February 9, 2010 by Peter Mead
Some preachers plan series in a relatively simple manner. They select a book of the Bible and then preach, unit by unit, through the book, or through a section. Others select a topic and select appropriate passages to organize a topical series. I am not critiquing either approach, but want to offer another option too.
Just as we are in danger of reading the Bible to look for a message, so we can fall into reading the Bible to look for a series. One way this manifests itself is in the sections we dismiss, as much as those we select. For instance, what if we were looking in the Psalms and were drawn to a section like the Psalms of Ascent? Well, fifteen weeks might be too long for a series, so we are tempted to look elsewhere.
As often as possible we should simply soak in the text. Like taking a leisurely bath rather than a quick shower, we should take every opportunity to be saturated by a section. Something happens once it gets into you. Let’s push the analogy and say that the skin of our soul becomes wrinkly . . . even when you step out the evidence remains.
So for example, I was preparing a synopsis of a longer study on Psalms 107-118 (the section before the Ascent Psalms). A dozen psalms that present a unified and powerful message. If I had been looking for a series, I would have gone elsewhere because 12 weeks is probably too long. (Or settled for the more obvious Egyptian Hallel of 113-118, missing the blessing of the first part of the sequence.) But after soaking in this text for a while, I can’t help but find myself thinking of creative ways to present the message of this section. Combining psalms, summarizing a block of three with a focus on one, perhaps even preaching a message that traces the flow through all twelve.
I soaked and now the wrinkly skin of my soul is looking for an opportunity to preach the section . . . in one message, in three, in five. I suppose, like a leisurely bath, there is probably a fragrance that lingers from this kind of study, too.
Sometimes we have to plan very pragmatically. Let’s be sure we also create space for soaking, slow, text-saturated, natural born series.
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Old Testament, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study | Tagged Planning A Series, planning preaching, Preaching Series, Psalms, Sermon Series | 4 Comments »
February 8, 2010 by Peter Mead
I was just reading a synopsis of an intriguing book. The book is about the importance of conversations, both at work and at home. Nothing to do with preaching though? Well, perhaps more than might be obvious. I was struck by the author’s second principle – “Come out from behind yourself into the conversation and make it real.” She writes that it I too easy to try to please so much that the truth gets hidden away in exchange for a trinket of approval. In the next section she writes of the need for fierce affection for the other person. I won’t pursue that in terms of conversations, but what about our preaching?
How easily we slip into routine prayer, routine preparation, routine textual study, routine sermon forms, etc. How different would it be if we gave a more fierce attention to the text, and pursued a more fierce affection for our listeners? What does the text really say? What do the listeners really struggle with? And although it feels even less comfortable in this context, what if we fiercely prayed about the next sermon?
Ok, so the word “fierce” may seem out of place here. I tend to agree. But I like the thrust of it, the sense of not going through the motions, but stepping out from behind the mask of normalcy to genuinely pursue the meaning of the text, the lives of the listeners, the heart of God. Whatever we call it, let’s go for it!
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Homiletics, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 5 - Message Purpose | Tagged Expository Preaching, Fierce Conversations, Susan Scott | Leave a Comment »
February 5, 2010 by Peter Mead
James Wood made the following comment on the post Extent of Application:
I think he brings up a good point. I’ve tried to combat this by forming the sermon through conversation with the community. The beauty is, technology can aid this! I will post questions from the text to my facebook page as I’m studying. The responses help me to direct my study and hone my examples to reflect the needs of the community.
I have not tried this, but am intrigued. While not a huge fan of facebook, it may be an easy way to access “feed-forward” input in the preparation of a sermon. The point of “feed-forward” input is to be able to hone a message in advance of it being preached by gaining input from an individual or group during the preparation process. (Obviously it is kind of like feedback, but in anticipation.)
Has anyone else tried using Facebook or Twitter or even good old fashioned email for input prior to preaching? There is something about face to face interaction, but let’s be honest and recognize that something is better than nothing and unless we have a system in place, we are often choosing nothing over something in these matters. At the same time, perhaps people feel less pressure in an electronic social setting and are therefore more willing to engage honestly?
Any thoughts or experience on this, please share!
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 8 - Message Detail | Tagged facebook, Feed-Forward | 3 Comments »
February 4, 2010 by Peter Mead
Another quote from Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps, prompting a thought for today:
Advertising is the direct result of the camera. “Images have an incredible capacity to generate needs in humans that don’t naturally exist.” (75) “Images initially make us feel rather than think.” “Images don’t invite you to argue; they give you an experience.” (76) “Image culture dramatically shapes the way we think. It also determines what we think about.” (77)
It would be wrong to assume that such an image culture has only existed in our part of the world in recent years. The reality is that the non-image, linear logical culture is largely a recent and localized phenomenon. Perhaps the difference now is that we are an image saturated culture with pixels flickering constantly. Everywhere else, for most of time, there has been a constancy of image formed through the familiar narratives that defined each culture.
That’s the thing about narrative. It forms an image in the hearer that doesn’t require multi-million dollar Hollywood camera work. Good storytelling forms images in minds and hearts just as effectively. In the early days of radio it was the story and soap opera shows that proved popular, not just information driven shows. Ask a child if they are willing to hear a good story without any pictures to supplement it and they will usually cope just fine! (In fact, some children would give anything to have a parent who would read to them at all!)
The Bible is saturated with stories. The Bible also has a meta-narrative that gives us a sense of security, stability and insight into the reality in which we continue to live. As preachers our task is not to simply provide good argumentation, effective applicational lists or biblical facts. Our task is primarily one of forming images in the hearts and minds of listeners that will stir faith through the experience of already seeing God work during our preaching. Our task is to form images so that listeners can respond appropriately to God’s self-giving through His Word – not in any way a mere mental decision, but a heart-driven response to a heart-stirring God.
Preacher, form images!
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 8 - Message Detail | Tagged Flickering Pixels, Shane Hipps | 2 Comments »
February 3, 2010 by Peter Mead
I was just reading a synopsis of a book on the effect of technology on faith. For example:
Reading and writing are individual activities. The technology of writing favors individualism over community, leading us to spiritual disciplines of “quiet time” and “journaling” and a gospel that is primarily oriented to the individual. Printing erodes the communal nature of faith. (p56-7 – Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps)
That’s an interesting observation. I think many of us tend to promote an individual spirituality – quiet times, reading, journaling, private prayer, etc. When we do mention corporate applications they are often either related to witnessing or church/ministry involvement. Both of these corporate or interpersonal activities are typically felt in terms of duty rather than delight (the same could be said of the private disciplines – it all depends on how we perceive and present them).
When we think of the applications of our preaching, the contemporary relevance of the Word of God, do we think through all that it might mean to us by way of invitation as well as burden, in terms of the heart, the head and the hands, as well as corporately and not just individually? The Bible speaks to us all in far more intricate and engaging ways than many of our sermons do.
Worth pondering, at least for me . . .
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose | 1 Comment »
February 2, 2010 by Peter Mead
When the Word of God is preached, something happens. God’s Word, inspired by God’s Spirit, pointing toward God’s Son, spoken by a person empowered by the Spirit of God for their calling from God’s Son, to people prepared by the Spirit of God – it’s a recipe for response!
At times we can see that response. We get to see the people moved, the individuals gripped, the lives changed. Sometimes we see something at the moment of preaching, or soon afterwards. Sometimes we only see the response over months and years of ministry.
At other times we don’t see the response. We preach our hearts out and are devastated by polite niceties. Or perhaps we don’t see the response we long for. Perhaps we get the response of criticism, or argument, or outright attack. Not quite what we had in mind when we prayed for lives to be changed!
Nevertheless, let’s be committed to preach for response, even an apparently negative one, rather than playing safe and settling for nothing other than polite platitudes. Obviously any one of us could abuse this post. We could take it as an excuse to wind people up, to create tensions, to lack sensitivity. We must all answer for our own motivations, and of course, we will answer as preachers for how we have taken the opportunity to present God’s Word (2Tim.4:1-2).
Let’s not settle for smooth, let’s rather preach the Word with sensitivity to God and to His people, with a prayer-fuelled passion to see Him prompting response rather than apathy, transformation rather than safety.
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion | Leave a Comment »
February 1, 2010 by Peter Mead
You may have noticed the new tab for Cor Deo at the top of the page. Cor Deo is a mentored study and ministry training programme that I am helping to launch. The name Cor Deo means “a heart for God” and it is our desire to multiply ministry that shares God’s heart by means of a relationally shaped training programme.
The basic approach will be to invite 6-12 individuals to join the team of mentors for an intensive full-time training programme from February through to July (starting next year). During this time the team will share a unique study programme between Tuesday and Thursday each week, and then be exposed to a variety of ministry situations by sharing ministry together with the mentors over the weekends. We want to study, grow and serve together.
Cor Deo has a strongly relational methodology, as well as a thoroughly biblical relational theology. Can I ask you for a couple of favours?
1. Please take a look at the Cor Deo website and if you like what you see, contact us to receive the Cor Deo updates (we deeply value the prayer partners who will stand with Cor Deo as the ministry develops).
2. If you know someone who might be a potential candidate (remember Cor Deo runs in the UK!), please introduce Cor Deo to them.
Final question – is this a preaching training programme?
Answer - not specifically, although it can be tailored as such for someone who has a desire to develop as a preacher. One component of the programme is a mentored personal study, which would allow for focused ongoing preaching training during the entire Cor Deo experience.
(Alright, last last question for this post – Could a pastor consider Cor Deo for a study break during a sabbatical (or partial sabbatical)?
Answer – absolutely. If you are able to take a five month break from current ministry commitments, we would be very interested in discussing the possibility of your coming to Cor Deo. If you lived close enough, you would be able to maintain a decent level of Sunday ministry during the programme, although it is important to talk through what would be involved!)
Thanks for taking a look at the site. Please let me know if you’d like to receive the regular email updates. www.cordeo.org.uk
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion | Leave a Comment »
January 29, 2010 by Peter Mead
We need to preach somewhere between commentaries and sermons. The majority of commentaries are very atomistic. In a sense, they have to be. The writer focuses in on each verse, or sentence, in turn. They try to plumb the depths of lexical, semantic, syntactical and cultural meaning. Once that verse is exhausted they probably deserve a fresh cup of coffee and a break. When they return it’s on to the next verse.
Commentators are a real blessing to us and we should be exceedingly grateful for the range and quality of commentaries available. At the same time, let’s be wary that we don’t just preach a commentary (or a compendium of information garnered from several commentators). Our task is not to exhaustively present every detail, neither is it to place historic labels over sections of text.
On the other hand, there are many sermons that are anything but atomistic in that sense. They bounce off a text and range to and fro all over the canon without rhyme or reason.
Somehow our preaching needs to fit between these two extremes. We preach a text (or texts), but we need to present them in their context. This means making sense of them in the flow of the book, and appropriately making sense of them in the flow of the Bible as a whole. In effect we need to cut the log both in slice-ward directions, but also in long cuts along the grain. How we balance those and make sense of the passage is part of the science and art of preaching. But somehow that fits between the often necessarily atomistic approach of commentaries and the unnecessarily free movement of many sermons.
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion | 2 Comments »
January 28, 2010 by Peter Mead
There are some preachers that claim to be oblivious to negative emotion in regard to preaching. That is to say, when it’s done, it’s done. No looking back, no regrets, no negative emotions. I don’t believe there can be too many like that. For most of us preaching involves giving of ourselves and often feeling vulnerable and low afterwards.
It’s important to remember that our own perspective on our preaching is not fully trustworthy. Sometimes what felt horrible to you will have been a real blessing to some listeners (and genuinely not horrible to the rest). Sometimes what felt like a stunning message to you will have felt somewhat flat to most listeners (and perhaps even poor to some)!
It is important that we don’t trust our own feelings in post-sermon self-evaluation. Perhaps you have a spouse or friend who understands your need for encouragement afterwards and constructive critique a day or two later? Perhaps you’ve found it best to always come back to the Lord and hand it all over to Him? Perhaps you have learned to reason with your own flawed thinking and pray it through?
I’m not going to suggest one approach to handling this issue, but I raise it to suggest that you may need to find an approach that works for you and keeps you pressed up against the Lord in the dangerous post-preaching phase of ministry life!
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion | 1 Comment »
January 27, 2010 by Peter Mead
What criteria can you use when planning a series in a longer book that you don’t want to last for years? Obviously we’re not obligated to cover complete books in a series, but how might you do that selectively rather than comprehensively? Here are some pointers:
Foundation – Know the message, flow and structure of the book. In order to plan a series that selectively represents the whole, you need a good awareness of the whole. Without this you are likely to end up with a plan that doesn’t represent the book, or you’ll start into the series and end up preaching every passage (which might be appreciated . . . but only “might be” – your church may not want you to try to be Martyn Lloyd-Jones!)
1. Select key moments in the book. In every book there are key moments of transition or anchor points for the flow of the book. For example, a selective series in Mark’s gospel would need to be touching heavily on the transition that occurs at 8:27-30 and the following couple of paragraphs. Equally, Mark 10:45 is fairly critical, perhaps with the following story which is somewhat transitional as the final step before Jerusalem.
2. Select key examples in the book. There are some passages that may not be at a transition point, but are just very typical of the style and message of the book. For instance, Mark 4:35-41 as an example of Mark’s pattern of following teaching with testing.
3. Select an example in a sequence, but show the whole progression. Often a book will string together a series of stories making a similar point, such as in Mark 2-3. So you might select an example in the sequence demonstrating Jesus’ authority, but also show briefly how many such stories there are in the section. This covers a lot of ground, but can make quite an impression as people feel the weight of the authority demonstrated by the whole sequence.
4. Select passages you want to preach. As long as you have the other three types of message included, there is nothing wrong with selecting based on personal motivation – the fruit will probably show in your preaching if you are motivated!
5. Keep the big idea of the book clear throughout. Consistently, even if subtly, reinforce the big idea of the whole book to cohere the series.
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, New Testament, Preaching, Religion, Specific text, Stage 1 - Passage Selection | Tagged Expository Preaching, Preaching Series | 1 Comment »
January 26, 2010 by Peter Mead
As a preacher in a church there is a tension to be faced. On the one hand, every time you stand up front to preach you are answerable to God for your stewardship of the opportunity. Consequently you must feel a sense of the burden of preaching what is needed and what is right for the people. Like parents with a child, sometimes it is necessary to give a certain medicine. It’s not a time to make decisions based on what the child would prefer in that moment.
On the other hand we have to hear what listeners say. Preaching is communication, and if the recipient does not receive what the sender intended, then something is not working. It may be that they are hard hearted or don’t know what they need, but on the other hand, we preachers aren’t immune from error either. Perhaps we haven’t realized that our communication is failing to communicate, that our message is not comprehensible, or our application is not connecting. Perhaps we need to hear some feedback that could help us be better preachers.
I firmly believe in the preacher’s answerability to God and in the preacher’s need for feedback. These two things are not mutually exclusive, but there may be times when a balance is needed. It’s always easier to label others and stand secure in our own insecurity, but let’s be sure that critique of our preaching is not actually a legitimate cry for something that we could do better, that they would value more and that God would actually be pleased with!
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail | Leave a Comment »
January 25, 2010 by Peter Mead
It concerns me when truth and testimony seem to be separate. For instance:
There are some Christians that are very strong on the truth issues relating to Jesus – who He is and what He’s done. They are passionately committed to the truth and will not compromise on it.
There are some Christians who have a strong peronal relationship with Jesus. Their testimony is sweet and intimate and personal. They have a deep sense of the love of God and communion with Him.
My concern is that I see too many Christians who have one, but not the other. Strong on truth and standing for what is biblical orthodoxy. Or strong on testimony and shaky on biblical orthodoxy. Surely the Bible is inviting us and urging us to fully grasp both?
As a preacher, do you tend to pronounce truth, but never really offer the invitation for the more personal and intimate walk with the Lord (assuming that will be there)? Or do you tend to make Christianity so winsome, but without the infrastructure of truth in place?
Let’s be sure that we are not imbalanced ourselves, but hold firmly to both of these aspects of the gospel . . . and then be sure to present both.
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Homiletics, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose | 2 Comments »
January 22, 2010 by Peter Mead
There is a common misunderstanding of expositional preaching in relation to Bible stories. I’ve heard the analogy used of a pot of soup. A narrative sermon is like a pot of soup prepared carefully to be enjoyed by the guests – an experience to be savoured. An expositional sermon is like an explanation of the recipe of the pot of soup. Recognizing the difference between narrative preaching and preaching narratives, let’s engage with this analogy briefly.
With some preachers this negative recipe description may be fitting, but that doesn’t make the analogy accurate. An expository preacher is concerned about communicating the point of the passage, rather than seeking to explain the point of every detail. A good expository preacher knows that a story has its own way of carrying and conveying its point. Thus a good expositor preacher, preaching a story, will not dissect it into a lifeless and experience-free recipe, but will communicate the story as effectively and accurately as possible.
What needs to be added to the telling of the story? Any necessary explanation to make sense of it. An underlining of the point, exposed for clarity, but appropriately timed so as not to undermine the impact. If not inherently implicit, some form of emphasis on the contemporary relevance of the story.
What isn’t needed is endless detailed explanation, or numerous unnecessary and disconnected illustrations, or ill-timed statements of the proposition, or commentary-style titles for each segment of the message, or a manner which robs the story of its emotion, tension or energy.
When you preach a story, be sure to be expository . . . but not the wrong kind that feels like the explanation of a recipe!
Posted in Christianity, Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail | Tagged Bible Story, Expositional Preaching, Expository Preaching, Narrative Preaching, Preaching Biblical Stories | Leave a Comment »
January 20, 2010 by Peter Mead
The desire to be relevant to our listeners might sometimes undermine our preaching. What I am thinking about is the count the costs, take up your cross, radical discipleship kind of passages. You know, the ones that seem to be so demanding and so absolute.
It’s not that we don’t believe them, or don’t want to preach them. But sometimes we might desire to be relevant so much that we turn a cannonball of application into a little pea of attempted relevance. We want to connect with people where they are at . . . living normal lives, with normal worries and normal stresses. So we preach a cannonball passage with mushy pea force.
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Perhaps what people need is the full force of the passage brought to bear on their normal lives, instead of scaled down to fit in their normal lives. Be sensitive, be wise and be careful how you say what you say and when. But also be bold, be faithful and be willing to pass on the full force of what the Bible invites us to as followers of Christ.
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Don’t tailor application down to a token level. Preach the Word, and be sure to let God preach to you through that Word first. We all need our lives exposed to the full force of Christ’s call on our lives.
Posted in Genre, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion, Stage 3 - Passage Purpose, Stage 5 - Message Purpose | 2 Comments »
January 19, 2010 by Peter Mead
I am speaking at a conference that I speak at regularly. Tonight I am preaching a message that I have preached before, but it will be unique. Same conference, but different people. The same program, calling for the same title, same content, same focus, same goal. But it will be different.
This group of people are a different group than last time. I have only been around this group for three or four days, but I can sense a real difference, and so do others working at the conference. So as I prepare for tonight’s message I am struck by how I have to put last time out of my mind and not fall into the trap of trying to recreate anything. Tonight has to be tonight, and it needs to be God’s work.
Somehow this setting is just reinforcing in me a truth that sometimes isn’t at the forefront of my thinking. Every preaching situation is unique. Even if the message content is the same, the purpose is the same, the program around it is the same, the preacher is the same (although I’ve changed in six months since last time) . . . but a different set of listeners makes for a different and unique message.
If this is true, then we have to ask ourselves a couple of very simple questions – how alert are we to who we preach to? How dependent are we on God for each preaching occasion?
Simple stuff really, but important. I need to go and continue to prepare.
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion | Leave a Comment »
January 18, 2010 by Peter Mead
Last night I was in conversation with a good friend and fellow preacher. We were talking about another preacher and how thoroughly he knows the Bible. When my friend asked me why I thought he had become so thoroughly saturated with the Bible, I didn’t need to think long about the answer. Obviously he has read it a lot, studied it and preached it. But there’s something else that I’d like to share here: he reads the Bible like a preacher.
That could be a good thing or a bad thing.
The wrong way to read the Bible like a preacher - is to always read looking for a message. This means the Scriptures are always handled as a resource for sermon material. It might mean that the Bible bypasses the heart, life and needs of the preacher, moving straight from God to the listeners’ needs. I suppose it could mean forcing every text into a preconceived sermonic form (seeking to alliterate points, force the text into a certain number of sections, etc.)
The right way to read the Bible like a preacher - is to recognize the inherent communicative nature of Scripture. Every writer was seeking to communicate effectively. As a preacher it is possible to develop the skill of a homiletical approach to hermeneutics. This means that you read the Bible text as communication – you look for the inherent unity that is there, rather than simply chasing down every tangent prompted by each detail. It means you look for the sense of order and progression in the communication. It means you recognize how the writer is developing each idea – the phases of explanation, elements of proof, and attempts to apply the idea. It means you look for the author’s intent as well as their content, with a sensitivity to the needs of the original recipients.
After decades of handling the Bible like that, it shows. I only hope the same will be true of me at the other end of my life.
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Homiletics, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion | Tagged Expository Preaching | 3 Comments »
January 15, 2010 by Peter Mead
John Stott presented the notion of a preacher being a bridge builder. That is, in the act of preaching, the preacher is seeking to build a bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of the listeners. A good expository sermon has to be solidly earthed in the biblical text, and it must touch down definitely in the world of the listeners.
For effective communication to take place, we have to know as much as possible about those with whom we communicate. But the preacher is not a politician or a salesperson or whatever else. The preacher is shepherding, and thus we should not just know the listeners, we need to love them. So as prompt in that direction, here are some quick fire points to ponder:
1. We love, because God first loved us. Loving others is really a response to the love of God for us. As we love Him, our hearts will begin to beat in time with His and consequently we will increase in love for those that He loves.
2. Coldness toward others is an indicator of something more. We can’t claim to love God, but not love our brother. Allow any perceived coldness toward others to prompt prayer and sensitivity to God. Take coldness seriously, God does.
3. We are able to connect with listeners because we also live life in this world. Be sensitive to the struggles you experience and recognize that others face the same types of struggles (and more). Being impervious to the challenges of life doesn’t make you a great leader, it makes you a distant leader.
4. We need to know our listeners. Some preachers are passionate students of the Word of God, but indifferent students of the people of God, or the people God desires to reach.
5. To know people, listen carefully. Yes, we should be observing what is going on, but there’s something about listening. Most people don’t so much want to be seen, but they long to be heard.
6. Sharing life experience helps massively. Don’t be distant from people. Have them in your home. Visit them in theirs. If appropriate visit them at work, share sport, share celebrations, share sorrow, share life.
7. Pray for the listeners. It’s easy to pray a “God please bless all the listeners on Sunday” kind of prayer. Surely the preacher who loves the listener will take the time and make the effort to pray for the listeners.
This list is incomplete, so please add to it by commenting below.
Posted in Audience Analysis, Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion | Leave a Comment »
January 14, 2010 by Peter Mead
I just started Darrell Johnson’s The Glory of Preaching. I can’t offer any sort of review after only a few pages, although I am looking forward to reading more (his earlier book, Experiencing the Trinity is well worth getting hold of). But how about a quote:
Through the never-perfect speech of an always-imperfect speaker, the triune God works the miracle of transformation.
So the book presses on into the glory of preaching, building on three foundational convictions:
1. When the living God speaks, something always happens.
2. When the preacher speaks God’s speech, God speaks.
3. Therefore, when the preacher speaks God’s speech, something always happens.
I will write a review of the book in due course, but for now, why not just ponder these brief quotes? Why not prayerfully ponder the next preaching event you have the privilege of participating in, and pray with expectation that something will happen. What kind of something? Well, what kind of God?
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion | Tagged Darrell Johnson, The Glory of Preaching | Leave a Comment »
January 13, 2010 by Peter Mead
The elements that go together to make up this thing called expository preaching are four. There is the God’s empowering/anointing/superintending element. There is the true meaning of the biblical text element. There is the effective communication of the preacher’s words and life element. And there is the emphasis on the contemporary relevance to the listeners element. Each of these is critical, but surely the first is the hardest to define.
I suppose in simplistic short-hand the key to the message being superintended by the Spirit is to pray throughout the preparation process. The deliberate act of prayer demonstrates the preacher’s dependence on God rather than on self. Obviously this is a simplistic explanation, but not so simplistic that it shouldn’t be expressed. How many preachers grow increasingly deficient when it comes to prayer in their ministry? Of course, prayer offers no guarantee or short-cut, but it is absolutely vital.
If we were to push deeper into this element of preaching, then we would have to look beyond the simple matter of prayer in preparation and consider the whole spirituality of the preacher. We do not preach out of a vacuum of preparation and a pot of resources restricted to that particular sermon. As someone once said, it takes hours to prepare a sermon, but it takes a lifetime to prepare a preacher. There is something about the preacher’s personal walk with the Lord that is essentially linked in to the ministry of that preacher.
But there are other factors to consider. What about the whole issue of anointing and gifting for ministry? What about the spiritual state of the listeners? What about the role of prayer beyond that of the preacher in preparation? What about the jar of clay circumstances sometimes imposed on the preacher?
The necessity of empowerment from God is undeniable. It’s the defining how that all works that’s the challenge!
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion | Leave a Comment »
January 12, 2010 by Peter Mead
My first Bible study software was Bibleworks, which I’ve continued to use through numerous upgrades and continue to use very regularly. A couple of years ago I was given Logos 3, which was a great tool because of the library of reference tools on there. I just upgraded to Logos 4. First impressions?
Wow! This is a significant and impressive upgrade. It seems easy to navigate and use at a simple level, or to plumb the depths of the tools and resources available. The desktop is fully customizable allowing for a study arrangement that suits you. The integration of resources is impressive, saving a lot of time in opening and looking up resources. I could say more, but I’d encourage you to take a look for yourself.
The range of resources available on Logos is growing all the time. Be careful not to purchase individual products before checking to see if they are included in a higher base package – if there are one or two commentary sets you are looking at, chances are you’ll save money by upgrading your base package. Warning . . . if you love books you could very easily get an online shopping addiction!
For more info, go to logos.com
Anyone else have any thoughts on Logos 4 (or Bibleworks, etc.)?
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study | Tagged Bible Software, Bibleworks, Logos 4, logos.com | 1 Comment »
January 11, 2010 by Peter Mead
Most preachers develop of preparation cycle and rhythm. Perhaps it takes five days from start to finish (maybe with an extended period for collecting any interesting tidbits from the point the series are planned). Perhaps you have an eight or ten-day cycle. Perhaps you only preach periodically and so take two or three weeks to study the text and shape the message.
Consider having a slow cooker bubbling on your desk. You could take that literally, but I mean metaphorically. Select a series or a sermon that is several months away, set apart 15-30 minutes a day and work through the text nice and slowly. It allows you to take your time with original language work, whatever level of ability you have. It allows you time to peruse, ponder and pause over the commentaries. It allows you to gradually formulate main ideas of sections, outlines of messages, etc. It allows you to make notes of specific support material.
All the things you may have to rush through in a normal preparation cycle, you can do well with this approach. What’s more, that slow cooked sermon and the textual study that underlies it may be more of a feast for your soul than some of the study and sermons you do at your normal pace in the meantime!
My messages are seven months away. The cooker is on (and I get to enjoy learning Logos 4 at the same time!)
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study | Tagged Expository Preaching, Logos 4, Logos 4 Bible Software | 4 Comments »
January 8, 2010 by Peter Mead
Another brief thought sparked by a good conversation. The friend I was chatting with made an observation. He said that in a lot of churches it seems like the gospel, the good news, is that we are good news. Interesting thought. Imagine if the gospel was just that we are the gospel. But honestly, if that’s it, then it doesn’t seem worth it.
(There are other gospels on the loose today, also not worth it. If the gospel is just that we can be rich in this world – not worth it. If the gospel is just that we can protect the environment – not worth it.)
We won’t get into precise definition of the gospel here, although there is huge need for that. But the basic conclusion was this – the gospel surely is something about what God has done in Christ. If we let the gospel shrink to an us-size gospel, rather than a Christ-size gospel, we do everyone a profound disservice. Now a Christ-size gospel, a work of God gospel, that reaches us and does what only God could do for people who deserve anything but . . . that’s a gospel worth preaching!
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preaching, Religion | Tagged Gospel Preaching | 2 Comments »
January 7, 2010 by Peter Mead
I recently read a book about a certain denomination in this country (not important which denomination here), and it made an interesting observation. Over the course of a generation it seemed like there was a wholesale loss of confidence. This showed in evangelism, in church health, in preaching, etc.
Today I was enjoying conversation with a friend who made a similar observation about the same denomination. A loss of confidence in Scripture, in our ability to understand it, and therefore in our ability to preach it.
This raises the issue of confidence in preaching. Being self-confident is not the goal here. Our confidence has to be in God – in His Spirit, His Word, His work in us and others, His gifting. Tied into this is a certain level of confidence needed in our hermeneutics so that we are not grasping around trying to find “a message” instead of diligently and prayerfully pursuing “the message” in a passage.
What level does your confidence reach in respect to your preaching? Just as importantly, in whom is your confidence as you preach?
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, Preacher's Personal Life, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study | Leave a Comment »
January 6, 2010 by Peter Mead
I just stumbled across a quote that brought a wry smile. I don’t agree with it fully, but it is worth considering. The chapter is written by Carl George, although he doesn’t cite the source for the quote he includes:
“Almost all ministers are well educated theologically. Most seminary graduates have more to teach than anybody wants to learn. If we spend any time at all preparing for a given sermon, we will meet the needs of the listeners. As Dan Baumann, author of a widely used preaching textbook, says, ‘Anyone who simply sets forth the text and gives its meaning distinctly will be accused of freshness.’”
Now I don’t want to make too much of the “almost all ministers are well educated theologically” statement. To do so would mean pointing out that this is probably a uniquely North American phenomenon. I might be tempted to point to the largest denomination in one African country I heard about, in which only four pastors have any college level education, and none of whom have any seminary training.
I agree that most seminary graduates have more to teach than anybody wants to learn. But what about “If we spend any time at all preparing for a given sermon, we will meet the needs of the listeners.” Surely that should be “perceived needs” of the listeners?
And then there’s that final sentence. “Anyone who simply sets forth the text and gives its meaning distinctly will be accused of freshness.”
How true. How sad.
Posted in Christianity, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Preaching, Religion, Stage 2 - Passage Study, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 8 - Message Detail | 1 Comment »
January 5, 2010 by Peter Mead
What if preaching were like hospitality – what would your guests experience?
Arriving at the door, slightly tentative about what may follow, they are rushed in and quickly seated. No time for friendly interaction, there’s a meal to be eaten! Before them the table is empty, but is continually filled as numerous covered serving dishes, pots and plates continually emerge from the kitchen. In your zeal to feed them (and to show them everything you’ve done in preparation), you quickly uncover the first dish and serve a spoonful of carefully prepared french beans (the best result of your culinary efforts). Then as they take their first taste of this fine cuisine you clear their plate, uncover another dish and serve some burned peas, swipe them off the plate and dish out an undercooked steak. This continues with vegetables in various states of readiness, and an assortment of meats from a variety of animals (some familiar, some more exotic). To break the intensity you also serve a big scoop of ice cream, before moving back to the main course again. Your guests look bewildered at the experience, barely managing a bite before receiving more food and the odd sniff of a dessert. Finally after forty minutes you pull away their plate and extend your hand for a firm handshake. They smile cautiously and thank you for all your hard work before filing out of the front door.
I hope this wouldn’t be the case! How much better to be welcomed and made comfortable? How much more satisfying to enjoy the finest meal you could prepare and nothing more? How much more comfortable to not have to experience every culinary idea you had and every cuisine cul-de-sac you entered in the last week as you planned and prepared the meal? How much better to savour the meat chosen, rather than having a whistle-stop tour of all your favourite meats in your meat guide (concordance)? How enjoyable to enjoy the side dishes and vegetables chosen to compliment the main meat of the meal? How much better to partake of dessert when it is appropriate, rather than as a forced interlude in a manic meal? How nice to have time to chew on the good food received? How much better to receive a carefully prepared meal than an overwhelming force-fed food dump? How nice to not have to come up with something polite to say at the door!
It can be a real blessing to be a guest for dinner. It can be even better to be fed from the pulpit!
(Feel free to interpret this post in the comments, perhaps someone else missed what you observed!)
Posted in Christianity, Delivery, Homiletics, How to . . . ?, Stage 4 - Passage Idea, Stage 5 - Message Purpose, Stage 6 - Message Idea, Stage 7 - Message Outline, Stage 8 - Message Detail | Tagged Expository Preaching | 3 Comments »
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