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TOP TEN PREACHERS
A man wrote to a pastor of a large Church saying, "I am visiting your city and I would like to preach in your Church."
The pastor wrote back saying, "Thank you for the offer but we are already sorted for in this area."
The man wrote again saying, "I feel I ought to preach because I am one of the top ten preachers in the UK."
Once again the pastor wrote back saying, "Thanks but no thanks, and by the way, who are the other eight?"
IF HE GETS LOOSE
The preacher was wired for sound with a lapel mic. Unlike todays wireless mics, this had a wire attached to it. He was an energetic preacher and as he preached, he swung his hands and he moved briskly about the platform, jerking the mic cord as he went. Then he moved to one side, getting wound up in the cord and nearly tripping before jerking it again and repeating the process on the other side of the platform.
After several circles and jerks, a little girl leaned toward her mother and whispered, "If he gets loose, will he hurt us?"
NOTHING BUT THE CROSS
J. A. James is quoted as saying, "Although the pulpit is intended to be a pedestal for the cross, even the cross itself is sometimes used as a mere pedestal for the preacher's fame. We may roll the thunders of eloquence, we may scatter the flowers of poetry, we may diffuse the light of science, we may enforce the precepts of morality, from the pulpit. But if we do not make Christ the great subject of our preaching, we have forgotten our errand and shall do no good. Satan trembles at nothing but the cross: at this he does tremble. And if we would destroy his power and extend that holy and benevolent kingdom, which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, it must be by means of the cross."
(From Christopher Surber’s Sermon "Seven Sayings From the Cross")
GOOD DOCTRINE, GOOD PRACTICE
There were two doctors with the same name who lived a few doors apart. One was a Christian and a lay preacher, the other had made no profession of faith. One night a rather sick person, who was also a Christian and wanting help from a fellow believer, knocked mistakenly at the door of the non-Christian doctor.
"Are you the doctor who preaches?" he asked.
"No", the medic replied, "I am the doctor who practices".
"Oh", said the sick pers...
FALLING ASLEEP IN CHURCH
Please don't think I'm complaining about folks who fall asleep in church. I understand some people can’t help it. I am convinced that some people fall asleep in church during the sermon because their have a physical ailment. Some folk must have a snooze button attached at the appropriate place so that it is activated everytime the preacher says, "Please turn in your Bibles..." and sets the alarm off when the preacher says, "Please stand..."!
It doesn't really bother me when people fall asleep in church. It doesn’t even bother me if they snore during the sermon as long as it sounds like, "AHH-men"!
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT’S GRANDMOTHER
The story is told of American President Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests responded with phrases like, "Marvellous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir." It was not until the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, "I’m sure she had it coming."
LISTENERS MUST ACT
The address is not given for the speaker’s sake, in order that men may praise or blame him. The listener’s repetition of it is what is aimed at. If the speaker has the responsibility for what he whispers, then the listener has an equally great responsibility not to fall short in his task.
In the theater, the play is staged before an audience who are called theatergoers, but at the devotional address, God himself is present. In the most earnest sense, God is the critical theatergoer, who looks to see how the lines are spoken and how they are listened to.
Hence, here the customary audience is wanting. The speaker then is the prompter, and the listener stands openly before God. The listener, if I may say so, is the actor, who in all truth acts before God.
--Soren Kierkegaard.
PREACHING THAT KILLS
The preaching that kills is non-spiritual preaching. The ability of the preaching is not from God. Lower sources than God have given to it energy and stimulant. The Spirit is not evident in the preacher nor his preaching. Many kinds of forces may be projected and stimulated by preaching that kills, but they are not spiritual forces. They may ...
Leonard Ravenhill after listening C.S. Lewis: "I was fascinated with his message, and stunned by his simplicity.
That’s preaching!"
A NEW MAN AFTER THAT SERMON
The minister’s sermon on this particular Sunday was considerably longer than normal. However, it was so well prepared and inspiring that he just knew it would be a big hit with the congregation.
At the end of the service he stood shaking hands with the people as they exited. One man paused and said, "Preacher, your sermon was so invigorating and inspiring and refreshing." As the minister broke out in a big smile, the man completed his comment by adding, "Why, I felt like a new man when I woke up!"
