Today's Word

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:13

Today's Preaching Insight...

Planning Preaching Series

In an interview with pastor Mark Batterson, he talks about how they plan preaching series: "We do series the entire year. Occasionally in between--just to take a little bit of a creative breather--we'll do a buffer Sunday. Sometimes we'll call it PBJ Sunday, peanut butter and jelly. We'll kind of strip it down, not a whole lot of creativity. We'll often celebrate communion those weekends and do kind of a back-to-basics message, but by and large it's sermon series.

"We do a staff retreat in November and we begin strategizing our sermon series for the next year. By the time we're done with that meeting, we will have a rough strategy of those series that we're going to do throughout the next year.

"By the way, this might be really kind of a helpful tip: We do an annual survey every year before that retreat, and one of things I do in that survey is pitch a dozen sermon series ideas to our congregation and say, 'Which one of these series would be most helpful to your spiritual growth?' We track those numbers--the ones that come back with a very high percentage; it's a pretty good bet that we're going to do those series. Then, interestingly enough, the ones that come back very low--in other words, the series that people don't want to hear--those series often will end up making the cut, too; because we're wondering, 'Why don't you want to hear about this?'"

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

Don't Scream Too Late!

Passengers on a small commuter plane are waiting for the flight to leave. They're getting a little impatient, but the airport staff assures them that the pilots will be there soon, and the flight can take off. The entrance opens, and two men dressed in pilots' uniforms walk up the aisle. Both are wearing dark glasses, one is using a Seeing Eye dog, and the other is tapping his way up the aisle with a cane.

Nervous laughter spreads through the cabin but the men enter the cockpit, the door closes, and the engines start up. The passengers begin glancing nervously around, searching for some sign that this is just a little practical joke. None is forthcoming. The plane moves faster and faster down the runway, and the people at the windows realize that they're headed straight for the water at the edge of the airport territory. As it begins to look as though the plane will plow into the water, panicked screams fill the cabin. At that moment, the plane lifts smoothly into the air. The passengers relax and laugh a little sheepishly, and soon all retreat into their magazines, secure in the knowledge that the plane is in good hands.

In the cockpit, the co-pilot turns to the pilot and says, "You know, Bob, one of these days, they're gonna scream too late, and we're all gonna die."

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Romans 2:6-10

Today's Preaching Insight...

Superman

Wouldn't it be a comfort to have somebody like Superman watching out for us? Got a flat and no jack? No problem for the Man of Steel! He can pick up the car, hold 'er steady while we change the tire, and never even break a sweat!

But why waste such a magnificent creature on small stuff? Save him for when we're stricken with a fatal disease. Why, he can fly into the future, retrieve the cure, and be back before one second has ticked by! (George Reeves never did that, but the comic book hero used to all the time).

Did Mom and Dad break up? Superman can fix it. Am I saddled with some fear or compulsion, habit or addiction? You know the Man of Tomorrow must be able to help!

After all, that's why they call him "Superman," isn't it?

But, let's face it; reality is more steel than Superman will ever be made of. And fantasizing does little to salve our suffering.

Well, what about God, then? He's real, isn't He?

(To read the article, "Is Anybody Up There?" by Gary Robinson in its entirety at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh: Proverbs from Fourth Graders

A 4th-grade teacher collected well-known proverbs. She gave each child in the class the first half of the proverb, and asked them to come up with the rest. Here is what they came up with:

Better to be safe than... punch a 5th grader.
Strike while the... bug is close.
It's always darkest before... daylight savings time.
Never underestimate the power of... termites.
You can lead a horse to water but... how?
Don't bite the hand that... looks dirty.
No news is... impossible.
A miss is as good as a... Mr.
You can't teach an old dog... math.
If you lie down with dogs... you will stink in the morning.
Love all, trust... me.
The pen is mightier than... the pigs.
An idle mind is the... best way to relax.
Where there is smoke, there's... pollution.
Happy is the bride who... gets all the presents.
A penny saved is... not much.
Two is company, three's... The Musketeers.
None are so blind as... Helen Keller.
Children should be seen and not... spanked or grounded.
If at first you don't succeed... get new batteries.
You get out of something what you... see pictured on the box.
When the blind lead the blind... get out of the way.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you; cry... and you have to blow your nose.
(from The Daily Dilly)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "
Matthew 4:4

Today's Preaching Insight...

I Tweet, Therefore I Am
By Michael Duduit
Executive Editor of Preaching

"What are you doing?"

That's the question atop my Twitter home page, followed by an empty box into which I am expected to deposit my activities, plans, dreams, hopes and collected wisdom—all in 140 characters or less.

That's one of the things about Twitter that sticks out: You have a grand total of 140 letters, characters and spaces to record your thoughts for a single "tweet." (That's what they call the messages you create in Twitter. I know, it's all very cute.) Of course, some people do cheat, creating a sequence of tweets that are connected. The only problem is that you have to read them in reverse order to make sense. (I've heard a few sermons that had similar structural problems.)

Frankly, I don't typically find the 140-character limit to be all that limiting. Maybe it's because of learning to write tightly in my journalist days. Maybe it's because I'm not doing all that much or due to my having a paucity of wisdom to share. Some preachers, however, clearly struggle to keep their tweets within such limits. (I suspect they have the same problem on Sunday mornings.)

The preachers I follow on Twitter use the site for a variety of purposes: Some talk about their activities (such as one preacher today telling us he's on the way to get a pedicure—more information than I really needed to know); others share brief thoughts or inspiring comments (some more inspiring than others); others suggest interesting Web links; and a few carry on conversations with each other. That latter one is particularly interesting when I follow one of those preachers but not the other, thus insuring that I am tuned in to half of a conversation.

It does seem to me that there are several useful purposes for which preachers can use Twitter. Here's my top 10 list:

1. To alert church members to that terrific new sermon series on the history of the Jebusites, starting this Sunday!
2. To link to that third major point from last Sunday's sermon—the one you had to omit when you ran out of time.
3. To make sure your other preacher friends know when you are doing something cool that they aren't doing. (All in a spirit of humility, of course.)
4. To find a last-minute lunch buddy. (Hopefully one who picks up the check.)
5. To share that great quote you meant to use in last week's sermon but forgot until it was too late.
6. To ask your preacher friends to help you with a great illustration for next Sunday's sermon.
7. To get to use that great comeback that didn't come to you until the guy was already gone.
8. To have yet one more excuse to justify to your wife why you need to buy that new iPhone.
9. To compete with your old seminary buddies over who can get the most "followers"—people who subscribe to reading your tweets—unless, of course, you went to seminary with John Maxwell (34,000-plus followers), Max Lucado (25,000-plus followers) or Rick Warren (14,000-plus followers—but then he just started last week).
10. To alert the deacons when you are going out on visitation. (Just don't tell them that you have named your new boat Visitation.)

Michael Duduit is the executive editor of Preaching and Dean of the College of Christian Studies at Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina. You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MichaelDuduit.

Today's Extra...

Christ, Head of the Church
By J. Michael Shannon
Academic Dean and Professor of Preaching, Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Cincinnati Christian Unversity, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Can you believe it? The head of a baby Jesus statue was knocked off and carried away by vandals. It happened in Wauwatosa, Wis., at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church. The church members understandably are angry and looking to get the statue fixed. If the head is not found, the church will have to replace the entire statue at a cost of $12,000.

As disturbing as the incident is, we often have done something worse without even knowing it. The Bible says Christ is the head of the church, and frequently we assume we are. Understanding that Christ is the head of the church will not solve all our problems, and we still will debate and discuss what we think Jesus would have us do; but it is guaranteed that if we take Jesus away from His place as head of the church it is a prescription for disaster.

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone."
Romans 9:31-32

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preaching Occurs in Context of Relationship

In his book Reaching Generation Next, Lewis Drummond quotes the late H.H. Farmer (from The Servant of the Word): "Preaching is telling me something. But it is not merely telling me something. It is God actively probing me, challenging my will, calling me for decision, offering one His succor, through the only medium which the nature of His purpose permits Him to use, the medium of a personal relationship. It is as though, to adopt the Apostle's words, 'God did beseech me by you.' It is God's 'I-thou' relationship with me carried on your 'I-thou' relationship with me, both together coming out of the heart of His saving purpose which is moving on through history to its consummation in His Kingdom."

Drummond adds: "The activity of preaching means much more than merely conveying the content of the Christian faith. Preaching Christ is a unique activity. It becomes an event, an event wherein God Himself actually meets and addresses people personally."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book...

Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow

When sorrow comes into our lives, many questions surface: why did God allow it to happen, why wasn't there healing, and much more. Nancy Guthrie brings biblical insights to bear on such questions in her new book Hearing Jesus Speak Into Your Sorrow (Tyndale House). This can be a resource for preaching and teaching but also a helpful volume to share with families who struggle with loss.

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3

Today's Preaching Insight...

Why Leviticus?

When he launched Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, Rob Bell began by preaching through the book of Leviticus -- not the obvious choice for most church planters! In an article for the PreachingToday newsletter, he explains: "First, I didn't want the church to succeed because we put together the right resources. I wanted the church to flourish on the power of the Spirit alone. I knew opening with Leviticus -- foreign words to today's culture -- was risky. But the bigger the risk, the more need for the Spirit and the more glory for God to get.

"Second, unchurched people often perceive the Bible as obsolete. If that crowd could discover God speaking to them through Old Testament law, it would radically change their perception that Christianity is archaic. I wanted people to know that the whole biblical story -- even Leviticus -- is alive.

"The Scriptures are a true story, rooted in historical events and actual people. But many people don't see the connection between the Moses part and the Jesus part. But Moses' Leviticus is all about Jesus. The whole story. Every message in my series ended with Jesus. Every picture is about Jesus. Every detail of every sacrifice ultimately reflects some detail of Jesus' life.

"This teaching hit home. Many of my listeners wanted to make sense of the Bible, yet they knew only fragments of the story. Leviticus taught us all to ask the difficult questions: How does this connect with entire biblical narrative? How does this event point to the cross? How do I fit into the story?

"We discovered that the Bible is an organic whole: these concepts do connect, these images do make sense. For the first time, many in our congregation began to realize, 'This story is my story. These people are my people. This God is my God.'" (Click here to read the full article.)

Today's Extra...

Christmas, Traditions

In northern Europe, a walk through a winter's forest is a bleak affair—white, stark, cold, lifeless except for occasional boughs of green holly bearing bright red berries. In Medieval times, these boughs were brought inside to brighten the interior of the small houses. As Christianity spread, people noticed that the thorny points of the holly leaves could symbolize our Lord's crown of thorns. The red berries, His blood. The green color, the new life He gives. Even the word "holly" resembles the word "holy."

How interesting that all nature points to Him who created the earth and died for the world. Romans 1:20 says, "Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made."

As you see the blue skies today or the falling snow or the green boughs of holly in homes, stores, and offices, remember: The baby in the manger is the Maker of the universe, and the Christ child we worship is the creator of the cosmos.
(Turning Point Daily Devotionals, 12-20-08)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."
Mark 11:25

Today's Preaching Insight...

Let the Prayers Flow

I want us to learn how to pray. If we were going to learn about leadership, we would study Winston Churchill. If we were going to learn about heart surgery, we would probably study Dr. Michael DeBakey. If I wanted to learn about evangelism, I would go to Billy Graham. If I want to learn about prayer, I want to go to Jesus, whose life was a living prayer, who prayed incessantly, unceasingly. Jesus, the man of prayer, has something to teach us, not an obscure character in the back channels of the Old Testament in only two or three verses. Jabez never appears anywhere else.

Sigmond Freud said, "The problem of the world is repressed sexuality." I believe in America there is a repressed spiritually. I think the secular media and secular nature of our culture has so suppressed our spiritually that it has to run out somewhere because it's jammed up inside us. Because it has not been trained, it runs out in all kinds of immature channels.

I believe Jesus has something to teach us about prayer. The first thing Jesus has to tell us is that our goal in prayer is not to feel good but to do good. Doing good is the goal of Jesus. We need to understand that we have this turned around. Shallow Jabez pray-ers become spiritual couch potatoes, summoning God to run their errands while the world moves on toward hell. If you understand the prayers of Jesus, Jesus brings us in, gives us strength in season and out of season to do His work and His will. The only thing the disciples ever asked Jesus to teach them was to pray, "Lord, teach us to pray." I wonder why they did that.

(To read the entire article, "Jesus and Prayer: Programming the God Machine" by William L. Self at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Prayer, Sin

A little boy was overheard praying, "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am." Is this the unspoken prayer of many to whom we preach?

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12

Today's Preaching Insight...

Don't Neglect Biblical Content or Application

In an article on "Blending Biblical Content and Life Application" at PreachingTodaySermons.com, Haddon Robinson writes: "A church in Dallas invited me to preach on John 14. That's not an easy passage. It is filled with exegetical questions about death and the Second Coming. How do you explain, 'If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself?' How is Jesus preparing that place? Does Jesus mean we won't go to be with Him until He comes back? What about soul sleep? I spent most of my week studying the text and reading the commentaries to answer questions like these.

"When I got up to preach, I knew I had done my homework. Though the issues were tough, I had worked through them and was confident I was ready to deliver solid biblical teaching on the assigned passage.

"Five minutes into the sermon, though, I knew I was in trouble. The people weren't with me. At the 10-minute mark, people were falling asleep. One man sitting near the front began to snore. Worse, he didn't disturb anyone! No one was listening.

"Even today, whenever I talk about that morning, I still get an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. What went wrong? The problem was that I spent the whole sermon wrestling with the tough theological issues, issues that intrigued me. Everything I said was valid. It might have been strong stuff in a seminary classroom; but in that church, in that pulpit, it was a disaster.

"What happened? I didn't speak to the life questions of my audience. I answered my questions, not theirs. Some of the men and women I spoke to that day were close to going home to be with the Lord. What they wanted to know was, 'Will he toss me into some ditch of a grave, or will he take me safely home to the other side? When I get to heaven, what's there?'

"They wanted to hear me say: 'You know, Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us. The Creator of the universe has been spending 2,000 years preparing a home for you. God only spent six days creating the world, and look at its beauty! Imagine, then, what the home He has been preparing for you must be like. When you come to the end of this life, that's what He will have waiting for you.'

"That's what I should have preached. At least I should have started with their questions. But I didn't.

"It's also possible to make the opposite error--to spend a whole sermon making practical applications without rooting them in Scripture. I don't want to minimize Scripture. It's possible to preach a skyscraper sermon--one story after another with nothing in between. Such sermons hold people's interest but give them no sense of the eternal. Talking about 'mansions over the hilltop' comes from country-western music, not the Bible. A sermon full of nonbiblical speculations is ultimately unsatisfying.

"Some of the work I did in my study, then, could have helped the people answer their questions. The job is to combine biblical content and life application in an effective way."  (Click here to read the full article.)

Today's Extra...

Miracles, Deliverance

In a recent issue of his Friday Evening devotional newsletter, Tom Barnard includes this story: Eddie Rickenbacker was a fighter pilot and Ace in World War I. His life was a kaleidoscope of events centered around airplanes and cars. He accumulated more than 300 hours in combat flying during the First World War and had more than 20 "victories" (where he survived and an enemy pilot did not). Later he was awarded the highest honors for bravery in battle by the United States and France.

During World War II, he served as a consultant to the military in England, as well as the United States. In October 1942, he was sent on a tour of the Pacific theater to deliver a secret message to General Douglas MacArthur. After visiting bases in Hawaii, his plane--a B-17 Flying Fortress--was en route to another military base in the Pacific when navigation failure caused the plane to stray miles off course, eventually losing fuel and forcing the pilots to crash-land into the rough seas of the Pacific Ocean.

Amazingly, the crew of eight survived the crash, but with injuries--one fatally. They made it aboard their life raft, but with very few provisions. Their food and water supply was exhausted in three days. The crew fought the sun, weather and sharks. They needed a miracle.

On the eighth day, the crew had an impromptu devotional service, praying for a miracle. Time dragged by very slowly. Trying to take a nap, Rickenbacker pulled his military cap over his nose. Suddenly, he felt something land on the top of his cap. It was a seagull. He carefully reached up and captured the gull. It wasn't much of a meal for the men, but it was something. After devouring most of the bird, they used the intestines for bait, with which they caught fish and survived until they were rescued--after 24 days at sea.

Years later, Billy Graham asked Rickenbacker to share the story of his life-threatening experience and the events that led up to his affirming faith in Christ. Eddie said, "I have no explanation except that God sent one of His angels to rescue us." God answered their prayers by sending an angel in the form of a seagull.

Do you sometimes feel like you are adrift in a sea of frustration and hopelessness, praying for a miracle but only seeing endless sea and insufficient provisions for the trip? Pray to God for a miracle. Pray for an angel of the Lord to locate you and deliver you. His angels are always near. Watch for them. (To subscribe to Friday Evening, send your name and email address to Barnard at mailto:barnard22@cox.net.)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:36-38

Today's Preaching Insight...

What Preaching Alone Can Do

In a recent article for www.PreachingToday.com, Craig Brian Larson talks about some things that biblical preaching can do that "individual Bible reading, memorization and meditation does not:

Good preaching rescues us from our self-deceptions and blind spots, for left to ourselves we tend to ignore the very things in God's Word that we most need to see. Preaching is done in community, covering texts and topics outside of our control.

Preaching brings us before God's Word in the special presence of the Holy Spirit, who indwells the gathered church.

Good preaching challenges us to do things we otherwise would not and gives us the will to do them. God has put within human nature a remarkable power to spur others to take action.

Good preaching brings us into the place of corporate obedience rather than merely individual obedience. This is a uniquely corporate discipline the church does together as a community, building up individuals and the community at the same time. We are not just an individual follower of Christ; we are members of His church and are called to obey the call of God together with others hearing the same Word.

Good preaching contributes to spiritual humility by disciplining us to sit under the teaching, correction and exhortation of another human. Relying on ourselves alone for food from the Word can lead to a spirit of arrogance and spiritual independence.

Good preaching gives a place for a spiritually qualified person to protect believers from dangerous error. The apostles repeatedly warned that untrained and unstable Christians -- as well as mature believers -- are frequently led astray by false doctrines. Christians are sheep; false teachers are wolves; preachers are guardian shepherds. A preacher is a person called and gifted by God with spiritual authority for the care of souls in the context of God's church." (Click here to read the full article.)

Today's Extra...

Christmas Gifts

Here are a few suggestions for special gifts:

• a firm handshake to a shaky soul,

• a kind word to a lonely person,

• a warm smile to the disheartened,

• a sincere concern for someone troubled,

a feeling of compassion for the neglected,

• a comforting thought for the bereaved,

• a respect for the dignity of others,

• a defense of the rights of individuals,

• a word of witness to help a seeking soul,

• a Merry Christmas to all.

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:34-35

Today's Preaching Insight...

10 Reasons You're Probably Going to Fail

In a recent blog posting, Tony Morgan talks about reasons why leaders fail:

It's not your passion. If it doesn't make your heart beat fast or cause your mind to race when you're trying to sleep, you're probably doing the wrong thing.

You don't have a plan. You need a vision, and you need to identify specific steps to make that vision become reality. That includes a financial plan. (I happen to believe you need direction from God on this.)

You're waiting for it to be perfect. Test-drive it. Beta-test that new idea. You'll fall into the trap of inaction if you think it has to be absolutely right from day one.

You're not willing to work hard. Everything worth pursuing in my life has involved discipline and perseverance.

It'll outgrow you. Keep learning. Keep growing. But more importantly, build a team of people including leaders who can be who you're not.

You've had success in the past. I've watched organizations hang on to a good idea for too long. Time passes. Momentum fades. It's risky to let go of the past and jump on the next wave.

You're unwilling to stop doing something else. Complexity is easy. Simplicity takes discipline. You can't build a healthy marriage if you're unwilling to give up dating other women. Who/what do you need to stop dating?

You won't build a team of friends. Anyone can hire from a resume. You need to find people you want to share life with. In the long run, great relationships will get you out of bed in the morning.

You won't have the tough conversations. When breakdown happens (and it always does), someone needs to put on their big-boy pants and initiate the difficult conversation that leads to relational healing.

You're afraid of failure. When fear consumes you, it will cause you to do stupid things. You'll let negativity distract you. You'll embrace the known and grow comfortable with mediocrity. The more often you fail, though, the more often you'll find success.

Today's Extra...

Emmanuel - God with Us

Max Lucado tells about his neighbor who was trying to teach his 6-year-old son how to shoot a basketball. They were out in the backyard. The father shot a couple of times, saying, "Do it just like that, son; it's real easy." The little boy tried very hard but he couldn't get the ball 10 feet into the air. The little fellow got more and more frustrated. Finally, after hearing his father talk about how easy it was for the 10th time, the boy said, "It's easy for you up there. You don't know how hard it is from down here."

You and I never can say that about God. When Jesus became man and lived among us, He walked where we walk; He suffered what we suffer; He was tempted as we are tempted. He was Emmanuel, which means, "God is with us."
(Bill Bouknight, Collected Sermons)

[Judy Harder]

Today's Word for Pastors...

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear.
Luke 1:41-42

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Sermon as Worship

In the book Preaching and Professing (Eerdmans), Baylor literature professor Ralph Wood writes: "The sermon is the center of most Protestant worship, our veritable sacrament, because there we encounter Christ himself in the heard Word. The Swiss Calvinists of the sixteenth century went so far as to declare (in the Second Helvitic Confession of 1566) that 'the preaching of the Word of God is the Word of God.' Thus the gospel is not only something to be preached, the gospel is preaching itself.

"This is a radical claim, but I think it is exactly Paul's point. Fides ex auditu. 'Faith cometh by hearing,' we remember from the King James translation, 'and hearing by the Word of God.' ...

"Christian worship that is centered on the proclamation of the gospel is not the safest but the most perilous activity of the week. The worship hour is the hour of great risk. Something splendid occurs when we come to hear the Word proclaimed, or else something terrible. When the Word is not preached, everything else fails; indeed, an awful sacrilege has occurred. Nothing can salvage a service that is void of true proclamation. Someone has described hell as a perpetual church service minus the presence of God. I would add that hell is an interminable sermon without the proclamation of the gospel." (Click here to learn more about the book Preaching and Professing.)

Today's Extra...

Preparation

In his blog, Mike Glenn shares the following: "You don't have to talk to me very long to understand I am an avid fan of college football. Most of the teams have reported back to begin practice, and we are days away from the first games! I can't wait! But as intense as every Saturday promises to be, do you realize that most of the games are being won and lost right now -- before they are even played? Who shows up in shape? Who was watching extra film? Who is most focused and determined in practice right now? People who study successful men and women always point out how intentional they are with their time and work. Every action today is done with tomorrow's contest in mind -- a contest they will be most prepared to win.

"I remind you all of the time that we have to 'get ready' because there will come a time when we will have to 'be ready.' The contest will begin, and the time for preparation will be over. We will win or lose by how prepared we are for the moment. We will face temptation. We know that moment is coming. What are you doing right now to get ready to resist that temptation? We know someone will ask you about your relationship with Jesus. What are you doing to get ready for that moment? Just as football games are won in practice, spiritual victories are won and lost in our preparation. The moment is coming...and what we are doing right now will determine how well we do." (Click here to visit Mike's blog.)