Sermon Prep Fundamentals

I have had classes on preaching. I have preached now for more than 20 years and I am still trying to become a better preacher. I have also found that almost no two preachers prepare the same way. I am not sure there is a right or wrong way to prepare a sermon, but I do believe the fundamentals of preparation must be the same. I think that the pattern of a faithful sermon is demonstrated in Scripture. A faithful sermon must explain the text, apply the text to the listener, and point the listener to Jesus. There are many who merely deliver religious speeches, but if the pattern is ignored it cannot be qualified as a sermon. Continue reading “Sermon Prep Fundamentals” →

September 25, 2017 0

The Long Book Challenge: Acts Edition

Serving the local church through pulpit ministry is more often than not done through a process of planning. Many aspects are examined when planning for preaching. At any given time, I try to take into consideration the state of the church, the needs of the folks, the direction in which I believe God is leading the church, prayer, the calendar, and at times local, state, national and even international events. The process of planning for preaching must stretch the preacher and serve the congregation faithfully with the goal of teaching the whole counsel of God. I am committed to expositional preaching. I believe that God inspired the 66 books of the Bible and the best way I can serve the church is by preaching through books. I have preached expositional messages on various subjects and doctrines. I have preached expositional messages through shorter books in both the Old and New Testament but I had never successfully preached through a longer book. Recently, in about 40 messages, I preached through the entirety of Acts. Continue reading “The Long Book Challenge: Acts Edition” →

September 13, 2017 0

Broken Leader & Broken Followers

Although a leader must lead every person with value and dignity, a leader must never forget that all people are sinners. As a personal testimony, the apostle Paul wrote, “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” (Romans 7:14-15). People sin because they are sinners. Being a “sinner” is a state of existence not a description of action. Even as people have been made in the image of God, they are fallen. Millard J. Erickson wrote, “The Bible’s depiction of the human race is that it today is actually in an abnormal condition… In a very real sense, the only true human beings were Adam and Eve before the fall, and Jesus. All the others are twisted, distorted, corrupted samples of humanity. It is therefore necessary to look at the original human state in Christ if we would correctly assess what it means to be human.” As a leader, is important to remember that people are to be treated with value and dignity even as they act in contradiction to that value and dignity. Furthermore, a leader must remember that it will not be his first instinct to treat people with value and dignity but rather because he is a sinner leading sinners he will have a desire to live a life that is self-serving. The natural tendency for all people, including the leader is to seek their own well-being and to live out their own desires. As stated above, the human existence is a twisted one, deeply marred by sin. People do not naturally follow leaders, and leaders don’t naturally seek the well-being of others.

A leader must practice the discipline of viewing others as individuals made in the image of God. The way the leader views people will result in the way he treats people. In order for a leader to view people correctly and treat people correctly he must submit to God’s leadership. A leader who submits to God’s leadership will correct his thoughts on all things by the Word of God. A leader must submit to God’s leadership in how he leads other people. The apostle Paul wrote, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4). A genuine leader is not one who functions by his own ability but is one who submits to God’s leadership. J. Oswald Sanders wrote, “Spiritual leadership requires superior spiritual power, which can never be generated by the self. There is no such thing as a self-made spiritual leader. A true leader influences others spiritually only because the Spirit works in and through him to a greater degree than in those he leads.” A genuine spiritual leader must be one who submits to God’s leadership out of an understanding of dependence that the task of which he has been called is one in which he is truly inadequate.

A leader must live with the awareness of his inadequate view of people apart from God, his inadequate ability to lead people apart from God and his ignorance on where to lead apart from God. Every leader must live in constant awareness of his sinfulness and inability to lead other people in the tasks that are pleasing to God. Henry and Richard Blackaby wrote, “The primary purpose of spiritual leaders is not to achieve their goals but to accomplish God’s will… spiritual leaders have a God-given responsibility to do all they can to lead their people on to God’s agenda.” A genuine spiritual leader is a leader who is dependent on God. A leader must be willing to submit his ideas, his strategies and his goals to accomplish the will of God. R. Scott Rodin wrote, “Godly leadership is the miracle of God’s use of our earthen vessels for the glorious work of His kingdom.” A leader has a task that is greater than himself, it is a task that requires the instruction, direction and power of God to accomplish. A leader is one who is aware of his personal sinfulness and is dependent on God for a correct view of others and on the power of the Holy Spirit to treat others as Christ would treat them. Continue reading “Broken Leader & Broken Followers” →

October 16, 2013 0

The Fundamentals of Impact

It is easy to lose focus on the fundamentals, the building blocks, as we carry out the mission to which God has called us. Each of us has a mission to which God has called but our daily activity can be like a snow ball, picking up clutter along the way. In the life of a leader, there is a constant need for the discipline to refocus our lives to ensure that we continue to carry out the mission to which God has called us. Refocusing maintains the aim of the original mission.

It is easy to lose focus of the fundamentals within pastoral ministry; there are always projects to work on, people to call and lessons to prepare. In the midst of all of this good work, fundamentals can easily be overlooked. A leader must maintain the discipline of returning to the fundamentals which are the building blocks of greater things. The late, great Coach of the UCLA Bruins, John Wooden, was a master at emphasizing the importance of fundamentals. Wooden wrote, “…on the first day of practice I personally showed players how to put on their sweat socks to prevent blisters…Socks, put on correctly, may prevent a turnover, which in turn may win a game. What if that game is for the national championship?” The stakes are much higher in pastoral ministry only the results are not as readily seen as the wins and losses of an athletic competition. One of the simple fundamentals of pastoral ministry is discipleship.

The pastoral ministry is too important to not personally make disciples. The calling of God is too great not to personally make disciples. The Pastoral ministry is too demanding not to practice the discipline of removing the clutter that accumulates with the task and returning to the simple task of putting your socks on correctly and teaching others to put on their socks correctly as well. A Pastor must be a disciple maker, not just from the pulpit but on an individual basis. The task of disciple making does not come with fanfare and does not happen with a crowd but it is the way that great men and great churches are built.

Jesus was a disciple maker. Jesus commanded His disciples not to go but to make disciples, they were already going. If you make a close study of Jesus’ disciple making process, you will see that He taught His disciples in life, as they were going, not in an institutionalized class. I was struck by this statement by Warren Wiersbe in my personal time with God. He wrote, “The older generation must provide for the next generation, not only materially but most of all spiritually. “Senior saints” must be examples of believers and encourage the younger generation to trust the Lord and wholly follow Him.” Maybe you read these words and as you assess your life you do not see a faith that reproduces a life worth emulating. If that is the case, please be willing to ask for help. There is no shame in asking for help, only in failing to grow. Personal growth takes an investment.

Pastor, wipe away the clutter and begin to pour into someone’s life. Do you want to see the church of which God has made you a steward to make an impact on your community? In order to make an impact you must build men, leaders, and disciples to multiply your effort. Pastor, return to the fundamental task of “…teaching them to observe all things…” Let’s impact the world for Jesus’ fame! Continue reading “The Fundamentals of Impact” →

April 12, 2013 0