Who, in their right mind, would ever pursue a relationship in such a forceful way? It's a sure-fire recipe for rejection. Yet, without realizing it, this is exactly the way many churches interact with people. We want to reach out to people in our community and invite them to be part of our church. We use different terms for how we do this-outreach, communications, marketing, advertising. But in essence, what we are really doing is building relationships. So here's the question: When someone is introduced to your church, are they interested in a second date?]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Rod-Arnold-Church-Worth-Second-Date&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Mark-Galli-Preaching-Mystery&ac=true4/13/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Mark GalliWe are said to live in a postmodern era, in which logical proofs for God's existence and rational explanations of his character are no longer of interest to people. This may be true of many people, but classic apologetic books like Josh McDowell's Evidence that Demands a Verdict and C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity still sell briskly, and new rationalistic apologists like Lee Strobel are widely read and sought as speakers. It seems we have a God-given longing to make sense of God, and all the postmodernism in the world cannot kill it. But the more I've probed the sensible God, the smaller he seems to get. I think most preachers, after a few years in the pulpit, start to feel this instinctively. Our heads may be able to form answers as to how God is three in one, why Jesus died on the cross, or how a loving and powerful God can allow evil, but the more we delve into the Word, the less our hearts are satisfied with these answers. The more we try to pinpoint where and how God acts in the world, the less sure we are of our pinpoints, but nonetheless more sure that God acts!]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Mark-Galli-Preaching-Mystery&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Larry-Moyer-Wasting-Your-Time-Preaching&ac=true4/6/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Larry MoyerYou've concluded your message. It's time to have a final song and dismiss the audience. But there is still one question people have on their minds. This question is not a new one-it was the same one posed in Acts 2 after Peter had preached what must have been a stirring message. We read, "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?'" (Acts 2:37). Friends, this is what your audience wants to know: What shall we do? Indeed, this question is one they should be asking. Doesn't James 1:22 tell us, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"? Preachers who can answer this question in a sermon will change lives, but those who don't have simply given people an intellectual exercise. In fact, for all practical purposes, they've wasted their hearer's time. There are five techniques in answering that "What shall we do?" question.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Larry-Moyer-Wasting-Your-Time-Preaching&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Hal-Seed-Retaining-Easter-Visitors&ac=true3/30/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Hal SeedMost American pastors are euphoric on the Monday after Easter. With its record attendance, people coming to Christ and volunteers abounding, Jesus' Resurrection Day is the high point of the year. This euphoria tends to carry into the coming week with thoughts like, "With all these visitors, surely we'll have excellent attendance next weekend too!" Then reality strikes. Attendance doesn't go up the next weekend; in fact, it goes down-significantly. And with it goes the pastor's spirits. For many of the pastors I know, the weekend following Easter is one of the year's toughest weekends. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Hal-Seed-Retaining-Easter-Visitors&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Aubrey-Malphurs-Expectation-Member-Visitation&ac=true3/23/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Aubrey MalphursOver the past few years, God has allowed me not only to teach leadership at Dallas Seminary but also to minister in numerous churches and denominations as a consultant and trainer. As I work with various leaders, I've come across and fundamental assumption on which some base their pastoral paradigm. It's the assumption that the primary and foremost role of the pastor is to provide pastoral care for the congregation-to take care of the sheep. This would include such hands-on care as visitation in the hospital and at home, counseling, and care during a crisis. I challenge this assumption both biblically (exegetically) and practically. I believe that while pastoral care is a function of the pastorate, it's neither the primary nor the foremost role of a pastor. The primary responsibility of the pastor is to lead the congregation, which includes such things as teaching the Scriptures, propagating the mission, casting a vision, strategizing to accomplish the church's mission, protecting the sheep from false teaching, and other functions. Both the Old and New Testaments use shepherd imagery of leaders, but a study of such passages reveals that this imagery refers to leadership more than to pastoral care. We begin with an examination of the shepherd metaphor in the Old Testament. While pastoral care may have been an aspect of what some leaders in the Old Testament did, their primary role was that of leadership. For example, the prophets and God commonly used the word shepherd of the political leaders of Israel and the nations (2 Sam 7:7; Isa. 44:28; Jer. 25:34-38; and Ezek. 34:1-4). The emphasis here is clearly on them as leaders. In Psalm 78:70-72 the psalmist writes of David as Israel's shepherd. Is he referring here to David as the primary caregiver or leader of the nation? The answer is found in verse 72, where he uses parallelism. First, he says that David shepherded Israel "with integrity of heart." Then he follows with a parallel statement, "with skillful hands he led them." The latter term led explains the former shepherded. We see much the same in 2 Samuel 5:2, where the Israelites said to David, "And the LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'" From these verses we can conclude that, whether or not these leaders provided some type of pastoral care, the main thrust of what they did was lead people.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Aubrey-Malphurs-Expectation-Member-Visitation&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Jim-Seybert-Five-Provocative-Leadership-Points-Pastors&ac=true3/16/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Jim SeybertYou know the story: James and John come to Jesus and ask to be seated on his right and left when he comes into power. The other disciples catch wind of it and start to grumble among themselves (office politics). Jesus says to all of them that worldly kings and masters will rule with tyranny over their people, then he adds, "But among you it will be different." (Mark 10:42-43 NLT - emphasis added). This difference is the foundation of my book, Leadership RE:Vision. It isn't about changing your goals or objectives. It's about challenging the conventional wisdom and long-held premises of what it means to be a leader. It's about looking at your leadership habits not as the world teaches, but from a new perspective and using a different set of standards to measure the success of your efforts. I intend to rattle your assumptions and challenge the status quo, but these aren't new ideas. In fact, the foundations for Leadership RE:Vision are as old as time itself. The Bible is packed with lessons on leadership. God filled the pages of his book with examples of leaders-good and bad. Somewhere along the line, our ideas of what it means to be an effective leader have been tweaked and disjointed into a style that is out-of-kilter with what I think God intended. So Leadership RE:Vision is my attempt to help you put on a new set of glasses and to see things from a whole new perspective.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Jim-Seybert-Five-Provocative-Leadership-Points-Pastors&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=David-Nicholas-Whatever-Happened-Gospel&ac=true3/9/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: David NicholasThe pastor was brilliant. The people were with him every step of the way. Concluding the service he said, "I have good news for you today. Narzak paid for all your crimes. As we sing this last hymn, I invite you to come forward to receive Narzak into your heart. Let's all stand and sing." The people stood, but they were more than confused. They wondered if they had heard correctly. Did the preacher really say, "Narzak paid for all your crimes?" Every person in the church was wondering, "Who is Narzak?" and "What crimes?" Let's carry this scenario over into the typical church service, in which the pastor thinks he is preaching the gospel. Realize that when the unbeliever hears the phrase, "Jesus died for you and paid for all your sins," he is thinking, "Who is Jesus?" and "What sins?" Jesus has great name recognition, but I have discovered that many people who call themselves Christians have no idea who he is. And the typical unbeliever doesn't have a clue. The unbeliever may own up to some faults, but he doesn't think of himself as a sinner. He sees himself as basically a "good" person. David Nicholas on Preaching the Gospel the Way Bobbie Lee Learned to DriveMy quest to know what has happened to the Gospel began a few years ago when my wife and I visited various churches while on vacation. I noticed that the pastors of these churches-churches that would be considered biblical and evangelical-did not clearly explain the Bad News about ourselves and the Good News of what God has done for us through Christ. Yet in many of these churches, an invitation was given for people to come forward to "receive Jesus into their hearts." But because there was no explanation of who Jesus is, what he did and why he did it, the invitation came across to the unbeliever just like the statement, "Narzak paid for your crimes. Won't you believe in Narzak?" ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=David-Nicholas-Whatever-Happened-Gospel&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Ed-Stezer-Jason-Hayes-Preaching-Younger-Unchurched&ac=true3/2/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Ed Stetzer and Jason HayesWe know what you are thinking: How does one go about preaching to the unchurched, much less the younger unchurched? Since preaching is most commonly practiced within a church, it might seem counterintuitive to consider how we might preach to connect with people who aren't there. Is it even possible to preach to the unchurched? And if so, what does such preaching look like? Let us begin by saying that not only is it possible to preach to the unchurched, it's quite probable you're already doing so, perhaps weekly. Just because someone has awareness of your church or has attended a service at your church does not make them churched. Consider those that show up for their annual visits on Easter and Christmas. They may have sat through the last 20 years of your holiday cantata, but that doesn't make them churched. Entertained? Sure. Inspired? Maybe. But certainly not churched. Next, think about the guests (hopefully) visiting your church. For all you know, your service could be the first religious gathering of any kind that they've ever participated in.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Ed-Stezer-Jason-Hayes-Preaching-Younger-Unchurched&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Dean-Shriver-Six-Benefits-Not-Changing-Churches&ac=true2/23/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Dean ShriverFifteen years ago, our men's group went to our first Promise Keepers event in Boulder, Colorado. During the closing session, pastors were called down to the stadium floor and honored. When I returned to my seat, the men of our church gathered around me. They prayed a prayer of commitment to Christ, to our church family and to me as their pastor. Moved by God to reciprocate, the following Sunday I stood before our small congregation and made this promise: I would not leave Intermountain Baptist Church for another church unless they or God, in no uncertain terms, told me to leave. In the years that followed, most of the men who traveled with me to Boulder that year have stayed true to their word. And, by God's grace, I have been privileged to remain with my church family for twenty-two years. It hasn't always been easy. On a few occasions, I've come close to convincing myself that it was time to leave. There are many reasons to change churches: a sense of God's calling, the presence of conflict, frustration with lay leaders, stagnation, the opportunity to go to a larger church and lead a more "significant" ministry. Even so, during the past two decades I've learned there are also good reasons to stay. Do you find yourself thinking that it's time for a change? Before you make a move, I hope you'll consider some of the benefits of not changing churches. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Dean-Shriver-Six-Benefits-Not-Changing-Churches&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Dave-McClellan-Preaching-By-Ear&ac=true2/16/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Dave McClellanWhen I was a kid I endured, like many of us, piano lessons that seemed interminable. I never came to enjoy the piano, because I didn't practice enough and the sheet music kept the melody "out there." I had trouble translating the notes on the paper to something natural and comfortable. Later on, after I'd abandoned lessons and sheet music, somebody taught me how to play a few chords by ear. I began to see that music can reside inside the musician instead of on paper. Playing by ear is a much different experience than playing off the page. In studying the art of homiletics, I discovered that preaching is similar. A preacher can preach from notes or manuscripts, or they can draw upon something more internal that has been composed in the soul. I found that when I spoke about content that I had internalized and was very close to my heart, I felt more natural and comfortable and communicated better as well. But I also found that my literary homiletic background didn't prepare me to "preach by ear." I was taught to prepare sermons on paper and in private, and I didn't realize there were any other options. Lately I've been exploring a more oral approach to preparation and delivery of sermons. This approach is more consistent with Jesus' command not to "be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour." (Matt. 10:19). ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Dave-McClellan-Preaching-By-Ear&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Jud-Wilhite-Place-Belong-Sinners&ac=true2/9/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Jud Wilhite"What do you do in Vegas?" the waitress in Virginia asked as she looked at my license. "I'm a pastor at a church," I said. "No you aren't," she fired back. "Yes, I am," I replied. "No, you aren't," she said, matter-of-factly. "There are no churches in Las Vegas." Her certainty was absolute. After five minutes, I gave up trying to convince her that churches can and do exist in unlikely places and minister to unlikely people. Her perception of the church just could not make room for Vegas. When you hear the word "church," what comes to your mind? Do you think of stained glass and steeples or a remodeled warehouse? Do you hear organ music or rock and roll? Do you see Maude Flanders from The Simpsons or the church lady from Saturday Night Live? There are a lot of different pictures that come to mind for each of us. However, in a fallen world such as ours, God's picture isn't always the picture we see.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Jud-Wilhite-Place-Belong-Sinners&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Chris-Heuertz-Liberating-Simplicity&ac=true2/2/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Chris HeuertzLike you, I have a library full of books. The inevitable question people pose on their initial visit to my library is, "Have you read all these books?" I fumble for a tidy way to avoid the question by saying goofy things like, "I've read in most of them," or "Some of these are for reference." But the truth is, I often wonder what the thousands of books on my shelves say about my personal view of simplicity. Christians have done a lot to complicate simplicity. Our internal angst regarding the issue has spun itself off into complex formulas and a myriad of books to help us simplify our lives. I've actually spent quite a bit of money on books about simplicity, and I always feel cheated after reading them; I suppose I expect (maybe hope) that the next book or article on simplicity will offer the magic formula for success. Somehow, I think someone will finally be able to wrap a definition around the concept and give me the keys to make it work in my own life. I'm still waiting. A few years ago, I gave my wife Phileena a subscription to the magazine, Real Simple. We thought it could be a fresh take on the subject with practical ideas to help our journey. Wow. Who knew we'd have to completely redecorate our home to be "real simple"? Too bad it costs so much to simplify. Simplicity is hard--far from simple--when our cultural context insulates and isolates us from the rest of the world. It's easy to notice the gross abuse of power in the corruption of Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori. It's a little harder to notice a small Kentucky community, like the one I lived in, fall into the trappings of excess and intemperance. The complexities and corresponding demands on life have often clouded my vision of my reality, a reality that is intrinsically connected to the circumstances of my global neighbors. I find myself falling into a life that rejects simplicity by complicating the very faith that Christ made simple.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Chris-Heuertz-Liberating-Simplicity&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Dave-Browning-Case-Hour-Long-Service&ac=true1/19/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Dave BrowningWhile there is no God-ordained length for a time of public worship, there is a sensitivity dictated by 1 Corinthians 9:21: "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." In our "microwave" culture, events that go longer than an hour - like school commencement ceremonies - are increasingly frowned upon. For some Christian leaders, an hour-long service can be viewed as too short, if not restrictive. For the people we are trying to reach, however, an hour may seem long, if not excessive. After all, look at what happens in modern culture in an hour or less: Doctor's visits Business meetings Class periods Television shows An ancient proverb states, "The mind can absorb only what the seat can endure." For many unchurched people, the church stands for every commandment except this law of common sense. Childhood memories of boredom flood back to them with just the mention of the word "church." The one-hour service is "where the rubber meets the road" in our commitment to reach the lost. If your church will consistently deliver on the promise of a one-hour service, you will equip your "bringers and includers" with an important counter to one of Satan's greatest allies: busyness.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Dave-Browning-Case-Hour-Long-Service&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Dee-Duke-Much-Prayer&ac=true1/12/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Dee DukeOver the 30-plus years of being the senior pastor of Jefferson Baptist Church, I have come to the conclusion that the most basic key to the health of our church is the volume of prayer that is faithfully practiced by individuals in private and with others. Volume of prayer is a missing ingredient in many churches. I recognize that nobody can pray 24 hours a day, and I don't think that every program in the church ought to be dropped in favor of prayer. But most Christians, if asked, would agree that they should pray more than they do. Most pastors would also agree that their church could pray more. I believe that, everything else being equal, the more prayer happens in our church, the more God will bless our church. "Much prayer-much blessing, little prayer-little blessing, no prayer-no blessing," has become the motto of our church.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Dee-Duke-Much-Prayer&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Larry-Moyer-Preaching-Penetrates-Hard-Audience&ac=true1/9/2009SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Larry MoyerSpeaking to a broken heart is like giving nourishment to a starving child. Speaking to a hard heart is like correcting a rebellious teenager. So how do you do it? If you're looking for an easy answer, it's not there. But here are some helpful ideas-ones that may crack open the most callous heart. Start on your knees. Remember, not only can you not do it, God doesn't expect you to. You are the instrument; you're not the power. An employer once told an employee to attempt the breaking of a rock with a pick-axe. After a half-hour of severe blows, the rock showed no signs of breaking. The employee threw the pick-axe aside. The employer asked him why he had stopped. The man answered, "Because I obviously have had no impact on the rock." The employer answered, "The job of using the pick-axe is in your hands. The results are not."]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Larry-Moyer-Preaching-Penetrates-Hard-Audience&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Kent-Tucker-ESPN-Red-Zone-Evangelism&ac=true12/15/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Kent TuckerWhen a football team has moved the ball down the field so that it is inside the 20-yard line, within striking distance of the goal, it is described as being in the "red zone." Every team develops specific strategies for the "red zone" - special formations and plays to be effective in getting the ball across the goal-line. In evangelism, it is essential to know about, be sensitive to and have a strategy for seekers who are in the "red zone." They often have to travel a long spiritual journey before they come to faith in Christ. Often they have objections, fears, hurts or anger that they need to work through. When they finally come to a place where they are open to God and sense that something is missing in their lives, they have entered the "red zone." ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Kent-Tucker-ESPN-Red-Zone-Evangelism&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Blair-Franzese-Laughlin-Johnson-Soul-Fire&ac=true12/1/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Blair, Franzese, Laughlin, JohnsonThe article collects four testimonies of people who were far away from God--but found their way to him. These stories may represent people to whom you currently preach, or they may just help you reflect on who could be listening. At any rate, they reflect the kind of people that you and I want to reach with the message of Christ.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Blair-Franzese-Laughlin-Johnson-Soul-Fire&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Hal-Seed-7-Keys-Great-Church-Campaign&ac=true11/24/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Hal SeedIn April 2003, my friend Pastor Dan Grider and I made an observation together that changed the way we lead our churches. Both of us were in the midst of Rick Warren's 40 Days of Purpose campaign. Most of the programs I've tried over the years have been good; few have exceeded my hopes. This one did. Our observation? When a church focuses on one theme for a short period of time, the power of that theme and its effects on people are multiplied. Dan and I had met over lunch every month for seven years. We got together to sharpen each other and share best practices. Discovering the power behind church-wide campaigns was by far the best best practice we ever shared. We were so fired up about what we saw happening at our respective churches during the 40 Days campaign that we determined to do many, many more of them. Since that day, I have become an expert in church-wide campaigns. Over the last five years, literally all of New Song's growth has come from the church-wide campaigns we've held. In honesty, I confess that not all of our campaigns have gone well; some have been good, some have been great, and some have been disappointing. In my journey to master this God-given tool for the 21st century, I've discovered seven keys to a great campaign.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Hal-Seed-7-Keys-Great-Church-Campaign&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Barbara-Metzler-Unleashing-Passionaries&ac=true11/17/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Barbara MetzlerAs founder of the Passionaries Institute, I have studied American giving, volunteering and "passionaries"--a word I've coined to mean "passionate visionaries who start or help build nonprofits." This includes churches engaged in service. I have seen God in motion through all kinds of social entrepreneurs, and I have discovered secrets that can help inspire your community and congregation to engage in extraordinary service efforts. The Bible teems with direction from Christ for passionate service on His behalf. He deeply desires His followers to "know the plans He has for them" (Phil 4:13), and He uniquely gifts Christians for His glory and the building of the Body (1 Peter 4:10). When His people know their gifts and implement them in the Church and community, God's purposes are fulfilled, people experience joy and satisfaction, and miracles unfold that point the whole world directly to Him. The secular media bombards our communities with soul-depressing negativity, while the world is actually brimming with miracle-makers. Want proof? Here are just three of the remarkable statistics on giving and volunteering in America:]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Barbara-Metzler-Unleashing-Passionaries&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=John-Maxwell-94-Leadership-Quotes&ac=true11/10/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. John C. MaxwellI like to distinguish between a "goal mindset" and a "growth mindset." A church leader with a "goal mindset" has very tangible, numerical goals to achieve over a specific period of time. Nothing is wrong with clearly defined goals, but there's a better way of thinking that I call a "growth mindset." A growth mindset recognizes goals on the journey, but only as part of a process-not as the end results. Leaders of successful churches are tempted to stop working on themselves, but when the pastor doesn't grow, the people don't grow. It's the Law of the Lid: a stagnant church leader stunts the growth of the church. I hope these thoughts on leadership will inspire you to maintain this “growth mindset,” for your personal benefit and for the benefit of those you lead.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=John-Maxwell-94-Leadership-Quotes&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Joe-McKeever-Leadership-Insights&ac=true11/3/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Joe McKeeverThis article by Joe McKeever is actually a summary of 57 other articles by Joe on the topic of church leadership. If you wish to read an expanded version of each point past the break, simply click on the links below each point. _____________________________ 1. Delegate. Just because you do a job better than someone else does not mean you should do it. 2. Follow-Up. People do not do what you expect; they do what you inspect. 3. Earn the Right to Lead. Still your impatience and earn the right to the congregation's trust before making difficult decisions. 4. Appreciate Your Support Team. A pastor depends on his wife and family, other ministers and countless others in his service for God. 5. Know When to Give In. In some conflicts, maintaining harmony and unity is more important than being right.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Joe-McKeever-Leadership-Insights&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Brian-Kluth-Inspire-Church-Giving&ac=true10/27/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Brian KluthHave you seen the national news lately? Did you see that Christian giving is in decline, and churches are beginning to cut programs and staff? While many of America's pastors and church leaders have wanted to avoid the growing economic storm clouds, it now appears that God is using the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CBS, NBC, CNN, Time magazine, and many major newspapers to sound the wake-up call on what is happening with church giving. The media is reporting that the percentage of income Christians give has been steadily declining over the last 40 years. They are also highlighting Barna's latest report that indicates only five percent of people now tithe at least ten percent of their income to Christian and charitable causes. What can you do to help face the growing economic storm and downward giving trends?]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Brian-Kluth-Inspire-Church-Giving&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Sam-Rainer-Squaring-Off-Church-Dropout-Rate&ac=true10/20/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Sam S. Rainer IIIWhen my father, Thom S. Rainer, and I began looking at research about the young adult population, we were stunned. We knew anecdotally that people leave the church. And studying the latest research, we understood that many leave the church during their young adult years. What we did not realize was the concentration of people that leave during their college-age years. The dropout number that the research uncovered alarmed us: 70% of young adults drop out between the ages of 18 and 22. The number alone is numbing. Perhaps more distressing are some of the reasons why these students are leaving. Their faith doesn't look like their parents' faith. This generation likes to talk about faith. Many believe, rightly or wrongly, that they have faith. Religious matters do not scare them. Most maintain some level of interest in spiritual topics. But this generation must fuse faith and church, or else they see no reason to stay in church. Frankly, the faith of their parents is not reason enough for them to claim it as their own. One of the most glaring issues of estrangement for 18-22 year-olds is the gap between their personal belief system and their church's stated beliefs. In other words, the church's external beliefs, covenant, or confession goes against the personal and internal belief structure of the younger adult crowd. In fact, only 53% of all young adult churchgoers state that they agree with the beliefs of their church. Clearly, the dropout crisis isn't found in the style, venue, programs, or location of the church. This crisis is much deeper - it runs to the core of the doctrinal truths of the church if only half of our young adults agree with the church's teachings. Their lives change, and church attendance gets cut. Ninety-seven percent of dropouts stated that one reason they left the church was a change in their lives. Of all the major categories prompting someone to leave the church, this life change category was by far the most influential.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Sam-Rainer-Squaring-Off-Church-Dropout-Rate&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Brian-Mavis-How-to-Listen-to-Sermon&ac=true10/13/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Brian Mavis 100 times more people will hear a sermon this week than preach one. So why are there thousands of articles, books, and classes on how to preach a message, but virtually none on how to listen to one? It's because most people think listening just comes naturally. But that's not what Jesus thought. Jesus said to "consider carefully how you listen" (LK 8:18). The state and fate of your life depends on how you listen. Teachers are responsible for teaching well, but you are responsible for listening well. Jesus wants you to listen in a way that will change your life. So how can you listen in order to change your life? You need to hear with more than just your ears. You need to listen with your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Listening like this is an act of love, and it can change your life with God now and forever. #1: Listen With All Your HEART Listening with your heart can be tough. Why? Because our hearts are messed up. Oftentimes, we don't feel the way God feels about things, want the things God wants for us, or care about the things God cares about. Sometimes we even love what God hates and hate what God loves. As a result, God's words won't sink in. Jesus told a story that illustrates this. It's about a farmer sowing seeds onto four kinds of soil (see Matthew 13:3-9, and 13:18-23). ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Brian-Mavis-How-to-Listen-to-Sermon&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=John-MacArthur-Why-I-Teach-the-Bible&ac=true10/6/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: John MacarthurI have never aspired to be known as a theologian, a polemicist, or an academician. My passion is teaching and preaching the Word of God. Even though I've dealt with theological questions and doctrinal controversies in some of my books, I have never done so from the perspective of a systematic theologian. It is of little concern to me whether some point of doctrine fits with this tradition or that. I want to know what is biblical. All my concerns are biblical, and my desire is to be biblical in all my teaching. Preach the Word That is how I have approached ministry from the beginning. My father was a pastor, and when I first told him years ago that I felt God had called me to a life of ministry, he gave me a Bible in which he had inscribed these words of encouragement: "Preach the Word!" That simple statement became the compelling stimulus in my heart. It is all I have endeavored to do in my ministry--preach the Word. Pastors today face a tremendous amount of pressure to do everything but preach the Word. Church growth experts tell them they must address people's "felt needs." They are encouraged to be storytellers, comedians, psychologists, and motivational speakers. They are warned to steer clear of topics that people find unpleasant. Many have given up biblical preaching in favor of devotional homilies designed to make people feel good. Some have even replaced preaching with drama and other forms of staged entertainment. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=John-MacArthur-Why-I-Teach-the-Bible&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Fee-Strauss-Gender-and-Translation&ac=true9/29/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Gordon Fee & Mark Strauss The meanings of words change over time, and translations must be periodically updated to keep up with these changes. One of the most significant changes in English over the last quarter century has been related to gender language. While it was once commonplace to refer to people as “men” and all fellow Christians as “brothers,” such usage has declined significantly in recent years. More inclusive terms like “people” and “brothers and sisters” are used more often today. Bible translators, seeking to stay current with contemporary English, have adapted to these changes. Over the past thirty years, almost every English Bible version either produced or revised has adopted this kind of “gender accurate” language (TNIV, NET, NLT, GW, CEV, NAB, NJB, NRSV, REB, NCV, GNT, NIrV). This is in line with the goal of translating words according to their meaning in context. Even versions like the ESV and HCSB, which have intentionally reacted against the trend toward gender exclusive language, utilize it far more than their predecessors. A search using Accordance Bible software reveals that the ESV removed the words “man” or “men” 671 times from its predecessor the RSV-clear evidence of the changing state of the English language. This article will examine the benefits and challenges of achieving gender accuracy in Bible translation. The Nature of Gender Accuracy While some critics claim that the movement toward gender accurate language is a form of political correctness, the truth is that such language has made our Bible translations more precise and so more accurate. Consider Romans 3:28, which the NIV translated, “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith.” The TNIV, in its revision, renders the verse, “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith.” Since Paul is obviously referring to people, not just men, the TNIV is more accurate. The primary meaning of the Greek word anthropos is “person,” not “man.” (We get the English word anthropology-the study of human beings-from this word.) Greek has other words, such as ancr (“man”) and arscn (“male”), which more commonly refer to males. Of course the NIV's translation is not “wrong,” since the original translators intended “man” to be understood generically, that is, referring to people in general. But the English language has changed, and for many readers “man” now sounds like it refers exclusively to males. The TNIV's “person” is a double-win for translators. It is both more clear and more accurate, clarifying the precise meaning of anthropos in this context. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Fee-Strauss-Gender-and-Translation&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Ed-Stetzer-Outreach-100&ac=true9/22/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Ed Stetzer What do OUTREACH 100 churches have in common? Why have they grown so rapidly? What innovations are they embracing that account for their adaptability and health? Dichotomies seem to be the order of the day. Anywhere you look, people have the latest and coolest gadgets, yet at the same time, they hunger for simpler lives. So it should come as no surprise that the current church landscape reflects the rest of our lives and culture. As we talked with churches and gathered the information for the OUTREACH 100 Largest and Fastest-Growing Churches in America, we saw several dichotomies, including the one developing between small and large churches. If current trends continue, the number of medium-sized churches will continue to decrease, and the bulk of U.S. churches will tend to be very large or very small. While most churches have always been small, large churches getting larger. This year's Largest list reflects this trend. For the first time, all 100 churches on that list averaged at least 7,000 people. (In contrast, last year's list included churches of 6,376 or more.) That doesn't mean more churches are meeting in larger groups at one time in one place; the opposite may be true. While churches are getting larger, attendees are often not unified in one location as more megachurches add satellite sites. Growth Catalysts New sites, new buildings, regional population increases, and even new leadership served as growth catalysts for many of the churches on both lists. In many cases, these factors contributed to rapid growth. On the following pages, we explore these trends and look at some of the churches on the list representing these growth factors. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Ed-Stetzer-Outreach-100&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Nelson-Searcy-Time-Management-Busy-Pastors&ac=true9/15/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Nelson Searcy We all have the same number of hours in a day. The way we choose to manage those hours will either help us live a life of effectiveness and success, or it will lead us down a path of frustration and repeated failure. Of course, we would all rather use our time to create that first scenario, but many of us just don't know how. You probably didn't learn much about time management in school. I didn't. Even though understanding how to use our time is essential to success, it is something we've been left to educate ourselves on. And the truth is that many of us don't take the time to get that education. There's an inherent paradox here: you have to invest some time in learning how to manage your time. But most of us are so overwhelmed with daily concerns that we think we can't carve out a few minutes to study time management principles. I can promise you this: if you will make a small commitment to learning how to better shape the hours God has given you, you will see hours exponentially added back into your day. To get you started, here are three principles you can begin applying right away" Learn to Live Off-Peak. Learning to live off-peak means that you get into the habit of swimming upstream. You go against the crowd. When everyone else is rushing to do one thing, you do something else. Last Mother's Day, I violated this principle. Not adhering to my own time management rules, I went shopping for a Mother's Day gift on the Friday before the holiday. Over my lunch break (another mistake), I made my way from my office in midtown Manhattan to the 34th Street Macy's, i.e. “The World's Largest Department Store.” Surprise, surprise - it was packed! It seemed like everyone in New York had decided to shop for their mother during their lunch break on the Friday before Mother's Day. What would have been, at any other time, a nice 30- to 45-minute shopping experience turned into an hour-and-a-half ordeal. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Nelson-Searcy-Time-Management-Busy-Pastors&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Kenny-Luck-Anatomy-Pastor-Takedown&ac=true9/8/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Kenny Luck Why is it that we always talk about evil only after evil has had its way with another leader in the church? Just recently, another pastor in a prominent evangelical church was arrested for soliciting a thirteen-year-old girl for sex. She was an undercover policewoman, and he will be going to jail. In response to the arrest, the senior pastor of his church gave a three-minute address to the congregation. Amidst other comments was the following statement: "We've taken a hit from the enemy this week, but we will rise above and respond to the challenge," as church members applauded. He summed it up by saying, “We want to put this in our rear-view mirror." In this situation, I feel a “rear-view mirror” is an oxymoron. I want to put it on a twenty-by-twenty foot plasma screen in high definition for every set of eyes reading the words of this article. I am sick of evil having its way with our best leaders. It's time to pick a fight. Less Painful Hindsight There was a time before September 11, 2001, when counter-terrorist agencies possessed good intelligence about a group called Al-Qaeda. We knew who their leader was, where their leader was, and where their training facilities were. We knew how to “touch” them, and we knew the United States was the object of their brand of hatred. And yet, with so many other higher-priority issues, so many other international and domestic crises demanding time and attention, and not enough “actionable intelligence,” we didn't assign the right amount of attention to this character Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist network. The world knows the rest of the story. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Kenny-Luck-Anatomy-Pastor-Takedown&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=James-Choung-Preaching-Faith-Worth-Believing&ac=true9/1/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: James Choung My friend and I were sitting in an outdoor patio of a French cafe. Our mouths were full with toasted sandwiches, and the setting San Diego sun cast a warm glow over our enjoyable evening. We hadn't known each other for long, but we were already starting to talk about spirituality and faith. I learned that he used to go to church, so I asked him why he left. He started to rattle off a list: “I'm happy. I love what I do. I'm enjoying my life. What else do I need?” His church had explained that life without Jesus is miserable and glum, and life with Jesus is joyful and peaceful. It seemed a bit of an oversimplification to me, but I kept on listening. As a result, he said, he gave Jesus a try. But he didn't find himself feeling that much more fulfilled or even happy. He actually felt worse: he felt like a fraud. And when he left the church, he wasn't particularly miserable at all. So he decided he didn't need Christianity; he was happy enough as he was. Then he shrugged his shoulders. “If that's your vision of faith,” I said, “then your vision of faith is too small.” I'm thankful that God gave me words to say in that moment. And it's true: a vision of faith has to be larger than what it can do for us. It has to be more than an incantation that can make us healthy, rich, fulfilled, or in my friend's case, happy. The Christianity worth believing in is about more than what we can get out of it; it's inherently about what God is doing in us and in the world. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=James-Choung-Preaching-Faith-Worth-Believing&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Joe-McKeever-Hardest-Sermon-I-Ever-Preached&ac=true8/25/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Joe McKeever It was Sunday, June 21, 1997. After putting up with the immature rants and raves of a few church members for seven years of that pastorate, I decided it was time to air this dirty linen on a Sunday morning, something pastors are loathe to do. Afterwards I remained as pastor another seven years, and they became some of the sweetest years of my long ministry. Recently, I ran across the typed version of that sermon and decided to reprint it here in the hope that it may help some other pastor. The title was "Our Church is in Crisis--Just Like All Those Other Churches." The text was Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3. **** I want to say a word to you who are visiting with us this morning. Normally, pastors hesitate to 'hang out the wash' on a Sunday morning. If we have problems in the church, we deal with them at other times. On Sunday mornings we have a lot of visitors, and we naturally would like you to feel good about this church and come back, maybe even join us. However, we have some church members who never come to church except on Sunday morning, and they are some who need to hear this. In my last church, I learned that one of our deacons and his wife, Pat and Betty Hance, had witnessed a fist-fight on their first day at our church. I found that hard to believe and could not wait to ask them about it. Pat told how two men in the church had a grudge going, and one was bullying the other. As the Hances sat in the Sunday School assembly, the bully walked by and made a snide remark about his opponent. With that, the man got up and knocked the daylights out of the bully. I said to Pat, "Here's my question. We pastors bend over backwards to impress visitors so they will come back. But on your first Sunday, you witnessed a fight--and not only did you return, you even joined the church. Explain that to me." He smiled and said, "Oh, we like an active church." ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Joe-McKeever-Hardest-Sermon-I-Ever-Preached&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Charles-Colson-Why-Truth-Matters&ac=true8/18/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Charles Colson with Harold Fickett Truth Matters Because the Heart of What We Believe is at Stake The path of postmodern Christianity bears some chilling resem-blances not only to early Church heresies (such as Montanism), but to the theological liberalism of the last century, which led some Prot-estants to abandon the basic propositions of Christian doctrine. A late defender of theological liberalism, Deane William Ferm, writes, What are the motifs of liberal Protestantism? Perhaps the most important one is the priority of firsthand personal experience as the authority for one's religious beliefs. All doctrines must be extracted from “the inward experience of Christian people.” In the last line, Ferm is quoting famed German philosopher Friedrich Schleiermacher, nineteenth-century progenitor of twentieth-century Protestant liberalism.1 Doesn't that sound hauntingly like the argu-ments we hear today? The great conservative leader, Princeton professor J. Gresham Machen, resisted this trend heroically early in the last century, argu-ing that when doctrine and truth are abandoned, you don't get liberal Christianity, you get another religion altogether, which he called lib-eralism. We saw how this led to the decline of mainline churches in the last century, and conservative churches are at risk of the same thing today. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Charles-Colson-Why-Truth-Matters&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Mark-Batterson-Adventurous-Pastor&ac=true8/11/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Mark Batterson A few years ago I played hooky from church. Instead of going to our Saturday night services, my son and I hit the ski slopes. It was the last weekend of the ski season so it was our last chance to go after one of the life goals we share in common: learn to snowboard. We were awfully sore at the end of the day. Especially my backside! But it was one of those unforgettable days. And there is one moment in particular that is frozen in my mind. Literally. We were riding up the chairlift as the blizzard-like snow was coming down. And I heard the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. I realized, in that moment on that chair lift, that my life had completely revolved around National Community Church for the better part of a decade. On one level, when you plant a church, you've got to pour your heart and soul into it. Sacrifices are par for the course. But I came to the convicting realization that I didn't really have much of a life outside of church. It was as if the Holy Spirit said: Get a life! I'm afraid that many pastors, if we were completely honest, would have to admit that we have no life outside of church--no hobbies, no relationships, no interests, no goals, no margins. And we wonder why we're bored with ministry. So let me share a few ways to adventurize your life. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Mark-Batterson-Adventurous-Pastor&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Hal-Seed-The-Greatest-Sermon-In-History&ac=true8/4/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Hal SeedAsk a panel of preachers for their vote on the greatest sermon in history, and I'm guessing you'll get a fairly uniform response. The vast majority will point to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Some might vote for Paul's address on Mars Hill. A few could lobby for Jonathan Edwards' “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” A handful of modern aficionados might suggest M.L. King's “I Have a Dream” speech. But if I had a ballot, I'd cast it for a lesser-known sermon; it doesn't even have a title. My nomination for the greatest sermon in history goes to Jonah's message to the Ninevites in Jonah 3:4. Sure, no one would print it in a book of “best sermons.” They couldn't. Or if they did, they'd have to use 72 point font with a lot of surrounding graphics, because the entire speech is only five words in Hebrew, eight words in English: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” How can that be a great sermon? There's no introduction, no need raised, no forecast, no points, no poems, no illustrations, no conclusion. The sermon has one verb, and it's in the passive voice. The little sermon doesn't just break all the rules of homiletics; it shatters them. Try delivering this in Preaching 101 and watch the professor mark not an “F,” but a complete zero for your grade. How could anyone vote this “The Greatest Sermon in History”? Easy. I grade it on results. This little eight-word sermon had an unprecedented effect on its hearers and sparked a revival that spanned all social classes from peasants to kings. It may have impacted the largest number of people in the shortest time in history; the sermon caused somewhere between 120,000 and 600,000 people to radically repent in under 40 days. It saved an entire civilization from extinction. On a word-for-word basis, in comparison to any other speech, it is the most economical. Fewer words, greater results. It's the greatest sermon in history. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Hal-Seed-The-Greatest-Sermon-In-History&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Larry-Moyer-People-Hate-to-Tell-About-Your-Preaching&ac=true7/28/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Larry Moyer After the dinner, the speaker and master of ceremonies were standing in the lobby greeting the people who had attended. A six-year-old boy ran up to the speaker and said, “Your speech stunk.” Embarrassed, the master of ceremonies asked the boy to run along. But the boy ran right up to the speaker again and said, “We've heard all your jokes before; they're not even funny.” Embarrassed, the master of ceremonies again asked the boy to run along. But he ran right up to the speaker again and said, “I bet you they never invite you back.” Just then the boy's mother, who was standing a short distance away, saw what was happening. She ran up to the speaker and quickly said, “Please forgive my son. I have no idea what he said to you. But he is only six years old, and he is just at the age where he repeats what everyone else says.” Not everyone will tell you how they feel about your preaching, even though it could be most helpful if they did. However, they often express how they feel to their mates or closest friends. Undoubtedly they'd have several good things to say, but they might also express a few frustrations. Listen and learn from those frustrations, and you'll be a better preacher. “You talk too long.” They are the kind of couple any pastor would crave to have in his church. An extremely godly couple, they volunteer throughout the church, serve on church committees and go on short-term mission trips. As we interacted across the table, she said to me, “I love our pastor. His messages help me. I just wish he didn't talk so long. I just can't handle fifty-minute messages.” ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Larry-Moyer-People-Hate-to-Tell-About-Your-Preaching&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Bob-Reccord-Reversing-Marriage-Implosion&ac=true7/21/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Bob ReccordMy 24-year old daughter recently participated in a wedding that many merely dream about: the Ritz-Carlton, beautifully manicured acreage, surrounding waterscapes, celebrative music filling the air with anticipation, enough food and drinks to feed a veritable army and, of course, a fashionably elegant wedding party dressed to the nines. Add in a healthy dose of fabulous weather, and you have a magic moment. But external trappings do not always great marriages make! On the way home my daughter, caught in a reflective fog, enumerated friends whose marriages were already destabilized. “It seems to me that a lot of people spend a lot of time and money preparing for the wedding, but not much preparing for the marriage,” she mused. Stop the world! There's a piece of earth-shattering perspective. Why wasn't I thinking of insightful things like that at 24? I wondered. Today, statistics scream to us of the implosion of marriage. In this disposable society, marriage partners become throw-away items if they don't fit into the other's “wants, needs and goals.” I purposely used the word implosion and not explosion. Webster's defines it as “to collapse inward as if from external pressure.” Our landscape of marriage looks like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, or a once-stately high-rise brought to a pile of rubble by demolition experts. So what key pressures and charges are toppling today's marriages? It's a Covenant, not a Contract! On any given weekend, and even in the church, exhilarated brides and nervous grooms say their “I do's” without understanding God's deepest intent for the relationship into which they enter. They ritually run through the elements of a ceremony without understanding the Rock from which it was hewn! ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Bob-Reccord-Reversing-Marriage-Implosion&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=John-Maxwell-How-to-Lead-Yourself&ac=true7/14/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: John Maxwell During a Q&A session at a conference, someone asked, “What has been your greatest challenge as a leader?” “Leading me!” I answered. “That has always been my greatest challenge as a leader.” Some in the audience were surprised by my response. The more experienced leaders were not. Like me, they could trace many of their failures to their own personal leadership mismanagement. Isn't that also true for you? If I could kick the person responsible for my problems, I wouldn't be able to sit down for a week! Look in the Mirror Learning to lead yourself well is one of the most important things you'll ever do as a leader. For almost forty years I've served others as a leader, and for more than two and a half decades of that time I was the senior pastor of a church. My years working with people have taught me an important truth: people seldom see themselves realistically. Human nature seems to endow us with the ability to size up everybody in the world except ourselves. That's why my book Winning with People begins with the Mirror Principle: “The first person we must examine is ourselves.” If you don't look at yourself realistically, you will never understand where your personal difficulties are coming from. Most people use two totally different sets of criteria for judging themselves and judging others. We tend to judge others according to their actions. It's very cut-and-dried. However, we judge ourselves by our intentions. Even if we do the wrong thing, we let ourselves off the hook if we believe our intentions are good. That's part of the reason we allow ourselves to make the same mistakes over and over again before we are willing to make real changes. Take Action How clearly do you see yourself? To get a more objective look at yourself, review your performance from the last year. List all of your major goals and objectives, then mark each as either “achieved” or “not achieved.” Now show the list to someone you know and respect, and tell the person you are evaluating a candidate for a job. Ask them what they think based on the “candidate's” achievements and failures. How does that person's evaluation jive with your own? This will tell you a lot about your self-perception.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=John-Maxwell-How-to-Lead-Yourself&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Eric-Garcia-Preaching-to-Couples&ac=true7/7/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Eric Garcia Today, the world attacks marriage from all angles. Statistics show that at best our culture is relationally fractured, but more accurately we are relationally bankrupt. Since marriage is at the core of our society, the state of marriage indicates the health of our communities. And some might even say that community health indicates the health of its churches. What does this relational collapse mean to the Church? How do those in ministry connect with the cultural touch-point of marriage? We hear about many different attempts to shore up marriages and families, but the Church really has the most potent leverage on the topic. Scriptural truth anchors and motivates people in God's perfect design for relationships, ideally played out in the context of marriage. Pastors confirm and illustrate these principles from the pulpit. When church leaders support healthy marriages, they generate strong families; these in turn build vibrant churches that significantly impact their community and even their world. Clearly, strengthening the marriage institution is a powerful method to change the world for His Kingdom. The pulpit, and the leader speaking from it, is one of the most powerful impact points in our culture. In the following paragraphs we will investigate a pastor's opportunity and responsibility to champion married couples and those investigating marriage for their future. Our culture gives us key indicators about the marital health of our churches and communities. A recent USA Today article showed that only 20 percent of all Americans over age 18 have someone in whom they can confide. This reveals that most people, including married couples, are very lonely and crave authentic relationships in their daily lives. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Eric-Garcia-Preaching-to-Couples&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=John-Maxwell-Aftershocks-Postmodernism-Leadership&ac=true6/30/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: John Maxwell I pastored a church in California for fifteen years, and I experienced a lot of earthquakes there. When the news reported that there was another earthquake in California, my friends on the east coast would call, afraid I was buried under rubble somewhere. After a major earthquake occurs, they begin reporting on all the aftershocks. Even though the earth has stopped moving, there are always a few more trembles after the major quake. I think about that as I look at what's happened in the church. I think there are some aftershocks of the Postmodern movement that we need to be aware of. But before I take you into some of these aftershocks, let me go back to the “earthquake” itself: the shift from Modernism to Postmodernism. A lot changed in our culture and in the church during that shift: We went from humanism, where we're the masters of our fate, to fatalism, wherein we have no control over what happens. We went from rationalism to relativism-a movement from truth as absolute to truth is relative, and we each have our own realities. We went from science being the ultimate that will deliver us, to technology, where applications exist to serve our needs. We went from enlightenment to narrative. It's a shift from, “I want the facts,” to “Give me a story; paint a picture for me.” We went from universal right and wrong, what I call “self evident ethics,” to tolerance, in which everyone is tolerant of everyone else's values. We went from materialism to spiritualism, from a mindset of believing only in what we can see, to a sense of mysticism in which we believe in invisible realities. We went from individualism, that self-made man persona, to community, being focused more on teamwork and family. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=John-Maxwell-Aftershocks-Postmodernism-Leadership&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Larry-Osborne-Sticky-Preaching&ac=true6/23/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Larry Osborne Whether your church is 50 or 5,000, your congregation has far more diversity than you might think. Now before you say, “Wait a minute Larry, our congregation is homogeneous, too homogeneous as a matter of fact,” let me remind you that diversity isn't only about ethnicity. It's also about age, length of time as a believer, socio-economic status, special interests, learning styles, and a wide array of cultural subsets. And as if diversity is not enough, everything keeps changing at the speed of the internet. If you feel like you're preaching to multiple moving targets each weekend, you probably are! No wonder some of us feel stressed. It's hard to preach sticky messages or tightly Velcro people to a ministry when everything and everyone keeps moving all the time. For the past 25 years, I've pastored the same church. But it's hardly been the same church. We've grown from an overgrown Bible study, to a small church struggling to break the 200 barrier, to a multi-site megachurch. We hit our stride as a boomer-focused, seeker-friendly ministry only to wake up in a culture bored with boomers and enamored with hip-hop, subwoofers, and missional focus. By my count, we've gone through at least five distinct seasons and iterations of ministry. We've been in the latest one for the past four years or so. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/articleb.asp?article=Larry-Osborne-Sticky-Preaching&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-R_Benson_06_16_08&ac=true6/16/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron Benson You know you want it. You know you need it. You've thought, If only I could take three or four months away from this place and get my head on straight, I could survive awhile longer. Just the idea of a sabbatical brings hope. But before it becomes a reality, you need to determine why you should do it and what you'll do while you're away. God prescribed the sabbatical rest for the land in which Israel planted her crops. But to say that the sabbatical law in Leviticus 25 was initiated as an environmental solution to weary dirt is like saying that circumcision was God's way to ensure personal male hygiene-it's more than a pragmatic solution to a physical problem. It's a heart issue. According to Leviticus, the people of Yahweh needed a sabbatical even more than the soil. God's plan for their sabbatical was not to prompt travel to the Holy Land (they were already there!) or the pursuit of an advanced degree (seminaries hadn't been invented yet), or to go on a missions trip (reserved for guys named Jonah). The plan was simple: the sabbatical broke something in order to repair something. A potent part of the Levitical sabbath law reads: Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land. Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety. You may ask, "What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?" I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in. Leviticus 25:18-22 ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-R_Benson_06_16_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-J_McKeever_06_09_08&ac=true6/9/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Joe McKeever There's no contest for this "honor," although quite a few made it into the "honorable mention" category. These are members of the seven churches I pastored over 42 years who dedicated themselves to making life miserable for the pastor. Looking back now, with much clearer vision and perspective than I had at the time, I find myself thanking God for everyone of these people. Those that didn't teach me something by their opposition drove me closer to the Father in desperation. Anything that does that is not all bad. Mr. Wyatt stormed into my office one morning during Sunday School, a few minutes before the worship service. "Preacher, you have offended me and upset my wife!" I said, "Tell me who you are, then tell me how I did that." I had never met the man. He told me his name, then he explained what had happened. "Yesterday, you came into the fellowship hall where they were taking pictures for the pictorial church directory. You spent time with everyone in the room, and I saw you drawing sketches for the children. Then, before you left, you stood in the doorway and looked around. You looked my wife and me squarely in the eyes, then you walked out without speaking to us." I apologized all over myself and assured Mr. Wyatt that if I did what he described, it was completely inexcusable, but I had no memory of ever seeing him and his wife there. This didn't do the job for him. He was angry when he entered and angrier when he left. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-J_McKeever_06_09_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-M_Batterson_06_02_08&ac=true6/2/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Mark Batterson Let me make a prediction: your biggest regret at the end of your life won't be the things you did that you wish you hadn't. Your biggest regret will be the things you didn't do but wish you had. That prediction is based on the research of two social psychologists, Tom Gilovich and Vicki Medvec (note). According to their research, time is a key factor in what we regret. Over the short-term, we tend to regret actions-things we did that we wish we hadn't. But over the long-haul, we tend to regret inactions-things we didn't do but wish we had. Their study found that action regrets outweigh inaction regrets 53 percent to 47 percent during an average week. But when people look at their lives as a whole, inaction regrets outnumber action regrets 84 percent to 16 percent. I have my fair share of action regrets. I've said and done some things that I wish I could unsay and undo. Who hasn't secretly wished that they could fly counter-rotational around the earth at supersonic speeds and reverse time like Superman? But I'm convinced that our deepest regrets at the end of our lives will be the risks not taken, the opportunities not seized, and the dreams not pursued. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-M_Batterson_06_02_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-J_Edwards_05_26_08&ac=true5/26/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) In this verse is threatened the vengeance of God on the wicked unbelieving Israelites, who were God's visible people, and who lived under the means of grace; but who, notwithstanding all God's wonderful works towards them, remained (as vers 28.) void of counsel, having no understanding in them. Under all the cultivations of heaven, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruit; as in the two verses next preceding the text. -- The expression I have chosen for my text, their foot shall slide in due time, seems to imply the following things, relating to the punishment and destruction to which these wicked Israelites were exposed. That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall. This is implied in the manner of their destruction coming upon them, being represented by their foot sliding. The same is expressed in, "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction." Psalm 73:18 It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!" Psalm 73:18,19 Another thing implied is, that they are liable to fall of themselves, without being thrown down by the hand of another; as he that stands or walks on slippery ground needs nothing but his own weight to throw him down. That the reason why they are not fallen already and do not fall now is only that God's appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then, at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-J_Edwards_05_26_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-K_DeYoung_05_19_08&ac=true5/19/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Kevin DeYoung If we had to distill our advice for the emerging church into one sentence, it would be this: Listen to all the churches in Revelation. Emergent leaders need to celebrate all the strengths of the churches in Revelation 2-3 and admit that Jesus' prescription for health is more than community, authenticity, and inclusion. Many people do not realize that Revelation, besides being an apocalypse and a prophecy, was also a letter-a letter addressed to seven real churches in Asia Minor. The number seven suggests that the churches were more than real churches; they were also representative churches, symbolic of the church universal. In other words, the problems in these seven churches are the root problems in all churches. Their strengths are our strengths, and their weaknesses are our weaknesses. There is something for everyone to love and hate about these churches. We can all see our besetting sins mirrored here, even if we can see the sins of our neighbor churches more easily. And while it is certainly legitimate to see individual churches as more relevant to our particular settings, we must pay attention to what Jesus says to all seven churches. And that's my beef with the emerging church. Doctrinally-minded, Reformed Christians like me would get more out of emergent critiques if they recognized that there are just as many undiscerning, over-tolerant Pergamums and Thyatiras in North America and the U.K. as there are loveless Ephesuses. I pick these three churches not because they are most important, but because they best represent what is right with the emerging church-a good eye for Ephesus problems-and what is wrong-a blind eye to Pergamum-Thyatira problems. Emerging and non-emerging Christians need to listen to all three churches. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-K_DeYoung_05_19_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-P_Miglioratti_05_12_08&ac=true5/12/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Phil Miglioratti “Without a vision, the warriors perish.” (Proverbs 29:18, my paraphrase) In every war, warriors need generals who sound the battle call clearly and loudly. Spiritual warfare is no different. Men must be summoned to the fight by a visionary leader, and that leader should be their pastor. If men are going to effectively fight on their knees, they will need pastors who take spiritual warfare and strategic prayer personally and seriously. Victory requires a new breed of shepherd--one who leads the way into the arena of prayer. And every victory is the result of a comprehensive strategy. Strategy 1 -The Man PASTORING HAS CHANGED dramatically in the last 50 years. One of the clearest indications is how the sign on the pastor's door has changed from “Study” to “Office.” The pastor is now more a manager or corporate executive officer than a student or a disciple. A call to war is a call to change. Pastors must reclaim their role as one who leads the troops into battle (see Joshua 5:13-6:27). They cannot do this solely from the boardroom; they must lead both from and into the prayer room. Our spiritual leaders must rediscover and reclaim the apostles' passion of devotion to prayer and the Word (see Acts 6:4). ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-P_Miglioratti_05_12_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-D_Shriver_05_05_08&ac=true5/5/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Dean Shriver Me? Teach you about prayer? Hmmm. That's a challenge. It's a bit like preaching a sermon on humility; it's a topic fraught with the danger of destroying one's credibility just by broaching the subject. Yet, God has given me a passion for prayer in recent years. Because of the marked transformation I've experienced, I'd like to venture out and share what has stoked my passion. I've pastored for more than twenty years and must admit that prayer has been a struggle throughout my ministry. For years, my spiritual disciplines were marked only by obligatory, token prayer. I've always known that prayer is essential to life and ministry, and I've preached about it, too. Even so, my knees remained soft and tender from lack of practice. This only began to change two years ago. I don't write as one who's arrived. I write as one still struggling to learn what it means to have faith and to be faithful in prayer. As pastors, how do we stoke our personal passion for prayer? Speaking out of my recent experience, I'm not sure we do. God does it-and sometimes it hurts. For me, the cool embers of token-praying were only fanned into flame through the experience of brokenness. In 1987, I founded Intermountain Baptist Church in Salt Lake City. We've never been a “big” church, but we've always considered ourselves a solid one. The teaching was sound, the body enjoyed a consistent sense of unity, and we experienced occasional “growth-spurts” that fed our sense of well-being. Most important, everyone liked me! At least I thought they did. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-D_Shriver_05_05_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-J_Davis_04_28_08&ac=true4/28/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: James O. Davis While my family and I were enjoying a summer convention in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1997, I experienced and witnessed a communication disaster that will remain as a memory throughout this life and eternity to come. It was during two hours of agony that I committed myself to learning and applying dynamic principles of communication to my personal ministry. Here is the story: When the evening rally began on August 8, 1997, there were approximately 12,000 people in The Dome, excited about the possibilities of spiritual awakening and revival throughout the United States. When the keynote speaker began her presentation, she was given the pulpit nearly 45 minutes late with a preannounced schedule printed for the evening service to be concluded by 8:30 p.m. In light of this, the presenter would only have about 20 to 25 minutes to speak in order to remain on schedule. Yet, she chose to speak 1 hour and 20 minutes, as the crowd gradually left in tens and twenties at first until later by the hundreds. By the time her presentation had come to a close, the attendance had gone from nearly 12,000 to just under 1,000 in eighty minutes. I could not believe my eyes! I was witnessing a complete meltdown. You may say, “That will never happen to me.” Yet, each week we have people who emotionally and spiritually leave our presentation, while they physically sit there uninterested in what we have to say about Christ, His Church and eternity. Something is wrong or missing when people yawn when we preach about the Greatest Story Ever Told. It is a sin to make the gospel boring for people. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-J_Davis_04_28_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-W_Booth_04_21_08&ac=true4/21/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: William Booth On one of my recent journeys, as I gazed from the coach window, I was led into a train of thought concerning the condition of the multitudes around me. They were living carelessly in the most open and shameless rebellion against God, without a thought for their eternal welfare. As I looked out of the window, I seemed to see them all . . . millions of people all around me given up to their drink and their pleasure, their dancing and their music, their business and their anxieties, their politics and their troubles, ignorant - willfully ignorant in many cases - and in other instances knowing all about the truth and not caring at all. But all of them, the whole mass of them, sweeping on and up in their blasphemies and devilries to the Throne of God. While my mind was thus engaged, I had a vision. I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the black clouds hung heavily; through them every now and then vivid lightning flashed and loud thunder rolled, while the winds moaned, and the waves rose and foamed, towered and broke, only to rise and foam, tower and break again. In that ocean I thought I saw myriads of poor human beings plunging and floating, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-W_Booth_04_21_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-K_Harney_04_14_08&ac=true4/14/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Kevin Harney Most of us have heard the story of The Emperor's New Clothes. It is a memorable tale with a powerful message. The Emperor was arrogant and wanted the finest clothes possible. He hired some great and renowned fashion experts, and they got to work on his new wardrobe. But the fashion experts were scoundrels. They knew nothing about making clothes, but they knew a great deal about deceit and thievery. So, they worked and worked and worked. When the king's patience was beginning to wear out, they allowed him to see the fine clothes that were still in the process of being made. They assured the arrogant monarch that only the truly noble, wise, and best of people could see and appreciate the fine clothes. When the king looked at the material being fashioned on the loom, he saw nothing. When the charlatan tailors held up the “clothes,” the king saw only air. But, everyone else was declaring how beautiful and elegant the clothes looked. Even the king's counselors agreed that the clothes were exceptional, because they did not want to look unwise. Too embarrassed to say he could not see the clothes, the king entered into the ruse and agreed that the clothes were beautiful. This process of deceit continued until the clothes were finished, the money was in the pockets of the “tailors,” and the king was marching down Main Street in great pomp, circumstance, and nothing else! Finally, someone blew the whistle. A little boy exclaimed, “The Emperor has no clothes!” At this moment, when the truth was spoken, everyone knew what was happening. The veil was lifted. The kingdom-wide denial and deceit was replaced with clarity and truth. The Emperor indeed was buck-naked.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-K_Harney_04_14_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-G_Stier_04_07_08&ac=true4/7/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Greg StierHow many times have you been in your church's foyer when a member of your congregation said something so unbiblical that you literally cringed? Or maybe it was in a Sunday school class when that one person (you know who I'm talking about) raises his/her hand and waxes eloquent in an assertion that is so jacked-up theologically that you don't even know how to begin to respond. As a traveling preacher/evangelist/trainer, I have these kinds of encounters from coast to coast consistently. As a matter of fact, I started categorizing my list of “fighting words” because I heard them so often from so many “Christians” (both young and old) in so many settings. From arenas full of teenagers attending our Dare 2 Share conferences, to churches full of adults where I happen to be preaching, I have developed a list of lame sentences that make me mad. But I have to be careful, because sometimes my righteous anger can quickly morph into unrighteous fury. George Whitefield, famed evangelist of the First Great Awakening, used to pray, “God, give me the mixture of the lion and the lamb,” before he dove into a theological debate with someone. I don't know about you, but I need that same balance. I tend to have more lion than lamb when it comes to defending the truth. My wife has helped me realize the importance and power of loving everyone and communicating with gentleness, even when I'm defending the truth. I don't always get it right, but with her help and the strength of the indwelling Holy Spirit, I'm improving. You'll notice at the end of each point on my list of “fighting words,” I've included a link to our “Dare 2 Share Uncensored” podcast (both audio and video). These podcasts reflect the seven-week “Fighting Words” series from Dare 2 Share's weekly staff chapel services filmed at our D2S headquarters. I've also included teaching notes in case you want to use the outlines to preach to your church or use in a Sunday school class or Bible study. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-G_Stier_04_07_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-R_Rusaw_03_31_08&ac=true3/31/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Rick RusawShow and Tell There is a movement creeping its way across churches of all shapes, sizes, and denominations. It's gaining ground, it's getting attention, it's making a difference, and it's slowly changing church statistics. These churches are evaluating what really matters, and they are reaching skeptical, hurt, and broken people through serving. How are these churches changing the relationship between the church and their communities? How are they getting a skeptical society to hear them? They are externally focused, and this is what defines them: They are inwardly strong but outwardly focused. They integrate good deeds and good news into the life of the church. They value impact and influence in the community more than attendance. They seek to be salt, light, and leaven in the community. They see themselves as the “soul” of the community. They would be greatly missed by the community if they left. Remember “Show and Tell” in third grade? It seems as if the church has become more concerned with telling than showing. Christians will tell others what they need to do to be right with God, to be better people. Christians will proclaim what isn't right with the world. Christians know how to tell about God's love and why it is needed in people's lives. For the most part, though, our churches have forgotten to show God's love. And all too often, what we do show doesn't match up with what we tell. Today, whether we like it or not, we have to earn the right to be heard. It has been said many times that “People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Showing through serving can help Christians and churches tell more effectively. The success of an externally focused church depends on getting involved in the community, creating authentic relationships, and being truly useful. In the process of showing, externally focused churches have discovered, again and again, that people are more willing to listen to their telling. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-R_Rusaw_03_31_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-T_Blackaby_03_24_08&ac=true3/24/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Tom BlackabyThese are disconcerting times among God's people. Whereas there seems to be a much greater effort for inter-denominational (read Kingdom) work between churches today and whereas churches are in many cases for the first time implementing strategies for reaching the lost and impacting their communities, there is one glaring issue that is troubling. As I travel from state to state and city to city seeking to encourage and inspire God's people to know Him, His ways, and His agenda for their life, I have observed that a growing number of pastors across the country have been spiritually neutralized. They may be preaching each week and spending time in personal and private devotion, but it is almost as though they have unknowingly slipped from their role as shepherds and have become sheep. They appear to be wandering with their congregations, seeking a direction and focus instead of leading their people to be involved in the activities and ministries God has ordained for their churches. Instead of leading their people to find the heart and mind of God for their own congregations, some pastors seek to copy other “more successful” congregations that have blown past the norm, set new standards, and developed innovative approaches for reaching their communities. These churches have successfully marketed their strategies, and multiple thousands of other churches around the world have bought into their techniques and methodologies. We love to buy other people's techniques because it means we don't actually have to come up with our own. We don't have to do the hard work of going before the Lord on bended knee or going without to fast and pray to seek the heart and mind of our Master. We can open a book or watch a DVD and, poof! There it is already prepared for us! ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-T_Blackaby_03_24_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-J_John_03_17_08&ac=true3/17/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: J JohnWe proclaim, preach, and teach. The Greek word for proclaim, kerusso, which is used sixty times in the New Testament, literally means “to make a public announcement from a king”. This reminds us that our message is from God the King and therefore we should not be timid in our speaking. We don't preach because we want to say something. We preach because we HAVE something to say. The Greek word for preach, euaggelizo, from which we getthe English word “evangelise”, is used fifty times in the New Testament. It is usually translated “preach the gospel” or “preach good news”. This reminds us that our preaching should contain good news. Our message, especially to the unchurched, has to be GOOD NEWS. I read that G. K. Chesterton said, “It's a sin to present the Gospel - the greatest story ever told-- in a dull, uninspired, joyless and humourless manner.” The Apostle Paul's words to Timothy, “do the work of an evangelist,”1 have often been misinterpreted as meaning, “Timothy, you're a pastor. Don't be a pastor any more. Do the work of an evangelist.” I think what the Apostle Paul meant was, “Timothy, you're a pastor; do it as if you were an evangelist.” To others he might have said, “You're a teacher; do it as if you were an evangelist.” “You're a secretary; do it as if you were an evangelist.” “You're a cleaner; do it as if you were an evangelist.” I want to say to preachers, “preach as if you were an evangelist.” It is a mindset. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-J_John_03_17_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Mark_Mittelberg_03_10_08&ac=true3/10/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Mark MittelbergThe shape of a church will be a magnification of the shape of its pastors and leaders. The values that permeate its culture are the values of the people who run it. So if you want to reshape the priorities of any organization, you're going to have to first reshape the priorities of the men and women who guide it. Likewise, truly contagious churches don't grow out of programs, initiatives, curricula, or trumped-up talk about “taking this town for Christ.” Ultimately, they must grow out of the beliefs and values - the very hearts - of the people who lead them. That is why Stage 1 in the 6-Stage Process says that we must each, you and I, “LIVE an Evangelistic Life.” Paul says in Ephesians 5:1, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.” He goes on to talk about loving people the way Christ did when he gave himself as a sacrifice on our behalf. In effect, Paul is saying, “Lost people matter to God; make certain they matter to you too!” This value must flow from the depths of who we are - and who we are becoming. It really is a heart issue. Jesus said in Matthew 12:34: “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” I've discovered this to be true in my own life. The condition of my heart determines the ordering of my priorities, and even the contents of my conversations. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Mark_Mittelberg_03_10_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Moyer_03_03_08&ac=true3/3/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Larry MoyerGospel presentations often conclude with a prayer. You may have heard it called the “sinner's prayer.” In that prayer, the person trusting Christ acknowledges he is a sinner placing his faith in Christ to save him. Some prayers have clearer terminology than others. The question is, “Is that prayer essential to salvation?” Let's back up. What did Christ accomplish on the cross? He satisfied the wrath of a holy God against our sin. As he died as our substitute, he declared, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Through his death and resurrection, he paid for all the wrongs we have done. Our sin account was paid in full. That is why God can now extend eternal life as a gift - completely free of charge. Christ did not make the down payment for our sins. He made the full payment. A gift, though, can be rejected or received. So how does one receive the gift of eternal life? The answer to that question can be found in the book God specifically wrote to tell us how to receive eternal life - the book of John. We are told in John 20:31, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” Ninety-eight times in the book of John, the word “believe” is used. John 1:12 reads, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John's best known verse reads, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Moyer_03_03_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ron_Forseth_02_25_08&ac=true2/25/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethIn a recent “tour” through the Old Testament, I have repeatedly seen that the featured people of the Bible have prominent dysfunction in their lives. This is not the exception-it's the norm! We talk about “great lives” in the Bible-and there are many of them-but the thing that amazes me is how many of those “great lives” were actually lived by damaged people with serious family issues. Personally, I find this trend somewhat comforting, not a justification for wrong-doing or unhealthiness, but at least a consoling depiction of the challenges we humans face. I don't find myself alone as the only one dealing with issues. Consider the prevailing trend of "unhealth" among some of the Bible's greats: Adam, the first man, was a blame shifter who couldn't resist peer pressure. (Genesis 3:12) Eve, the first woman, couldn't control her appetite, and should we say, had the first eating disorder? (Genesis 3:6) Cain, the first born human being, murdered his brother. (Genesis 4:8) Noah, the last righteous man on earth at the time, was a drunk who slept in the nude. (Genesis 9:20-21) Abraham, the forefather of faith, let other men walk off with his wife on two different occasions. (Genesis 12 and 20) Sarah, the most gorgeous woman by popular opinion, let her husband sleep with another woman and then hated her for it. (Genesis 16) Lot, who lost his father early in life, had a serious problem with choosing the wrong company. (Genesis 18-20) Job, supposedly a contemporary of Abraham and the epitome of faith, suffered from the nagging of a faithless wife. (Job 2:9) ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ron_Forseth_02_25_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Chuck_Swindoll_02_18_08&ac=true2/18/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Charles R. SwindollMax De Pree, in his fine book titled, Leadership is an Art, recounts the observations of Dr. Carl Frost, who witnessed the power of tribal storytelling in Nigeria during the late sixties. Electricity had just been brought into the village where he and his family were living. Each family got a single light bulb in its hut; a real sign of progress. The trouble was that at night, though they had nothing to read and many of them did not know how to read, the families would sit in their huts in awe of this wonderful symbol of technology. The light-bulb watching began to replace the customary nighttime gatherings by the tribal fire, where the tribal storytellers, the elders, would pass along the history of the tribe. The tribe was losing its history in the light of a few electric bulbs. This story helps to illustrate the difference between scientific management and tribal leadership. Every family, every college, every corporation, every institution needs tribal storytellers. The penalty for failing to listen is to lose one's history, one's historical context, one's binding values. Like the Nigerian tribe, without the continuity brought by custom, any group of people will begin to forget who they are.” What is true for families, colleges, corporations, and institutions is certainly true for churches. Unless we as pastors fulfill our roles as “tribal storytellers,” our flocks will forget who they are. The Bible tells us who we are. In doing so, it uses narrative more than any other type of literature. More than one third of the Old Testament consists of stories. The Gospels, instead of merely explaining Jesus, tell his story so that we may know him. And the book of Acts equips the Church, not by listing instructions like a church administration manual, but by telling the stories of faithful men and women who evangelized their world. Yet for all the narrative available in the pages of Scripture, churches still need storytellers. We remind people of who they are. In doing so, we show them what God wants them to become. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Chuck_Swindoll_02_18_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Wayne_Cordeiro_02_11_08&ac=true2/11/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Wayne CordeiroThe sullen staff member entered my office, saying only, “I think my season is up here.” I'd heard those words before from others. Over many years as a pastor I've welcomed people in and I've bid them adieu. For some, it was a normal part of growing and maturing, but this one would leave me confused. He had been with us four years. “Is there any reason why you feel your time may be up?” I asked. “Well ...” he hesitated, “I'm just not being fed here.” I hate those words, from a staff person or a church attender. Not because I'm insecure, but more because the very culture of New Hope, our church community, is designed to alleviate symptoms like these. For the past ten years, we have intentionally built a culture that includes a self-feeding program for each individual, beginning with our staff. The refusal of this responsibility opens the floodgates for a codependency of sorts---one that requires others to don the responsibilities God intends for every person. I challenged him with this picture: Imagine that my wife sees me one day, gaunt and emaciated. My eyes are sunken into gray sockets, my body is frail, exposing my skeleton; my abdomen is distended from starvation. I've obviously not been eating. When she sees me in this condition, she exclaims, “What in the world is happening to you?!” My answer is: “I'm not getting fed around here.” Then, continuing my lament: “No one is feeding me.” What do you think her response would be? “Feed yourself!” ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Wayne_Cordeiro_02_11_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ken_Harney_02_04_08&ac=true2/4/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Kevin G. HarneyI can still remember the first time I stood in front of a group, opened the Bible and brought a message...I suspect you can, too. It was an Easter Sunrise Service, there were over a thousand people present, I was a new Christian, only 16 years old. In retrospect, I am surprised I was asked to share a short devotional in this setting at my young age. I was not aware of the gravity of what I was asked to do. I just thought it was “cool” and enjoyed presenting some thoughts from God's Word. A few months later I had a sobering moment that has guided my ministry for almost three decades. I read these words in the book of James: Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1) My mind raced when I reflected on this verse: “Judged more strictly...ouch! I don't think I like that idea.” “By who? By God? I suppose there is some heavenly accountability if I am going to open and teach God's Word.” “By other people...the people I teach? That makes sense. They will expect me to live out what I preach, and the Bible sets high standards! Standards I will never fully meet.” Living an Examined Life From the time I realized I was called by God to teach and preach His Word, I have lived with a sense of honor mingled with holy fear. This awareness of the privilege and responsibility of being a preacher has driven me to my knees in prayer, to my study to prepare, and to the mirror to look at myself. Yes, to the mirror. I have felt a profound call to look in the mirror to examine my life...all of it. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ken_Harney_02_04_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Kent_Anderson_01_28_08&ac=true1/28/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Kenton C. AndersonMost people can recognize a good sermon when they hear one, though they might have difficulty articulating why. For those of us who try to preach those “good sermons,” it is useful to understand what it takes to get those positive responses from our listeners. Of course, listeners vary and have different things that they are looking for in a preacher. A listener's theology will determine his or her sense of the sermon. Those who are committed to a high view of Scripture might expect something different than one committed to a more active view of the work of the Holy Spirit. Learning style is a factor in considering the effectiveness of a sermon. Some listeners learn best through reflection; others prefer a more active and participatory approach. Culture will affect one's evaluation of a sermon. Where we come from, what generation we belong to, our denomination, our economic situation and our gender all play a part in determining the kind of preacher we best respond to. Still, if preaching is preaching, there are certain things that can be said across the board. If the following things are in place, we can be fairly confident that our sermons will be well-appreciated and lead to the kinds of responses we expect. These, then, are the factors that result in “good” and maybe even “great” preaching. A good sermon is rooted in the Bible. A sermon ought to find its footing in the Word of God. Many fine things could be said by a preacher, but if the listener doesn't feel that the sermon has been helpful in engaging the Bible, it falls short as a sermon. This means that the Bible will be used as more than window dressing or as a jumping-off point. The Bible will govern the sermon and be the source of its big idea if the sermon is any good. Good preachers understand that God still speaks through his Word. The Bible is the one instrument that God has promised to bless. When it comes to good preaching, the Bible is where the power is. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Kent_Anderson_01_28_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-J_P_Moreland_01_21_08&ac=true1/21/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: J.P. MorelandAs a pastor I'm sure you are aware that it is currently in vogue for people to dismiss the message of the Gospel as unfounded speculation. The world is currently operating on the assumption that it is impossible to actually know truth or God. And in the Church we make a critical error as we engage people in need of Christ. Instead of talking to them about truth (which they dismiss as unknowable), we must establish that truth can indeed be known-specifically the truth of Scripture and of the supernatural realm. This subtle distinction makes all the difference. We must communicate to our church that it is possible to develop a solid knowledge of God and his ways and to strengthen our confidence in him and his truth. It is necessary to do so in order to sustain a vibrant life that is worthy of the Lord, a life that embodies the nature and the power of the Kingdom of God. Here are three ways to lead your congregation and to grow yourself in your knowledge of and confidence in God and his truth. As you consider them, let me say that courage is the requirement for this process-and the result is the restored power of God in our faith experience and our witness. 1. You and your church must be ruthless in assessing the precise nature and strength of what you actually believe and develop a specific plan of attack for improvement. You need to get away for a period of personal reflection and prayer to ask yourself some hard questions. Often, our congregations are not safe places for such self-examination, but if you have friends who can help you here, by all means, invite them into the process. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-J_P_Moreland_01_21_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ron_Forseth_01_14_08&ac=true1/14/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethWhy Use Math in Preaching? Math opens a window into God's Word and offers a great vehicle for bringing some passages to light. I often like to use math when I preach and teach for several reasons. Mathematical illustrations: Engage Listeners They draw not only those who will hear the sermon into the Word but also myself as I study a passage. Math also fosters critical thinking-so do some of your own critical thinking before you venture out! Enhance Comprehension and Communicate Visually Mathematical pictures enhance comprehension as they give the mind of the listener a visual handle to grasp onto when thinking about a passage. Even if the picture is not represented by a diagram, listeners can better “see” the illustration or passage in their mind. Energize a Sermon They can energize a sermon, engaging and expanding the imagination of the listener as their own minds must consider the concepts and calculations. Drive Home a Point ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ron_Forseth_01_14_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ed_Stetzer_01_07_08&ac=true1/7/2008SermonCentral.com contributor: Ed Stetzer“We're just spinning our wheels” - that's the way many church leaders and churches describe where they are. The church engine is revving, the wheels are turning, the smoke is flying, but the church really isn't getting anywhere. Often, there are lots of programs and good activities, but many churches aren't getting much traction when it comes to impacting the unchurched culture and making disciples who make disciples. Here are three simple principles to follow that should help you get some ministry traction and stop spinning your wheels: 1. Remember that church revitalization is a spiritual endeavor. It's not about the latest programs, methods, models or techniques. Remember what Paul said, “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6, NIV). This principle was confirmed in a huge way in our study of Comeback Churches. According to Comeback leaders, the key to making a comeback was this - “renewed belief in Jesus Christ and the mission of the church.” That was the highest-rated single item in the study. How simple and basic is that!? But are we really, truly focused on Jesus and his mission for us? Or do we allow many other things, even many good things, to get in the way of a pure and sincere devotion to Jesus and his mission for us-sending us out into this world as his disciples, his missionaries, his witnesses? ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ed_Stetzer_01_07_08&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-James_Davis_12_31_07&ac=true12/24/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: James DavisPersonal power and charisma are not mysterious. Some believe that one cannot earn it or learn it. This is not true. The effectiveness of your communications determines the effectiveness of your life. Leaders whom people respect and follow are those who are able to communicate effectively. They have a dynamic presence. If you desire to make a difference, you will have to learn to communicate with a powerful presence. You must be able to communicate what you want to get done in the church, in the ministry, and in life. The pulpit is no greater than the evangelist or pastor who fills it on a weekly basis. If the preacher is boring to the congregation, the people will think God is boring. Some ministers have style without substance, while others have substance without style. Many souls are not saved because the sermon was never delivered to the lost. It is possible for the preacher to speak the message, use up a portion of time, give an altar call, and still not accomplish the intended purpose of the sermon. Many ministers of the Gospel spend most of their time thinking about what they are going to say to the audience, yet the average person is persuaded more by feelings than by facts. Mannerisms, gestures, head movements, facial expressions, platform movement, eye contact and clothing project the overall presence of the presenter. The verbal persuasion of the sermonizer will be greatly determined by the choice of words and phrases. Emotive words drive the theme of the message home. The communicator must be enthusiastic about the message. We must always remember we are not called merely to impress people but to influence their decision making for Christ. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-James_Davis_12_31_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Dave_McClellan_12_19_07&ac=true12/17/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dave McClellanIf you've ever searched for directions from MapQuest or other online directories, you'll find your answer in two formats: either a turn-by-turn set of steps, or a visual map of your starting point and destination. The answer you prefer tells you something about how you like to process information. If you like accuracy and precision, you'll go with the step-by-step textual instructions. If you like flexibility and multiple options, you'll print out the map and decide your own exact course. The map metaphor illustrates two ways to think about sermon preparation and delivery. For centuries, at least in the Western world, sermons have been organized, composed, and delivered with textual orientation similar to the MapQuest textual directions. We prepare from textual sources (whether printed or online), we compose on pad or screen, and we carry some textual outline to the pulpit with us. We're so used to connecting preaching and writing, it's hard for us to imagine the task without its entrenchment in literacy. It wasn't always so. There was a time before literate orientations became so dominant (with the development of the printing press), that preaching was conditioned by a more oral context. That is, the preparation was done via both written and oral sources. Preachers worked through homiletic material outloud and in dialogue. Their fluency was forged not so much by careful wordsmithing of a written text or outline, but by talking through their sermons in a variety of formats and shared contexts. When it came time for delivery, they relied not so much on text as on memory. Not word-for-word memorization as we think of it, but devices to jog the memory to complete a pre-planned mental “route.” This ancient oral practice, familiar to many cultures, but documented in detail in classic Greek and Roman rhetoric, can proceed not only from a textual outline, but from a iconic map containing just a few (4-6) sequenced images that are easy to recall in the midst of speaking. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Dave_McClellan_12_19_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Townsend_12_10_07&ac=true12/10/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. John Townsend Every growing church and every successful pastor have, at some level, a strong personal and relational component to their work and functioning. God is the gardener of the Kingdom (John 15:1), and he uses people and relationships to bear good fruit in the world, the community and the church. Here are some of the key principles to keep in mind in your pastoring, your preaching and your own life. Following each principle are some thought questions to help you take the next steps. Almost every significant growth event involves relationship. One of God's most important delivery systems for his grace is people and relationships: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (I Pet. 4:10, NASB).” People and connections are the avenues of support, love, acceptance, truth and admonition for one other. That is why, when people are interviewed about their faith journey, the story often concerns some conversation, meeting or long-term relationship with another person or a small group that was the catalyst which transformed their lives. Evaluate your ministry and approaches through the lens of relationship and see what comes up. In other words, ask yourself, “Is my church connecting people to God and each other at deep and meaningful levels? Do we have structures in place that provide safety and grace for people to get to know each other? Is our teaching directed toward both a solid biblical stance and also an encouragement for people to become closer to each other?” ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Townsend_12_10_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-HB_London_12_03_07&ac=true12/3/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: HB LondonDo you remember the Rajneesh cult that came from India to the United States? I saw communities of this cult for the first time when I visited India in the early '80s. I could hardly stand the sight of their orgies, filled as they were with an incredible display of opulence and unbridled sexual activity. Followers dressed in various shades of red treated their leader like a god. I wondered what kind of twisted thinking allowed a man to receive such worship, such accolades. One day the newspapers announced that the Rajneesh cult was setting up shop in eastern Oregon. The cult members had chosen this site as their base of operations for impacting North America. Because of my experience in India, I felt apprehensive about the results of their presence in our state. I asked a lawyer friend to drive with me to the community where they were setting up shop, so we could see for ourselves. As we drove down the gravel road toward the commune, posted guards made sure we knew that we were being watched. The enormous number of persons dressed in red clothing made the scene surreal. As we drove through the area, the cult members went about business as though we did not exist. No one spoke. No one asked our names. No one inquired about what brought us to the community. We did not exist as far as they were concerned. Soon the whole scene changed. As if responding to some secret signal, everyone moved to the roadside. As the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh passed by, his devotees worshiped him, as they did every afternoon when he was driven down this road in one of his hundred-plus Rolls Royces. I watched the crowds as they shouted, waved and bowed in his honor; and I thought about Jesus arriving in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-HB_London_12_03_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Gary_Smalley_11_26_07b&ac=true11/26/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Gary SmalleyIt's “'Time for breakfast!' I would hear my mother say, 'Your father's getting ready to go!'” My good friend John is 70 years old, but his memories of his father are still in the back of his mind. “There were lots of days when I would wake up early and get dressed as fast as I could,” he told us. “I'd be hunting for my long johns, smelling the bacon and eggs cooking downstairs, and listening for my father's voice. “Before he took me out with him to the farm to work, he'd always tell me the plans for the day. I can still remember the sounds of starting up the tractor and making sure we had our coffee thermos and snacks in the large weathered brown paper bag. “I couldn't wait to sit beside him at the breakfast table and then climb up beside him on the tractor. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was getting daily lessons in what it meant to be a real man and just as important, a leader!” In John's years on the farm, he got everyday lessons in how to make man-sized decisions. Like the time their harvesting combine broke down and they had to work all night to fix it. Or the time their bull got out and trampled a neighbor's dog. Their neighbors were furious, and he got to see his father resolve the problem. By watching his dad work, love and care about the needs of others, John was able to see what leadership looks like. How to react. What to stand for. What to fight against. When to be compassionate. Unfortunately, this kind of mentoring rarely happens today, whether talking about dads or especially in regards to developing leaders. Our super technology and fast-paced lifestyles don't cater to training by example. An average leader working 60-plus hours a week will usually barely have time to keep up with his or her own family much less the opportunity to mentor someone else. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Gary_Smalley_11_26_07b&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Chuck_Sackett_11_26_07&ac=true11/19/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Chuck SackettIt's just a few minutes before I'm to speak. I'm preaching where I've spoken on a number of occasions before. The only liturgical element left is the Lord's Supper. Flashing through my mind is every preacher's nightmare-I've already preached this sermon, here. Foraging through mental cobwebs I'm trying to recall something, anything, that will tell me I'm wrong. Suddenly I remember Dr. White's response to a story in the sermon. I have preached this before. Somehow stories stick...and the sermon will be remembered for the story even if not for the message. That being the case, how can the stories (a.k.a., illustrations, metaphors, images) be so textually driven, that when listeners remember the story, they are drawn back to the text? Since nothing benefits the listener more that having their hearts and minds anchored in a Biblical text, I'm arguing that if the very images, metaphors and illustrations we use are driven by the text, what people remember will draw them closer to that substantive message than if they simply remember our stories. Every preacher knows the challenge of finding the right image or illustration. Most have made friends with 10,000 Illustrations for Every Occasion (at least us old guys) or SermonCentral.com (this list is nearly endless). Is there a way to make those tools as potent as possible? I'm suggesting there is. I'm suggesting that inherent in our study of the text (the exegetical process itself) are clues to effective images and illustrations that will anchor the text (and not merely the story) in the hearts and memories of our listeners. The closer to the heart of the text, the greater the effectiveness of the material. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Chuck_Sackett_11_26_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Moyer_11_05_07&ac=true11/12/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Larry MoyerA church wanted to increase its Sunday morning attendance. They decided to try a new marketing idea. The sign on the front lawn read, “Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons - come hear one.” No preacher would want that said of his sermons - here is one to sleep by. I know of no preacher who steps into the pulpit and says, “I think I'll be boring.” The unfortunate truth, though, is that many are. So how do we keep our preaching from becoming boring? Let's look at five ideas. These won't solve everything, but they will be a strong start in the right direction; plus, they are all interrelated. Communicate, don't just speak Speaking is when the words of my mouth enter the openings of your ears. Communication is when what is understood in my mind is understood in yours. Communicators are not boring. Only speakers are boring. I've never heard one person say, “He is such a boring communicator.” That means everything we say has to be so understandable, so relevant, so applicable to life where our listeners are living that they are watching us instead of their watches. That, in my opinion, is why preachers need to be expositors. Our words may not be correct, meaningful, or penetrating; His Word promises to be so. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Moyer_11_05_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-David_Kinnaman_11_05_07&ac=true11/5/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: David KinnamanBeing a Christian in America is harder than ever. People are expressing more hostility, doubt, frustration and skepticism toward Christianity - and this is particularly true among young people. Their perceptions of Christians are filled with images of judgmentalism, hypocritical lifestyles and political activism. They also believe Christians have singled out homosexuality above all other sins. They conclude that Christianity is old-fashioned, boring and unintelligent, and that Christians are insincere and too focused on getting converts. The followers of the Prince of Peace are thought to be unable to live peaceably among others. These may sound like harsh statements, but they spring from extensive research we have done with Americans ages 16 to 29. Whatever your impressions, these negative views are front and center in the minds of young people in our culture. In just a decade, the perception of evangelicals has become eight times less favorable among young non-Christians when compared to the image held by Boomer non-Christians. In fact, one of the most common reactions that young people have about the faith is that present-day Christianity is no longer like Jesus intended. This is where we initially came upon the term “unChristian.” In our research with young people, they kept saying things like, “Christians go about things in an unChristian manner.” “They have forgotten the point of what it means to be a Christian.” “The faith has gotten off track with the teachings of Jesus.” ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-David_Kinnaman_11_05_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Myra_Perrine_10_29_07&ac=true10/29/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Myra PerrineHave you ever gotten to your office on Monday just in time to hear the worship leader fill you in on how Mr. & Mrs. So-and-so are disgruntled about the worship music being too loud on Sunday (though you thought the place really came alive!), and how only a handful of people showed up to help at the soup kitchen? And the first comment card you read asks why you're not serving communion weekly or having intellectual discussions after church any longer about the Sunday message. The day has only begun and you're already wondering, “How in the world can I shepherd this group of people who have such specific yet diverse spiritual needs? And how can I help them love one another when their approach to God is so different?” If this is your experience, take heart! You are simply pastoring a typical congregation with its usual range of people who connect to God in an assortment of ways. And even though some of their preferences seem diametrically opposed, within this challenge lies an invitation for you to help your flock better understand their own spiritual wiring or what we call the spiritual temperaments. Spiritual temperaments...a phrase we don't often hear. What are spiritual temperaments and how can learning about them help us better understand our sheep? A spiritual temperament is simply a God-given preference indicating how someone best and most naturally loves and serves God. Spiritual temperaments can be bold statements in our churches of how God has legitimately, though diversely, wired us to know him while also displaying differing facets of his character to a watching world! While personality temperaments identify our preferences with people and the cosmos on a horizontal plane, a spiritual temperament identifies how we interact with God and the spiritual realities on a vertical level. But unlike other mere preferences, when we neglect our spiritual temperaments, we often feel dry and lifeless spiritually. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Myra_Perrine_10_29_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Lee_Strobel_10_22_07&ac=true10/22/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Lee StrobelAs a new Christian, I volunteered at church to answer questions that people would submit at our weekend services. One Sunday I got a card from a 12-year-old girl who said she wanted to know about Jesus. I called her and she said: “Would you and your wife come over to my house and have dinner with me and my dad and tell us about Jesus?” I thought, “How cute is that?” I told her, “Of course we will!” So Leslie and I drove over there Friday night. Her father opened door, and as we walked in I saw piles of heavyweight books on the coffee table. It turns he was a scientist who had spent years studying books attacking the Christian faith! For hours over pizza, he peppered me with the toughest objections to Christianity I had ever heard. He raised some issues I had never investigated during the spiritual investigation that preceded my decision to follow Christ. Frankly, my head was spinning! I felt “spiritual vertigo” - that sense of dizziness, disorientation, confusion, and even panic you feel when someone challenges the core of your faith in a way that you cannot answer. I thought: “Maybe he's right! Maybe I didn't ask the right questions in my investigation. Maybe I swallowed Christianity hook, line, and sinker, without adequately checking it out.” Let me hit the pause button so I can ask you a question: have you ever felt spiritual vertigo? Well, here's my prediction: if you haven't, you probably will - and soon. Why do I say that? Because Christianity is currently under a widespread and vociferous attack by militant atheists, radical scholars, popular authors, and others in bestselling books, TV documentaries, and on the Internet. Or if you don't come down with a case of spiritual vertigo, the chances are that your kids will when they go off to college, where the percentage of atheists among professors is three times greater than in the population as a whole. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Lee_Strobel_10_22_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Mark_Hitchcock_10_15_07&ac=true10/15/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Mark HitchcockMany pastors and teachers today avoid preaching end time prophecy. There are undoubtedly many reasons for this. There are many different views about the end times, so some fear that it might be divisive. Others may feel that it's too negative. Or too complicated. Or not relevant to everyday life. Let me give you 10 key reasons why I believe Bible prophecy should be part of the regular diet of God's sheep. 1. Prophecy is a major part of divine revelation. Many people are surprised to learn that 28% of the Bible was prophecy at the time it was given. This means that believers have to understand something about prophecy to understand the message of the Bible. There's a story about a preacher from back East whose parishioners said he was the best they had ever seen at taking the Bible apart, but problem was, he couldn't get it back together. Sadly, this describes far too many Christians. Many Christians read their Bible faithfully and pray but really have no idea what they're reading, because they lack an overall grid or framework for evaluating the pieces and putting them in the proper place. Understanding God's prophetic program for this world gives a person the best overall framework possible for understanding the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. As Randall Price observes, “To be a student of the prophetic Scriptures is to be a student of the Scriptures in their entirety” (Randall Price, Jerusalem in Prophecy: God's Stage for the Final Drama. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1998, p. 55). 2. Special blessing is promised on those who study prophecy and pay attention to what it says. Revelation is the final book of the Bible and records the consummation of God's program for man and the world. When people think of Bible prophecy, the first book they think of, and maybe the only one, is Revelation. In Revelation 1:3, the Lord promises a special blessing on those who study Bible prophecy. “God blesses the one who reads this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to it and obey what it says.” This is the only book in the Bible that contains this specific, unique promise. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Mark_Hitchcock_10_15_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Stephen_Arterburn_10_08_07&ac=true10/8/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Stephen ArterburnThe call came to me from a very desperate pastor's wife. Her husband was deeply depressed and suicidal; expecting to end up in a prison after what he believed was an inevitable public humiliation. His curiosity with Internet pornography led to an online habit that ended at an FBI- monitored pedophilia site. His screen went from images of naked young boys to a yellow-and-black declaration that the site was monitored by the FBI. The banner informed him that he was guilty of a felony for being on the website, and that he would be contacted and prosecuted. His reaction was so severe that his wife demanded to know what had happened. When he told her, she called for help. There was no public humiliation or loss of his life or ministry. He got the help he needed, and he and his wife are, for the first time, connected in an intimate marriage. Another call came to our 800-New-Life number rather than to me personally. It was from a pastor who was willing to do whatever it takes to end his fascination with and dependency on pornography. The day before the call, on a wonderful Sunday full of hope and promise for his congregation, he had experienced the ultimate humiliation. He explained to the phone counselor that he always places his sermon on PowerPoint on his own computer. Then he takes the computer to the audiovisual specialist who hooks it up to the projector. When the praise and worship was over he rose to present God's Word, pointing the remote control at his computer. For some strange reason, rather than his first slide coming up, one of the most vile and explicit pornographic pictures from his private collection filled the screen. What started as a normal service ended in tears, shame and open confession. Amazingly, the elders did not fire him but demanded he get help and go through a process of restoration. The worst thing turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to him, because today he is free from the bondage and burden of pornography. It is sad that these men are part of a small number of pastors who get help for a problem that affects 30 to 60 percent of pastors. Online surveys reveal these staggering numbers. Even if they are off by 50 percent, they are still extreme in a profession that teaches sexual integrity, purity and the sanctity of marriage. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Stephen_Arterburn_10_08_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Osborne_10_01_07&ac=true10/1/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Larry OsbornA SEASONED PASTOR ONCE TOLD ME to keep my foot squarely placed on the accelerator whenever it came to preaching. He felt it was the only way to overcome human nature and most people's natural tendency toward laziness. His motto was, “If you want people to move a couple of feet, preach as if God wants them to move a couple of yards.” He was a master at it. Every time I heard him, I'd walk away motivated and convinced that I needed to do more - much more. I'd go home and notch up my prayer life, make a commitment to deeper study, talk to my coworkers about Jesus, write a bigger check for missions or whatever else it was that he so powerfully exhorted us to do that day. I must admit, it worked for me. I was stretched, motivated and pushed to new heights. I was driven to know and serve God better in the fear that if I wasn't moving forward and deeper in my relationship with God, I was sliding backward. But it wasn't long before I noticed that his pedal-to-the-metal intensity didn't work for everybody. Those of us who were moving up the leadership ladder ate it up, but others felt beat up. When presented with a standard they had little hope of living up to, they didn't grow up. They just gave up. While my pastor friend's intentions were all the best, his drive-by guiltings and enough-is-never-enough approach to spirituality produced some unfortunate, unintended consequences. Instead of a church full of mature Christians reaching out, he ended up with a large contingent of high-drive-on-fire-leader-types who liked to hang around with other leaders and looked down on everyone else. Sounds a lot like the guys Jesus didn't get along with, doesn't it? Now, obviously it's important to raise up leaders. Without them the church has no future. But leadership is not spirituality. And that was his big mistake... and mine for awhile. A high intensity approach to life (and spirituality) says much more about our personality and temperament than the quality of our relationship with God. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Osborne_10_01_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Alex_McFarland_09_24_07&ac=true9/24/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Alex McFarland The pastorate (or any form of Christian work) comes with a level of busy-ness that can cause even the most dedicated leader to neglect time in prayer. But prayer is absolutely essential to effective ministry, especially as it relates to preaching. Charles Spurgeon's reliance on prayer was legendary. It is said that as he was preaching in the Metropolitan Tabernacle, a team of intercessors would be praying in a room underneath the pulpit area. Spurgeon called this “the powerhouse of the church.” Preparation, preaching, and prayer Prayer may not immediately come to mind as a homiletical resource, but it is certainly the most valuable tool in preaching. The responsibility of preaching must be wed to the discipline of preparation - which should include prayer. Prayer should be as much a resource in sermon preparation as are lexicons and commentaries. From conception through gestation and delivery, personal and corporate prayer enable a sermon to take on a life of its own. Without doubt, prayer (or lack of it) will determine the end results of our preparation and presentation. Prayer and the pulpit- some examples “We have seen the Lord at work from the very beginning,” says Rev. Michael Barrett, pastor of a growing church in North Carolina. “I completely attribute the outreach and growth to prayer.” When Michael Barrett came to Pleasant Garden Baptist in 1988, average attendance on a Sunday morning was about 300. “Today we average 1200 in worship, and we are seeing more people come to the Lord every week. Prayer has been the most important component in all of this.” In addition to his own time in prayer, which Barrett says is crucial, he recruited a group to pray for the preaching ministry of the church immediately upon arrival. “I am constantly asking the Lord to show me what to share with the people, and we all pray that God will open their hearts to receive it.” ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Alex_McFarland_09_24_07&ac=true http://dev.sermoncentral.com/inside_sermon/AddArticle.asp9/17/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Mark L. StraussOne of the most divisive issues in the evangelical church over the past few decades has been the discussion surrounding the role of women and men in the church and the home. This debate pits “complementarians,” who believe that men and women have distinct God-given roles in the church and the home, against “egalitarians,” who believe that the new age of salvation in Christ means full equality of gifts, calling and church office. Complementarians point especially to 1 Timothy 2:11-15, where Paul tells Timothy that he does not allow women to teach or exercise authority over men. Egalitarians point to Galatians 3:28, where Paul says that former divisions based on ethnicity (Jew and Gentile), social status (slave and free), and gender (male and female) have been overcome “in Christ.” This brief essay is not an attempt to solve the issue. Not even close. If you are interested in pursuing it, there are many excellent books that argue convincingly for one side or the other. See especially the “manifestos” for both positions: Discovering Biblical Equality (eds. Pierce and Groothuis; egalitarian) and Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (eds. Piper and Grudem; complementarian). If you can't afford these, get both views in one handy volume with the excellent Two Views on Women in Ministry (eds. Beck and Blomberg). So what are we to do with this issue? I am in print and on record as a complementarian. I remain in this camp because it seems to me that God has made women and men to be different. Men naturally gravitate more toward assertive leadership roles, while women tend toward more supportive and nurturing ones. This tendency seems to me confirmed not only biblically, but also biologically. Social-scientific studies, as well as a mountain of anecdotal evidence, indicate that men and women are different in the way they think and interact with others. And different gifts and skills translate naturally into different social roles. ]]>http://dev.sermoncentral.com/inside_sermon/AddArticle.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ron_Forseth_09_10_07&ac=true9/10/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethDoes Jesus make you laugh? Have you ever thought about what is at the root laughter? At least with the laughter I'm talking about, I think it springs up from joy. Joy is hard to beat-and joy is hardly more prevalent than when we laugh. Jesus is The Joy Giver. I love it when he gives me joy. I very much enjoy sharing his joy with others. And I find they like it when I do. Joy is contagious, often accompanied by this thing called laughter. Sometimes joy is reflected in a slight grin. Sometimes it's a chuckle. And sometimes it's a gut-busting belly laugh that we can't even contain. Jesus gives us laughter. I experience joy when I watch Jesus in action. I experience it when I listen to Jesus. And I particularly experience joy when I pass along to others the joy he's given me. What a privilege it is to make others laugh. I find it humorous when Jesus intervenes in an awful situation and overrules the grief he encounters. One of my favorites is in Luke 7. Jesus is headed into town with his disciples and a big bunch of people. At the same time, a funeral procession with another bunch of people is headed out to the graveyard on the edge of town. A mother limps alongside the casket of her beloved son. Her heart is shredded to pieces as she carries the hellish grief of her unimaginable loss. Enter Jesus. He stops the procession and chooses to reverse the irreversible. Young man, get up! What? Get up? You have got to be kidding. No, he's not. The dead boy gets up. Jesus smiles a smile of love to the woman and gives the boy back to her. At first there was shock. Then there was comfort. Then there was joy-overwhelming joy provided by The Joy Giver. That story has often made me laugh. Stopping a funeral procession and raising the deceased. It had to be fun for Jesus to trade the ashes of grief for the oil of gladness. It's philanthropy from another solar system. Forget the brand-new gift car. Forget the gift house. We're talking dreaming the unimaginable, getting back our dead. A resurrection. Replacing grief with joy. And this is just the beginning for those of us who believe. Go Jesus! ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ron_Forseth_09_10_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Charles_Stanley_09_03_07&ac=true9/3/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Charles F. StanleyFrom time to time, God will bless a pastor with unexpected, tremendous popularity. His church quickly mushrooms. Everyone wants to be a part of his congregation or learn from his innovative approach. People begin to make predictions about the effect his leadership will have on the next generation. Sadly, sometimes these men do not pass the test of time. Their ministries fail or simply fade into obscurity. After a few years, I look back and wonder, What ever became of them? Leaders never plan to get sidetracked from God's best for their lives. Satan deceives us into thinking we can be prideful and autocratic, isolated from genuine accountability, or secretly complacent about the choices we make in private. But we suffer when we separate ourselves from absolute commitment to God's will and His ways. Some people believe the Enemy uses obvious means to draw us off course and onto a battlefield where he has placed his dark arsenal. But I believe his most devastating weapons are hidden and lethal, like landmines. When we stray from God's will onto ground that is riddled with sin and corruption, Satan's landmines explode beneath us, leaving us writhing in emotional pain. Feelings of guilt, shame, and regret quickly construct a barrier between God and us, and eventually undermine our ministry. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Charles_Stanley_09_03_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Dean_Shriver_08_27_07&ac=true8/27/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dean ShriverThe assigned passage was 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath. I felt good about my three-point outline. It was perfectly alliterated with words like “courage,” “conquering,” and some other “C” word I felt certain would impress. I was so confident I volunteered to go first-to expose my sermonic offering to Haddon Robinson's scrutiny in front of our Doctor of Ministry class. The Scriptures proved true. Pride really does come before a fall. “That looks like something you pulled out of Simple Sermons for Sunday Evenings,” Haddon chided. Astutely, I sensed that the good doctor did not consider this book to be a classic in the field. He continued, “Nobody talks like that anymore-except in the pulpit!” Duane Litfin, Haddon's co-teacher for the week, chimed in, “What Haddon's saying is that he's afraid you might actually go out and try to preach that thing!” That was more than ten years ago. I never alliterated a sermon again. It was the first lesson I learned about preaching-and about life and ministry-from Dr. Haddon Robinson, the Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. It wasn't the last. During the past decade I've been privileged to sit under Haddon's teaching-first in his Doctor of Ministry program and later during annual preaching seminars (for alumni of the program). His instruction and his life have greatly impacted me. God has used him to help me grow as a preacher, a pastor, and a follower of Jesus. Here are a few of the lessons he's taught me: Don't make preaching more complicated than it is. There are only three things a preacher can do with a text. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Dean_Shriver_08_27_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ed_Stetzer_08_20_07&ac=true8/20/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Ed StetzerAt the heart of effective preaching is a solid missiological perspective. Are you communicating in such a way that your words actually convey biblical truth to your audience? Or does your preaching float right past your hearers because it's not delivered “on a frequency” that they listen to? In this respect, we can probably learn as much about good preaching from Hudson Taylor as we can from Haddon Robinson. Indigenization Jesus left his comfortable dwelling in heaven and took on the appearance of those he sought to reach. He wore their clothes, ate their food, spoke their language, and understood their culture at its deepest level. He fully identified with his hearers. The idea behind indigenization for us today is that a church should spring forth out of the soil in which it is planted. It is indigenous in that its leadership, expressions, forms, and functions reflect a biblical expression in a certain context. What we have found is that when the pastoral leadership, core of the church, and community all line up, the potential for the church to take on an indigenous or contextual form is significant. This combination seems to provide a greenhouse for explosive growth. Preaching is a central part of that process. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ed_Stetzer_08_20_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Aubrey_Malphurs_08_15_07&ac=true8/13/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Aubrey MalphursPastor, how many ways do people give to your church? Most churches provide only two or three ways for their people to exercise the privilege of giving to the church's ministry for the Savior. The problem is that these churches and their people are missing out on some wonderful opportunities for expanding kingdom giving. There are at least five different ways that people can and will give when provided the opportunity. And all five should be emphasized during the year. Some people refer to them as the “five pockets of giving.” The General Fund The first pocket is the general fund. This fund is used for such important matters as staff salaries, programming, and facilities (insurance payments, light bills, the mortgage and such). These are the core items that appear in some form in most church budgets. The general fund isn't very glamourous, but if people don't give to the general fund, the church can't operate and will eventually close its doors. When consulting with struggling churches, especially with those in deep decline, we can figure how much longer the church will survive by calculating the rate of decline in worship attendance and the rate of decline in giving to the general fund. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Aubrey_Malphurs_08_15_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Moyer_08_06_07&ac=true8/6/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. R. Larry MoyerA man asked his friend, “What color are your pastor's eyes?” He answered, “I don't know. When he prays He closes his eyes and when he preaches I close mine.” That's how a lot of people feel about a lot of sermons - an excellent place to get a good night's rest. So much so, that as you approach the pulpit, they slouch down in their seats. They've already made up their minds that you are going to be dull and irrelevant. That's one reason you don't have thirty minutes to get their attention. That's how long you have to keep it. You only have 30 seconds to get their attention. If you don't grab those first thirty seconds, their minds will quickly divert to the happenings of last week or the plans for next week. And furthermore, no matter how important what you desire to say is, it will not be heard. How do you get their attention in 30 seconds? Four ideas are invaluable. Do a passion check Are you stepping into the pulpit because you have to say something or because you have something to say? If you are not extremely burdened about the truth you need to share, it's doubtful that your audience will feel burdened to listen to you. To be an effective communicator, that burden must be expressed with a passion. Your need to be passionate about the truth you are going to impart can be understated; it can't be overstated. That passion can be seen in the way you step into the pulpit, your excitement and even your opening words. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Moyer_08_06_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-greg_stier_07_23_07&ac=true7/30/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Greg StierIf I were the devil I'd get pastors to build great big churches where they could teach nice things about a nice God. I'd make sure they avoided the dangerous God of the Bible. I'd get them to preach a whole lot about the patience and kindness of God and leave out his holiness and justice. Or I'd get them to preach about the holiness of God to the exclusion of his love and grace. I'd have them preach a one-sided message about a one-sided God instead of the breadth of who He is. If I were the devil I'd tempt pastors to buy into a distorted gospel of prosperity. I'd convince them to preach a message of "God wants you to be rich" while much of the world dies of starvation. I'd take them deeper into a downward spiral of heresy and greed. Eventually I'd get them to empty the bank accounts of bent, old Bettys and blue collar Bobs to finance their Lexus-driving, $3,000 suit wearing, mansion-dwelling lifestytle of "holy" hedonism. I'd help them cloak their message of greed with a "whatever you donate to this ministry will be multiplied one hundred fold in your own bank account" giving promise. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-greg_stier_07_23_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Maxwell_07_23_07&ac=true7/23/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: John MaxwellIn the Great Commission, Jesus said that we were to make disciples, not converts. He didn't tell us to go out and just save people, but He said to make disciples, to reproduce ourselves. As a pastor, I was constantly aware of two commitments: one, to have a congregation that understood discipleship; two, to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. These are the two things that I, as a leader, feel that I am accountable for. And churches that are growing have been able to successfully do both. Spiritual Reproduction Is What Discipleship Is All About! Discipleship is not: 1. Just a Christian education It's not about implanting information for knowledge's sake. In other words, it's not just going to Sunday school class. It's not just imparting information. It's not us just learning things mentally. That is part of discipleship, but that isn't the ultimate goal. 2. Cookies and punch Fellowship is to take place in the church; discipleship takes place in the world. We're good at coming together for food and fellowship, and we enjoy that, but discipleship is more than that. Fellowship takes place in the church, but discipleship is to take place in our church world to reach out to the people around us. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Maxwell_07_23_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Steven_James_07_16_07&ac=true7/16/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Steven JamesYou've seen it happen. You get to the point in your message where you're about to share a personal experience with your listeners and you say those six simple words, “Let me tell you a story...” And everything changes. People lean forward. Children actually look up instead of coloring in their programs. Even the adults stop checking their watches to see how much longer the service is going to take. There's nothing like a well-told story to grab people's attention and feed not only their minds, but also their hearts. Whether you want to preach an entire narrative sermon, or simply improve the messages you currently give, here are some tips that will help you tell stories more poignantly and effectively than ever. Key #1 - Let the story speak for itself. I heard a story about a dancer who danced an incredible program. After she finished, one of the women from the audience approached her. “That was an amazing dance,” she said. “I was moved to tears, but I just have one question-what did it mean?” And the dancer replied, “If I could tell you what it meant, I wouldn't have had to dance it.” ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Steven_James_07_16_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Jason_Illian_07_09_07&ac=true7/9/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Jason IllianWhen asked about the colors available in the Model T, Henry Ford, the founder of Ford automobiles, answered, “You can have it in any color you want-as long as it's in black.” Unfortunately, many churches in the U.S. take a similar approach. If you want to be part of the Body, you can use whatever gifts God has given you-as long as you exercise them on Sunday morning. But this stagnant, one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work anymore (and I'm not sure that it ever did). The challenges of being a Believer in this glamorized, sex-saturated, Blackberry-enabled, Internet world are enormous, and many people are desperately looking for help. Even though the church should be a primary change agent, on many occasions it is not. And if we are being honest with ourselves, we are falling significantly behind when it comes to embracing new ways to touch people's lives with the love of Christ. Regardless of the medium, technology is not inherently good or bad. It is simply an accelerator that allows people to communicate, search, and educate one another at increasingly faster speeds. The more beneficial the tool is at good communication, the more destructive it can be at harmful communication. The Internet, for example, is wonderful tool when researching sea otters or finding the closest Papa John's pizza. However, it is also the destructive force behind the rapid spread of pornography and the insidiousness of racism. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Jason_Illian_07_09_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Joni_Eareckson%20Tada_07_02_07&ac=true7/2/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Joni Eareckson TadaEvery pastor and every lay person has experienced them - dry times. Times when the Bible seems as inspiring as the Los Angeles phone book. Times when prayer feels like an exercise in futility. I had one of those dry times not long ago and it seemed as though my prayers couldn't even reach the ceiling, let alone heaven. I listened to my Christian friends talk about how they were learning and growing and what God was telling them and wasn't the Lord wonderful!? I tried to listen hard, but faking it made me feel even more guilty. The hardest part was that I could not trace the dry spell to anything specific. No besetting sin that had entangled me. No fights with my husband. No root of bitterness over my disability. No great lapses in my prayer life or Bible study. And certainly not a lack of fellowship. Yet my spirit felt as arid as July in the Mojave Desert. Maybe you can identify. Your smile loses its shine, your soul becomes dim, and your countenance tells you and everyone around you that something's not quite right. Especially as you get up to deliver your sermon on Sunday morning. Strange as it sounds, the closest Biblical analogy I can find for those dry days takes place in the middle of a lake. Let's pick up the story in Luke 5. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Joni_Eareckson%20Tada_07_02_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Jerry_Shirley_06_25_07&ac=true6/25/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Jerry ShirleyI love America, and make no apology for doing so. I enjoy her freedoms, especially in being free to worship the true and living God. I would like to continue living here if at all possible. I still believe the United States is the greatest country on the face of the earth in terms of God's blessing upon it. But I reserve the right to change my mind about the matter, just as our God does. I love America, but I don't have to like the direction she is heading in. Might our country actually be facing God's judgment for its offenses against him? If so, who is at fault? I believe terrorism is a great threat to the USA. But it is not our greatest threat. I know we have powerful enemies around the world, but the most powerful are much closer by. Yes, evil exists and is growing rampantly. But it may not be concentrated in the part of the world we think it is. I believe America's greatest threat is not from without but from within. We are our enemy and I am convinced that God is generally displeased with us as a nation. He is assigning blame for sin and we must answer.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Jerry_Shirley_06_25_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Nelson_Searcy_06_18_07&ac=true6/18/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Nelson Searcy“What is your plan for personal growth?” The first time a pastor friend and mentor asked me that question, the blank stare that answered him told him all he needed to know. My plan for personal growth? I didn't have one to speak of. I thought that praying hard and trusting God was all the plan I needed. But I didn't say that to my friend. I stalled. He pushed further. “Is your own growth something you've thought about? Planned out?” I told him that no, I didn't really have a written, intentional plan for my personal growth. His next words stung. He said, “Well, then I can just about predict how much God will be able to use you...” Our brief conversation that day changed my life. As I thought about what my friend said, I started to see his point. I began to realize that if God was going to be able to use me at the next level, I had to go to the next level. I had to intentionally prepare myself to be used. Over the next few years, as I learned to take my own personal growth seriously, God showed himself faithful in honoring my effort. To this day, one of my most consistent prayers continues to be, “God, make me into the person I need to be to do what you want me to do at the next level.” ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Nelson_Searcy_06_18_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Trent_06_11_07&ac=true6/11/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: John TrentIt didn't start off as one of my top ten days of being a father, but it certainly ended up right near the top. In fact, the day started with my having a dreaded conversation with Kari, our oldest daughter. Kari was going to turn sixteen-a major milestone in most kids' lives these days. Like many soon-to-be-drivers, there was the excitement and hope that a lovingly used, or perhaps even a new car with her name on it, would magically appear in the driveway. Only now I was bursting that bubble, sharing with Kari the “final word” that a car wouldn't be an option on her sixteenth birthday-nor would it be for that school year. As we sat at the kitchen table, I talked with Kari about the benefits of her saving money towards a car as well as short- and long-term goals (i.e., spending money on a car today versus saving for college tomorrow). I also shared with her the challenge our small speaking ministry was facing at that time. While many people suffered far greater losses due to the terrorist attacks on 9/11, our ministry had eight different speaking events cancelled as a direct consequence of that tragedy. In practical terms, that meant that half of our ministry's yearly income disappeared almost overnight. And with all those cancellations came missed paychecks, lots of prayers, and belt tightening - and funds that might have been allocated for another car. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Trent_06_11_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Gary_McCaleb_06_04_07&ac=true6/6/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Gary McCalebHave you ever thought about the impact it would have on your church to lose its tax-exempt status? There are many and growing examples of churches that have either had the status threatened or revoked. With politicians to the right of us and politicians to the left-one would think it is already November 2008. The daily news is dominated by stories of presidential hopefuls, “hate crime” legislation, and a host of other political issues. And when politics permeates our culture as it does, it can sometimes create tensions for your church-as numerous cases have recently demonstrated. Indeed, the 2008 elections raise profound questions on matters of war and peace; adoption and abortion; marriage and same-sex “marriage”; poverty and health care; and the role of faith in public life. Some pastors may be deterred from speaking biblical truth for fear that their church's federal tax-exempt status would somehow be endangered. But consider the result of godly voices being silenced while secular voices are amplified in the public square. Accepting this would deprive the church of its high calling to be “salt and light” to the world. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Gary_McCaleb_06_04_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Henderson_Casper_05_28_07&ac=true5/28/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Jim Henderson and Matt CasperJim Henderson is a church planter, pastor, and ministry visionary. Matt Casper is a marketing copywriter, singer-and an atheist. Together they have traveled the country visiting-and evaluating-churches, specifically Megachurches, including L.A.'s Dream Center, Saddleback, Mosaic, Willow Creek, Mars Hill Seattle, Osteen's Lakewood, T.D. Jakes' Potter's House, and others. Jim runs Off The Map, a ministry that first became well-known for hiring Hemant Mehta, the famous “eBay Atheist,” for the purpose of evaluating churches. Matt, too, was hired by Jim and Off The Map as he offers a “lens” to the Church for the purpose of facilitating self-examination and critique. Recently, Jim and Matt released Jim & Casper Go To Church, a book chronicling their church visitation adventures and the insights they gleaned from the experience. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Henderson_Casper_05_28_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ron_Forseth_05_21_07&ac=true5/21/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethOf this I am convinced: This side of heaven there is nothing more wonderful we could ever hold in our hands or engage with our minds than God's Word as given to us in the Bible. Through it God's Spirit breathes life into our hearts and empowers us to live in healthy relationships with others. Countless passages in the Bible on the Bible affirm just how incredible and life-giving Scripture is (See Joshua 1:8; Deuteronomy 6:-6-7; Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 19; Psalm 119: 9-11, 105; Matthew 4:4; John 6:63; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12, just to name a few). Joshua tells us that engaging with the Word of God will lead to success in life and the same promise is repeated again in the very first Psalm. God has so constructed the world that the vibrancy of life is dependant upon his Word-empowered and revealed by his Spirit. We must make every effort to get into and stay engaged with the Bible as the predominant force in our lives. To do so is to arrange our lives around God himself-because that is just what the Bible is: A clear expression of the mind and thoughts and heart of God as he seeks to be in relationship with us. God inhabits his Word. We love the Word of God because we love God himself. He even goes so far as to call his Son “The Word” (John 1:1; John 5:39). ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ron_Forseth_05_21_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Mark_Steiner_05_014_07&ac=true5/14/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Mark SteinerMy grandfather was quite a character. Born in 1906, he spent his entire life on the same Midwest farm. In fact, he died in the same room in which he was born! Grandpa went to his grave firmly convinced that the earth was flat. He told me that if the earth were round, “people on the other side would fall off.” When I tried to explain that gravity exerts an invisible force that holds objects to the earth's surface, he laughed at my logic. He was in denial. Many churches are in denial about the current crisis of biblical illiteracy. Their view of the situation is severely distorted. To them, biblical illiteracy is just one of the church's many shortcomings that need a few minor adjustments. It seems no more significant than a slight change in the price of gasoline. They're wrong-biblical illiteracy has far more serious side effects. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Mark_Steiner_05_014_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Maxwell_05_07_07&ac=true5/7/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. John C. MaxwellIt happens all the time. Successful church leaders-pastors with great aptitude, great teams and great vision-are moving along, growing their churches when, all of a sudden, they fall flat on their faces. Their churches start hemorrhaging. Their best people start jumping ship. Their families start falling apart. And they sit in their offices with their heads in their hands wondering, "How did this happen?" I'll tell you how it happened. They were blown up by a problem they never saw coming. I call these problems "leadership landmines" because unless you're consciously looking for them, they're nearly impossible to spot. They're buried in the grind of daily life, quietly waiting to injure and perhaps even destroy the next unsuspecting pastor who steps on them. Before I go on, I need to tell you that what I'm writing is based on personal experience. At one time or another in my life, I've stepped on landmines like the ones I'm about to describe. In some cases, I even have the scars to prove it. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Maxwell_05_07_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Greg_Stier_04_30_07&ac=true4/30/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Greg StierThere are many churches that, year after year, are losing some of their most precious resources. As a result their numbers are shrinking, their congregations are graying and their passion is dying. What are these churches losing? The next generation! I'm convinced that if senior pastors don't take immediate-even drastic-action, the body of Christ is going to lose more than just a handful of teenagers attending their youth groups. They will lose the battle with Satan for the soul of America. After all, ultimately America is not going to be transformed from the outside in (pickets, protests and political action) but from the inside out (revival, repentance and reaching out)! Who better to lead this revival than a generation of young people? The problem comes when we begin to open our eyes to the grim reality that teenagers are evacuating the church. Instead of revival we are seeing what I have come to call, The Great Graduation Evacuation. If the statistics continue to spiral downward when it comes to the retention of the next generation, then we could look like post-Christian Europe in short order. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Greg_Stier_04_30_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ed_Stetzer_04_23_07&ac=true4/23/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Ed StetzerAnybody who has done it for any length of time knows how difficult, stressful, challenging, and joyous it can be. No, we're not talking about running and finishing a marathon, though that might apply as well. We're talking about PASTORING. It is hard and rewarding at the same time-particularly when it involves leading a church to evangelistic effectiveness after a period of decline. We surveyed 324 churches that experienced significant revitalization. These churches represented 10 denominations. And not one of the Comeback Leaders from any of the churches said, “Oh, making a comeback... piece of cake. Smooth sailing all the way. Easy as 1-2-3.” On the other hand, neither did we hear anyone say, “I wish we had never started this revitalization stuff at our church. It's awful the way our church has started growing again. Having more people around just creates more problems. Tell everyone else to stay plateaued and declining. It's not worth it.” Our study of Comeback Churches revealed some things about revitalization that might help pastors. And that's good news, because pastoring is hard work. We need all the insights and good advice we can get. So, here are four key factors that can help you begin the process of revitalization. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ed_Stetzer_04_23_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Osborne_04_16_07&ac=true4/16/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Larry W. OsborneLike most pastors, I learned early on that if my preaching was to be powerful, it had to be memorable. That sounded simple enough - until I had to pull it off week in and week out. All too often, I'd spend hours putting a sermon together hoping to change lives only to find out later that the only thing anyone remembered was the funny story about my kids or the illustration about getting lost in Seattle, instead of the biblical principle it was supposed to drive home. So called communication experts told me I needed to use more props and compelling stories. Other people told me to get rid of the gimmicks and stick to the meat of the Word. Some warned me to shorten my messages in light of shrinking attention spans while others pointed out that most of the best known and most listened to pastors were seldom brief in their remarks. Over the years I've tried all kinds of things to drive home a point and make it stick - from shorter sermons to lengthy discourses, from narratives to hyper practical "Five Steps to Whatever," from verse-by-verse to hot-button topics. For a while, we even stopped in the middle of the sermon to allow time for questions and discussion (something the extroverts loved and the introverts absolutely loathed). ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Osborne_04_16_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-larry_moyer_04_09_07&ac=true4/9/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: R. Larry MoyerThere are many ways to handle the biblical text. What is the right one? My wife and I have a friend whose name is Joy. When she was in her early twenties, a young man asked her for a date and she politely declined. He insisted that God told him that he was to go out with her. When she inquired as to how God revealed that to him (since He had clearly not revealed it to her), he told her that he took his Bible to study it and it fell open to Isaiah 55:12, “for you shall go out with joy.” He wasn't kidding. The problem is that verse is actually referring to the excitement of God's people as they are delivered from captivity. It's not the name of a person to invite out on a date. A preacher was fond of speaking on baptism. He selected a text on baptism for every message he gave. The elders in the church became weary of him speaking on this subject. They decided the only way to solve the problem was to suggest the text from which they wanted him to speak. So, they asked him to speak from Revelation 9:1-12. (The text does not even mention water.) The next Sunday, the preacher got up, read Revelation 9:1-12, and began his message by saying, “By the way, do you realize this is one of the few texts in the Bible which does not mention baptism? Speaking of baptism let me say this . . .” ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-larry_moyer_04_09_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Piper_04_02_07&ac=true4/2/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: John PiperNo distrust made Abraham waver concerning the promises of God, but he grew strong in his faith giving glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Romans 4:20 What I want to do in this article/sermon for pastors is lay the foundation for a message (also a book) called Battling Unbelief. I hope to clarify through this why the church exists and what it means at the most practical level to live by faith in the promises of God. All Sins Come from Unbelief The conviction behind this message is that all sin comes from unbelief in the person and work of Jesus Christ. All the sinful states of our hearts are owing to unbelief in God's super-abounding willingness and gospel-evidenced ability in Christ Jesus to work for us in every situation of life so that everything turns out for our good. Anxiety, misplaced shame, indifference, regret, covetousness, envy, lust, bitterness, impatience, despondency, pride-these are all sprouts from the root of unbelief in the gospel and in the promises of God that stem from it. Let me illustrate from a familiar text that tends to puzzle us. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Piper_04_02_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Neil_T_Anderson_03_26_07&ac=true3/26/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Neil T. AndersonAs teachers of the Bible, we have a different message to the church than we do to the world. To the world we offer a plan of salvation that comes with the forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Christ. They are sinners in need of redemption. They are by nature children of wrath (Eph.2:3). Christians on the other hand are new creations in Christ and the Apostle Paul address them as saints (Eph. 1:1). Christians are no longer children of wrath, they are children of God (Jn. 1:12), which raises the question. Should we address Christians as sinners or are they saints? Or both? Whether a Christian has two natures or one is not an easy question to answer, which is evidenced by the fact that conservative theologians don't perfectly agree. They do agree that Christians sin, but how or why is explained differently. Part of the problem is semantic and can be cleared up by defining terms. Reconciling divergent theological positions and perspectives on reality (i.e., worldview) is the more difficult problem to resolve. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Neil_T_Anderson_03_26_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Aubrey_Malphurs_03_19_07&ac=true3/19/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Aubrey MalphursI suspect that you as pastors and church leaders won't be surprised when I say that the new-model churches aren't without their critics, mostly from those who make up the ranks of established, traditional churches. That's to be expected, as change comes hard for established, tradition-minded people. However, they also consist of people within and outside new paradigm churches themselves. And some critics are well-known Bible teachers and pastors with a national reputation. Some have come down very hard on the new models and even challenge their orthodoxy. It's imperative that we as leaders pay attention to what they're saying as no one is above error. None of us must be so protective of our churches that we overlook false teaching of any kind. To do so is to violate Scripture. Also, there are numerous warnings throughout the Scriptures against false teachers who promote and practice false teaching. My goal in the following is twofold: First, I want to address the concept of Christians policing their own ranks. Who is responsible for detecting error in our churches, and how might they accomplish this? Second, what are the arguments being used by those who attempt to police the church ranks for us - especially those who are most suspicious and critical of the new church models? My goal is merely to categorize and present their arguments, not go into any great detail. I simply want you to be aware of what some are saying. I provide more information in chapters 4-9 of my book A New Kind of Church (Baker Books, 2007). ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Aubrey_Malphurs_03_19_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Josh_Hunt_03_12_07&ac=true3/12/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Josh HuntYou can double your church in five years or less by equipping small groups to double every two years or less. Small groups can be either home groups or on-campus, Sunday School style groups. As a term, the label “Sunday School” is falling out of use, and probably for good reasons. It is being replaced with a wide variety of terms such as “Adult Bible Fellowships,” “Life Groups,” or, the term I will use in this article, simply, “groups.” I mean this as an exclusive term to refer to any kind of group, regardless of where and when the group meets. As we equip these groups to double every two years or less, we can see the whole church double every five years or less. Obviously, if every group doubled every two years or less, you would double the whole church in two years or less. But, with rare exceptions, I don't think that is realistic. I do think it is realistic that we can double the local church in five years by helping groups to double every two years or less. This brings up a little-known secret of doubling churches. I do conferences for a living and am in over a hundred churches a year. About half of them are increasing in attendance, many of them growing rapidly. I had been in about three hundred doubling churches before I learned this. Here is the dirty little secret of growing churches: there are none. There are no growing churches. What I mean by that is that I know of no cases where any church as a whole is growing. What I see is churches with a handful of race-horse group leaders and a whole lot of other group leaders who are holding their own. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Josh_Hunt_03_12_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Dan_Kimball_03_05_07&ac=true3/5/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dan KimballEvery now and then, we experience an epiphany of some sort that drastically changes our life's course. For me, it's an extremely vivid memory of what happened when I took the time to step outside the busyness of ministry and listened to some college students from what was known to be one of the more anti-Christian campuses in California. It was these “pagan” students who gave me such incredible hope for the Church. I was leading a young adults ministry we had recently started at the church I was on staff with at the time, and occasionally during worship gatherings, we showed man-on-the-street video interviews to set up the sermon. For an upcoming message series on evangelism, we decided to go to this college campus to interview students and hear firsthand their thoughts about Christianity. We asked two questions: “What do you think of when you hear the name 'Jesus'?” and “What do you think of when you hear the word 'Christian'?” When they answered the first question, the students smiled and their eyes lit up. We heard comments of admiration such as, “Jesus is beautiful,” “He is a wise man, like a shaman or a guru,” “He came to liberate women.” One girl even said, “He was enlightened. I'm on my way to becoming Christian.” What an incredible experience! These students on the very campus I kept hearing was so “pagan” talked about Jesus with great passion. However, when we asked the second question, the mood shifted. We heard things like, “Christians and the Church have messed things up,” and “The Church took the teachings of Jesus and turned them into dogmatic rules.” One guy said, “Christians don't apply the message of love that Jesus gave,” then jokingly added, “They all should be taken out back and shot.”]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Dan_Kimball_03_05_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-adrian_wornock_02_26_2007&ac=true2/26/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Adrian WarnockTechnology helps me in both my sermon preparation and in my personal devotional life. By technology, I'm referring specifically to the Internet and Bible software. I love it and have no apology for using it to discover insights from God's Word and to improve the quality of my preaching. People have three different reactions when I talk to them about using technology to help us understand God's Word. Some respond enthusiastically. Others-well, their eyes just glaze over. The third group starts talking about plagiarism of sermons and how terrible it is that pastors are no better than children who buy essays online to submit as coursework. Perhaps you have had similar responses when you talk about SermonCentral.com. Maybe you don't even like to talk about it for fear of these responses. I hope that by the time you have read this article you will be able to hold your head high about your use of SermonCentral.com and other forms of technology to help you preach. What about the fear of abuses of technology, particularly Internet sermon access? I'll simply put my cards on the table here: I think there is a lot of unnecessary concern about it. I do not think that there are many men of God who are lifting whole sermons from elsewhere and simply re-preaching them. Sure it happens. But for those of us who are conscientiously and diligently putting our hearts into our sermon preparation, it's not worth wasting our time on those who aren't. Let's just preach the Word! ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-adrian_wornock_02_26_2007&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-brian_kluth_02_15_07&ac=true2/19/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Brian KluthIn a recent survey of leading churches in America, 45 best church practices and website resources were identified to help increase biblical financial teaching and generosity. In most churches, only about four or five of these practices are actually being used. To help you better understand this important area of ministry and to help you inspire your congregation to give more generously, here are seven vital elements for church stewardship training, a crash course in “Church Giving 101.” 1. TEACH IT Most people today are drowning in a sea of debt (from credit cards, no-principal mortgages, home equity loans, etc.). They desperately need the truth of God's Word to shine a light in their darkness as it relates to managing finances and giving faithfully. Some of the best ways to teach church members is through seminars, small groups, or Sunday school classes. Some of the most effective ministries with proven resources to help you teach biblical financial truths are Crown Financial Ministries, Willow Creek's Good Sense Ministry, Dave Ramsey, Stewardship Direct, and others (including our own Maximum Generosity). Proper teaching is the key. The more we can help people become free from debt and a materialistic lifestyle, the more they will be able and willing to be generous to giving to God's work. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-brian_kluth_02_15_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-nelson_searcy_02_12_07&ac=true2/12/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Nelson SearcyWhat would it look like if your church started a new church? Have you thought about it? Have you felt called? Maybe it's something you've dreamt of, but the logistics of making it happen seemed too daunting. You already have a church - and possibly a thriving one at that - so why would you want to start another one? Why should you be a Launching Church? The most important factor in the decision to launch a new church is God's leading. In order to start a successful church, you have to know that you know that you are being called to do so. Period. There is no way around this truth. Thriving churches have always been, and will always be, built on a base of specific calling - not personal choice. But once you are certain your call to start another church is from God, you need to start exploring the details. Avoid sitting on the “someday” excuse. The time is now. As Guy Kawasaki writes in The Art of the Start, “The hardest thing about getting started is getting started.” If God is leading you down this path, pick up and follow. Churches that are birthed out of existing, healthy churches have a significant advantage over independent new church plants. You have the experience, the support, and the financial backing of your current staff and congregation. If you lead an outwardly-focused church, you are already joined with a team of people who understand the importance of reaching into the community and influencing the unchurched. If your people are growing followers of Jesus, they will likely embrace the idea of being part of a church culture that is focused on starting new churches. They will want to be a part, on some level, of expanded opportunities to share their faith with other areas of the community. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-nelson_searcy_02_12_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a_Ron_Forseth_02_05_07&ac=true2/5/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethInjustice is the abuse of power at the expense of the oppressed. The fire of God's passion burns against injustice in the world. Consider these statements: God doesn't care about young girls being kidnapped and raped several times a day every day for years on end. God doesn't care about a man, his wife, and his children being abducted and all of them forced to work 16 hour days, seven days a week for years-even for entire lifetimes! God doesn't care about 800,000 people being hacked to pieces by machetes in Rwanda. It's of no concern to God that some 27 million people have been kidnapped and are currently held in the bondage of slavery. Our heart cries out about such statements that grossly misrepresent who God is. Why? Because we have a conviction that God deeply cares for such people. He has compassion for those abused by oppressors, a compassion that turns to burning anger against those who treat others in such a way. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a_Ron_Forseth_02_05_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Maxwell_01_29_07&ac=true1/29/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. John C. MaxwellInability to make decisions is one of the principal reasons pastors and executives fail. Deficiency in decision-making ranks much higher than lack of specific knowledge or technical know-how as an indicator of leadership failure. Successful people make the right decisions early and manage them daily. In this article, we'll break down those components by exploring the criteria for making solid decisions and by reinforcing the need to properly manage them day by day. Making Good Decisions As a pastor and leader, multiple decisions swirl around you in your church and each clamors for time and attention. The first step in successful decision-making is to prioritize the many decisions in front of you. Give yourself time to brainstorm and make a list of each decision you presently face. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_Maxwell_01_29_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Greg_Laurie_1_22_07&ac=true1/22/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Greg LaurieSermonCentral: Can you, for the SermonCentral audience, describe what's happening in your church and at Harvest Crusades right now? What's percolating? Greg Laurie: Our church started about 30 years ago. I started preaching when I was nineteen, started pastoring at 20, and have been with that same church since it began. We have a weekly attendance of around 15,000 people. Back in 1990, we started large scale evangelistic events that we call Harvest Crusades. Since then, we have been able to bring the gospel in person to almost 3,428,000 plus people and have seen some 280,000 people respond in person at the events coming forward to make professions of faith to follow Christ. (We're very careful to say that those are professions of faith because only God knows if they are conversions, but they are people that have at least come forward at the invitation.) Then we have a radio broadcast called A New Beginning that is international on 500 markets, and we have a television program as well. So that's pretty much what we do. Our mission statement at Harvest is, “Knowing Him and making Him known,” so that pretty much sums up what we're all about.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Greg_Laurie_1_22_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Greg_Stier_1_15_07&ac=true1/15/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Greg Stier It is a pastor's dream: To build a church with new conversion growth. For some it might seem like a pipe dream and they give in to a watered-down vision of transfer growth (i.e. sheep stealing). But let me dare to dream-with you and for you-a dream that we have realized in our own church.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Greg_Stier_1_15_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Moyer_1_8_07&ac=true1/8/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. Larry MoyerFor me it all starts by communicating 10 words, “Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.” This is the crisp and effective message that transforms lives and secures our eternal destiny. There is a power in this gospel that is awesome. It is imperative that you are confident in the message you are communicating and that you communicate it as clearly and simply as possible. As I often explain, “The Bible is 66 books, but the gospel is ten words - Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.” It is the preaching of the Gospel that makes evangelistic preaching effective. In order to preach the gospel, it is crucial that we have a clear understanding ourselves. We also need to have a heart to communicate the “good news” of Christ to a lost and dying world. You don't just want to preach to your audience. You want to communicate with them. It's been said that too many speakers are like Christopher Columbus. When he started out he didn't know where he was going. When he got there he didn't know where he was at. When he got back he did not know where he had been. If you understand what you are about to present, that will not be the situation. What is clear in your mind will become clear in theirs.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Larry_Moyer_1_8_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Aubrey_Malphurs1_1_07&ac=true1/1/2007SermonCentral.com contributor: Aubrey MalphursThere, I've said it! I used the term, "strategic planning." What's the problem? I believe that many leaders in general and younger pastors in particular shy away from the term, strategic planning. The problem is that those who've experienced strategic planning in the past are reminded of an antiquated so-called long-range plan that professes to be good for the next five to ten years, but quickly becomes dated - if not obsolete - in a year or less. In addition, it provides reams of research that they'll never read nor use. And those of the emergent generation tend to struggle with planning to begin with much less doing strategic planning. It's not considered authentic. Thus, I could opt to use different terms such as "strategic envisioning" or "strategic thinking and doing," but then no one would know precisely what I'm talking about. The result is, I feel boxed in by the very terms I choose to use. So,if you will indulge me, I'll use all these terms, including strategic planning and ask that you give me a chance to present my case before tuning me out.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Aubrey_Malphurs1_1_07&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Michael_Fletcher_12_25_2006&ac=true12/25/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Michael FletcherNot long ago I asked a group of some thirty young men whom I was training for full-time ministry a question that brought varied and thoughtful answers. “What is the most important thing to make a church or ministry successful?” Although each was convinced his answer was correct, and most identified a piece of the puzzle for a church's overall long-term health, all but three missed the mark. If we have learned one thing from the church growth movement over the years, it is that effective leadership must be present for growth to occur. What is the magic of leadership? Why is it so important in taking a church or ministry where God wants it to go? The answer is this: It isn't really leadership itself or even the personality of the leader that moves a church or ministry along, but the natural outworking or application of that leadership gift within the person of the leader. Simply put, it is what good leaders naturally do that produces and sustains momentum. Let me explain.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Michael_Fletcher_12_25_2006&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Rick_Long_12_18_06&ac=true12/18/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Rick LongIn a recent issue of this newsletter, John MacArthur addressed the issue of "Biblically-Anemic Preaching." I found myself both in agreement with certain elements of his article and in disagreement with others. In his well-written expose, Dr. MacArthur boldly confronts pulpits across America that have abandoned the teaching of God's Word in exchange for self-help guides, philosophical remedies and popular anecdotes that can be as easily discovered by watching any episode of Dr. Phil or Oprah. I absolutely agree with him when it comes to his concern about "churches" who have reduced the teaching of God's Word to nothing more than a highlight during the weekend services; but, I disagree with the degree to which Dr. MacArthur's restricts methodology for preaching the Word of God. Respectfully, I would like to submit an alternate point of view. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Rick_Long_12_18_06&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ron_Forseth_12_11_06&ac=true12/11/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethOne of the defining moments of my spiritual life happened in the midst of great temptation. I had struggled with a sin for quite a while, dabbled in it here and there, toying with my own spiritual life and ministry. My love for Christ was giving way to the allure of sin's pleasure. I felt myself slipping down a slope that was far more powerful than all the strength within me. I had the keen sense that absolutely everything was at risk at that moment, my job, my marriage, my family. The point of no return seemed immediately in front of me. It was then that God in his blessed grace whispered in my ear, “Make the call.” The face of a friend and brother in the Lord was in my mind's eye. I respected him greatly-and he respected me. I didn't want to be vulnerable to him, to confess my struggle. But it was either pick up the phone or fall off the cliff. Thank God I made the call. It was painfully humbling-and tremendously freeing. He was so Christlike, full of grace, strength, and humility. Something happened in me that day, something very deep and powerful. Somehow, I accessed the power of God through another person like I couldn't have done in the solitude of my own soul. It seems that's just how God has designed things to be. He's configured our dependence on him to be intertwined with dependence on others. Last week, 500 church leaders graciously gave us input about their own struggles with sin. The results are valuable for all in ministry to ponder and respond to. In light of my own experience and the survey results, I felt burdened to dedicate this article to addressing pastors in their struggle with sin. (Click here to view the full results.) ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Ron_Forseth_12_11_06&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Rick_Rusaw_12_04_06&ac=true12/4/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Rick RusawSuppose you pulled into the church parking lot and noticed something unusual. The building had disappeared and with it-the church. After you realized that it wasn't a hallucination brought on by the triple espresso you had just knocked back, you decide to go look for the church. You start driving around town asking people if they had seen a church that morning because you had somehow misplaced one. What response would you get? Would people notice it was gone? Would they miss your congregation? Would anyone care? Those are the questions that externally-focused churches are asking themselves. There are plenty of churches in America, but far too often the focus of the church is internal. The emphasis is on getting people out of the community and into the church. Obviously, helping people discover God's grace (Good News) and connecting them with his kingdom is critical. However, too many churches today measure their effectiveness by the number of people and activities inside. By contrast, externally-focused churches are interested in getting people out of the church and into the community. Externally-focused churches see a strong connection with Good News and Good Deeds. They recognize that good deeds often pave the path for good news. They understand that good deeds can be the bridge over which good news travels. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Rick_Rusaw_12_04_06&ac=true http://sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_MacArthur_11_27_06&ac=true11/27/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: John MacArthurThose who are familiar with my ministry know that I am committed to expository preaching. It is my unshakable conviction that the proclamation of God's Word should always be the heart and the focus of the church's ministry (2 Tim. 4:2). And proper biblical preaching should be systematic, expositional, theological, and God-centered. Such preaching is in short supply these days. There are plenty of gifted communicators in the modern evangelical movement, but today's sermons tend to be short, shallow, topical homilies that massage people's egos and focus on fairly insipid subjects like human relationships, "successful" living, emotional issues, and other practical but worldly-and not definitively biblical-themes. These messages are lightweight and without substance, cheap and synthetic, leaving little more than an ephemeral impression on the minds of the hearers. Some time ago I hosted a discussion at the Expositors' Institute, an annual small-group colloquium on preaching held at our church. In preparation for that seminar, I took a yellow legal pad and a pen and began listing the negative effects of the superficial brand of preaching that is so rife in modern evangelicalism.]]>http://sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-John_MacArthur_11_27_06&ac=true http://sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Max_Lucado_11_20_06&ac=true11/20/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Max LucadoMax, what advice do you have for pastors who are facing giants in leading their church? Well, first of all I would remind pastors that they are not alone. Church leadership is in-and-of-itself a Goliath-sized challenge. It's a challenge, number one, because Satan doesn't want us to do it. And then number two, because we deal with the largest volunteer organizations. It's one thing to lead an organization where everyone gets paid to do what they do, but you have to have a special heart for motivation and a special call. So, it is tough to lead a church at some points and times. Leading a church is the highest calling. If God has called you to this responsibility and privilege, it is the highest call. And the One who called is always faithful and He will always provide. Remember this from when David battled Goliath. David had a God-saturated mind. When David speaks of his battle with Goliath, he refers to God nine times and only refers to Goliath twice. So, he gives God 4-to-1 odds and his mind is really on God. It's easy in life, and especially easy in ministry, to get our mind on the budgets, to get our mind on the cranky member, to get our mind on the job filling or dismissal, to get our mind off of God. I think David reminds us that in his best hours he kept his mind on God. So, if we can let our minds be marinated in God's kindness and goodness, then I think we will be stronger.]]>http://sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Max_Lucado_11_20_06&ac=true http://sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Greg_Stier_11_13_06&ac=true11/13/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Greg StierI remember the first and only time that I ever met Ted Haggard. It was just over a year ago. TBN had invited me to be a guest on their “Praise the Lord” show. Ted, who was scheduled to host the show, was the President of the National Association of Evangelicals and the highly respected senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Having lived in Colorado all of my life, I was very familiar with New Life Church and Pastor Haggard's vast influence, not only in the Christian realm, but in the secular world as well. More and more Pastor Haggard was representing evangelical Christianity on primetime news shows. When I heard him on these programs I found myself increasingly impressed by the man. He handled himself well in front of a camera. When Ted interviewed me I found him to be affable, witty and kind. Little did I know that brewing under his smiling facade was a secret that was, in his words, “so repulsive and dark that I've been warring against it all of my adult life.” ]]>http://sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-Greg_Stier_11_13_06&ac=true http://sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-ScottAnderson_11_13_2006&ac=true11/13/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Scott AndersonGiving thanks. This is the one time of year where everyone takes time out, even if only for a moment, right before they dive into a huge turkey, to give thanks for what they have. Even if someone has seemingly nothing to be thankful for, they go with the flow and say, "I have a lot to be thankful for," and they at least play along for the day. (And people everywhere, except Texans, are thankful when the Cowboys lose!) But not everyone really gets what gratitude is about. I see it all the time when people look at me. When people see me, they see - besides an extremely handsome man - a guy in a wheelchair. And even though our society has made great strides in helping our culture become aware of the "normalcy" of a disability, deep down most people are saying, "Thank God I'm not like that guy!" It is very easy to give thanks when everything is good in life. It is easy to give thanks when our family is in order. It is easy to give thanks when Satan isn't attacking us from every angle. It is easy to give thanks when our church is growing, when the tithe is coming in, when our staff is getting along, and when our board is agreeing with every decision we are making at church. Deep down though, how many of us can truly give a sincere, heartfelt thanks when we are going through the tough times? ]]>http://sermoncentral.com/article.asp?article=a-ScottAnderson_11_13_2006&ac=true http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonForseth11_06_061.asp11/6/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethThree months ago I read the script for the movie The Nativity Story. At that time I was quite edified by the most penetrating telling of the Christmas story since I first read Luke's account as a seven-year-old. I was curious about how close the movie would land, both to the script and to Scripture itself. And I also wondered how the film would compare to The Passion of the Christ. With New Line Cinema (makers of The Lord of the Rings trilogy) involved, my expectations were high. This week, along with Christian producer Wyck Godfrey, Dr. David Jeremiah, and 100 other church leaders, I had the privilege of viewing a full screening of the film. To my pleasant surprise-and to my relief-the big screen depiction of the story was wonderfully faithful to the script, and more importantly, to Scripture. Dr. Jeremiah commented that the only departure from the biblical accounts worth noting was the premature arrival of the Wise Men shortly after Jesus' birth. I suspect this artistic twist was driven by the constraints of compressing the story into just 93 minutes. Beyond that small detail, I don't recall a single contradiction of Scripture and found the artistic elements of the film's retelling of the story fully plausible and done beyond expectation. (Note: I hope you, too, can see the movie before its December 1 release. New Line Cinema is offering 60 screenings for church leaders across the United States. Check here to find one near you.)]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonForseth11_06_061.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/CraigGroeschel_10_30_06.asp10/30/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Craig GroeschelI feel completely inadequate to be a pastor. Maybe you can relate. As pastors, many of us expend great effort covering our insecurities. I do. It may look like I have it together. Leading a growing church, I must possess talent, creativity, and spiritual energy, right? People sometimes compliment my leadership, my wisdom, and my preaching. They don't know I combat feeling that failure's just one bad decision away... constantly. I've always battled insecurity, especially as a pastor. My first funeral: disaster. The granddaughter of the deceased wanted everyone to sing “Amazing Grace.” Now, I can't carry a tune. Nevertheless, before the grieving family and friends, I began this grand hymn. Unfortunately, everyone-including the granddaughter-left me hanging, singing alone. People glanced around awkwardly. Why would someone who sings so badly attempt a solo? So then a fly zips into my mouth. It's true. So do I... cough out the fly as discretely as possible? Swallow it? Gulp! I ingested. (And finished the song.) Things couldn't get worse. A short prayer took us into the home stretch, ready to wrap up. Intoning “pastor voice,” I began, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...” My mind emptied. Reasoning, These people are sad, maybe something witty will comfort them, I tried, “Hope this coffin doesn't rust.” That... went... badly. Did I mention I feel completely inadequate? ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/CraigGroeschel_10_30_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/GaryMcCaleb_10_23_06.asp10/23/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Gary McCalebUndoubtedly there is interplay between the realms of faith and politics. And, of course, confusion often arises when the two are mixed. The Alliance Defense Fund's mission is to help defend the right to hear and speak the truth of the gospel and God's word at all appropriate times and places. Some would have us believe that there is no place or time when politics and faith can appropriately mix-where truth can be spoken and defended. A brief reflection on this thought reveals how dangerous and unreasonable that assumption is. If there is no place for faith to impact the realm of politics, then it is questionable whether there is a place for faith to impact life at all. And the ramifications of muffling faith and biblical truth at the critical junction of election time can be devastating for society. Consider the result of godly voices being silenced while giving an unbridled platform to those who reject God. Common sense shows that this is insanity and robs the Church of its calling to be salt and light. Certainly there are opportunities to abuse the pulpit and to confuse unwavering truth with passing political opinion. Preachers bear the burden of clearly delineating between the two. But they also bear the burden of speaking out about matters of righteousness, justice, mercy, and truth. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/GaryMcCaleb_10_23_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/CraigGroeschel_10_16_06.asp10/16/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Craig GroeschelOne Sunday, I stood before my church, filled with fear. Fear that they would think I had failed them as their pastor, that I had let them down. But I was finally ready to tell the truth-I was sure it was what God wanted me to do. I hadn't had an affair or stolen from the church funds. In fact, my sins were small, everyday things; they were all just hidden from view. From the pews, it looked as if I had become everything and done everything a pastor should-and I worked very hard to keep it that way. I had played the part to perfection. And that was the problem. My story is one of an impostor exposed. It's more than the story of one Sunday morning, though. It's about how, over a lifetime, a reasonably well-intentioned follower of Jesus can succeed at building an impressive exterior but fail miserably at being the real thing-the person God so lovingly created in the first place. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/CraigGroeschel_10_16_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/DeanShriver_10_09_06.asp10/9/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Dean Shriver Tithing-I believe every Christian should do it. But can I preach that? Like you, I'm committed to preaching only what the Bible clearly teaches. Unfortunately, I've always found the Bible's teaching about a believer's responsibility to tithe to be fuzzy around the edges. Off the top before taxes? Off the bottom after taxes? All to the church (ours in particular!)? Off of income or off of possessions? Of course the problem isn't with Scripture. The problem is me. When it comes to giving, my own preferences, opinions, and training make it hard for me to approach relevant texts with a clear and teachable mind. On the one hand, I know that the tithe is “law” and that, in Christ, we're no longer under the Law. Still, it's hard for me to fathom how anyone can honestly taste the sweetness of God's grace only to turn around and “Scrooge” God by giving Him less than 10%. The very idea makes me want to raise my voice, pound my pulpit, and thump my Bible! Which is exactly why I'm not yet ready to preach that sermon on tithing. But I'm getting closer. On a recent jog, I began to think again about the issue of tithing. It occurred to me that there's more than one way to tithe. In fact, three distinct forms of tithing are practiced in the Bible. Only one is legitimate for the believer. The form of tithing most often addressed in Scripture is “tithing as covenant.” This practice of tithing was specific to Israel as the covenant people of God. It was part of the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-32; Deuteronomy 14:22-29). Under the Covenant, God promised to materially bless Israel for obedience and, conversely, to judge them (strip them of their prosperity) for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28 and Malachi 3:8-12). ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/DeanShriver_10_09_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/MarkBuchanan_10_02_06.asp10/2/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Mark BuchananThe world [and that includes pastors] is dying for the rest of God. I certainly was. I became a Sabbath-keeper the hard way: either that, or die. Not die literally-at least, I don't think so-but die in other ways. It happened subtly, over time; but I noticed at some point that the harder I worked, the less I accomplished. I was often a whirligig of motion. My days were intricately fitted together like the old game of Mousetrap, every piece precariously connected to every other, the whole thing needing to work together for it to work at all. But there was little joy, and stunted fruit. To justify myself, I'd tell others I was gripped by a magnificent obsession. I was purpose-driven, I said, or words like that. It may have begun that way. It wasn't that way any longer. Often I was just obsessed, merely driven, no magnificence or purposefulness about it. I once went forty days-an ominously biblical number, that-without taking a single day off. And was proud of it. But things weren't right. Though my work often consumed me, I was losing my pleasure in it-and, for that matter, in many other things besides-and losing, too, my effectiveness in it. And here's a secret: for all my busyness, I was increasingly slothful. I could wile away hours at a time in a masquerade of working, a pantomime of toil-fiddling about on the computer, leafing through old magazines, chatting up people in the hallways. But I was squandering time, not just redeeming it. And whenever I stepped out for a vacation, I did just that: vacated, evacuated, spilled myself empty. I folded in on myself like a tent suddenly bereft of stakes and ropes and poles, clapped hard by the wind. The air went out of me. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/MarkBuchanan_10_02_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonForseth_09_25_06.asp9/25/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethLife is full of really good things. Ball games. Amusement parks. Family outings. Sunsets. The smell of flowers and baked bread and air-dried towels. Raindrops on the roof. The taste of Mom's cooking. Airplane rides. So much to take in and enjoy. Recently I was on a flight from San Diego to Denver. As we boarded the plane, the flight attendants were busy readying the flight for departure. We passengers didn't have the same sense of urgency but rather tended to our own matters, enjoying some of the good things around us. Some of the things I enjoy are baseball and reading leisurely magazines. As a courtesy, the airline had given us a free copy of the Colorado Rockies Magazine to peruse at our leisure. And though the team wasn't having a banner season, Todd Helton was showcased on the cover and in the feature article. I enjoyed the article about Denver's consistent slugger who gives fans something to cheer about, even in a losing season. But the flight attendants weren't focused on Todd Helton or the Rockies Magazine. They had other more pressing business to attend to. In fact, they implored us to put down our magazines and to take our headphones off so that we could give our undivided attention to their urgent message about safety procedures. One sentence, stuck out in particular: "In the event that the cabin loses pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the ceiling above you. First, place the mask over your own nose and mouth; then, assist others..." ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonForseth_09_25_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/PhilipYancey_09_18_06.asp9/18/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Philip YanceyJane, a character in Thornton Wilder's play Our Town, got a letter addressed to her farm, town, county, state, and then, the envelope continued, “the United States of America; Continent of North America; Western Hemisphere; the Earth; the Solar System; the Universe; the Mind of God.” Perhaps the Christian should reverse the order. If I started with the Mind and Will of God, viewing the rest of my life from that point of view, other details would fall into place-or at least fall into a different place. My home sits in a canyon in the shadow of a large mountain along a stream named Bear Creek. During the spring snowmelt and after heavy rains the stream swells, tumbles frothily over rocks, and acts more like a river than a creek. People have drowned in it. Once I traced the origin of Bear Creek to its very source, atop the mountain. I stood on a snowfield marked by “sun cups,” the bowl-shaped indentations that form as snow melts. Underneath I could hear a soft gurgling sound, and at the edge of the snow, runnels of water leaked out. These collected into a pool, then a small alpine pond, then spilled over to begin the long journey down the mountain, joining other rivulets to take shape as the creek below my house. It occurs to me, thinking about prayer, that most of the time I get the direction wrong. I start downstream with my own concerns and bring them to God. I inform God, as if God did not already know. I plead with God, as if hoping to change God's mind and overcome divine reluctance. Instead, I should start upstream where the flow begins. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/PhilipYancey_09_18_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonForseth_09_11_06.asp9/11/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethHave you ever preached a sermon in which you had the distinct sense your hearers were in deeper spiritual bondage after you preached than they were before? If so, you are not alone-and chances are your sermon was lacking the grace God himself wanted to dispense through your message. Grace is God freely providing what we have the inability to produce ourselves. Grace elicits the confidence that he will accomplish that which he requires of us-as we cooperate with and obey him. When preached, grace motivates the hearer to trust God in confidence rather than shrink from him in fear. "Ungrace," on the other hand, leaves people looking to themselves to produce the very thing they lack-and therefore leaves them burdened and discouraged. Grace empowers righteous living. Ungrace disables it. Grace motivates obedience because God has generously given us what we need. Ungrace demands obedience under threat of condemnation if we come up short. Grace begins with the provision of God and ends with the completeness of the believer. Ungrace begins with the incompleteness of the hearer and ends with the same. Grace leads to freedom and victory. Ungrace leads to bondage and defeat. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonForseth_09_11_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/JohnMaxwell_09_04_06.asp9/4/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Dr. John C. MaxwellIn my years of teaching on leadership, a few questions seem to arise over and over from pastors. I recently had a round-table discussion with some pastors, and I picked out some of what I considered the best questions-questions I thought were particularly applicable to church leaders. I hope it will help you address some of the issues you and your church might be facing. Question 1: How do I keep my focus with so many distractions? Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is productive accomplishment. To either of these ends there must be forethought, systematic planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing. So how do you keep focused with so many distractions? Hire a top-notch assistant. This isn't one of the most important roles in your organization; it is the most important hire in your whole organization. My assistant, Linda Eggers, is my most valuable player, period. The assistant who will change your life is one who is relational and knows how to handle people, but also knows how to keep people off your back, to keep you focused, keep you clear, and who will do all the other stuff that you don't want to do or are unable to do. Let me share with you some things that I determined many years ago would help me stay focused: I determined not to know everything. It isn't important for me to be the Encyclopedia Britannica. It's the difference between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan: Jimmy Carter would stay up in the wee hours of the morning reading minutia as president, trying to consume all the facts. Ronald Reagan insisted on only knowing the most important things. He had people around him to know all the other stuff. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/JohnMaxwell_09_04_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/JohnTrent_08_28_06.asp8/28/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: John Trent (with Rodney Cox) It is 10:20PM on a piercing cold winter night, and Kevin (a pastor in the Midwest) sits alone in the church office. Normally, this senior pastor of a growing church would have been home with his family hours ago. Not tonight. Tonight Kevin sits at his computer and struggles with how to phrase things on the computer. He's not wrestling with the right phrases for Sunday's sermon; he's working on his resume. In fact, he's seriously thinking about getting out of pastoral ministry altogether. What's the source of the problem? “Irreconcilable differences.” At least that's what Kevin had come to believe. For three years he'd struggled, prayed, even fasted in an effort to get along with his senior associate and music director. For twelve years at his former church, Kevin got along with everyone it seemed. He'd built a great team and the ministry had thrived. But now at this new church, every idea, dream, goal, plan or vision Kevin shared was met with questions or what seemed like direct opposition from Mark, his senior staff member. Mark had been at the church 15 years, and the people loved his music ministry. Mark wasn't going anywhere. But now Kevin sat alone at the church, so frustrated with not being able to see eye to eye with the person he worked closest with every day, that he was doing what hundreds of pastors and associate pastors do every year - leaving for “somewhere new” where things could be “different” and easier. Kevin loved the Lord, and yet he felt totally defeated by “differences.” ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/JohnTrent_08_28_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/AndyStanley08_14_06.asp8/14/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Andy StanleyI never felt called to preach. I just volunteered. I wanted to feel called. But it just never happened for me. Several of my friends felt called while we were in high school. They went forward during a Sunday night service and shared it with the congregation. Everybody clapped. Some of them are still in ministry. I think one of 'em is in jail. One afternoon I was driving somewhere with my dad. After one of those long moments of silence that fathers and sons have when driving together, I spoke up and said, “Dad, does a person have to be called into ministry or can they just volunteer?” He thought for a moment. “Well, I guess it's okay to volunteer.” “Good,” I said. “I would like to volunteer.” So I did. In fact, it was two volunteer environments that shaped me as a communicator. During my sophomore year of college our youth pastor, Sid Hopkins, asked me if I would help him lead our Wednesday night student Bible study. That was a really strange request since we didn't even have a Wednesday night Bible study. Upon further investigation I discovered that he wanted me to start a study for our students. I had never led or taught anything in my life. I was a whopping two years older than some of the students I would be teaching. But I agreed to give it a try. The good thing about being so young was that I knew what wouldn't work. Preaching wouldn't work. Teaching for twenty or thirty minutes wouldn't work. A verse by verse Bible study wouldn't work. Telling a bunch of stories and tacking on a point wouldn't work. So I decided to err on the side of simplicity. Nobody told me how long our “Bible study” was supposed to last so I didn't feel compelled to fill up a lot of time. I had been given a blank page.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/AndyStanley08_14_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonLuce_07_31_06.asp7/31/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron LuceSomething on the order of Hurricane Katrina is about to hit our whole nation of young people, and the aftermath will no doubt last over 50 years. Just like we saw on the Doppler radar warning that Katrina was on the way, we can see clear signs that this 'storm' is approaching as well. Many chose to 'ride out the storm,' hardly realizing what their lack of belief in the Doppler would cost them. May God deliver us from such foolishness as we face the gathering storm before us. After traveling in Youth ministry for 19 years and speaking to millions of students, I am determined to gather all my resources and contacts and sound the alarm. I was radically saved and changed by Jesus at the age of 16. Since then, coming out of drugs and a broken home, the Lord has given me the opportunity to share with so many hurting teens how He has the power to heal their broken lives. I have seen the worst of the worst as I travel and conduct Acquire the Fire conferences almost every weekend and know that no one is beyond the reach of God's hand. But, something is happening right under our noses as Christians here in America that demands our attention. This cannot be just another news flash. This cannot be just another newsletter that sort of moves us to care a little bit. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonLuce_07_31_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonForseth_07_24_06.asp7/24/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethSermonCentral provides a wide variety of resources to help you more efficiently prepare biblical sermons for greater impact. In providing the approximately half a million pages of free sermon content, we seek to enhance your preaching ministry-and guard it from the dangers of abuse. As plagiarism in the pulpit is an issue that can indeed hurt your ministry, I again address the topic as we have before. Plagiarism can be simply defined as taking the content of another and presenting it as one's own. It's a pitfall that has cost some preacher's their jobs. However, sermon preparation never has to involve plagiarism. Here are 10 tips for avoiding it: 1) Start with the Bible as your primary source for sermon preparation. It may seem obvious to make such a statement but it's worth emphasizing. God's Word is our final authority in life and conduct and any message we give that fails to build upon it frankly shouldn't be preached in the first place. Paul told Timothy, “Preach the Word!” We can't preach the Word unless we're in the Word and building our very thoughts upon it. Some begin by holding such a standard and then drift from it. There's no better day than today to return to the Bible as the core source of your sermons.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonForseth_07_24_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/GregStier_07_10_06.asp7/10/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Erwin Raphael McManusI had never been attracted to religion although there was always a longing within me to connect to God. There were moments where I could have been defined as an agnostic or an atheist, but overall I have always been a mystic. I have always believed in a spiritual reality. From my earliest memories I was on a conscious and concerted search for God. But frankly religion, though I was open to it in my youth, would have been the last place I would have thought you could find God. Churches and cathedrals seemed more like prisons where people were held hostage and God was held for ransom. Behind the piety of stained glass and pews were the bars and chains of guilt and shame. Maybe that's why few movies affected me as much as The Shawshank Redemption. I'm not a big fan of prison movies, and this one is pretty hard to watch, but Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman pull off what I think is Stephen King's best story. The story revolves around Andy Dufresne, who was wrongly convicted of his wife's murder. He is the one genuinely innocent person in the vile prison known as Shawshank. He teams up with a convict named Red who is the only prisoner who actually claims to be guilty. Nothing seems to stop Andy from both rising above the inhumanity of prison life and eventually finding a way to escape. The tagline of Shawshank is, “Fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free.” The most important point though is that the warden was a Bible thumping Christian. You know, a God-fearing man. I can't read Stephen King's mind, but whether intentional or incidental, he speaks for a lot of people who feel Christianity is a prison that holds us captive through fear and condemnation. And if that wasn't bad enough, the powerbrokers...]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/GregStier_07_10_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/AlexMcFarland_07_03_06.asp7/3/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Alex McFarland“But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” (Luke 12:5, NIV) “God is love, and the God I believe in would never send someone to hell!” The audience applauded enthusiastically as the TV talk-show host passionately stated her position about the afterlife. A panel of guests had been assembled to explain various views about death, heaven, hell and God's judgment. Of those authors and scholars, only one individual defended the biblical teaching about hell-an evangelical minister. And as the show progressed, both audience and interviewer seemed increasingly hostile to the lone evangelical panelist. The title of this article could be, “Divine Retribution: Reconciling The Goodness of God with the reality of Hell.” Twenty-first century people (even some evangelical Christian people) often shy away from acknowledging the reality of hell. Yet, we find it in the Bible. And we hear of it in the words of Christ. Hell is real, and we are remiss if we do not proclaim that. Surveys show that in the West, belief in a literal hell is at an all-time low, and its most vocal opponents include some clergy. Scary, huh? Not long ago, a survey of “born again Christians” by the Barna Research Group concluded that Christians are often ignorant about this matter of the faith. Even though 98 percent of those surveyed said that their Christian faith is very important in their life, some of the survey's findings were discouraging. For example:]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/AlexMcFarland_07_03_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/PaulCedar_06_26_06.asp6/26/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Paul Cedar Jesus had a radical leadership style, a style that was marked by compassion. This is in stark contrast to the hard-driven, results-oriented corporate executive style often set before us as an example. For Jesus, leadership was not about power, management and organization, but about generosity, believing in people, meeting needs, encouraging others, and getting excited about good things that happen to others. He is our pastoral model for compassionate service...and compassionate leadership. Through many years in varied situations and during complex leadership challenges, Dr. Ted Engstrom and I have come back to the simplicity that is in Jesus' leadership style. My prayer is that you may avert the pitfalls of a worldly leadership style by following the model of our Lord. I've become convinced that along this path you will find greater ministry success and eternal impact-as you lead the flock entrusted to you. Here, I'd like to share briefly the core attributes of Jesus' compassionate leadership style as they apply to pastors: The Compassionate Pastor leads...like a Shepherd The entire concept of serving as a leader in Christ's Kingdom relates to people more than tasks. Compassionate leaders are people-oriented. In terms of priority, people trump tasks and goals. Whatever the ministry might be to which God has entrusted us, we are directed to shepherd the people whom God is calling us to lead. However pastors serve in leadership roles, it is always appropriate to be a shepherd leader-like Jesus. Gentle. Humble. Servant-oriented. At the same time, we must often remind ourselves that believers who are following our leadership belong to God's flock and not our own. We are simply the under-shepherds or “under-leaders” of Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd. In an honest examination of our own leadership style, we may ask, “Is my leadership marked by a highest priority on people?” In Christ-filled leadership, we will discover people are always our priority.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/PaulCedar_06_26_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/TimWilkins_06_19_06.asp6/19/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Tim WilkinsPreachers have their own set of temptations! That fact can be illustrated by an event in the life of John Bunyan. Bunyan had preached an unusually anointed sermon. Immediately after the service, a layman jumped from his pew and raced to shake Bunyan's hand exclaiming “Bunyan, that was the most powerful sermon I have ever heard!” Bunyan replied with brut honesty, “Man, you need not tell me that. The devil whispered it to me before I was well out of the pulpit.” Preachers face the temptation to “enjoy the sound of their own voice,” to secretly revel in the compliments they hear, and as in the case of Bunyan, to give ear to our adversary's commendations on our preaching. How does this relate to our preaching on homosexuality? We are tempted to be grandiose, forceful, and effusive when addressing homosexuality. Scottish preacher James Stuart Stewart wrote, “There is a type of preaching which apparently regards it as more important to generate heat than supply light.” It is easier to denounce homosexuality from the pulpit with great fervor and vast sweeping gestures than to portray a loving God who separates our sin from us as far as the east is from the west. Theologian Albert Mohler writes regarding homosexuality, “Evangelical Christians must ask ourselves some very hard questions, but the hardest may be this: Why is it that we have been so ineffective in reaching persons trapped in this particular pattern of sin?”]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/TimWilkins_06_19_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/MikeLicona_06_12_06.asp6/12/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Mike LiconaThis past April, the National Geographic Society unveiled the Gospel of Judas. The manuscript had been discovered in Egypt in the late 1970s, is written in the Egyptian language of Coptic, and can be read in about fifteen minutes. Because its owner was unsuccessful in his efforts to sell it, the manuscript was placed in a safe deposit box in New York where it remained until recently.[1] When National Geographic's television special on the Gospel of Judas ran during Sunday evening prime time, many of us watched with curiosity. Would this find present a new challenge to Christianity? What impact will this have in light of the growing anticipation of The Da Vinci Code movie? After the dust settled, one truth became clear to me: Every Christian can escape the kiss of Judas by understanding three basic issues. The first issue is the background of the Gospel of Judas. Most of the members of the National Geographic team date the manuscript to c. AD 300. The original Gospel of Judas was probably written around the middle of the second century. The early Church father Iranaeus (c. AD 180) was a disciple of Polycarp who was probably a disciple of the apostle John. Irenaeus mentioned the Gospel of Judas in his book Against Heresies (1.31.1) and reported that it was written by a group called the Cainites who made heroes out of biblical villains such as Esau, Korah, the Sodomites, and Judas. According to Irenaeus, the Cainites taught that the evil Creator had picked on certain individuals who were reported in a negative light in the Bible. The good Goddess named Sophia who is more powerful than the Creator took them as her own. Judas knew these things and the truth as no other. He accomplished the mystery of Jesus' betrayal and, as a result, all of creation was thrown into confusion. This description is precisely what we find in the recently unveiled Gospel of Judas manuscript. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/MikeLicona_06_12_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/DeanShriver_06_05_06.asp6/5/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Dean Shriver“Your temper is uneven; you lack love for your neighbors. You grow angry too easily; your tongue is too sharp-thus the people will not hear you.” John Wesley wrote these words to a struggling preacher. In them, we are reminded that the impact of our preaching isn't ultimately determined by our mastery of homiletic technique or our clever use of illustration. The preaching that transforms lives is rooted as deeply in how we live as in what we say. In other words, preaching to change lives requires us to preach with integrity. Integrity is “the state of being whole or undivided.” As preachers, we demonstrate integrity when unity exists between the truth we proclaim to our congregations and the lives we live before them. Simply put, integrity exists when we “practice what we preach.” The call to preach requires more of us than verbal proclamation of truth. We must not only speak God's Word so it can be heard, we must live God's Word so it can be seen. To know this, we need look no further than the ministry of Christ. Jesus is our model for ministry. Jesus is God's perfect preacher. John 1:14 tells us that, in Jesus, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory.” Jesus did more than speak truth. He lived as truth incarnate. Consider Jesus' sermon on servanthood in John 13. His words (13:13-17) are empowered by his life (13:1-5). What Jesus says and what Jesus is are one and the same! This is our model for preaching. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/DeanShriver_06_05_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/EdStetzer_05_29_06.asp5/29/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Ed StetzerPreaching-for many, even the word has negative connotations. I still remember arguing with my mother and telling her, “Don't preach at me!” Lots of people are saying the same thing in our churches. The question remains, how can we communicate Biblical truth through preaching in a culture that does not want to be “preached at?” For some pastors, the answer has been to streamline, simplify, and spice up their sermons. Some have streamlined and made messages shorter and pithier so the message is more applicable and helpful. Others have focused on the practical and positive, creating a simple message easily communicated. Many have spiced up the message with videos, drama, and testimonies. These are not necessarily bad things, but they can be if they become the focus of the message and not a tool for preaching the text. If I want streamlined, simple and spiced up truth, then I can watch Wayne Dyer on PBS. At church I want (and Scripture commands) biblical preaching that connects to people in culture. Biblical preaching Everybody seems to be an expert on preaching, because everyone who listens to a sermon has an idea of whether or not they like it. False boundaries abound when it comes to preaching-many will say that there is only one biblical form of preaching, but they have missed the point. There are many ways to communicate, but preaching requires a biblical foundation and form from which to communicate. Biblical preaching must include something to make it a biblical “message” rather than a “speech.” The Bible does say to “preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2). New methods of preaching have emerged, but they still must be evaluated in light of this biblical command. ]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/EdStetzer_05_29_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/EdStetzer_05_29_06.asp5/22/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron Forseth As preachers, we welcome and enjoy the presence of God in our preaching. At least sometimes we do! The Holy Spirit supports us in the sermon preparation and delivery process. He doesn't leave us alone but is there to help us along the way. A sermon involves various decisions beginning with what to preach on, when to preach it, and ultimately how to preach it. There is much to consider in the complex process of sermon preparation-but the primary determining factor in effective preaching is the Holy Spirit's guidance. How we want him to guide us! Undoubtedly you've carefully planned a sermon, yet delivered it without connection or power. Somewhere along the way you got disconnected from the guidance of the Spirit. On the other hand, you likely have gone into the pulpit ill-prepared and yet been swept up by the Spirit's power in the delivery. (The point here is not ill-preparation, but rather that power comes from God and not ourselves.)]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/EdStetzer_05_29_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/MarkStrauss05_15_06.asp5/15/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Mark StraussI am not a full-time pastor or a preaching professor. But I do preach a great deal (every week; sometimes several times a week). As a professor of New Testament and Greek, I also train a lot of pastors. I would like to offer a little advice for young pastors seeking to develop their preaching skills. Here are three errors to avoid. Error 1: Preaching less than the text I am amazed at how often I hear sermons that miss the central point of a passage. A biblical text will be read and the preacher may start with this passage, but will then head off in a different direction. The problem is the preacher has a point to make and has simply used the text as a launching point. The best way to avoid this error is to identify clearly the “big idea” or the central point of each passage you teach. Especially helpful in this regard is Haddon Robinson's classic book Biblical Preaching, which argues that every passage of Scripture has one central theme, and this is what the preacher should preach. All sub-points should relate directly to this central point, and your congregation should leave knowing exactly what the point was. This is because you have introduced it at the beginning, stated it clearly at each transition point, illustrated it regularly, and concluded with it. If you cannot state in one clear sentence the point of the passage, then you are not ready to preach it (see Robinson's book for details on how to find and compose the “big idea”).]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/MarkStrauss05_15_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonForseth_05_08_06.asp5/8/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Ron ForsethPeople are incredible, aren't they? Each and every one of them are a worthy subject of a carefully written biography or even a feature-length Hollywood film. Yes, every one of them. Sure, some you have to delve a little deeper to find the story, but the story is there. If it's not a story of triumph, it's a story of dreams, or of shattered dreams. If it's not a story of high adventure, it's a drama played out on the universal stage of human emotion. And that includes you. I'd like to watch a movie about you and the intriguing web of relationships God has placed you into the middle of, that web full of people. We're in the people business. Through each day, through each contact, through each sermon, we have the opportunity to bless people. And I suspect you, like me, enjoy blessing people. It can be a daunting challenge at times, but it really is a privilege to spend our days brushing up against the biographies that surround us-and to play a supporting role that contributes to their own pursuit of joy.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/RonForseth_05_08_06.asp http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/BrianMavis05_01_06.asp5/1/2006SermonCentral.com contributor: Brian MavisSix years ago I began a new journey in my life by helping create and lead SermonCentral. I've now come to the end of this journey. It's been an amazing trip, and I want to thank you for traveling it with me! When I started, I believed there were many non-celebrity Christian communicators that should be heard. I believed that we could show Christian unity by learning from other preachers who weren't a part of our heritage. You believed those things too. As a result you made SermonCentral the most used sermon preparation place in the world. The favorite part of my time (and the part I will miss the most) was the correspondence with you. Thousands of you wrote me over the years. Many of you emailed to thank me for the weekly thoughts I wrote about preaching - or for the site itself. I want to thank you for taking the time to say “thanks.” I took every “thank you” to heart.]]>http://www.sermoncentral.com/document_extras/BrianMavis05_01_06.asp