Keswick Convention

I had the privilege of attending the Keswick Convention for the first time this year. I had a little role in the young adults stream – K2. But I also got to enjoy the Bible readings and evening celebrations, as well as a couple of afternoon sessions. I have to say, I have become a fan of Keswick (good preaching, decent music, no pre-registration, great town, perfect weather . . . ok, that last bit was a lie.)

It was a blessing to be around people hungry for the Word. I laugh as I remember walking down Helvellyn Street toward the main tent and being overtaken by an older gentleman, probably in his seventies, practically running in order to get in for the Bible teaching. Whatever your age, a hunger for the Word of God is a sign of sure spiritual health!

It was a blessing to receive some real feasts from the Word. Actually, the Sunday morning message I heard in one of the churches was enough for the week. But there were other feasts too. The morning Bible readings were excellent – good content, high relevance, great energy, contagious enthuiasm. The more relaxed afternoon sessions I attended were a blessing too. For many, I’m sure, a week at Keswick must be a welcome feeding from God’s Word (especially for the many coming from churches where the diet is poor).

It was a preacher’s pleasure to watch and learn as others were preaching. Not every message hit the same heights. But there were things to learn about preaching in every message. Things about content, structure, unity of message, use of illustration, aspects of delivery. It was great to be able to observe and sit under seven other preachers in a week. We preachers can learn a lot when we watch and listen, whether the experience is generally positive or negative. And each time, irrespective of the preacher, the passage is pure gold, the pondering of which will effect the gradual transformation of our hearts and lives.

It was great to be in a huge crowd for singing too! As a poor singer it is great once in a while to be in a crowd big enough to make me less concerned about ruining the experience of those in front of me during the sung worship times. Ironic that when we get into the biggest crowd ever, we presume our voices will be perfected and able to hit the right notes every time!

Someone has said that you know it was a good sermon when you find yourself asking how the preacher knew all about you. That’s a nice sentiment that points to the importance of applicational relevance in preaching.

Now allow me to give you my statement. This is not a complete statement, or a forever statement. It’s a today statement. I heard a great sermon this morning. (This post was written a couple of weeks back at Keswick, in case you’re wondering!) So I heard a great sermon. Here’s my statement, “you know it was a good sermon when twelve hours later you find yourself still pondering the powerful but simple take home truth, reminiscing over the clear images used to drive home the main points, reflecting on how engaged you felt by the message and the messenger, how excited you were, and still are, to look at the text, to pray through all that hit home, to take stock of your life in light of the text, to respond and be transformed by the message.”

That’s my sentiment tonight that points to the importance of so knowing your text that you can take listeners by the hand and enter into it fully, of so thinking through your presentation that you have clear and concise main thoughts, an overwhelming master idea, an engaging manner of delivery, a contagious energy in presentation, a reliance on the Lord to move in peoples’ lives, and a targeted relevance to the listeners before you.

Simple really, pull those things together and you’ll probably preach a decent message!