Elk County Forum

       
Today's Word for Pastors...

I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.
Psalm 89:1

Today's Preaching Insight...

Link preaching to small groups to enhance retention

Pastor Larry Osborne of North Coast Church in Vista, CA, believes that listeners better remember the sermon content now that his church has linked its small group discussions to the topic of the past week's message. In a recent article for the SermonCentral.com newsletter, he writes: "The first thing I noticed was that once we started connecting our small group questions to the sermon, people were noticeably more attentive. I wish I could take credit for improved material, delivery or style. But I hadn't changed. What had changed was the congregation's awareness that they were going to discuss the message later in their small group. As a result, they were much more attentive.

And to my surprise, I discovered that attentiveness is contagious. When everyone else in the room is dialed in, it seems to send a subtle, perhaps subliminal, message that this is important stuff -- don't miss it. So most people work a little harder to hang in even during the slow (should I saying boring?) parts of the message.

The most obvious sign of the congregation's increased attentiveness was a marked increase in note taking. That alone had a significant impact upon the memorableness of my sermons. Educational theorists have long pointed out that we forget most of what we hear unless we also interact with the material visually, verbally or physically. In short, taking notes dramatically increases recall. And tying small groups to the sermon dramatically increases note taking." (Click here to read the full article.)]

Today's Extra...

Compassion

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here," she said to the old man.

She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night, the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength.

Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then, she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.

"Who was that man?" he asked.

The nurse was startled. "He was your father," she answered.

"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."

"Then why didn't you say something when I left you with him?"

"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."  (from Cybersalt Digest)]

Preaching magazine is the premier resource for those who proclaim the Word. To begin your own subscription and get a free year of issues, go to http://magazine.preaching.com/subscribe/.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:24

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preaching God's Story, Not Ours

In the Winter 2007 issue of Fuller Seminary's Theology News & Notes, New Testament scholar Marianne Meye Thompson asks: "What would it mean to let the gospel be your guide in preaching? In order to reflect on that counsel, we must come back to the question, what is the gospel? First and foremost, the gospel is God's action, God's story, God's saving initiative toward the world which he has created. It bears repeating: the gospel is God's story.

To preach the gospel, then, means sentences in which God is the subject of active verbs. Beginning with accounts in Genesis and moving through the book of Revelation, it's easy to make quite a list of all that God does: God speaks, creates, judges, calls, sends, saves, delivers, feeds, clothes, promises, loves, shows mercy and kindness, does justice, and so on. To preach the gospel is to proclaim the accounts of the Scriptures in light of the fact that their central character is God, and that the gospel is from God and about the God who is Father, Son, and Spirit.

I am reminded of a sermon I heard on John 11, the raising of Lazarus. The story is the climactic "sign" in the Gospel of John testifying to Jesus' identity as the resurrection and the life. Jesus' sign of raising the dead bears witness to the glory of God, that is, to the power of God to give life to the dead through Jesus. The fledgling preacher told the story, leading up to the dramatic moment when Jesus calls out, "Lazarus, come forth!" This story is one that embodies the gospel in all its simplicity—the power of Jesus, the one sent by God, and his word to give life. But, apparently feeling it inadequate, the preacher added, "And now Lazarus had to make a decision." It is, of course, a ludicrous picture: a dead man deciding whether or not to obey the word of Jesus! But the turn of this sermon illustrates something pernicious in much modern preaching: it is so easy to make the most powerful of Gospel stories center on human action and not on God, to think that somehow our actions, our decisions, are the heart and center of the gospel story. To make that move is to sell out the gospel."
(Click here to read the full article.)

Today's Extra...

Dying

During an impassioned sermon on death and facing judgment, the visiting evangelist said forcefully, "every member of this church is going to die and face judgment."  Early on in the sermon he noticed a gentleman smiling on the front row.

The minister kept pushing his theme, "Every member of this church is going to die."  The guy smiled even more while everyone else in the congregation had a very somber look.  In an effort to get through to the guy, the preacher repeated it several more times forcefully, "EACH MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH IS GOING TO DIE."

Each time the phrase was repeated, the man smiled more.  This really got the preacher wound up and he preached even harder.  The man still smiled.  The preacher finally walked down off the platform to stand just in front of the smiling man and shouted, "I SAID EACH MEMBER OF THIS CHURCH IS GOING TO DIE."

At the end of the service the man was smiling from ear to ear. While everyone else was looking pretty grim from the prospect of entering eternity, the man seemed quite happy.  After the service the preacher jumped down off the platform and worked through the crowd to find the man.  Pulling him aside, the preacher said, "I don't get it. Every time I said, 'Every member of this church is going to die,' you were laughing.  I want to know why you did that?"

The man looked the preacher square in the eye and said confidently, "I'm not a member of this church."  (from James Merritt)

:angel:

July 08, 2011     

Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
Acts 10:43

Today's Preaching Insight...

Teens confused about how to get to heaven

A recent LifeWay Research survey of American teens shows that most believe in heaven but have mixed views about how to get there.

According to a May 23, 2007 Baptist Press story: Results show that 69 percent of teens believe heaven exists. Also, a majority strongly agree with the traditional Christian belief in Jesus Christ's death for their sins as the reason they will go to heaven (53 percent). Yet while many teens believe they will go to heaven because of their belief in Jesus Christ, one-quarter trust in their own kindness to others (27 percent) or their religiosity (26 percent) as their means to get to heaven.

Out of the 69 percent of the teens who strongly or somewhat agree they will go to heaven because Jesus Christ died for their sins, 60 percent also agree that they will go to heaven because they are religious and 60 percent also agree they will go to heaven because they are kind to others.

That leaves approximately 28 percent of American teenagers who are trusting only in Jesus Christ as their means to get to heaven.

"This is where confusion and perhaps a bit of self-made salvation have crept in," Scott Stevens, LifeWay's director of student ministry, noted." Why would teenagers feel the need to add anything to Jesus' work on the cross? Maybe it's because so many of them are fully engulfed in a performance-based existence where they are constantly striving to earn the favor and acceptance of those around them, especially those in positions of authority. How often do these teens experience unconditional love at home, school, or even in their church?"

"The central theme of Christianity is the person and work of Jesus Christ -- His death and resurrection," said Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research, adding, "It is surprising that only about half the teenagers who attended a Christian church in the last month are depending solely on the grace of Jesus Christ to get to heaven."  (Click here to read the full article.)

Today's Extra...

Grace, Salvation

David Jeremiah points out that in the 1980s, the Smith-Barney brokerage firm made a series of commercials in which distinguished actor John Houseman spoke the famous line, "We make money the old-fashioned way. We earn it!" Sometime later, based on that commercial, a Christian cartoonist showed some Pharisees arguing with Jesus about salvation. Their punch line? "We get our salvation the old-fashioned way. We earn it!"

Those commercials were a success partly because they appealed to something in fallen human nature: the desire to work and pay our own way. The Bible commends that attitude in many respects (2 Thess. 3:10), but not when it comes to salvation. The problem with earning our salvation is that we could never do enough. Committing one sin is the same as committing them all. And once a sin is committed, it's like a spoken word -- there's no getting it back. The biggest challenge facing the early church was helping Jewish believers set aside law and tradition as a way of earning approval with God.

Don't try to be saved the old-fashioned way. Receive salvation the way God offers it through Christ: as a gift of grace through faith. (Turning Point Daily Devotional, 5-29-07)

Preaching magazine is the premier resource for those who proclaim the Word. To begin your own subscription and get a free year of issues, go to http://magazine.preaching.com/subscribe/.

  :angel:

Preaching Daily
     

Today's Word for Pastors...

This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
Isaiah 48:17

Today's Preaching Insight...

Name Change

In the church where my family attends, we've recently been enjoying a sermon series from the book of Daniel entitled "How to Live in Exile." In the series, senior pastor Mike Glenn notes that we live in a culture which no longer understands or accepts a Christian worldview. In a recent daily devotional linked to the series, he wrote about Daniel 1:7: "Whenever we read Bible stories we can't help but notice an important event that happens over and over again. People who have had a significant experience with God that transformed their life, more times than not they ended up with a name change. When Abram was called to leave his family and become the father of a great nation, his name was changed from Abram to Abraham. When Jacob wrestled with the angel and is blessed at the end of the battle, that blessing is signified in the change of his name from Jacob to Israel. When Simon confesses Christ on the mountain in Caesarea Philippi, his name is changed from Simon to Peter...

That is why it is significant that one of the first things that happens when Daniel and his friends are taken into exile in Babylon is that their names change. Each one of their original names has a significant connection to God. Daniel means "God judges. " But when Daniel and his friends are renamed, all the references to God are lost.

It should be interesting for us as believers to pay attention to how the world would name you. To those who would see you as the end product of evolution, you are simply the next step in the process -- a conglomeration of proteins and water and carbon. To Madison Avenue we are consumers, targets to be separated from our money. To politicians we are voter groups who have significant key issues or points of interest, or agendas.

That's why it is so significant for us to remember who we are in Jesus Christ. We are, indeed, rejected by the world but chosen and precious by Jesus (I Pet. 2:4). We must understand who we are because what we do comes directly out of who we believe ourselves to be. If you believe your life is not worth anything, then you will make choices that reflect that lack of value. If you believe that you are created in the image of God and are called according to His purposes, then your behavior will reflect that basic belief.

Many of us complain about living in a world where we are called numbers. It is more than just a rude way to be addressed by corporations. It is a basic loss of our humanity. The Gospel is good news because it restores our broken relationship to God, and in doing so restores our humanity. Today as you pray, confirm within you the name that He and He alone has given you, and that you will live in the freedom of knowing who you are. Then you simply won't respond to a world that calls you by a wrong name."

Michael Duduit, Editor

Today's Extra...

Dishonesty, Integrity

After the Enron scandal a number of schools began to talk about ethics and values, however, this year has made the ubiquity of cheating a hot topic for educators.  Duke University expelled 9 MBA students and gave out lesser punishments to 37 others in one of the largest cheating scandals in the country. The US Air Force Academy expelled 18 students for cheating. Ohio University has reported "rampant and flagrant" plagiarism by graduate students in engineering. 

Even administrators have been caught cheating. The most prominent was the resignation of a dean of admissions at MIT whose resume contained fabrications -- when she was first hired some 30 years ago. A Rutgers study of 32 universities showed 56% of MBA students admitting cheating; followed by 54% of grad students in engineering; and 45% in law. The undergraduates at those schools were even worse, with 74% of business students and 68% of students in other fields admitting to some form of cheating. Combating cheating is not only difficult, it can also prove costly -- with the loss of tuition dollars, bad publicity, and often lawsuits to defend.  (AP 5-19-07, via IvyJungle.org)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27

Today's Preaching Insight...

Putting Application in Sermons

In the June 27 edition of his Ministry Toolbox newsletter, Rick Warren suggests six guidelines for putting application into sermons:

1. Always aim for specific action
2. Model it from your own life
3. Ask penetrating questions
4. Give specific action steps
5. Give practical examples
6. Offer people hope



Speaking of that last guideline, Rick writes: People need encouragement to change. If they think something's hopeless, then they won't even try. For example, I once did a two-part series on getting out of debt. We had a woman share about how she'd gotten herself $100,000 into credit card debt. She explained how it took several years to pay off, but by applying biblical principles she and her husband were able to do it!

When she finished speaking - and I usually try to fit the testimony right in the middle of a message - I stood up and said, "You may have been discouraged thinking, 'I'm never getting out of debt.  But you can do this!  Is there anybody here who's got more than $100,000 on their credit card?  No. You just heard a story of a woman who with the power of God's Spirit and discipline, and using the biblical principle of putting God first, she got out of debt. You can do this!"

This builds hope in people. They say, "We can do that. We're not nearly as bad as that."  (Click here to read the full article.)

Today's Extra...

God's Will, Providence

In a recent edition of his Friday Evenings newsletter, Tom Barnard wrote: When Victor Frankl was arrested by the Nazis during World War II, he was stripped of everything of value he owned. His only possession when he arrived at Auschwitz was a manuscript of a book he had been working on for a very long time. To preserve it from confiscation, Frankl had sewn it into the lining of his coat. When he was searched, his manuscript was found and was taken from him. Later he wrote, "I found myself confronted with the question of whether under such circumstances my life was ultimately void of any meaning."

Apparently in an effort to keep prisoners from accumulating anything worthwhile, the Germans routinely forced prisoners to give up their clothing and in return they were issued clothing taken from other prisoners on their way to the gas chambers. In the garment of the old clothing re-issued to Frankl was a torn piece of paper—a portion of a page from a Hebrew prayer book. On it was part of the Jewish prayer—Shema Yisrael—"Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one God."

Later Frankl wrote, "How should I have interpreted such a 'coincidence' other than as a challenge to live my thoughts instead of merely putting them on paper?" From that experience Frankl concluded, "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how."

Why did God allow Frankl to be robbed of his precious manuscript? Why did God send to Frankl a prayer that been concealed by a prisoner on his way to the gas chamber? I believe God knew that what Frankl needed at that moment was prayer—not a manuscript.

Are you frustrated because an opportunity you believe God was opening to you suddenly was jerked out of your hands and replaced by something less significant and meaningful? Maybe God wants you to turn away from your personal goals and let him set the agenda for you.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:35-37

Today's Preaching Insight...

Why Do People Switch Churches?

More than 1 in 5 adults who switch to a new church move away from traditional worship, finds recent LifeWay Research. Church Switchers often choose a new church that is different in several ways from their previous one, and most end up not attending traditional services as they did formerly. 53% attended traditional style worship; of that, only 29% switched to churches with traditional services.

The most popular worship styles among switchers are blended worship (38%) and contemporary worship (33%). 46% move to a larger church while 29% go to a smaller one and 25% find one the same size as their former church. Among those who attended a church of 100 or less, 79% switch to a larger church. Among those who attended a church of more than 500, 57% moved to a smaller church. 54% change denominations when switching. 44% consider denomination an important selection factor.

Among those who have disagreements with their previous church's teachings or positions on issues, 71% change denominations. Only 4% left a previous church because they could no longer identify with that particular denomination. 87% base their selection on preaching and 90% have found preaching that meets their need for relevance, interest and clarity. 91% consider the preaching at their current church relevant while only 44% say this about their previous church. 91% say their current preacher holds their attention vs. only 37% who claim this about their previous preacher; 86% are challenged by the preaching at their new church to live and think biblically compared to only 39% who were previously so challenged. 97% attend worship at their current church; 84% contribute financially vs. 69% previously; and 64% volunteer compared to 51% before. Also, 60% attend a small group, Sunday school or discipleship class at their new church. Moreover, 74% become a member of their current church vs. 69% at their previous church.  (Church Leaders Intelligence Report, 6-27-07)

Today's Extra...

Obedience, Listening

In a recent Turning Point Daily Devotional, David Jeremiah relates this story: During the mid-twentieth century, one of the most recognizable brand icons in America was a dog sitting in front of an old-time gramophone, head cocked, listening to the sound. That iconic image, owned by the RCA Victor record company, was taken from a painting by English artist Francis Barraud. The dog, Nipper, had been owned by Barraud's brother who had recorded his voice on early phonograph records. After the brother died, Barraud inherited Nipper and the gramophone and records. Whenever the records with Nipper's master's voice were played, the dog would sit in front of the gramophone listening to his master's voice.

That's a beautiful image of the relationship between Jesus Christ and us. He has gone away from earth, so we can no longer hear His physical voice. But we sit in front of His Word, and kneel before Him in prayer, and listen for our Master's voice. The Bible was given to be the voice of the Lord until He returns, and prayer is how we confirm what we believe He has spoken to our hearts. How easily can you pick out the Master's voice from all others?

Listening for the Master's voice is a sign of loyalty and longing -- an indication that we are eager to hear and obey.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

Today's Preaching Insight...

I Was Mistaken

In the Spring 2007 issue of Leadership Journal, Pastor John Ortberg tells a story that preachers will understand all too well: "A good friend from the Pentecostal tradition, in which people will often stand up and speak very authoritatively to the congregation, told me a glorious story. According to my friend, a man once stood up and declared, "Thus saith the Lord: Even as I was with Abraham when he led the children of Israel through the wilderness, so I will be with you." Then he sat down.

His wife nudged him and whispered something. He quickly stood back up and said, "Thus saith the Lord: I was mistaken. It was Moses."

That story captures the mystery of preaching, illustrating both the Word part and the flesh part: "Thus saith the Lord, I was mistaken."

The very words of God coming through human instruments, which would be you and me. What an odd combination that is!

How do we prepare our souls for this task? We are very fallible people and yet we are to speak for God. Our preparation is not just getting our spiritual life "amped up" for a weekend service. It is much more a way of life: "What kind of person am I becoming so that preaching is the outflow of a certain kind of life, and it comes out of me in a way that God wants it to come out?"

This means not preparing your soul for a week of preaching, but how to prepare your soul for a life of preaching." (Click here to read the full article)

Today's Extra...

Confusion, Records

A woman meant to call a record store, but dialed the wrong number and got a private home instead. "Do you have 'Eyes of Blue' and 'A Love Supreme?'" she asked.

"Well, no," answered the puzzled homeowner. "But I have a wife and eleven children."

"Is that a record?" she inquired, puzzled in her turn.

"I don't think so," replied the man, "but it's as close as I want to get."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:1-5

Today's Preaching Insight...

Trust the Story

Storytelling expert Steven James says that one of the keys to effective stories is to trust them to do their work, without trying to explain or analyze them for the listeners. He writes: "In nearly every book on public speaking and preaching I've read I see the same advice: 'Tell 'em what you're gonna say. Say it. Then tell 'em what you said.'

That might be a good way to teach someone how to bake a casserole, but it sure stinks when it comes to telling a good story. Maybe that's why Jesus never did it. Not once. Instead, he spoke in metaphor, story, and imagery that appealed to curiosity and imagination. He didn't preach 3-point sermons, he preached 1-point sermons — and most of the time he didn't even tell people what that point was!

Jesus rarely explained his stories, in fact only once in scripture are we told specifically why Jesus told a story (Luke 18:1), and only a couple of his story explanations appear. Jesus trusted his stories to do their work in the hearts of the people listening. This leads us to one of the great paradoxes of education: the more you explain a story the less impact it has. Think about it. Haven't you heard someone use a great illustration and then spend the next 30 minutes draining all of the impact out of it? We end up diminishing rather than expanding the impact of a story by explaining to people what we think it is supposed to mean.

I'm not asking you to leave your listeners constantly confused, just trust them more to connect the dots. Jesus trusted his story to do its work in the lives of his listeners. He almost always wrapped truth up in mystery. We can do the same."

(Click here to read the full article on Steven's website.)

Today's Extra...

Preaching

A stranger entered the church in the middle of the sermon and seated himself in the back pew. After a while he began to fidget. Leaning over to a white-haired man at his side, evidently an old member of the congregation, he whispered: "How long has he been preaching?"

"Thirty or forty years, I think," the old man answered.

"I'll stay then," decided the stranger, "He must be nearly done." (Steve Shepherd)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3

Today's Preaching Insight...

'The Secret' Is Self-Centeredness

In a recent article about the book The Secret, pastor Mel Lawrenz writes: "The Secret, you see, is all about the self—it's for the self, obsessed with the self. Newsweek offers this critique: "On an ethical level, The Secret appears deplorable. It concerns itself almost entirely with a narrow range of middle-class concerns—houses, cars, and vacations, followed by health and relationships, with the rest of humanity a very distant sixth."

Professor Robert Thompson of Syracuse University says: "The Secret promises this heaven on Earth in one fell swoop by simply desiring something, by simply wanting it. It's amazing how we really are a nation of, at best, great optimists, at worst, real suckers."

What The Secret reveals is that so many people are so desperately unhappy that they will snatch up anything offering hope—or simply offering quick and easy wealth. My question is, who will be there to pick up the pieces when they discover that they bought into a lie? And who will help the people who believe that they brought every misfortune on themselves because they sent negative thoughts and feelings out into the universe like a human radio transmitter?

How different from the message of Jesus: The first will be last, and the last will be first. Lose your life, and you will find it."

(Click here to read the full article.)

Today's Extra...

Giving, Generosity, Sacrifice

Richard J. Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary, wrote in his recent article inTheology, News & Notes: "The story is told of a missionary who, after a lifetime spent serving an island community, was called back to his home country. His dear friend, a local chief, gave him a plant as a parting gift, for which he crossed the island and back on foot. The missionary was moved and perplexed: the same plant grew nearby -- why travel so far? The chief replied, 'The journey is part of the gift.'"

Sometimes it's not so much what we give, as it is how far we're willing to go to give it. (from Steve Eutsler, Springfield, MO)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48

Today's Preaching Insight...

Some Things You Just Can't Do

For weeks now, our office voicemail has been "out of order." If you try to call my office when I'm not sitting at my desk, the phone will ring and ring until you get tired of listening. (We can't even offer you the chance to go on hold and listen to elevator music!)

Worse yet, at the time the system crashed, there were apparently a couple of messages waiting for me. I know this because every time I look at my phone, I encounter these mocking words: "Messages & Calls." They are there, I know they're there, but I can't get to them. And when a new voicemail system is finally installed, those existing messages will disappear into the ether, never to be heard from again.

I'm sure that whoever left those lurking messages has long since preached my funeral for being so ungracious as to ignore their call. And there's nothing I can do about it.

That's the way it is in life, isn't it? There are some things that, no matter how hard you try, you can't do. I can't flap my arms and fly to the moon (though I have tried on occasion). I can't outrun a thoroughbred. And I can't do enough to deserve heaven.

How thankful I am, then, that God loved me enough to send His Son to do for me what I can never do myself. And I'm also thankful that He didn't depend on voicemail to let me know about that good news!

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Integrity, Honesty

Before Tom Lehman had the chance to prove himself on the PGA Tour, he had to enter the 1990 qualifying school (Q-school, as the pros call it) for the PGA Tour. During the high-pressure, all-or-nothing event, Lehman called a penalty stroke on himself. A stiff breeze caused Lehman's ball to move slightly after he addressed it, and the rules are clear: if the ball moves, you are penalized one stroke. The result? Lehman missed qualifying for the cut for the tour by-you guessed it-a single stroke.

If the most important thing in Lehman's life was qualifying for the tour, if his values were based on success rather than faithfulness, he might not have called the penalty stroke. But his faith in Christ, coupled with the importance of living on the basis of real values, called him to honesty. His honesty resulted in waiting another year to qualify.

"If a breach of the rules had occurred and I didn't call it on myself, I couldn't look at myself in the mirror," explained Lehman. "You're only as good as your word. And your world wouldn't be worth much if you can't even be honest with yourself."

Lehman's loss at the Q-school sent him in 1991 to what's now known as the Nationwide Tour, where he set a tour record with seven tournament wins in a single season. The confidence he gained while waiting for his dream led to his subsequent PGA Tour victories. But that isn't what made his decision best. It was the fact that it reflected his values and resulted in faithfulness.

(from Rick Ezell's One Minute Uplift newsletter; http://www.rickezell.net/)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid.
Psalm 27:1

Today's Preaching Insight...

Writing for the Ear, not the Eye

In a newly revised edition of his text The Practice of Preaching (Abingdon), Paul Scott Wilson reminds us of the need to prepare sermons suited for oral presentation, not as written essays. He notes, "Simpler speech is one of the things that distinguishes spoken from written communication, but the distinction is richer than that. . . . Once we conceive of preaching as an oral event, we begin to shift our ways of thinking. Instead of composing with the eye for the page, we begin to compose with the ear for oral delivery and aural reception...

"The differences are similar to those between a highly oral culture and a highly literate one. We can get a sense of this by looking at the Bible. The biblical world was predominantly oral. Whereas biblical records obviously come from skilled writers, the writer's world was specialized, not the norm for most people. Even those ancient writers were saturated with oral ways of thought...

"Preaching is oral; our sermons are heard aurally; and our rhetoric must reflect our medium. Write for the ear, not for the eye . . ." (Click here to learn more about the book The Practice of Preaching)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh: Bulletin Bloopers

The youth group has raised almost $500 for drug abuse.
"Correction: The following typo appeared in our last bulletin: 'Lunch will be gin at 12:15.' Please correct to read '12 noon.' "
Any church member over the age of 18 is invited to participate in this lay ministry program. It requires a minimal amount of training and time. The orientation will include six weekly classes of about 200 hours each Tuesday night.
The Seniors group will have a picnic Saturday. Each person is asked to bring a friend, a vegetable, or dessert in a covered dish. Meat and drinks will be furnished.
The last day of Vacation Bible School will include a field trip to the state game farm. We could use some additional volunteers to help preparing the lunch of sandwiches, potato chips, cheese, crack, and cool aid that morning.
Remember the youth department rummage sale for Summer Camp. We have a Gents three-speed bicycle, also two ladies for sale, in good running order. 
(from Good, Clean Funnies List)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

When Sunday's Almost Here

In his "Biblical Preaching" blog, Peter Mead recently included counsel for pastors when they are not quite ready and Sunday is approaching: "While some preachers may be so structured that every preparation is perfect, most of us are not able to create such a vacuum to live in. To misquote Tony Campolo, 'it's Friday, but Sunday is coming!'  For preachers this may not be a cry of hope, but of concern.  What are those final stages of preparation that often get short-changed?  Our Lord understands and is gracious to us when life hits.  However, it would be helpful for us to be aware of these things and adjust our preparation so these things are not always cut-short or omitted altogether:

1. Conclusions matter - As someone has said, you can recover from a bad introduction, but not from a bad conclusion.  That final few moments of the sermon are critical, but often get very little preparation in a tight schedule.  Without preparation the conclusion will be forming during preaching, which often means an over-extended sermon with multiple failed landings (an experience no passenger enjoys!)

2. Cut the fat - Usually the sermon manuscript on Friday will be longer than it should be by Sunday.  While first-time preachers worry about filling the time, experienced preachers should worry about removing the fat in the sermon.  As Dave Stone put it recently, there's a huge difference between taking on a big-burger challenge and eating at a fine restaurant.  People don't enjoy forcing down two pounds of ground beef.  They would much prefer a well-prepared 7 ounce steak that they can handle.  So before you preach the sermon, cut the fat, give people a carefully prepared portion.

3. Check the balance - It is important to review the balance of the sermon to make sure the weight is distributed appropriately.  You probably don't want four illustrations in one point of the message, and none in the other points.  Make sure there is appropriate intensity and passion, but also moments of relief or listeners won't be able to stay with you.  Be careful to allow an idea (or sub-idea) to develop fully - give the necessary time to explain, support and/or apply the idea in each point.  Before preaching the message, make sure it is balanced.  Don't preach a Popeye sermon: really strong in the forearms, but lacking everywhere else."

(Click here to visit Peter's site)

Today's Extra...

Today's Illustration: Lawyers

A Rabbi, a Hindu and a lawyer were driving late at night in the country when their car expired. They set out to find help, and came to a farmhouse. When they knocked at the door, the farmer explained that he had only two beds, and one of the three had to sleep in the barn with the animals. The three quickly agreed.

The Rabbi said he would sleep in the barn and let the other two have the beds. Ten minutes after the Rabbi left, there was a knock on the bedroom door. The Rabbi entered exclaiming, "I can't sleep in the barn; there is a pig in there. It's against my religion to sleep in the same room with a pig!"

The Hindu said he would sleep in the barn, as he had no religious problem with pigs. However, about five minutes later, the Hindu burst through the bedroom door saying, "There's a cow in the barn! I can't sleep in the same room as a cow! It's against my religion!"The lawyer, anxious to get to sleep, said he'd go to the barn, as he had no problem sleeping with animals.

In two minutes, the bedroom door burst open and the pig and the cow entered...

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

Today's Preaching Insight...

Contextualized Preaching Still Rooted in Scripture

In an article for the SermonCentral newsletter, missiologist Ed Stetzer points out that even as we try to contextualize our preaching for a contemporary audience, it is still essential that the message be biblically-rooted: "The Apostle Paul began where the people he was speaking to were. For the Jews, the starting point was their ancient history rooted in the Old Testament Scriptures. On the other hand, Paul connected with the Greeks at their point of relevance. Notice that he presented Christ in both cases. For us, we may start in a different place, but the context of the message needs to be Christ and the fullness of Scripture. The key is where the communication begins. Scripture sets the agenda and shape of the message, but every message must answer the question, 'Why is this important to me/us?' If there is no point of connection, the message is simply meaningless facts rather than life-changing truth.

When we begin at the point of relevance, it does not in any way nullify the importance of rightly dividing the Word of God. We think that a common mistake many seeker-driven churches made early on was trying to communicate relevant messages that had little or no biblical content. It seemed that the sermons were basically explanations of common-sense wisdom or perhaps biblical principals, but the Bible did not set the shape or agenda of the message.

We must always remember that 'consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ' (Rom. 10:17) and 'the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart' (Heb. 4:12). The Bible is not simply a tool for scriptural footnoting or common-sense wisdom.

One of the cultural shifts that we are experiencing is the shift from the secular to the spiritual. This shift lends itself to biblical preaching and teaching. People are looking for a higher power, a sense of mystery, revelation, and spiritual authority for their lives. Scripture was given to reveal Jesus; therefore, all of our preaching should be Christ-centered. With this in mind, we must ask, 'How do we communicate the good news of the gospel in a way that the story of redemption is heard and experienced?'"

(Click here to read the full article)

Today's Extra...

Excellence

In the 1980s, Tom Peters, having traveled around the world interviewing heads of large corporations, put together a two-day presentation with 700 slides on the subject of leadership excellence. He was to present it to the directors of PepsiCo, which was headed by a man named Andy Pearson. But Peters knew Andy wouldn't sit through a long presentation. Mulling this over, Peters sat in his office overlooking San Francisco Bay, closed his eyes, leaned forward, and jotted down eight things on a pad of paper.

Those eight principles became the basis for the book he coauthored that changed the landscape of corporate life in America. The title of the book was In Search of Excellence. To this day, the word "excellence" is a buzzword in the daily life of successful businesses. Everyone wants to work with excellence.

David Jeremiah observes, "Colossians 3:23 is the only maxim we need on the subject. If we realize everything we do -- selling a product, cutting the grass, baking a cake, preparing a sermon -- is to be done for Christ, we'll do it heartily as unto the Lord, and we'll do it with excellence. Who are you working for?"(Turning Point Daily Devotional, 8-3-07)

:angel:

July 25, 2011   


Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.
Psalm 71:6

Today's Preaching Insight...

Be Careful How We Reflect Culture

In his book A Western Jesus (B&H Publishing), pastor Mike Minter argues that the western church has too often departed from biblical patterns because of our allegiance to western culture and traditions. In discussing the church, he observes, "The younger generation must learn why the older generation loves tradition, steeples, pews and hymnbooks. The older generation must be willing to see the younger generation as liking change. Good healthy dialogue in a teachable atmosphere can bring much fruit. Trying to prove that drums are of the devil or that hymns are boring become senseless arguments often birthed out of pride and a refusal to hear the other side. The truth often lies in the middle.

"I love the hymns because many of them tell a story that reflects what the church was dealing with in bygone years. 'A Mighty Fortress is Our God' should be carefully read and understood in light of the Reformation. The lyrics are a powerful expression of the intense warfare of the day. The younger generation should be thankful for past generations that ran interference for them. They were the giants upon which our churches stand today.

"But let us not forget that God has his giants in every generation, and the battles are different as satanic strategies change. The church will always have common-denominator struggles with a lust for the world, but it may show its face differently. Jonathan Edwards didn't have to raise children in a day of Internet pornography, video games, amusement parks, shopping malls, cell phones, and TVs with 350 channels. Most of our praise songs reflect a battle that is different from battles fought before us. Hymns are often about God while praise songs are often to God.  'A Mighty Fortress is Our God' if written today would be 'You, Oh Lord, Are a Mighty Fortress.'

"There seems to be more despair in our present culture, which is why we so often read about postmodernism and the emerging church, and our bookshelves are filled with titles on anorexia, bulimia, and self-image. Such topics would have been foreign to Spurgeon, Luther and Edwards. So what does the church do? It must reflect its culture. Every culture has a story, and each generation within that culture has a story - and the transcendent Christ must be the answer no matter what the generation. The story is told in its music, worship, philosophy of ministry, and literature. If the church doesn't know the story, then its music, preaching, and philosophy of ministry will miss the mark. It starts reading Shakespeare to four-year-olds and Little Bo Peep to sixty-year olds. The dialogue ceases and the church begins to die. Unfortunately, cultural change within the church is often interpreted as doctrinal change - a watering down of theology. This is usually not the case, though it can be. That is why careful dialogue must take place among generations. Each generation can learn from the other and listen for the story line."

(Click here to learn more about the book A Western Jesus)]

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh: Employers Wanted

Here are actual excerpts from real resumes and cover letters. Think you'd hire them?

Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.
I was working for my mom until she decided to move.
Marital status: single: Unmarried. Unengaged. Uninvolved. No commitments
I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse.
I am loyal to my employer at all costs... Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voice mail.
I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely no one and absolutely nothing.
My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I possess no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage.
I procrastinate, especially when the task is unpleasant.
Personal interests: donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far.
As indicted, I have over five years of analyzing investments.
Marital status: often. Children: various
Reason for leaving last job: They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45 am every morning. I couldn't work under those conditions.
The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers.
Finished eighth in my class of ten.
References: none. I've left a path of destruction behind me. 
(from the Daily Dilly)

  :angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
1 Timothy 4:1-2

Today's Preaching Insight...

Catastrophes

The Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001, pastor Craig Barnes (then at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC) shared these comments: "Sooner or later every individual ends up in the emergency room. Something happens that you were not planning on, something that permanently alters the plans you had. Maybe a loved one dies, a deadly disease is discovered, or a cherished relationship unravels. When that happens, you realize you will not leave the emergency room the same person you were when you entered. That is exactly where our nation is today. Wounded with a broken heart and certain only that things have changed.

"As we leave the emergency room and make decisions about how we get on with life, let us remember that the nation is strong. It is strong enough to survive this atrocity. Actually, it is strong enough to do more than survive. It can become a different, better nation than we were on Monday. But that all depends on the choices we make in the days ahead.

"The French Philosopher Paul Ricoeur has written about the creative possibility of "limit experiences." A limit experience is an experience that is beyond the limits of normal life. It's the one you spent most of life avoiding, dreading, defending yourself against, like death and separation. Beyond the limits of those things, we think there's nothing but emptiness, loss, and anomie. But as Dr. Ricouer reminds us, there is more. There is also God, whose creative love knows no limits.

"Watching enormous skyscrapers crumble into dust is beyond the limits of comprehension. It doesn't matter how many times we watch the video, it's still beyond comprehension. As is seeing a gaping wound in the side of the Pentagon. And imagining how men can be so evil as to crash full airplanes into these buildings. And understanding how thousands could so easily die on our own well-protected soil. It's all beyond our limits.

"Be clear. None of that was the will of God. It was not a judgment against us, retribution for our sins, or God teaching us a lesson. Rather the will of God is always that evil be redeemed and not given the last word. That is why God can always be found at work beyond the limits of evil's destructive powers, waiting to bring us back to new life.

"The greatest catastrophe of history happened not on Tuesday, but two thousand years ago when we crucified the Son of God. That was the ultimate experience beyond humanity's limit. But it was then that history was given the possibility of resurrection. When Jesus Christ defeated death, He did so that we may experience something beyond our limits — to rise with Him into a new life. After every cross, the resurrection remains a possibility. The stone that covers the tomb is rolled back, but it is up to us to emerge as a new nation. It all depends on the choices we make."

Today's Extra...

A Joyful Noise

Author Pauline Fraser relates a story that happened to her over a decade ago. She and her daughter ducked into dimly a lit thrift shop to keep dry from the rain pounding outside. The clerk smiled and said, "Hi, today is stuff-a-bag-day."  Pauline inquired what that meant and the helpful clerk replied, "Stuff as much stuff into the bag and you can have it all for three dollars."

Thinking that was a good deal, Pauline and her young daughter began putting "stuff" into the bag. As they wandered around there was an abrupt tug on her hand to get her attention to the shoe section of the store.  Pauline writes, "My daughter shares my weakness for shoes, so we stopped for a minute to look. I let go of her hand and she reached out to touch a pair of shiny black shoes with a strap and silver buckle."

Her daughter asked, "Buy me?" Pauline told her daughter that they were tap shoes and she wasn't taking tap lessons. But the daughter insisted, so Pauline finally told her to try them on.  Perfect fit!  So they bought them, and her daughter wore them out of the store with a click, click, click all the way down the street.  Continuing their shopping at another store the shoes made the same click, click, click as before, and people turned their heads as they entered the store.

As the clicking continued some shoppers gave a disapproving stare, but for Pauline it was music to her ears. One lady approached her and said, "Excuse me, dear. Is your daughter in tap this year?" "No," she replied. "Well, why on earth would you allow her to wear tap shoes, here, of all places, in a store? They make so much noise."

Pauline told her how wonderful it is to hear. The lady asked, "How can it be wonderful?" Pauline replied, "Because when she was a baby, we were told she would never walk or talk. It has taken a lot of hard work and patience but she asked for the shoes and the click, click, click says that she can walk."

Her daughter is now 18 and will graduate from high school this year. Pauline states, "It has not always been easy, but it has all been worthwhile. She has taught me that it doesn't matter what others think. They don't walk in your shoes." (Derl G. Keefer, Friday Evenings newsletter)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:16

Today's Preaching Insight...

Leadership Lessons

In a recent article for Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox newsletter, Senate Chaplain Barry Black wrote: "During my lifetime, I learned far more about leadership from faithful people working behind the scenes than from those who were more prominent. Here are a few of the lessons I learned.

Expect events to shape destinies. One of my earliest leadership lessons was that events, more than ability, often catapult people into positions of prominence. Shakespeare captured this notion when he said, "Be not afraid of greatness. Some men are born great, others achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Without the Civil War, we may have never known the wonderful greatness of many notable Americans. Without World War II, names like Patton, Marshall, and MacArthur might be historical footnotes. Without Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on that bus, we probably wouldn't have a national holiday honoring Dr. King. Events often provide the critical variables for effective leadership.

Expect leaders to have different talents. I learned early that leaders come in many forms with many styles and abilities. Some are quiet, and others almost bombastic. Some are eloquent while others express themselves with difficulty. The five presidents mentioned at the beginning of this chapter had their individual strengths and weaknesses. Nonetheless, each made a substantive difference. Most successful leaders, however, have one thing in common: they mobilize people to achieve shared objectives.

Don't run from the possibility of failure. I learned that most effective leaders are willing to fail. They seem to sense that it is better to attempt something great and fail than to not try at all. Time and again, I've seen strong leaders who possessed the courage to fall and get up repeatedly.

Be humbly hospitable. Luther Palmer was the headmaster at the boarding high school that I attended. He was the exact opposite of the stereotypically remote, distant principal. Instead, he invited students home for dinner and got to know them one-on-one. He kept an eye on students who aspired to the Gospel ministry, and set up instructional periods with key preachers who visited our school. Though a busy administrator, he took the time to teach a class called "Facing Life," which was a requirement for all students. In this way, he came to know most of us in a very personal way."

(Adapted from Black's biography From the Hood to the Hill. To read the full article, click here. To learn more about the book, click here.)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Successful Marriage

A couple was celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Over the years they had raised a brood of 10 children and were blessed with 22 grandchildren.

When asked the secret for staying together all that time, the wife replied, "Many years ago we made a promise to each other: the first one to pack up and leave has to take all the kids."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Psalm 139:17-18

Today's Preaching Insight...

Innovations Churches Should Embrace

The Summer 2007 issue of Willow magazine (published by the Willow Creek Association) included a feature on "15 Innovations the Church Should Embrace NOW!" Among the items listed:

"Podcasting - circuit riding at the speed of light. In addition to your weekly messages, how about spicing it up with special editions? Try doing interviews with church neighbors, the mayor, volunteers, staff intros., etc. If it's worth preaching it's worth podcasting. Any church of any size can exponentially increase its impact via MP3 technology.

Blogging - digital discipleship. Don't blog for an audience, blog for you. The more you write about what's on your head and heart, the more people will respond. Blogging increases your bandwidth and allows you to digitally disciple just about anybody, anywhere, anytime.

Viral Video - get contagious quickly. Use YouTube to spread the love. There's even a first-time visitor orientation. Use it creatively for things like behind-the-scenes sermon prep, church staff meetings, or videos created by the congregation. There's a reason why this is one of the top visual communication sites on the Web.

Web Site - your church portal. Guests can watch a Webcast, read your history, and get as much information on your church as they want. And they can do it from the comfortable confines of their computer. Most people will visit your Web site long before they visit a service. Your Web site is your first impression. FREE BONUS TIP: Ruthlessly eliminate lame Web sites (you know who you are!)

E-Mail - word of mouse. Churches should avoid spam at all costs, but an e-letter is an easy and affordable way to keep the church connected. An e-mail is a simple way to keep a ministry team on the same page or evite a friend to church. Think of it as word of mouse. Many pastors preach to more people via e-mail than they do via voice. It's a form of e-vangelism."

(To read the full article, including the other 10 innovations, click here.)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Clarity

Proper attire is required in the cafeteria at the University of Maine. To enforce that rule, the management posted this notice:

"Shoes are required to eat in this cafeteria."

Next to it, a student added, "Socks can eat wherever they want."

:angel:

July 29, 2011

Today's Word for Pastors...

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Titus 1:15-16

Today's Preaching Insight...

Presentation vs. Content

In a past issue of the Preaching Now newsletter, Michael Duduit wrote: "As the father of two boys, I'm learning some of my most important lessons around the breakfast table.

For example, I have learned that the nutritional value of the cereal is of far less concern than the box: what's on it and what's in it. Is there something interesting to look at on the box, and/or does it have some special prize inside? If Jimmy Neutron is on the box, then it's a keeper. (For those of you without small children, and who are thus culturally unaware of the latest cartoon celebrities, you'll just have to trust me on this.)

It appears that my boys consider presentation more important than content. While I know that's not true, I've also learned that they'll absorb some pretty nutritious content if the presentation gets their attention. They'll even eat healthy stuff if it looks interesting enough!

And that's a pretty good early-morning lesson for a preacher."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

Eyes Wide Open by Jud Wilhite and Bill Taaffe

It's important to primarily keep our eyes on Jesus. But what does God see when He looks at us? In Eyes Wide Open (Multnomah), Jud Wilhite encourages readers to understand how God sees them -- and how they should see themselves. The Sept-Oct issue of Preaching includes an interview with Wilhite, who is senior pastor of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live/
Acts 17:26

Today's Preaching Insight...

Flavoring Sermons

In a recent article for his Ministry Toolbox newsletter, Rick Warren talked about ideas for adding interest to sermons to increase their impact: "There are many different "special features" you can insert into your message to add just a little bit more and capture the attention of the people. I have learned you can preach much longer when you use features interlaced in your messages. These features can include:

• Testimonies: When I get up to teach, people look at me as the paid salesman, the paid professional, but when we have a testimony, they are the satisfied customers. Personal testimony is still the most powerful form of persuasion, and it's why advertisers still use it.

• Skits or dramas: Just make sure the skit theme connects with your message. There are a lot of good resources out there to find scripts. (For more on using drama in your services, click here).

• Interviews: You can interview people live, by telephone, or on video to connect with your messages. A "man on the street" interview on video can be a good addition to your message as well.

• Film clips: Movies are so much a part of today's culture that they make terrific illustrations. Why? Because they represent a common language of the unchurched visiting your services each weekend. There is a site on the Internet (http://teachwithmovies.org/) that even categorizes the films by different character qualities that they portray.

• Intersperse songs between your points: At Saddleback we call this "the point and play" service. We've had an incredible response when we do this. We typically use this feature on Christmas and Easter. It breaks the service into modules, while maintaining high interest. Sometimes we perform songs by a soloist or a choir, and other times we sing congregational songs. Putting a song at the end of each point often adds an emotional, powerful punch that allows people to express what they feel as a result of what they've heard.

• Tag-team preaching: Sometimes we will actually have pastors share points. Another associate pastor and I will take turns during points of the message. I've done messages with my wife on marriage where she would do a point and I would do a point. I've brought in guest speakers and alternated points with them. Just having a different voice can shake things up just a little bit. It's also very helpful when you have multiple services to do!"

(Click here to read the full article)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Failure

A recent issue of the Friday Evenings newsletter notes that someone once said, "Falling down doesn't make you a failure, but failing to get up does." Thomas Edison was a man who saw many of his experiments fail, but he continued doing them anyway. He knew that it was better to get up than to give up. He was committed to excellence. In his search for a filament for incandescent light bulbs, he experimented with hundreds of fibers and metals. In 1879 he discovered a method for making an inexpensive filament that would handle the stress of electric current. Today we call his discovery "carbonized cotton fiber." Thread! But the filament was so fragile that it easily broke in an open-air environment. Almost by accident, he tried inserting the filament within an oxygen-free tube. To his surprise, the filament glowed! It didn't burn long, but it burned. Eventually he and his helpers discovered that the secret was in creating a vacuum within the glass bulb. And using a tungsten filament.

In the life of the Christian, we face many trips, tumbles, errors, and failures. The "voice" that visits us in those moments is not the voice of the Father, but of the adversary. He doesn't say, "Nice try." He shouts, "Failure!" He asserts, "You can't live this Christian life." Or, "You were better off before you started on this ill-fated journey." Or, "Stay down. You won't be missed." Or, "You deserve better than this."

It's the Other Voice that you want to hear. That Voice says "Let me help you with that." "I have been there before, and I know you can make it." "My strength is sufficient for you." "I will never leave you or forsake you." "Together we can become strong." Or, "Take my hand."

God wants to honor us for our achievements, not punish us for our falls. He is committed to be our companion, our counselor, our advisor, our helper, our friend. (To subscribe to Friday Evenings, write Tom Barnard at mailto:barnard22@cox.net)]

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Titus 3:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

Is Submission to God a Loss of Freedom?

Many people believe that if they submit their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, they will lose their freedom; they cannot do anything that they want to do in life. A tragic flaw in this reasoning is that a person who is not under the lordship of Jesus is not free. The Bible says that you are in bondage to sin, to the lusts of your own flesh, to the whims of an evil spiritual opponent who wishes you destroyed, and to a world that is alienated from the one who brings true freedom. Or as that great theologian Bob Dylan put it,

You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may the Lord
but you're gonna have to serve somebody.
(http://bobdylan.com/songs/serve.html)

This myth then precipitates another lie: You can be a disciple of Jesus without a radical submission to Jesus in every area of your life. This desire to have it both ways took on a very seductive heresy a few years ago when we heard about Jesus being our Savior but not our Lord. This is a lie. If He is not Lord, He is not Savior.

(To read the entire sermon "Four Myths about Submission in the Christian Life" by Michael Milton at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Conversion

Australia is the only country in the world to have a picture of a convicted forger on its currency. Francis Greenway came to Australia—as many early settlers did—as a convict. He had been convicted in England of forgery. Once in Australia, he changed his life. He began to use his hidden skills as an architect. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Sydney, Australia, were designed by him; and they put his picture on the Australian 10 dollar bill. They believed he had changed.

Jesus always believed that people could change. He also helped them to change, just as He will help you to change.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:32?

Today's Preaching Insight...

Can Felt Needs Distract?

In a recent interview for the PreachingTodaySermons newsletter, Duane Litfin discusses the danger of preaching that focuses only on felt needs: "Felt needs can distract us because of the misdirection of our society, the pop culture, the advertising. People think they need all sorts of things they don't need, and they are distracted from the things they do need. It's almost a mistake to be asking, What are the felt needs of my audience? and use those as my take-off point. As an expositor, I work the other way around. I come to the text, and I ask,What is this passage saying? What is the truth here? Why does God want us to know this? What is the need in our lives this passage is speaking to? That is the need I'm going to try to raise in my introduction.

I don't start with my audience. I'm big into preaching to needs, but I don't begin with my audience and ask, What are their needs? I start with the passage and say, This is the answer. Now what question might someone pose to me where I would say, "Let's turn to this passage and look what God has to say?" In other words, you let the passage determine what the need is. Then that's the need you raise in your introduction and deal with.

That comes out of a confidence in the profitability of all Scripture. All the graphe, all the writings, are profitable for doctrine, correction, reproof, instruction in righteousness. God wants to grow us into the people he wants us to be through the graphe, through the writings, through the Scripture. It is God breathed, profitable for us. Now the question is, Here's a passage. How is this profitable? What needs to be reproved, corrected, and instructed? How do we need to grow in our walk with the Lord? How is this passage helping us do that? What is it speaking to? Why does God want me to know this? When I've answered that question at a deep level, I'll know what to do in my introduction."  (Click here to read the full article)]

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh: The Laws of Parenting

The later you stay up, the earlier your child will wake up the next morning.
For a child to become clean, something else must become dirty. 
Toys multiply to fill any space available. 
The longer it takes you to make a meal, the less your child will like it. 
Yours is always the only child who doesn't behave. 
If the shoe fits...it's expensive. 
The surest way to get something done is to tell a child not to do it. 
The gooier the food, the more likely it is to end up on the carpet. 
Backing the car out of the driveway causes your child to have to go to the bathroom.
:angel:

August 04, 2011     


Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.
Matthew 14:26-27

Today's Preaching Insight...

Excitement

Dealing with Psalm 135, pastor Paul Martin writes, "I'll tell you right now, the Psalmist is excited in this psalm. He cries, 'Praise the Lord,' ten times in twenty-one verses! Why should we be excited?

1. It is exciting to think about God as the Creator. "Whatsoever the Lord pleases He does. In heaven and in earth. In the seas and in all deep places." (verse 6)

2. It is exciting to think of God as present in every crisis. "He defeated many nations and slew mighty kings...and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people." (verses 10-12)

3. It is exciting that man can talk to God, and that God talks to man. If you look for God's delicate intervention in your affairs, you will see it. And sometimes, as Samuel Shoemaker says, "God is there flat-footed, sort of 'barging in.'" What a precious privilege, talking with the living God!

4. It is exciting to know that God wins the victory over evil by love...not by might or power, but by the Spirit of love. But He wins! I see them continually—men and women, once slaves to sin, now free through Christ. Alive, happy trophies of His love!  (Paul Martin, 'Get Up and Go')"

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

Church Morph

In Church Morph (Baker), Eddie Gibbs talks about the trends and tools found in churches that are countering the decline experienced by too many congregations. He talks about the changes needed for churches to live out their mission in 21st century culture, and offers a host of examples of churches that are reaching out and making a difference.

  :angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

Today's Preaching Insight...

Is Jesus the model for pastoral preaching today?

One of the main arguments for inductive preaching in much homiletical literature revolves around the use of story in the preaching of Jesus. Surely we should preach as Jesus did, shouldn't we? In his book The Passion-Driven Sermon, Jim Shaddix takes a contrary position, arguing: "As heretical as it may seem to some, Jesus is not necessarily the best model for contemporary pastoral preaching. This obviously is not because of any flaw in His homiletic or His theology. Certainly Jesus was the quintessential master communicator and the general model for all preachers of all time.

"However, we must recognize the fact that He did not practice as the preaching pastor of a local congregation in the same vein as we know the ministry today. His ministry would better serve as a model for itinerant preaching as He engaged different crowds in various settings. Additionally, the content of the majority of His preaching and teaching would more closely parallel evangelistic proclamation as opposed to the edification of believers."

Today's Extra...

(Lack Of) Self Discipline

2006 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sigmund Freud. Many of Freud's ideas are no longer accepted, while others are still embraced. What no one disputes is that he is the father of analysis and psychotherapy. In what is a strange irony, Freud was able to help others, but never able to help himself. He died of cancer in 1939 because he was unable to break himself of an addiction to cigars, having smoked a box a day even after having had his jaw removed.

J. Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

"...Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
John 7:38

Today's Preaching Insight...

Sermon Seed: The Sacrifice of Isaac

Pastor Mike Glenn writes: Like most of you, I had a lot of trouble with God demanding that Abraham offer Isaac as a sacrifice. I never could figure out what God was trying to do with Abraham.

Can you imagine what was going through Abraham's mind? Can you imagine the anguish felt by Abraham and the mixed feelings he must have had toward God? Why would God mess with Abraham like this? To me, it just didn't make any sense.

Then I was in Old Testament class with Clyde Francisco and he was lecturing on this passage. He took his glasses off (that meant he was preaching, not lecturing) and started dealing with this passage.

In a way only the old preachers can, he set the scene—a grieving father, a trusting son, a lonely mountain—and then, he quietly turned to us and said, "Abraham's sin is the sin of many of us. We trust the gift, not the Giver. Abraham was now trusting Isaac to be the keeper of the promise, not God. God was reminding Abraham that the promise of being a great nation depended on God and God alone."

So, is that your sin? Do you trust your talents, resources, or abilities more than God who gave you those gifts? The difference may seem to be subtle, but trust me when I say that the implications are profound. God can use a person of limited abilities who lives in total trust much more than a gifted person who only trusts in him or herself. (Brentwood (TN) Baptist Church Daily Devotional)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

Giving

A small boy stunned his parents when he began to empty his pockets of nickels, dimes and quarters. Finally his mother said, "Where did you get all that money?"

"At Sunday school," the boy replied nonchalantly. "They have bowls of it."

:angel:

 
Tuesday, August 09, 2011     


Preaching Daily
     

Today's Word for Pastors...

The LORD will fulfill [his purpose] for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands..
Psalm 138:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

Lawsuits among Believers

The issue is this: Can't we the redeemed of the Lord deal with our own problems within the family of God? It scandalizes a church not to be able to handle its own affairs. We are called to try to settle these issues as brothers and sisters.

Paul did not come up with this teaching on his own. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and it is in direct concurrence with the teachings of Jesus, who in Matthew 18 gives a pattern as to how we should deal with grievances between brothers and sisters. Jesus gives this very clear scenario in Matthew 18:15-17. He suggests that, if you have a grievance against a brother or sister in Christ, go to that person, share your thoughts. If the person listens, you've made a friend for life. If not, take one or two other witnesses along with you, so that your word will be confirmed. If that person still refuses to listen, then take it to the leadership of the church. If this person even then refuses to listen, if the leadership of the church concurs with your concern, treat that person as if he was a Gentile.

What I extrapolate from the teaching of Jesus is that, if the matter is not that significant to you, move on. Don't get uptight over it. But if it is a significant matter of justice, you are welcome to pursue the issue in the civil courts. For God's sake, your sake and the witness of the church, don't be dragging every petty concern, every squabble before the civil courts. It damages the church both internally and externally.

Then Paul introduces a most significant fact. He reminds us that we are actually better qualified to judge with equity than are nonbelievers. With a note of sarcasm, he writes, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels - to say nothing of ordinary matters?" (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

(To read the full article "Lawsuits among Believers" by John A. Huffman Jr. at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Cross

The Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany. Alongside the German-Austrian border, it towers 9,718 feet high. You can go up the mountain by cog railway or cable car but not to the peak. The last few yards, you must walk or climb. On the top of the peak is a cross. Climbers believe it is worth the sacrifice to make it to the cross. We feel that way about Calvary. It is worth it to make it to the cross.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians 4:30-31

Today's Preaching Insight...

Belief in Preaching

In his classic book Power in Preaching, W.E. Sangster talks about why preachers often seem to lose the power they once felt in the pulpit. One of the most important things a preacher can do, Sangster insists, is to actually believe in preaching. He observes:

"Grasp the fact that the heart of the Gospel is a meeting of God and man, and preaching provides the best medium for that meeting. Many people - many preachers even - find this hard to believe. They believe the Gospel and they believe that it must be proclaimed. What they cannot believe is that there is anything sacrosanct in preaching as the method of proclamation. St. Paul, of course, said that 'it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe' but printing was not invented then, nor the cinema, nor wireless [radio], nor television - and even the drama was in a primitive form. They have come to believe that there are better ways of proclaiming the Gospel than by preaching...

"And who can deny some force in this? A thousand will look at television for every ten who go to church. People love a 'show,' and if the show can be sanctified and do the work, need we worry by what road the wanderers travel so long as they travel home?

"Now all this is plausible, but it is not convincing to those who know the nature of the Gospel. That God uses these ancillary methods we do not deny, but we maintain that preaching is primary in the purpose of God. 'It was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of preaching...' It is God's good pleasure still.

"It does not turn on what the people like but on what He likes. It is not a question of our particular gifts but of the divine intention. As DR. H.H. Farmer says: 'The activity of preaching is not merely a means for conveying the content of the Christian faith, but it is in a real sense bound up with that content itself.' 'The necessity of preaching resides in the fact that when God saves a man through Christ he insists on a living, personal encounter with him here and now in the sphere of present personal relationships.'"

Today's Extra...

Gambling, Lottery

In an article for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Hal Lane writes: "Gambling shows a lack of love for others. The few who win lottery payoffs do not care where the money came from or who was hurt in the process. In their book, Selling Hope: State Lotteries in America (Harvard University Press), authors Clotfelter and Cook state that 10 percent of lottery players account for 50 percent of lottery purchases and the top 20 percent account for 65 percent of purchases. Many of these players are gambling addicts who are robbing their families of needed resources. How can a Christian feel good about benefiting from the misery of others?" (http://erlc.com/article/whats-wrong-with-buying-a-lottery-ticket)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:11

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Shepherd in the Valley of the Shadow of Death

What is to become of us when it is the Shepherd's valley of the shadow of death?

In the 23rd Psalm we see ourselves walking through darkness with the Shepherd as our guide. In C.S. Lewis' The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, as Aslan makes his way to the stone table he comes to a point where he does not allow Lucy and Susan to go any further. They are not permitted to make that last leg of the journey with him. It is a path which he must walk alone, into the heart of death and darkness. I say again, "What is to become of us when it is the Shepherd's valley of the shadow of death?"

Perhaps this is the place where our faith is most shaken. Those long hours before the dawn. That silence in which we so often live. You know the silence I speak of. That dead space between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Of course we will beg history (fooling ourselves that it in some way helps). We will say, "I know the rest of the story." But Peter, John and Mary did not have that. They are left with words. "On the third day I will rise again." "I will tear down this temple and in three days raise it up." They are left to contemplate possibility and promise. They are thrust into a crisis of faith.

As Jesus proceeded toward the cross He lamented over the abandonment He would experience by His disciples. Peter however insisted that he would not fail. It is here that Jesus informs him of his triple failure. Three times he would deny the Lord. Strikeout. Yet Jesus intercedes. Jesus said, "Peter, Satan has asked that he might sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not. And when you have returned to me strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31-32).

What is to become of us when it is the Shepherd's valley of the shadow of death?

Fear not. Christ has prayed for you. He has passed through the valley of the shadow of death for you. We need not fear any evil. Our salvation is not maintained by our fragile faith. But we are kept by the power of God. Our forgiveness is in His shed blood. In your crisis of faith, the long pause the deep breath, do not lose heart for hope flies on the wings of the dawn.

(To read the entire article, "Whose Valley?" by William Berkheiser at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

Multi-Site Churches

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
1 Timothy 6:6-8

Today's Preaching Insight...

Grandchildren: Regaining What Was Lost

In the Dallas Seminary Daily Devotional for 10-17-07, F. Duane Lindsey writes, "Asked if she had yet made a long trip to visit her son and his new wife, a woman replied, "No, I've been waiting until they have their new baby." When her friend thought the delay was to save money, she explained, "No, it isn't that. You see, I have a theory that grandmothers are more welcome than mothers-in-law."

Ruth and Boaz were no doubt delighted in their new baby. And Naomi was certainly welcome to lavish her love on her grandson. Like any doting grandmother, Naomi "took the child, laid him in her lap, and cared for him" (Ruth 4:16).

Because of his special legal status as the heir of Elimelech and Mahlon, the neighbors said, "Naomi has a son" (v. 17). She no doubt treated him as her own son. In fact, the childcare that Naomi provided may have been on a more or less permanent basis. Ruth may have given Obed over to Naomi to raise as her own son, for he was the legal heir to the estate of Elimelech.

The name given to the child was Obed, meaning "servant," perhaps in anticipation of the comfort he would be to Naomi in her old age. Naomi found in her grandson Obed all that she had lost in Moab. In fact, she gained more than she lost, for she was back in Bethlehem with joyful family surroundings and a secure future."

Today's Extra...

Second Coming, Judgment

Dr. Ian Paisley, the fiery Irish cleric and politician was reputed to have been preaching one Sunday on the end times -- and in particular on the Day of Judgment. As he reached the climax of his address, he said that on the Day of Judgment, "there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

At that point an old woman put up her hand and said, "Dr. Paisley, I have no teeth." Paisley replied, "Madam, teeth will be provided."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Ephesians 3:12

Today's Preaching Insight...

Let the Children Come to Me

In a sermon based on Mark 10:13-16, pastor Mike Milton observes, "As Art Linkletter used to say, 'Kids say the darndest things.' But in the passage today, it is Jesus who says the most amazing things. And what He says is not only about children but about each of us.

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them (Mark 10:13-16).

We have all heard about the infamous novel where a mystery was supposedly encrypted in the paintings of Leonardo di Vinci. Well, today, we come to a Scripture that has inspired many works of art. In fact, the "Suffer the Little Children" stained glass window in our balcony depicts Mark 10:13-16 and its parallels in Matthew 19 and Luke 18, the story of Jesus welcoming little children.

I once preached in Whitefield Chapel at Bethesda Home for Boys in Savannah, Georgia. That same scene was memorialized in a stained glass window in that chapel. Each Sunday, as I do here, I would look at it, but today, I want to say that there is a message embedded in that painting. I would call the painting "Children in the Arms of a Loving God." If God helps us today, we will be able to see with eyes of faith the truth behind the scene. In this scene of children in the arms of a loving God, God has placed a story to be told, lessons to be learned, a key to unlatch eternal life, and a promise to bring you ultimate happiness. Whoever learns these lessons and latches on to this key and leaves with this promise will never be the same."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

A drunken man stumbles across a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river. He proceeds to walk into the water and stand next to the old country preacher. The minister notices the old drunk and says, "Mister, are you ready to find Jesus?"

The drunk looks back and says, "Yes, preacher, I sure am."  So the minister dunks the fellow under the water and pulls him right back up.

"Have you found Jesus?" the preacher asks."No, I didn't!" said the drunk.

The preacher then dunks him under for quite a bit longer, brings him up, and says, "Now, brother, have you found Jesus?"

"No, I have not, Reverend."

The preacher now holds the man under for at least 30 seconds this time, brings him out of the water, and says in exasperation, "Man, have you found Jesus yet?"

The old drunk wipes his eyes and says to the preacher, "Are you sure this is where he fell in?"

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:16

Today's Preaching Insight...

Our Deepest Questions

Forty-one years I have served as a pastor. Throughout those years I have been bombarded with questions, honest questions, by sincere men and women who are trying to decide whether or not to say "yes" to Jesus.

Most of these questioners are genuine people, serious in their quest for spiritual reality. Some are young people, raised in the faith, who are now ready to throw it all out or have already thrown it all out, because of a cynical professor and/or friends who have put questions to them that they had never heard addressed before and are urging them to lifestyles contrary to biblical standards. Some have gone through life tragedies that have caused them to question everything. Some, in their intellectual development, have just come to honest questions for which they want answers.

Some of the questioners are adults who, for years have been nominal, cultural Christians, attending church because that is what you did in the communities where they were raised. They have never had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They have always thought that church attendance was a good thing to do and have put it at a level beside joining a service club, such as Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis, and taking leadership in the local PTA. But now they are discovering the pluralism of American culture. Some of their friends have totally dropped out of church; they don't have time for civic and specific religious organizations. Others of their friends are claiming a "born-again" experience with Jesus Christ and are not just attending church occasionally but have become extremely active in what they call "the family of God," personal Bible study, prayer, faithful worship attendance, weekly participation in a small group, reading books and attending Bible classes. Not only this, they are engaged in local and world mission projects, even giving ten percent and more of their gross income to the work of Jesus Christ.

Others who raise these questions to me come from completely non-religious backgrounds. They know nothing about the faith. A few have never been to church before. They tell me that the first time they came they didn't know when to sit and when to stand, and the language was foreign. It was all new. They were raising questions they had never raised before...

I could make a life work out of trying to answer each one of these. These are big questions, not easily resolved. But, sooner or later, you have to make a decision whether or not to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

(To read the entire sermon, "The Answers to Our Deepest Questions" by John A. Huffman Jr. at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Providence

The only survivor of a shipwreck came upon a small, uninhabited island. He prayed repeatedly for God to save him and everyday scanned the horizon for his answer. Even though he was exhausted and in despair, he eventually managed to build a little hut to keep him out of the weather and to store his provisions.

Then one day, after searching for food, he came home to find his little hut on fire. The worst thing that could have happened had happened. Everything he had was consumed. In his grief he cried out, "God, how could you do this to me!" Early the next morning, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. They had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the castaway. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation..."
Luke 17:20

Today's Preaching Insight...

Illustrations for the Lost

In a Preaching magazine article on reaching lost people within traditional worship services, Larry Moyer describes the importance of using illustrations that can be understood by non-Christians.

"Pastors who effectively use illustrations are the most relatable to lost people. Lost people do not understand the Bible, but they do understand life. Therefore, a pastor who uses illustrations effectively tells the lost person that he understands not only the scriptures but him and life.

"Years ago I was speaking in a church on the subject of marriage and the family using Genesis 2:18‑25. I was addressing the subject, 'Why did God start it all?' I told the audience that one of the reasons God instituted marriage was for companionship. God plainly said, 'It is not good that man should be alone.' I then addressed the subject of loneliness, giving the illustration of a 29‑year‑old single man from Topeka, Kansas, who said, 'For myself I can only describe the word 'loneliness' as being a gut‑level sick feeling at the pit of your stomach. It's so far within yourself that you fear you are in a trap and will never be set free.' After the service, a non-­Christian sought me out and said, 'You couldn't have described me any better. That quote really penetrated.' I had the privilege of taking him aside and leading him to the Lord."  (Preaching, Nov-Dec 2002)

Today's Extra...

Weddings

A little boy was in a relative's wedding. As he was coming down the aisle he would take two steps, stop, and turn to the crowd (alternating between bride's side and groom's side). While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar loudly.

So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR all the way down the aisle.

As you can imagine, the crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the front. The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed from all the laughing, and was near tears by the time he reached the pulpit. When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear." (from Mikey's Funnies)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.
Luke 17:23-24

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preaching Must Lead People Toward the Image of Christ

Presenting the E.Y. Mullins Lectures at Southern Baptist Seminary, pastor John MacArthur asserted, "I have learned through the years that the deeper you go into the things of God, the higher the people go in worship. Shallow preaching produces shallow worship. I can basically walk into a church and listen to the music for 15 minutes and tell you how profound the people's understanding of the things of God is because it will be reflected in that.

"If people are really going to know what it is to worship God with the mind, they're going to have to understand the deep things of God, and that doesn't mean you are oblique, it doesn't mean you are obscure.

"What is my responsibility as a shepherd? Is it to entertain people? To ignore my people while I talk to the non-people of God? What is the goal of my shepherding and my preaching? It is to conform my people to the image of Christ as much as possible as God uses me as an instrument of the teaching of His Word which does the conforming. The church is precious to me because it is so identified with Jesus Christ.

"I preach only the Word of God, only one book, because it is by the Word of God that sinners are saved and the saved are sanctified. ... I leave the effect of that truth to the purposes of God and the mighty work of the Holy Spirit."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

The New Shape of World Christianity

The New Shape of World Christianity (IVP) by Mark Noll is a fascinating discussion of the shaping of the American church and how that group is influencing the development of the global church. It is important that American church leaders begin to see themselves as part of a worldwide movement of the body of Christ, and this volume is an excellent place to begin.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
Revelation 3:10

Today's Preaching Insight...

From Tired to Inspired

We all get tired. Somebody once told me the crucial question for ministers was not, "Am I tired in the work?" but, "Am I tired of the work?" I have to admit there've been times when I could answer either query in the weary affirmative.

Even preaching, my first love in the ministry, the thing I truly feel called to do, I've gotten tired in and of. There have been days when I felt I could make more impact throwing beans against the wall (or at the folks in the pews!) than by preaching. There have been days when study time insidiously morphed into e-mail time and sermon preparation sailed dangerously close to sermon rehashing. Even though I try to remain fresh and engaging, the very words I'm required to use Sunday after Sunday — believe, repent, confess, even Jesus — can sometimes lose their flavor. Depending on what's going on in the church — infighting, a scandal, simple doldrums — an imp seems to hover near my eye with brush and jaundice- palette.  I'm tempted to cynicism.

Been there? Because we preach as sinners to fellow sinners, we all have. Thankfully, for most of us, such times don't last. Thankfully, God's grace and power somehow waft back to our lives, lifting the sagging sails, refilling our preaching with purpose, clarity, and emotion.

It might be a vacation that does the trick or maybe a conference. The rekindling of power might come with sunshine after weeks of slate-gray skies. Or maybe it comes wrapped in some member's thoughtful, encouraging note.

(To read the entire article "From Tired to Inspired" by Gary D. Robinson at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Courage, Prayer, Worship

In his book Surviving Hell: A P.O.W.'s Journey, Leo Thorsness tells of the courage it took to worship in the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison in Vietnam. Thorsness tells of a memorable service after the prisoners were rounded up in response to a failed rescue attempt.

The senior ranking officer in one cell stood up one Sunday and said, "Let's have church service." The men agreed. The guard came in and forbade them from having a service. The men discussed the problem and said they were all committed to having a service the following Sunday no matter what. That Sunday, Ned Schuman stood to open the service, and the guards came in and took him off to be tortured. After that, the second-highest ranking officer said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." While praying, about halfway through, he was sent to be tortured. At that, the third in command stood and said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." The guards took him out for torture. Number four stood up and said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." At this the guards not only carried away the officer but began hitting the soldiers with the butts of their guns, shouting for them to stop. Number five took his time getting to the center of the room; and before he could speak, the soldiers took him out. The guards locked the door behind them, and number six got up. "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer," he said.
Thorsness says that this time they finished it. He went on to say that even though five men were tortured, they all thought it worth it.

:angel:

August 22, 2011     


Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Message Entrusted to Us

Speaking to a renewal conference some time ago, former Asbury Seminary President Maxie D. Dunnam said, "An incredible message has been entrusted to us, a powerfully compelling message of an earth-shattering, world-changing, person-transforming fact. At the heart of it is Jesus, His incarnation, life, teaching, death and resurrection."

"People within and outside the church are starving spiritually. Within the church they ask for bread and are given stones. Witnesses abound. Persons in pain and sadness share stories of their long endurance in one of our mainline congregations, but they could take it no longer. Their pastors not only disregarded, they denigrated the authority of God's word. So the person sought another congregation where Scripture was honored and preached . . . They were starving for the Word.

"People outside the church are starving as well. They are starving because the church has betrayed her first love, has become so ideologically bound that she is spiritually barren. Committed to theological pluralism and making diversity redemptive within itself, we are diverted from the core dynamic of the Christian faith: what Christ can do for persons and for society.

"Redemptive, transforming power is in the Cross of Jesus - His sacrificial death for our sins. ... The fire is there to burn up the filthiness, decadence and destructiveness of sin and unrighteousness. The energy and fire are there in the fact that God became incarnate, walked the earth, died, rose again and turned evil's seemingly supreme triumph in its most crushing, irrevocable defeat."  (The Layman Online, October 31, 2002)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

The children's Sunday School class was learning about the Second Coming of Christ. Meanwhile, next door, another group was preparing to see a drama about a Bible story, and the man in costume was standing in the hallway. When one of the children stepped out of his own room and spotted the man in robes, he turned back to the class and shouted, "He's here now!"
:angel:

 
Tuesday, August 23, 2011   


Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:29

Today's Preaching Insight...

Not Professionals

"We pastors are being killed by the professionalizing of the pastoral ministry," John Piper writes in his book Brothers, We Are NOT Professionals. "Professionalism has nothing to do with the essence and heart of the Christian ministry."

Professionalism leads to spiritual decline, Piper believes: "For there is no professional childlikeness; there is no professional tenderheartedness; there is no professional panting after God."

In the chapter, "Brothers, Fight for Your Life," he urges pastors to take 20 minutes a day, six days a week, just to read.

"Without time of unhurried reading and reflection, beyond the press of sermon preparation, my soul shrinks... For your own soul and the life of your church, fight for time to feed your soul with rich reading."

Today's Extra...

Time

A friend said, "My problem is that I have surrendered my time to work, to other people, and to bad habits." We should first surrender our time to God. God owns it anyway. Our task is to manage properly what has been entrusted to us until he returns or wants it back, including our time.

Think about a compass and a clock Two very important tools, but two very different instruments. One would be wise not to confuse the two. To surrender our time to God is to be governed by a compass rather than to be controlled by a clock. A compass provides a sense of direction, purpose, vision, perspective, and balance. A clock measures duration, the expenditure of time. A compass determines effectiveness-doing the right tasks. A clock determines efficiency-how long it takes to accomplish a task. Both have their place. But, the compass must come before the clock, therefore, effectiveness before efficiency. The "mega priorities" of the compass subordinate the "mini priorities" of the clock.

A compass, therefore, becomes a symbol of an internal guidance system that provides us with our values and convictions based on God's Word. This non-negotiable governs our lives. In the same manner that the gravitational force pulls the compass needle; it is God that governs the drive of our lives. We surrender to his force.

Our time should be surrendered to God daily. I asked a friend who is engaged in many pursuits successfully, how he managed it all. He said, "I give my first minutes to God, then I commit the remainder of the day to his Lordship. And amazingly I work more effectively and efficiently."

Have you surrendered your time to God?  Is your time in his hands? (Rick Ezell, One Minute Uplift newsletter)
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Matthew 24:7-8

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preaching the Beatitudes

David Buttrick is author of Speaking Jesus: Homiletic Theology and the Sermon on the Mount (Westminster John Knox). He notes:

"We must be careful: The Beatitudes are not law and not moral instruction. They are neither didactic teachings nor rulebook rules. Preachers can urge congregations to be forgiving or to work as peacemakers, but look out, for there are complicating factors. First, we must not forget that human sinfulness runs deep. Not only is there a strange reluctance in each of us to choose God's will over our own dreams and desires, but when we are 'packaged,' that is, put together in social groups - corporations, nations, clubs, clans, even churches - we are doubly dangerous. To tell congregations to go out and make peace everywhere is unhelpful moralizing unless you spell out how difficult it will be to ignore prejudices, political alliances, social pressures, patriotisms and the like, all of which are formed by sin. In view of sin, the Beatitudes rely on God's own innovative grace."

Today's Extra...

Grace, Divine Protection

In his book The Red Sea Rules, pastor Rob Morgan writes, "Several years ago, I was walking down a sidewalk in East Nashville, making a pastoral visit. Suddenly I saw a German shepherd flying across a lawn, barking, snarling, teeth bared, mouth frothing. I was so startled that as it lunged at me, I screamed and jumped backward. But between me and my would-be attacker, there was a chain-link fence. The dog struck the fence full force. My heart was racing, but I was utterly safe because of the protective fence.

"Satan can growl and bark, lunge and threaten. But when we're enclosed by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he can do us no real or lasting harm."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect--if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
Mark 13:22-23

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preaching That Confronts Injustice

With God in the Crucible: Preaching Costly Discipleship is an Abingdon Press book that contains sermons by Peter Storey, former President of the Methodist Church of South Africa and Bishop of the Johannesburg/Soweto area for thirteen years. The book contains sermons preached in the midst of a society crippled by apartheid along with sermons reflect the nation's deliverance from that oppressive system. (Storey is now on the faculty of Duke Divinity School.)

One of the sermons, "When God Turns the Tide," was preached just days after the 1990 announcement of the abandonment of apartheid. Here is a powerful moment in that sermon.

"When President DeKlerk made those dramatic announcements that opened the prison gates of despair, I stood still for a long time, transfixed and emotionally overwhelmed. Then I walked to our kitchen window. From there you can see a distant hill, and on that hill there stands a church where, back in the 1950s, a young priest once ministered to the people of a vibrant black township called Sophiatown. It was there that he tried to stop the military trucks that came in the night to take the people away and the bulldozers that smashed their houses down.

"I looked out on the white suburb that rose on the ruins of Sophiatown. I remembered the final insult in the naming of that suburb, Triomf. [The Afrikaans word for "Triumph."] I remembered the little book written by that priest to expose apartheid's evil to the world, called Naught for Your Comfort.

"The priest was admonished by his bishop and sent home to England. But he took with him his book to alert the world, and he left behind a young black teenager who had been his altar boy and whom he had faithfully visited in the hospital when the boy had tuberculosis. The priest's name was Trevor Huddleston. The altar boy was Desmond Tutu. Huddleston's book may be dated now, but the altar boy is not. Huddleston's impact on South Africa through Desmond Tutu is immeasurable. There is a direct line between his witness in Sophiatown and this moment.

"There have been many, many others who have stood for the truth. They have been a minority, but together, the convictions of that minority and their commitment to obey God and stand for God's truth have made it possible for this moment of God's intervention - God's turning of the tide. Never underestimate the importance of ordinary people standing for the truth, because they also enable others to play their part."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer's Patients and Their Families

More and more families are dealing with the ravages produced by Alzheimer's disease. Pat Otwell, who has ministered to such families for two decades, shares her insights with fellow ministers in her book Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer's Patients and Their Families (Routledge). This book is packed with practical guidance and helpful ideas and resources.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Mark 16:15

Today's Preaching Insight...

Leave the Popularity for Jesus

It is the biggest temptation every preacher deals with. Every preacher? Yes, every preacher; and if one ever tells you he or she has never experienced its power, do not buy a used computer from that preacher. What is it? Popularity!

Phillips Brooks, who gave the world his wonderful carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem," knew popularity's seductive powers. As a preacher, he experienced it firsthand and declared, "To set one's heart on being popular is fatal to the preacher's best growth. It is the worst and feeblest part of your congregation that makes itself heard in vociferous applause, and it applauds that in you which pleases it."

Truth is that the love of popularity does not just seduce preachers. Everybody likes to be liked. For preachers, however, it is an especially deadly enticement. More than one unusually gifted preacher has been caught up in its grips and weakened, even destroyed, by its deadly power.

These days Jesus is literally everywhere. He is in newspapers and on the covers of magazines. He is on TV and radio.

You can find Him on football fields and on the tailgates of SUVs. He gets a mention in the great debates of the day—from Iraq to gay marriage, from evolution to the environment.

He is a celebrity unequalled in human history, this Jesus you and I are called to preach. My granddaughters might tell you, "He's hot!" That's right, He sizzles! Of course, it will not last, will it? Jesus will go out of fashion as quickly as He came in once the media tires of Him, don't you agree? No? Me neither!

(To read the entire article, "Every Preacher's Fiercest Temptation!" by Robert Leslie Holmes at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Complaining

According to the authors of the book Significa, the world's champion complainer was a man named Ralph Charrell. Charrel received over $100,000 as a result of his systematic complaining. His smallest refund was of $6.95 and his largest was $25,000. Charrel spent time every day making phone call and writing letters of complaint. He even wrote two books, How to Get the Upper Hand and How I Turn Ordinary Complaints into Thousands of Dollars. While we all have the right to stand up for ourselves, would you want to be known as the "World's Champion Complainer"? Wouldn't it be better to be the "World's Champion Encourager"?

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

War

In a past issue of his Breakpoint commentary, Chuck Colson observes, "This fallen world is dangerous, and out of mercy, God has given legitimate governments the power of the sword to protect us. The just war doctrine, derived from Scriptures, enables us to evaluate and hold our national leaders accountable when they must use the sword.

"We know from 2 Chronicles that King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a great warrior with a large, seasoned army. But when Jehoshaphat was confronted with an invasion, instead of riding out to meet the invaders, he led the people in prayer. "We do not know what to do," he prayed, "but our eyes are on you." And God's deliverance came in a thoroughly unexpected way. Jehoshaphat's army didn't fire a shot.

"Christians should follow the example of Jehoshaphat in prayer. Yes, we have the finest fighting men in the world... But remember that prayer is mightier than our armies, and God alone gives the victory or defeat."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

A pastor went into the pulpit one Sunday morning wearing a pair of new bifocals. The reading portion of the glasses improved his vision considerably, but whenever he looked through the top portion of the glasses he got dizzy. He explained to the congregation that the new glasses were causing problems, then said, "I hope you will excuse my continually removing my glasses. You see when I look down I can see fine, but when I look at you, it makes me sick."  (from George McCracken in www.sermonfodder.com)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Cor. 10:13

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preparing to Preach

In a paper at the meeting of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, Michael Quicke observed, "The more casual and unprepared that listeners are as they come to worship the less likely they are to experience God. All worshipers, preacher included, should make space and time for genuine prayers of preparation. "Who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully" (Ps 24:3,4). Snatched seconds of perfunctory routine before worship smothers spiritual possibilities within worship.  "True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth" (John 4:21) and be sensitive to God who is spirit. Spiritual insensitivity to God beforehand can condemn to spiritual insensitivity during worship. The outcome is a Unitarian utilitarianism - preachers "do their own thing" which may or may not have any relevance to hearers "doing their thing."

"Preachers need to include themselves in more rigorous practice of prayerful preparation that stills the spirit (Psalm 37:7) and raises expectation that God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are involved in a spiritual happening in worship for the whole community.  God's word does not return empty. God's seed in good soil can make an astounding difference--"bearing fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold. " Worshipers should prepare with openness to what fruit they might bear. If you think a sermon is going to be a waste of time, nine times out of ten it will be. If you believe in an active present God anything could happen.

"Preachers have a responsibility to model sensitive preparation for worship. In the crescendo of interruptions often leading up to the service prayer should not be treated as a routine to be squeezed out by more important matters, but the foundation for prepared minds and hearts of everyone. Listeners can be encouraged to pray in the days leading up to worship by specific information. Preachers can share next week's Scripture text and theme and ask listeners to prepare by reading and reflecting themselves as well as supporting the preacher in preparation. The more seriously preachers reflect personal conviction about the Trinitarian dynamic of worship and preaching, the more seriously listeners will prepare with them."

Today's Extra...

Faith, Prayer, Atheism

There was a little old lady who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky and shout, "Praise the Lord!"

Well, one day an atheist moved into the house next door. Over time, he became irritated at the little old lady. So every morning he would step out onto his front porch and yell after her, "There is no Lord!"

Time passes with the two of them carrying on this way every day. Then one morning in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted, "Praise the Lord! Lord, I have no food and I am starving. Please provide for me, oh Lord!"

The next morning, she stepped onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. "Praise the Lord!" she cried out. "He has provided groceries for me!"

The atheist jumped out of the hedges and shouted, "There is no Lord. I bought those groceries!"

The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted, "Praise the Lord! He has provided me with groceries and He made the devil pay for them!"

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Psalms 31:14-15
Today's Preaching Insight...

The Joy of a New Thing

I like new beginnings: a new book or a new class; a new art project or a new car; starting a new job or repainting a room. There is a deeper new thing, too -- a renewed spirit and enthusiasm after a satisfying vacation, Waking up to the singing of the birds as they celebrate a new sunrise, experiencing the mercy of God again and knowing that everything is going to be OK. A new thing.
A new thing is exactly what God promised to do for Israel in Babylon. You remember the Babylonian captivity. A whole nation driven away from home into a foreign country. A different language. Different customs. Different religion. Far from home. Disorienting, and disillusioning. The Psalmist recorded that the people of Israel sat down by the river Babylon and wept ... wept against the day they used to sing songs to God. Zion songs. "How can we sing songs to God in a foreign land?" they asked.
But now God was about to do a new thing. "I will break down all the bars in Babylon. I will make a way in the sea. I will make a path in the mighty waters, I am about to do a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" A new thing.
God doesn't leave us parched and dried up. God doesn't leave us without hope. God doesn't leave us without a way. "I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself, so that they might declare my praise," says the Lord." "I am about to do a new thing."
(To read the entire article, "Newness: A New Thing Isaiah 42:16-21; John 12:1-6" by William Jacobsen at Preaching.com, click here).
Today's Extra...

The Jesus You Can't Ignore

In The Jesus You Can't Ignore (Thomas Nelson), John MacArthur paints a picture of Jesus unlike that offered by many. He demonstrates that the Jesus of the New Testament was blunt, confrontational, and passionate about drawing people to the Kingdom.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
Today's Preaching Insight...

Mark Batterson: Reaching the De-Churched

Preaching: The vast majority of your people come from an un-churched or de-churched background. How do you go about reaching those "de-churched" folks?

Batterson: That's just someone who grew up going to church but quit going. I've read statistics that as many as 61 percent of 20-somethings quit going to church at some point, and we kind of get them on the rebound. It's amazing how many people were checked out for five or 10 or 15 years, and we find them or they find us on the rebound. We love being a church for those folks who left the church for one reason or another. That's really who we're targeting and part of the reason why we're trying to meet in marketplace locations. It makes it a little bit easier for them to walk in our front door.

(To read the entire article, "Preaching to the De-Churched: An Interview with Mark Batterson" by Michael Duduit at Preaching.com, click here).

Today's Extra...

Limitations and Fear

Passengers on a small commuter plane are waiting for the flight to leave. They're getting a little impatient, but the airport staff has assured them that the pilots will be there soon, and the flight can take off immediately after that.

The entrance opens, and two men walk up the aisle, dressed in pilots' uniforms -- 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 though 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 people at the window realize that they're headed straight for the water at the edge of the airport territory.

As it begins to looks as though the plane will never take off, that it will plow into the water, panicked screams fill the cabin -- but at that moment, the plane lifts smoothly into the air. The passengers relax and laugh a little sheepishly, and soon they have all retreated into their magazines, secure in the knowledge that the plane is in good hands.

Up in the cockpit, the copilot turns to the pilot and says, "You know, Tony, one of these days, they're going to scream too late, and we're all gonna die."

:angel:

Monday, September 05, 2011     

Today's Word for Pastors...

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. Psalms 107:23-24

Today's Preaching Insight...

Twitter: The Virtual Couch

So, if you can't preach three points and a poem via Twitter, what can be done to express and enhance ministry?

"Think of social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter not as extensions of your pulpit," suggests Bettinger, "but rather as a living room sofa. A place for conversation." This is crucial. If the goal of ministry is to build a community of Christ-followers committed to the cause of the gospel and His kingdom, then it follows that somewhere early on there must be a connection that leads to a conversation. Twitter, Facebook and other such tools are tailor made for that vital ice-breaking work.

(To read the entire article, "What Would Jesus Preach?" by David R. Stokes at Preaching.com, click here).

Today's Extra...

Here are some quotes from athletes and coaches that might have been better left unsaid:

* New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season..."I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."

* "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." - Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann 1996

* "You guys line up alphabetically by height." - Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach

* "You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle." - Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach

(Read the rest on Preaching.com here)
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Psalms 31:14-15
Today's Preaching Insight...

The Joy of a New Thing

I like new beginnings: a new book or a new class; a new art project or a new car; starting a new job or repainting a room. There is a deeper new thing, too -- a renewed spirit and enthusiasm after a satisfying vacation, Waking up to the singing of the birds as they celebrate a new sunrise, experiencing the mercy of God again and knowing that everything is going to be OK. A new thing.

A new thing is exactly what God promised to do for Israel in Babylon. You remember the Babylonian captivity. A whole nation driven away from home into a foreign country. A different language. Different customs. Different religion. Far from home. Disorienting, and disillusioning. The Psalmist recorded that the people of Israel sat down by the river Babylon and wept ... wept against the day they used to sing songs to God. Zion songs. "How can we sing songs to God in a foreign land?" they asked.

But now God was about to do a new thing. "I will break down all the bars in Babylon. I will make a way in the sea. I will make a path in the mighty waters, I am about to do a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" A new thing.

God doesn't leave us parched and dried up. God doesn't leave us without hope. God doesn't leave us without a way. "I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself, so that they might declare my praise," says the Lord." "I am about to do a new thing."

(To read the entire article, "Newness: A New Thing Isaiah 42:16-21; John 12:1-6" by William Jacobsen at Preaching.com, click here).
Today's Extra...

The Jesus You Can't Ignore

In The Jesus You Can't Ignore (Thomas Nelson), John MacArthur paints a picture of Jesus unlike that offered by many. He demonstrates that the Jesus of the New Testament was blunt, confrontational, and passionate about drawing people to the Kingdom.

Preaching magazine is the premier resource for those who proclaim the Word. To begin your own subscription and get a free year of issues, go to http://magazine.preaching.com/subscribe/.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
Today's Preaching Insight...

Mark Batterson: Reaching the De-Churched

Preaching: The vast majority of your people come from an un-churched or de-churched background. How do you go about reaching those "de-churched" folks?

Batterson: That's just someone who grew up going to church but quit going. I've read statistics that as many as 61 percent of 20-somethings quit going to church at some point, and we kind of get them on the rebound. It's amazing how many people were checked out for five or 10 or 15 years, and we find them or they find us on the rebound. We love being a church for those folks who left the church for one reason or another. That's really who we're targeting and part of the reason why we're trying to meet in marketplace locations. It makes it a little bit easier for them to walk in our front door.

(To read the entire article, "Preaching to the De-Churched: An Interview with Mark Batterson" by Michael Duduit at Preaching.com, click here).

Today's Extra...

Limitations and Fear

Passengers on a small commuter plane are waiting for the flight to leave. They're getting a little impatient, but the airport staff has assured them that the pilots will be there soon, and the flight can take off immediately after that.

The entrance opens, and two men walk up the aisle, dressed in pilots' uniforms -- 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 though 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 people at the window realize that they're headed straight for the water at the edge of the airport territory.

As it begins to looks as though the plane will never take off, that it will plow into the water, panicked screams fill the cabin -- but at that moment, the plane lifts smoothly into the air. The passengers relax and laugh a little sheepishly, and soon they have all retreated into their magazines, secure in the knowledge that the plane is in good hands.

Up in the cockpit, the copilot turns to the pilot and says, "You know, Tony, one of these days, they're going to scream too late, and we're all gonna die."
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Today's Preaching Insight...

Back to the Water Source

What about your life, pastor? Do you have supernatural power in your life and ministry? What is your power source? Are you weary and worn-out — can people hear the dipper banging against the bottom of your bucket? Or are you vibrant and victorious?

We have before us one of the most remarkable and challeng­ing statements in the whole of the New Testament. Jesus said,"If anyone thirsts, let him come unto Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). These words were spo­ken by Jesus to people who were spiritually dry, empty and defeated. They are like many people of our day, going through religious ritual and ceremony but finding no real meaning, life and victory.

The apostle John includes the commentary on the words of Jesus. Verse 39 tells us that Jesus' statement about "rivers of living water" is a reference to the Holy Spirit.

When it comes to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, it is possible to go to extremes. However, despite our fear of one extreme, we must not go to the other extreme and be devoid of the person and power of the Holy Spirit. Herein lies the power for life and ministry. The Holy Spirit is our power source.

(To read the entire article, "Rivers of Living Water" by Roger D. Willmore at Preaching.com, click here).

Today's Extra...

Words

It happened in the 1840s in Uruguay. The Uruguayan Navy was desperate. They were fending off the navy of an aggressive force from Argentina. They ran out of conventional ammunition and thought their cause was lost. Someone came up with a creative idea. They would use old cheese as ammunition. So they raided the kitchen and loaded their cannons with old, hard Edam cheese and used it as cannonballs. Incidentally, they won the battle.

Is it possible for us to take good things and turn them into weapons? Words for instance can be used to edify; or, if hard, they can be used to destroy.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Today's Preaching Insight...

More about the Father

More recently scholars urge us to discover that the parable is more about the father, the main character who shows up in both chapters of the story. After all, the very first words of the parable are "a certain man had two sons."  Scholars invite us to see the loving father or the waiting father or perhaps the forgiving father. Why not take a clue from them and pay more attention to the father in the story but with an angle?

One day while going over this beloved story I put two things together I never had. When it first hit me my admiration for the father in the story soared. This father, on the very same day, reached out to both of his sons with a fistful of grace and love for each of them.

This father loved both of his sons! God loves disreputable sinners and reputable sinners. Our appreciation of God expands exponentially. So many sermons lately appeal to our selfish desires. If you are up for it, why don't we say a good word about God this time.

(To read the entire article, "Twice in One Day" by Peter Rhea Jones on Preaching.com, click here.)

Today's Extra...

Lord's Supper
The oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere is the Mikve synagogue on the island of Curacao. It dates to the year 1732. Every day they sprinkle sand on the floor as a reminder of the years their ancestors wandered in the Desert of Sinai on their way from bondage in Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land. They thought a visible symbol would aid the memory. So it is for us in communion. We believe the visible symbols of the bread and the cup keep fresh for us the memory of our freedom from sin and our hope for a better promised land made possible by the torn body and shed blood of Jesus Christ.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. Proverbs 17:1

Today's Preaching Insight...

Daniel: A Travel Guide

The Book of Daniel is the place where prophecy and theology meet in a teenage boy named Daniel in captivity to a foreign king. Along with Daniel's friends, the reader comes face-to-face with the realities in his own life:

How a believer must live in times of apostasy

How a believer may follow the Lord in the most secular of conditions

How a follower of Christ can trust Christ even when it seems He is not in control

How a disciple of Jesus can meet the demands of discipleship in the tough, hard places of life

This part of Daniel grips me as your pastor. So I am back to why I love travel books. Think of Daniel as your divine guide to living for God in those times when it looks like God is nowhere to be found. And if we are truly becoming the secular nation that many say we are, then Daniel is God's guide for our lives as we stand up for Him in this generation.

(To read the full article, "Disciple in a Strange Land" by Michael Milton on Preaching.com, click here.)

Today's Extra...

Preachers are always on the lookout for good commentaries, and the Brazos Theological Commentary in the Bible is an outstanding new series that will be welcomed by those who preach and teach the Word. Two of the most recent volumes -- in what will eventually be a 40-volume series -- are Jonah by Phillip Cary and Deuteronomy by Telford Work. Both are clearly written and offer valuable insights into the biblical text.

Preaching magazine is the premier resource for those who proclaim the Word. To begin your own subscription and get a free year of issues, go to http://magazine.preaching.com/subscribe/.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Today's Preaching Insight...

Back to the Water Source

What about your life, pastor? Do you have supernatural power in your life and ministry? What is your power source? Are you weary and worn-out — can people hear the dipper banging against the bottom of your bucket? Or are you vibrant and victorious?

We have before us one of the most remarkable and challeng­ing statements in the whole of the New Testament. Jesus said,"If anyone thirsts, let him come unto Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). These words were spo­ken by Jesus to people who were spiritually dry, empty and defeated. They are like many people of our day, going through religious ritual and ceremony but finding no real meaning, life and victory.

The apostle John includes the commentary on the words of Jesus. Verse 39 tells us that Jesus' statement about "rivers of living water" is a reference to the Holy Spirit.

When it comes to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, it is possible to go to extremes. However, despite our fear of one extreme, we must not go to the other extreme and be devoid of the person and power of the Holy Spirit. Herein lies the power for life and ministry. The Holy Spirit is our power source.

(To read the entire article, "Rivers of Living Water" by Roger D. Willmore at Preaching.com, click here).

Today's Extra...

Words

It happened in the 1840s in Uruguay. The Uruguayan Navy was desperate. They were fending off the navy of an aggressive force from Argentina. They ran out of conventional ammunition and thought their cause was lost. Someone came up with a creative idea. They would use old cheese as ammunition. So they raided the kitchen and loaded their cannons with old, hard Edam cheese and used it as cannonballs. Incidentally, they won the battle.

Is it possible for us to take good things and turn them into weapons? Words for instance can be used to edify; or, if hard, they can be used to destroy.

:angel:

 September 16, 2011     

Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. Proverbs 17:1

Today's Preaching Insight...

Daniel: A Travel Guide

The Book of Daniel is the place where prophecy and theology meet in a teenage boy named Daniel in captivity to a foreign king. Along with Daniel's friends, the reader comes face-to-face with the realities in his own life:

How a believer must live in times of apostasy

How a believer may follow the Lord in the most secular of conditions

How a follower of Christ can trust Christ even when it seems He is not in control

How a disciple of Jesus can meet the demands of discipleship in the tough, hard places of life

This part of Daniel grips me as your pastor. So I am back to why I love travel books. Think of Daniel as your divine guide to living for God in those times when it looks like God is nowhere to be found. And if we are truly becoming the secular nation that many say we are, then Daniel is God's guide for our lives as we stand up for Him in this generation.

(To read the full article, "Disciple in a Strange Land" by Michael Milton on Preaching.com, click here.)

Today's Extra...

Preachers are always on the lookout for good commentaries, and the Brazos Theological Commentary in the Bible is an outstanding new series that will be welcomed by those who preach and teach the Word. Two of the most recent volumes -- in what will eventually be a 40-volume series -- are Jonah by Phillip Cary and Deuteronomy by Telford Work. Both are clearly written and offer valuable insights into the biblical text.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Who has put wisdom in the innermost being Or given understanding to the mind?
Job 38:36

Today's Preaching Insight...

Priorities

"In 1988, Greg Simmons, a brilliant young businessman whose ideas helped revolutionize American life insurance, flew to New York to make a presentation to Board members of AT&T. It was a deal with a commission potential worth more than one million dollars. At the last minute, the AT&T CEO was delayed. He requested that Greg make his proposal the following day. Greg politely explained that was not possible. 'Tomorrow,' he said, 'is my daughter's fifth birthday. I promised her I'd be at her party.'

"For Greg Simmons, his daughter's birthday party was more important than a million dollar deal. I wonder how many big-time CEOs have played second fiddle to a little girl's birthday party. I also wonder if Greg had any idea he would die in a mountain fall a few months later.

"Priorities! At the time, some people said Greg's priorities were all out of whack. But when you stop and think about it, none of us knows when we might attend the last birthday party for someone whose love we value beyond price. I was Greg's pastor. He was my best friend. His example of well-placed priorities taught me a lesson I hope I never forget!"  (R. Leslie Holmes)

Today's Extra...

Flag, Patriotism

Henry Ward Beecher once said, "A thoughtful mind, when it sees a Nation's flag, sees not the flag only, but the Nation itself; and whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag the Government, the principles, the truths, the history which belongs to the Nation that sets it forth." (from The American Flag)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

Today's Preaching Insight...

Teaching Spiritual Truths

"Parents believe that they are primarily responsible for the spiritual development of their children, but few parents spend time during a typical week interacting with their children on spiritual matters," states a report by the Barna Research Group of Ventura, CA. The report "underscores the need for churches to help parents address the spiritual needs of their children more intentionally and effectively."

The Barna study reports that 85 percent of parents of children under age 13 "believe they have the primary responsibility for teaching their children about religious beliefs and spiritual matters. Just 11 percent said their church is primarily responsible, and 1 percent said it is mostly the domain of their child's school. Few parents assigned such responsibility to friends, society or the media. Nearly all parents of children under the age of 13 - 96 percent - contend that they have the primary responsibility for teaching their children values. Just 1 percent said their church has that task and 1 percent assigned that role to the child's school.

"Related research, however, revealed that a majority of parents do not spend any time during a typical week discussing religious matters or studying religious materials with their children. However, about two out of three parents of children 12 or younger attend religious services at least once a month and generally take their children with them. Most of those parents are willing to let their church or religious center provide all of the direct religious teaching and related religious experiences that their children receive."

Don't forget the young ones under your pastoral care! 

Today's Extra...

Christian Media 'Outdraw' Churches

"A greater number of adults experience the Christian faith through the Christian media, such as radio, television or books, than attend Christian services," the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) announced, according to a story in The Washington Times.

The NRB categorizes this as a "wake-up call" for churches and producers alike, noting that while 132 million adults attended church in a recent month, 141 million used some form of Christian media.

While this outreach activity helps the public focus "on things that matter," said poll director George Barna, it won't get far without a supportive community. "The people factor must always be incorporated if Christianity is to be an expression of God's intent."

:angel:

 

   

Wednesday, September 21, 2011    Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.
John 3:21

Today's Preaching Insight...

Faith makes a difference

Americans who help religious congregations not only give more time and money than people working with secular causes, but provide three-quarters of secular charity as well, according to a study that was reported in The Washington Times.

The study found that "religion-giving households" in 2000 gave 87.5 percent of all charitable contributions in the nation, for an average of $2,100 for each household. "Givers to religious congregations are dramatically more generous than others," said the report, issued by Independent Sector, a nonprofit research organization, and the National Council of Churches.

Six in 10 American households give to a religious congregation and more than 85 percent of those also gave to secular organizations, said the study . . .

"The influence of faith extends to volunteering," the study said, noting that 54 percent of regular worshippers also volunteer. That compares with a volunteering rate of 32 percent by Americans who do not attend a house of worship. Religious givers volunteer for secular charities as much as secular Americans, averaging about 10 hours a month. And the most actively religious people work the most volunteer hours. "In round numbers, one-third of the people give two-thirds of the time," the report said.

For more on this topic, check out The Grace of Giving by Bill D. Whittaker at http://www.preaching.com/resources/from_the_lectionary/11547537/faith%20giving/.

Today's Extra...

The Dying Man and Cookies

An elderly man was at home, upstairs, dying in bed. He smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies baking. He wanted one last cookie before he died. He fell out of bed, crawled to the landing, rolled down the stairs and crawled into the kitchen where his wife was busily baking cookies.

With his last remaining strength he crawled to the table and was just barely able to lift his withered arm to the cookie sheet. As he grasped a warm, moist chocolate chip cookie, his favorite kind, his wife suddenly whacked his hand with a spatula.

Gasping for breath, he asked her, "Why did you do that?"

She replied, "Those are for the funeral."

Find more humorous snippets like these at http://www.preaching.com/resources/humor/.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Philippians 3:12

Today's Preaching Insight...

Diversity

"The Church is called to be a Christ-centered community of diversity. Its very life proclaims the power of God to overcome the divisions that set people against each other. In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul announced, 'In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus' (v. 3:28). The church is to live as a people touched by Gods grace and no longer defined by the divisions that plague the world.

At least that's what God expects. But that is not what we find in far too many cases. Too often the divisions of the world are brought right into the church. Instead of reflecting the light of Christ, we mirror the broken world. Women are discriminated against, racial segregation persists and whenever an international conflict arises, those in the church are frequently uncritical cheerleaders for our nation's side in the hostility. But on top of all that, the church has its own problems with diversity. Differences in practice and opinion become occasions for distrust and fragmentation.

Among ecumenically minded Christians, unity in diversity has been one of our strong values. But as I recently heard it said, we sing our hosannas to the principal, but in practice too quickly we hear the cries, 'Crucify him, crucify him.' No matter how much we claim that we value diversity, living with it is tough work."

(From Diversity: Living with Diversity, Romans 14:1-9 by Craig M. Watts. To read the entire article on Preaching.com, click here).

Today's Extra...

Does Anyone Actually Proofread Church Bulletins?

The Sermon Fodder newsletter frequently offers a new batch of bulletin bloopers gathered from across America. Here's a sample:

Don't forget, Ash Wednesday is Monday, March 5th.
Several members of our youth department are collecting donations for Operation Graduation. Funds will be used for a drug and alcohol party following graduation on May 29th.
Additional volunteers are needed for next week's Easter Egg Nog Hunt.
We will have a Church-wide Christ-centered Easter Egg Hunt next Saturday for Toddlers through Grade 6.  We are accepting candy and individually wrapped monetary donations in the office.
The Seniors group will be heading off to the festival bright and early Friday.  We hope to see your smiling feces at 7:00 a.m. when the bus departs.
The Baby shower will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday.  All ladies invited. No clothing needed.   
Please be in prayer that authorities will catch the thieves who have been breaking into area churches in recent months.  There was a break-in at the Open Door Baptist Church last week.  Burglars entered through a rear window.
(from Bulletin Bloopers 2003 PT. III, by Sermon Fodder and Joke A Day Ministries. To subscribe drop an email note to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple...In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:26-27, 33

Today's Preaching Insight...

Communicating Across Generations and Gender

In her Preaching article on "Preaching to Women," Alice Matthews of Gordon-Conwell Seminary talks about the issue of cross-cultural communication as it relates to both generations and gender:

"It may be easier for us to grasp the reality of cultural difference in terms of different generations. When I am with any of my six grand­sons, I hear them speak a language different from my own. Yes, they use words that are in my vocabulary — words such as cool or awesome or radical — but they do not attach the same meanings to them. So I might ask Chris, "When you say that Eric is cool, what do you mean? What's cool about Eric? He seems pretty warm to me." I listen to the vast array of inflections used in the ways my grandsons pronounce a word such as cool, and I know that it is an important word with many meanings and many uses. I just don't speak that language.

"But if my husband, Randall, and I sit sipping coffee together after breakfast, chatting about our family, our work, and the day ahead of us, I can easily assume that he and I speak the same language. After all, we have lived together for more than half a century! But once in a while he says something that reminds me that we are not always speaking the same language. For example, though we both grew up during the Great Depression and share conservative attitudes about the way we use money, we do not talk about money in the same way. His father lost his job in 1933 and was unable to support the family. My father had work through­out the Depression, and though we were poor by today's standards, we never went hungry. As a result, I tend not to worry about losing every­thing we have in the same way Randall does. He is more cautious about spending than I am, coming out of a life experience that is different from mine. Thus, the words save and spend carry different freight for him.

"The same thing happens countless times between the pulpit and the pew. When a pastor steps into the pulpit on Sunday morning, the odds make it likely that nearly three out of every four adults waiting to hear the sermon are women, although the ratio will vary from church to church. But the reality is that most pastors speak to more women than men every Sunday. It is this reality that makes it practical and logical to think about women as listeners." (Preaching, May-June 2003)

(You can read the article in its entirely at Preaching.com by clicking here).

Today's Extra...

Book of the Week

Think Orange: Imagine the Impact When Church and Family Collide, by Reggie Joiner (David C. Cook, 2009).

Former family ministry director Reggie Joiner looks at what would happen if the church and families both decided that they could no longer do business as usual, but instead combined their efforts and began to work off the same page for the sake of the kids.

Written to support the Orange Conference and Tour, Think Orange shows church leaders how to make radical changes so they can:

engage parents in an integrated strategy;
synchronize the home and church around a clear message;
recruit mentors to become partners with the family;
provoke parents and kids to fight for their relationship with each other; and
mobilize the next generation to be the church.
:angel:

September 26, 2011     Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
Acts 26:20

Today's Preaching Insight...

Sermons must be rooted in God's Word

In his book The Passion-Driven Sermon (Broadman & Holman), Jim Shaddix reminds us that scripture must be the foundation of every sermon.

"While it is certainly not wrong for a preacher to utilize information from outside the Bible to support, illustrate, or apply the truth of God's Word, a line is crossed when the observations and assertions of some other preacher, psychologist, researcher, or futurist become the primary content of sermons. And it doesn't matter whether the contentions are those of a Christian or non-Christian. . . . Regardless of how enticing it may be, human wisdom will never positively affect the spiritual makeup of mankind." 

Today's Extra...

Strength

According to wire service reports, a New York man has set a record for the most records in the Guinness Book of World Records. His name is Ashrita Furman, and he is the first person to hold 100 records at the same time. His records include a mass poetry reading of the poem "Precious" in 111 languages, 27,000 jumping jacks in five hours, and eating 38 M&Ms with chopsticks in one minute.

Furman has held 234 total records, but many have been broken. He is quoted as saying, "I believe we all have an inner strength that we very rarely use." He also said, "I just love the challenge of trying to be the best in the world in something." While we might question the need to be the best at something rather than to simply do our best, we would all probably agree that we have inner strength we rarely use.
:angel:

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)

:angel:

Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Romans 3:20

Today's Preaching Insight...

Consider Shorter Attention Spans

In the May 2003 issue of Ministry magazine, executive speech coach Patricia Fripp observes, "Today's audiences have very short attention spans. The first and last thirty seconds have the most impact. Don't waste those precious seconds with trivialities. Come out punching. . . . You might start with a story, an interesting statistic, a startling statement - anything rather than something predictable. Being too predictable can be boring.  With the advent of the TV remote control, no one watches anything that stands still long enough to bore. Today's audiences will forgive you for anything except being boring. . . .

"We must keep our audience's needs in mind. In the first sentence or so, you want people in your audience to elbow their neighbors and say, 'This is going to be good. I'm glad we're here!' When a sermon is immediately compelling, it's as if you forget everything else. It's important to memorize the first three or four sentences of your introduction. This allows you to start fluently, connecting with your audience."

Today's Extra...

Influence

Rivers gain more attention than the little streams that create them. You can name the great rivers of the world, but you cannot name their tributaries. However, without the tributaries, there would be no river. And it must be remembered that the smaller streams, while less well-known, are purer and are found on a higher elevation. Some of our lives are tributary lives. It is our role to provide the pure water from the higher elevation that enables another to be a mighty river of power and influence.
J. Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Romans 4:2-3

Today's Preaching Insight...

It's Not About You

We make statements that are saturated with self as if worship is all about us:

"Why can't we sing more of the songs that I like?" 
"I don't think the preacher should talk about this or that!" 
"I can't believe so-and-so didn't talk to me today!" 
"No one ever notices what I do in the church."
Here's the problem: Worship isn't about getting anything; it's about giving everything to God! The above attitudes make us idle judges of activity rather than active participants in adoration toward a holy God. Christian consumerism defines the quality of our worship by the number of ministries for people, the size and quality of our buildings, the popularity of our pastors, the style of our music and an obvious determination to make people happy. One concern emerges as primary: "What have you done for me lately?"

Unfortunately, we still fall short of making everyone happy, and God is disgusted with our obvious worship of and preoccupation with ourselves. Our efforts to be seeker-sensitive and self-sensitive have made us insensitive to the Divine Presence who is to be the focus of our worship. Or, as the apostle Paul said, we have "exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Rom. 1:25, NASB).]

(To read the full sermon, "It's Not About You" by Adam Dooley at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Optimism

There is an old Far Side comic that illustrates the power of perspective. As with many of Gary Larson's comics, it contains animals that behave like people. There is a family of dogs deep in an underground fallout shelter, while there is a nuclear holocaust on the surface. One of the dogs says, "Well, we must face a new reality. No more carefree days of chasing squirrels, running through the park, or howling at the moon. On the other hand, no more, 'Fetch the stick, boy, fetch the stick.'"

:angel:

September 30, 2011     Preaching Daily
     
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.
:angel:

October 03, 2011   Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preparing to Preach

In a paper at the meeting of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, Michael Quicke observed, "The more casual and unprepared that listeners are as they come to worship the less likely they are to experience God. All worshipers, preacher included, should make space and time for genuine prayers of preparation. "Who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully" (Ps 24:3,4). Snatched seconds of perfunctory routine before worship smothers spiritual possibilities within worship.  "True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth" (John 4:21) and be sensitive to God who is spirit. Spiritual insensitivity to God beforehand can condemn to spiritual insensitivity during worship. The outcome is a Unitarian utilitarianism - preachers "do their own thing" which may or may not have any relevance to hearers "doing their thing."

"Preachers need to include themselves in more rigorous practice of prayerful preparation that stills the spirit (Psalm 37:7) and raises expectation that God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are involved in a spiritual happening in worship for the whole community.  God's word does not return empty. God's seed in good soil can make an astounding difference--"bearing fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold. " Worshipers should prepare with openness to what fruit they might bear. If you think a sermon is going to be a waste of time, nine times out of ten it will be. If you believe in an active present God anything could happen.

"Preachers have a responsibility to model sensitive preparation for worship. In the crescendo of interruptions often leading up to the service prayer should not be treated as a routine to be squeezed out by more important matters, but the foundation for prepared minds and hearts of everyone. Listeners can be encouraged to pray in the days leading up to worship by specific information. Preachers can share next week's Scripture text and theme and ask listeners to prepare by reading and reflecting themselves as well as supporting the preacher in preparation. The more seriously preachers reflect personal conviction about the Trinitarian dynamic of worship and preaching, the more seriously listeners will prepare with them."

Today's Extra...

Faith, Prayer, Atheism

There was a little old lady who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky and shout, "Praise the Lord!"

Well, one day an atheist moved into the house next door. Over time, he became irritated at the little old lady. So every morning he would step out onto his front porch and yell after her, "There is no Lord!"

Time passes with the two of them carrying on this way every day. Then one morning in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted, "Praise the Lord! Lord, I have no food and I am starving. Please provide for me, oh Lord!"

The next morning, she stepped onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. "Praise the Lord!" she cried out. "He has provided groceries for me!"

The atheist jumped out of the hedges and shouted, "There is no Lord. I bought those groceries!"

The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted, "Praise the Lord! He has provided me with groceries and He made the devil pay for them!"
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
Galatians 3:10

Today's Preaching Insight...

Let stories do their job

In a recent issue of Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox newsletter, storyteller Steven James encourages preachers to "Trust the story to do its work. In nearly every book on public speaking and preaching I've read I see the same advice: 'Tell 'em what you're gonna say. Say it. Then tell 'em what you said.'

"That might be a good way to teach someone how to bake a casserole, but it sure stinks when it comes to telling a good story. Maybe that's why Jesus never did it. Not once. Instead, he spoke in metaphor, story, and imagery that appealed to curiosity and imagination. He didn't preach three-point sermons, he preached one-point sermons - and most of the time he didn't even tell people what that point was!

"Jesus rarely explained his stories, in fact only once in Scripture are we told specifically why Jesus told a story (Luke 18:1), and only a couple of his story explanations appear. Jesus trusted his stories to do their work in the hearts of the people listening. This leads us to one of the great paradoxes of education: The more you explain a story the less impact it has. Think about it. Haven't you heard someone use a great illustration and then spend the next 30 minutes draining all of the impact out of it? We end up diminishing rather than expanding the impact of a story by explaining to people what we think it is supposed to mean."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh: Don't Talk, Just Play

Here are some quotes from athletes and coaches that might have been better left unsaid:

* New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season..."I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."
* "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." - Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann 1996
* "You guys line up alphabetically by height." - Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach
* "You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle." - Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach
* Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson hooking up again with promoter Don King - "Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton."
* Shaquille O'Neal on whether he had visited the Parthenon during his visit to Greece - "I can't really remember the names of the clubs that we went to."
* Shaquille O'Neal, on his lack of championships - "I've won at every level, except college and pro."
* 1982 - Chuck Nevitt, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice - "My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt."
* 1991 - Steve Spurrier, Florida football coach, telling Gator fans that a fire at Auburn's football dorm had destroyed 20 books - "But the real tragedy was that 15 hadn't been colored yet."
* 1996 - Lincoln Kennedy, Oakland Raiders tackle, on his decision not to vote - "I was going to write myself in, but I was afraid I'd get shot."
* 1991 - Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins - "He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings."
* 1987 - Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D - "Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject."
* 1991 - Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player - "I told him, 'Son, what is it with you. Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'"
(from The Daily Dilly)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:19-23

Today's Preaching Insight...

When Prayer Doesn't 'Work'

Whether it's a struggle with health, relationships, finances or sin, all of us, I would wager, have experienced what we conclude to be 'unanswered prayer'. Sometimes our struggle has reached a point where we wonder whether Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, didn't have it right when he wrote: "A leap over the hedge is better than good men's prayers. "

There is nestled in the center of the Old Testament book of Psalms what I would call the saddest prayer I have ever read. Amongst uplifting and encouraging psalms, we have this desperate appeal to God for help. From what we can gather, the writer of this psalm is experiencing an illness that has rendered him near death. Some Bible scholars believe the psalmist is battling leprosy - an infectious disease that attacks the skin, nerves and muscles. It mercilessly wastes away a person's body. We know that leprosy in the Ancient Near East was incurable and resulted in a person becoming an outcast: destitute and treated as wholly unclean. The psalmist writes how his affliction has been with him since youth, has left him near death and set apart, repulsive to others. He cries out to God, "Why, O Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?"

The writer of Psalm 88 wrestled with the question of whether or not prayer 'worked.' He wonders whether he is like the dead, who are not remembered. Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of the psalm is its ending. Virtually all the psalms close with the writer praising God and rejoicing in His goodness and faithfulness. Psalm 88, however, ends with the refrain: "darkness is my closest friend". And yet, the psalmist turns to God as his only hope; he says, "In the morning my prayer comes before you." Why?

(To read the entire article "When Prayer Doesn't 'Work'" by Philip A. Gunther at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Accountability and Peer Pressure

David Jeremiah notes that, "On February 26, 1995, Barings Bank, England's oldest, declared bankruptcy after losing nearly a billion dollars. How could such a thing happen? Lack of accountability. A twenty-eight-year-old Barings trader in Singapore had been given too much authority - like letting a school boy grade his own tests. He lost money in stock trades and no one knew about it - until all of the bank's money was gone.

"If that trader had been surrounded by associates who were closer to him, his failures might have been caught before they turned into a freefall. It's hard to overestimate the positive influence that good and godly friends, mentors, and role models can have on our lives - or the negative results which accrue when we live life with a "lone ranger" mentality. Not only can friends keep us from going astray, they can move us in the right direction as well. Surveys have shown that in our disconnected culture most people have few, if any, close friends. How about you? Don't be a stranger! Be a good friend and you'll have good friends who can help you find, and stay on, the right path.

"Peer pressure can have a negative or positive effect. Make sure your peers are of the positive kind."
-Turning Point Daily Devotional, 7/23/03

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

Today's Preaching Insight...

Getting Help via Obedience

Too many people reach the point of being shattered, broken, hurting, lonely and discouraged before they seek God's help. A Christian counselor who works with corporate executives once told me that if he can be brought into a conflict before it escalates to a serious level, he usually can show people how to solve the problem. But this rarely happens because most of us are very reserved and will not freely expose what we are feeling and thinking until much later. By then the conflict is threatening to spiral out of control. Jesus knows our hearts, and He makes it clear from page one of His Word that obedience to Him should be our central focus. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and suffered the loss of everything they knew as right and good.

However, just as you can track disobedience down through the generations, you also can trace the benefits of obedience.

(To read the entire sermon, "God Delights in Obedience by Charles Stanley at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

More God

Blaine Morris is only 2 years old, and his vocabulary is limited. But when his family passes the church, he knows what it is and shouts, "More God! More God!" That should be the cry of the whole world—"More God!" That is what we need—not more money, not more weapons and not more industry. We need more God.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
Malachi 3:6
Today's Preaching Insight...

The Fears that Prey upon Your Congregation

Fears of various sorts crowd in on us modern men and women.

Some of us fear financial failure, producing ulcers in our intense endeavor to anticipate the ups and downs of the stock market, to analyze the stability of our jobs and to predict the future value pattern of our real estate. 

Some of us fear disease, becoming hypochondriacal as a result of the possible sicknesses which could afflict us or members of our family.

Some of us have a fear of other people, fear we might become unpopular, elbowed out to the fringes of the social set in which we run. Every high school student knows these fears. With all the positive contributions of fraternities and sororities, the core of such social clubs is the motivating fear of being on the outside of the "in group." We live in a horror of possible ridicule, the terror of being despised or talked about. What ends to which we will go to avoid being socially ostracized.

Some of us fear the breakdown of moral values that threaten to destroy America from within. Some of us fear the breakdown of moral values that threaten to destroy America from without.

International terrorism, right now, holds us in its grip. That's the intention of the terrorist! Osama bin Laden was quoted in the early days after 9/11 as saying this:

From the north to the south, from the east to the west, Americans are living in fear, and for this we thank God.

We fear war. Right now our world is paralyzed into inaction as we debate the pros and cons of war with Iraq.

You name it. We fear it. We fear earthquakes and floods. We fear not getting married and also getting married and not being able to make the marriage work. We fear not having children, and we fear the potential perils of raising children.

(To read the entire article, How to Fear the Right Things by John A. Huffman at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

Kindling Desire for God



In Kindling Desire for God (Fortress), Kay L. Northcutt argues that preaching should be an act of spiritual direction, aiming at spiritual formation of the congregation. She writes primarily to "the postmodern mainline church." One point Northcutt makes with which this reader is in full agreement: "the preacher's spiritual life is as foundational to preaching as brilliant scriptural exegesis and breathtaking sermon delivery."
:angel:

October 10, 2011    Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 5:11

Today's Preaching Insight...

Importance of Metaphor and Analogy

In the Feb. 5, 2008 issue of Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox newsletter, Rick notes, "If you want to communicate the vision for your ministry . . . you need to compare it to something that everybody already relates to. How many times did Jesus say in the New Testament, 'The kingdom of heaven is like...'? And then He'd give an analogy, a parable or a metaphor.

"Reagan was called 'The Great Communicator.' There's really nothing fancy about the way he communicated. He is simply a master at illustration. He has the ability to take big complex things - talking about the budget deficit so he has a pile of bills on his desk - and he says, 'One trillion dollars is a pile as tall as the Empire State building.' He used that illustration in his very first budget address. People could relate to that. It was a tangible thing you could tie into.

"Here at our church the whole Saddleback strategy is based on the baseball diamond like we teach in the Membership Class. It's something people can grasp onto. What's first base? What's second base? What's third base? That's an analogy that communicates a vision in something they can identify with."

Today's Extra...

Complaints

A guy joins a monastery and takes a vow of silence. He's allowed to say two words every seven years. After the first seven years, the elders bring him in and ask for his two words. "Cold floors," he says. They nod and send him away. Seven more years pass. They bring him back in and ask for his two words. He clears his throat and says, "Bad food." They nod and send him away.

Seven more years pass. They bring him in for his two words. "I quit," he says. "That's not surprising," the elders say. "You've done nothing but complain since you got here."
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13

Today's Preaching Insight...

Does Marriage Still Work?

Do we simply say that marriage is a human idea, predicated on human ingenuity, going through an evolutionary process and as it hasn't worked we'll move on to alternate lifestyles? Or do we say that marriage is a divine idea predicated on creation principles, as fundamental and vital to human well-being as natural laws are fundamental and vital to the orderly survival of the planet? The church needs to decide where it comes down on the issue, not just in theory but in practice!

Of course, if we insist on the biblical view of marriage in the churches, there is a great need for us not only to defend it but we must practice it in such a way that people will not be able to say, "Marriage doesn't work." Because when done God's way, marriage most emphatically does work!

(To read the entire sermon "Building Godly Marriages and 'God Kids'" by Stuart Briscoe at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

Toy Disclaimers

Here are some disclaimers to be found at a toy department near you:

No beanies or babies harmed in the manufacture of this product.
Warning: This fad will disappear in 6 weeks.
Caution: Care Bears do not actually care very much.
Warning: This toy produces substantially less childish glee in real life than it does in the TV commercial.
Some dismemberment may occur.
In case of breakage, scream until dad buys a replacement.
Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously.
Use as an actual terrorist device not recommended.
Do not attempt to combine your Ultra Mega Warrior with your cat to make Ultra Mega Cat Warrior.
NOTE: The makers of "Queen Amidala's Naboo Dream Palace" assume no responsibility for the quality of the movie which spawned it.
Some assimilation required. Resistance is futile.
(from Pastor Tim's PearlyGates List — http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22

Today's Preaching Insight...

Atheism and Morality

In his book What's So Great About Christianity, Dinish D'Souza argues that atheism is not so much driven by intellectual concerns as by moral ones - the desire to live as one pleases. He writes: "My conclusion is that contrary to popular belief, atheism is not primarily an intellectual revolt, it is a moral revolt. Atheists don't find God invisible so much as objectionable. They aren't adjusting their desires to the truth, but rather the truth to fit their desires.

"This is something we can all identify with. It is a temptation even for believers. We want to be saved as long as we are not saved from our sins. We are quite willing to be saved from a whole host of social evils, from poverty to disease to war. But we want to leave untouched the personal evils, such as selfishness and lechery and pride. We need spiritual healing, but we do not want it. Like a supervisory parent, God gets in our way. This is the perennial appeal of atheism: it gets rid of the stern fellow with the long beard and liberates us for the pleasures of sin and depravity. The atheist seeks to get rid of moral judgment by getting rid of the judge."

Today's Extra...

Appearances

Recently, through YouTube, the world became aware of Susan Boyle of Scotland. She was a contestant on the TV show "Britain's Got Talent." Susan is single, middle-aged and matronly as opposed to young and glamorous. The judges and the audience dismissed her, many rolling their eyes while others snickered.
But when she began to sing, the audience and the judges were shocked and spellbound. The smiles gave way to cheers and a standing ovation.

All three judges gave her high marks. They even admitted their prejudices. It was a great, feel-good story; but it also reveals a flaw in contemporary culture.
Too often we make judgments on the basis of externals. By the way, Susan developed her extraordinary singing ability in the church choir.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
1 Timothy 6:18

Today's Preaching Insight...

To the Disgruntled Preacher

For every preacher whose ministry has been destroyed because of sexual indiscretions, I wonder how many more have had their ministries spoiled by a sulky, dissatisfied spirit? I know from experience how easy it is to fall victim to this sin. You feel the Lord's call upon your life. You surrender. Filled with ambition for the Kingdom, you prepare yourself for ministry. Then one day while you're out there in the vineyard, toiling away, you look up and see another brother who started later and prepared less enjoying greater success than you. Before you realize what has happened, you have become a disgruntled minister.

In Acts 9, Luke records the Lord's conversation with one such servant, a man dealing with his own mixed feelings. Having struck Saul blind on the road leading to Damascus, the Lord turns His attention to Ananias. (Acts 9:10-19a.)

You can excuse Ananias for being a bit hesitant when he first heard God's command to go to Saul's bedside. Through the grapevine he'd heard about what Saul had done to the church in Jerusalem, how he'd been as destructive as a bull in a china shop. Ananias also had it on good authority that Saul was coming to Damascus to continue his bloody crusade. But was there something more than fear behind his objection? Did the very thought that the Lord wished to heal Saul and a sneaking suspicion that He was willing to accept and use him just like anyone else take Ananias aback? It's possible.

Slide yourself into Ananias's sandals for a minute. By the standard of the Law you're a devout man, respected in the community. That's how Paul describes Ananias later in Acts 22:12. For Paul to call anyone "devout" by the Law's standard was not faint praise. For years you've devoted yourself to Yahweh and have been one of the few Jews you know to accept Jesus as Yahweh's Son. Now He wants you to go and welcome the butcherous Saul into the Christian community. How would you feel?

Looking back we see that Saul's entrance into the Church forever affected the face of Christianity. This was a watershed event, but Ananias couldn't see it then. His uncertainty, his mixed feelings about the whole matter were hindering the Kingdom's progress.

(To read the entire article "To the Disgruntled Preacher" by Gregory K. Hollifield at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Lord's Supper

The oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere is the Mikve synagogue on the island of Curacao. It dates to the year 1732. Every day they sprinkle sand on the floor as a reminder of the years their ancestors wandered in the Desert of Sinai on their way from bondage in Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land. They thought a visible symbol would aid the memory. So it is for us in communion. We believe the visible symbols of the bread and the cup keep fresh for us the memory of our freedom from sin and our hope for a better promised land made possible by the torn body and shed blood of Jesus Christ.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Titus 1:15-16

Today's Preaching Insight...

Presentation vs. Content

In a past issue of the Preaching Now newsletter, Michael Duduit wrote: "As the father of two boys, I'm learning some of my most important lessons around the breakfast table.

For example, I have learned that the nutritional value of the cereal is of far less concern than the box: what's on it and what's in it. Is there something interesting to look at on the box, and/or does it have some special prize inside? If Jimmy Neutron is on the box, then it's a keeper. (For those of you without small children, and who are thus culturally unaware of the latest cartoon celebrities, you'll just have to trust me on this.)

It appears that my boys consider presentation more important than content. While I know that's not true, I've also learned that they'll absorb some pretty nutritious content if the presentation gets their attention. They'll even eat healthy stuff if it looks interesting enough!

And that's a pretty good early-morning lesson for a preacher."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

Eyes Wide Open by Jud Wilhite and Bill Taaffe

It's important to primarily keep our eyes on Jesus. But what does God see when He looks at us? In Eyes Wide Open (Multnomah), Jud Wilhite encourages readers to understand how God sees them -- and how they should see themselves. The Sept-Oct issue of Preaching includes an interview with Wilhite, who is senior pastor of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas.

:angel:

October 17, 2011   Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Titus 2:14

Today's Preaching Insight...

A Prisoner of Jesus Christ

Ephesians 3:1-13 constitutes a great parenthesis in the argument of the book, which skips from 2:22 to 3:14, where it continues the topic of the growth of the Church. What could have been important enough to make a logical and systematic mind like Paul's lose its train of thought? The Stewardship of God's Grace, i.e., the ministry of the Gospel and the privilege of having a part in it. How great is that privilege? It is great enough to transform your view of your circumstances, to turn a prison into a place of praise and bonds of iron into a badge of honor, when one is a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

(To read the entire article "Prisoner of Jesus Christ" by Donald T. Williams at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Honesty / Dishonesty

Did you hear the story of the boy who brought home a very low grade on a test?  His mother asked, "Why did you get such a low mark on that test?"  His reply was, "Because of absence."  The mother inquired, "You mean you were absent when they discussed the material?"  The student said, "No, the kid who sits next to me was absent the day of the test."

J. Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Titus 3:5

Today's Preaching Insight...

Sermon Form

In an article on "The Theology of Sermon Design" in the Sept-Oct 2007 issue of Preaching, Dennis Cahill writes, "Karl Barth, in his volume Homiletics, states, 'There is no need, then, to consider the problem of what should come first, second, and third. The preacher has only to repeat what the text says.' Barth rejects introductions, conclusions, and sermon divisions out of his theological conviction that humanity can do nothing to make the Word of God effective and should not try to do so, perhaps because of his dislike for the artiness of the sermons of his day. For Barth, sermon form only served to obscure the Word of God. Preachers, he argued, need not make much of the issue of sermon form.

The problem with this line of reasoning is that the biblical preachers and writers did have a concern for design. Long argues that the New Testament writers were intentional in their rhetorical design and that New Testament preaching was based on the preaching of the synagogue, which was complex in its communication strategy.

Consider the difference between Paul's sermon in Acts 13 to a largely Jewish audience in the synagogue and his sermon in Acts 17 to a Gentile audience in the Greek marketplace. In Acts 13 Paul's sermon is filled with Old Testament references and theology. In Acts 17 Paul takes a very different approach, appealing to an altar to 'an unknown God' and quoting from Greek poets, while not using a single quotation from the Hebrew Scriptures. These two sermons reflect different audiences and thus different rhetorical designs. They are designed differently, but they are designed.

Form is inescapable. Even if one simply reads the text, issues of design must be considered."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

Translating Christianese

The Evangelical Press Association (EPA) website recently shared the following: Christianese is a language used in the Christian subculture and understood easily only by other practicing Christians. As Christian communicators it's important to avoid words in our writing that could be misunderstood or fail to communicate — terms that have meaning only in the Christian subculture.

As a public service, here are some common phrases used in the church, along with their English-language equivalents:

Christianese: "If it be God's will."
Translation: "I really don't think God is going to answer this one.

Christianese: "Let's have a word of prayer."
Translation: "I am going to pray for a long, long, long time."

Christianese: "That's not my spiritual gift."
Translation: "Find someone else."

Christianese: "Fellowship"
Translation: "Organized gluttony."

Christianese: "The Lord works in mysterious ways."
Translation: "I'm totally clueless."

Christianese: "Lord willing . . ."
Translation: "You may think I'll be there, but I won't."

Christianese: "I don't feel led."
Translation: "Can't make me."

Christianese: "God led me to do something else."
Translation: I slept in instead of going to church.

Christianese: "God really helped me with this test."
Translation: "I didn't study but I guessed good, so I'm giving God credit in the hope that He helps me again."

Christianese: "She has such a sweet spirit!"
Translation: "What an airhead!"

Christianese: "I have a 'check' in my spirit about him."
Translation: "I can't stand that jerk!"

Christianese: "I'll be praying for you."
Translation: "There's an outside chance I'll remember this conversation later today."

Christianese: "Prayer concerns"
Translation: "Gossip"

Christianese: "In conclusion . . . "
Translation: "I'll be done in another hour or so."

Christianese: "Let us pray"
Translation: "I'm going to pretend to talk to God now, but I'm really preaching at you."

Christianese: "You just have to put it in God's hands."
Translation: "Don't expect me to help you."

Christianese: "God wants to prosper you!"
Translation: "Give me all your money."

(Author Unknown)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
Hosea 10:12

Today's Preaching Insight...

Establish a Context When Preaching from Old Testament Narratives

A very important first step to making a section of Old Testament narrative "preach-able" is to read it in relation to its immediate context, the larger narrative within of which a given pericope is a part. For our purposes, we might note that there is an intriguing development in the Kings narrative wherein Jeroboam is appointed by Solomon himself to be the one who oversees the men whom Solomon had compelled to labor. Soon after, as I Kgs 11.29-39 informs us, the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh goes out with Jeroboam from Jerusalem to tell him that YHWH has decided to tear the kingdom from Solomon and make Jeroboam king over ten tribes. In the space of about one chapter we learn that Jeroboam has gone from a man who had been "taken" by God and given all Israel to rule to a man against whom YHWH had sent his prophet in judgment.

What could bring about such a turn in fortune? What had Jeroboam done that turned him from God's appointed and approved king to God's enemy? Surely I Kgs 13.1-6 gives its own implicit explanation, but we will endeavor to show that one way to feast upon Old Testament narrative is to take cues from its interplay with prominent themes that have been traditionally associated with memorable portions of other biblical narratives. Our second step, then, will be to discern any literary and cultural motifs that the writer may have woven into his work and filled with theological significance.

(Read the entire article, "A Homiletical Spiral for Preaching Old Testament Narratives" by Carlos R. Bovell at Preaching.com)

Today's Extra...

Self-Awareness

Some people already know they have a problem. According to an October 28, 2002 Associated Press story, a 22-year-old Green Bay man led police on a chase that often moved as slowly as 20 mph and ended in the Brown County Jail's parking lot. The man parked his pickup in the jail's lot, smoked a cigarette, got out of the truck and lay face-down on the ground to be arrested, police said.

He apparently told police he knew he was drunk and was going to be sent to jail, so he just drove himself there. The man also was arrested for cocaine possession and an outstanding warrant for a hit-and-run accident.

AP reports that the chase began around 1 a.m. An officer spotted the truck ignoring signs and going the wrong way on a one-way street. The officer chased the pickup, which often traveled as slowly as 20 miles per hour. A 21-year-old female passenger tried to get out of the vehicle several times and eventually bailed out near an intersection. She was not injured. The man's next stop was the jail.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Titus 3:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

Is Submission to God a Loss of Freedom?

Many people believe that if they submit their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, they will lose their freedom; they cannot do anything that they want to do in life. A tragic flaw in this reasoning is that a person who is not under the lordship of Jesus is not free. The Bible says that you are in bondage to sin, to the lusts of your own flesh, to the whims of an evil spiritual opponent who wishes you destroyed, and to a world that is alienated from the one who brings true freedom. Or as that great theologian Bob Dylan put it,

You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may the Lord
but you're gonna have to serve somebody.
(http://bobdylan.com/songs/serve.html)

This myth then precipitates another lie: You can be a disciple of Jesus without a radical submission to Jesus in every area of your life. This desire to have it both ways took on a very seductive heresy a few years ago when we heard about Jesus being our Savior but not our Lord. This is a lie. If He is not Lord, He is not Savior.

(To read the entire sermon "Four Myths about Submission in the Christian Life" by Michael Milton at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Conversion

Australia is the only country in the world to have a picture of a convicted forger on its currency. Francis Greenway came to Australia—as many early settlers did—as a convict. He had been convicted in England of forgery. Once in Australia, he changed his life. He began to use his hidden skills as an architect. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Sydney, Australia, were designed by him; and they put his picture on the Australian 10 dollar bill. They believed he had changed.

Jesus always believed that people could change. He also helped them to change, just as He will help you to change.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.
Matthew 14:26-27

Today's Preaching Insight...

Excitement

Dealing with Psalm 135, pastor Paul Martin writes, "I'll tell you right now, the Psalmist is excited in this psalm. He cries, 'Praise the Lord,' ten times in twenty-one verses! Why should we be excited?

1. It is exciting to think about God as the Creator. "Whatsoever the Lord pleases He does. In heaven and in earth. In the seas and in all deep places." (verse 6)

2. It is exciting to think of God as present in every crisis. "He defeated many nations and slew mighty kings...and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people." (verses 10-12)

3. It is exciting that man can talk to God, and that God talks to man. If you look for God's delicate intervention in your affairs, you will see it. And sometimes, as Samuel Shoemaker says, "God is there flat-footed, sort of 'barging in.'" What a precious privilege, talking with the living God!

4. It is exciting to know that God wins the victory over evil by love...not by might or power, but by the Spirit of love. But He wins! I see them continually—men and women, once slaves to sin, now free through Christ. Alive, happy trophies of His love!  (Paul Martin, 'Get Up and Go')"

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

Church Morph

In Church Morph (Baker), Eddie Gibbs talks about the trends and tools found in churches that are countering the decline experienced by too many congregations. He talks about the changes needed for churches to live out their mission in 21st century culture, and offers a host of examples of churches that are reaching out and making a difference.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

Today's Preaching Insight...

Is Jesus the model for pastoral preaching today?

One of the main arguments for inductive preaching in much homiletical literature revolves around the use of story in the preaching of Jesus. Surely we should preach as Jesus did, shouldn't we? In his book The Passion-Driven Sermon, Jim Shaddix takes a contrary position, arguing: "As heretical as it may seem to some, Jesus is not necessarily the best model for contemporary pastoral preaching. This obviously is not because of any flaw in His homiletic or His theology. Certainly Jesus was the quintessential master communicator and the general model for all preachers of all time.

"However, we must recognize the fact that He did not practice as the preaching pastor of a local congregation in the same vein as we know the ministry today. His ministry would better serve as a model for itinerant preaching as He engaged different crowds in various settings. Additionally, the content of the majority of His preaching and teaching would more closely parallel evangelistic proclamation as opposed to the edification of believers."

Today's Extra...

(Lack Of) Self Discipline

2006 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sigmund Freud. Many of Freud's ideas are no longer accepted, while others are still embraced. What no one disputes is that he is the father of analysis and psychotherapy. In what is a strange irony, Freud was able to help others, but never able to help himself. He died of cancer in 1939 because he was unable to break himself of an addiction to cigars, having smoked a box a day even after having had his jaw removed.

J. Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

"...Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
John 7:38

Today's Preaching Insight...

Sermon Seed: The Sacrifice of Isaac

Pastor Mike Glenn writes: Like most of you, I had a lot of trouble with God demanding that Abraham offer Isaac as a sacrifice. I never could figure out what God was trying to do with Abraham.

Can you imagine what was going through Abraham's mind? Can you imagine the anguish felt by Abraham and the mixed feelings he must have had toward God? Why would God mess with Abraham like this? To me, it just didn't make any sense.

Then I was in Old Testament class with Clyde Francisco and he was lecturing on this passage. He took his glasses off (that meant he was preaching, not lecturing) and started dealing with this passage.

In a way only the old preachers can, he set the scene—a grieving father, a trusting son, a lonely mountain—and then, he quietly turned to us and said, "Abraham's sin is the sin of many of us. We trust the gift, not the Giver. Abraham was now trusting Isaac to be the keeper of the promise, not God. God was reminding Abraham that the promise of being a great nation depended on God and God alone."

So, is that your sin? Do you trust your talents, resources, or abilities more than God who gave you those gifts? The difference may seem to be subtle, but trust me when I say that the implications are profound. God can use a person of limited abilities who lives in total trust much more than a gifted person who only trusts in him or herself. (Brentwood (TN) Baptist Church Daily Devotional)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

Giving

A small boy stunned his parents when he began to empty his pockets of nickels, dimes and quarters. Finally his mother said, "Where did you get all that money?"

"At Sunday school," the boy replied nonchalantly. "They have bowls of it."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

The LORD will fulfill [his purpose] for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands..
Psalm 138:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

Lawsuits among Believers

The issue is this: Can't we the redeemed of the Lord deal with our own problems within the family of God? It scandalizes a church not to be able to handle its own affairs. We are called to try to settle these issues as brothers and sisters.

Paul did not come up with this teaching on his own. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and it is in direct concurrence with the teachings of Jesus, who in Matthew 18 gives a pattern as to how we should deal with grievances between brothers and sisters. Jesus gives this very clear scenario in Matthew 18:15-17. He suggests that, if you have a grievance against a brother or sister in Christ, go to that person, share your thoughts. If the person listens, you've made a friend for life. If not, take one or two other witnesses along with you, so that your word will be confirmed. If that person still refuses to listen, then take it to the leadership of the church. If this person even then refuses to listen, if the leadership of the church concurs with your concern, treat that person as if he was a Gentile.

What I extrapolate from the teaching of Jesus is that, if the matter is not that significant to you, move on. Don't get uptight over it. But if it is a significant matter of justice, you are welcome to pursue the issue in the civil courts. For God's sake, your sake and the witness of the church, don't be dragging every petty concern, every squabble before the civil courts. It damages the church both internally and externally.

Then Paul introduces a most significant fact. He reminds us that we are actually better qualified to judge with equity than are nonbelievers. With a note of sarcasm, he writes, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels - to say nothing of ordinary matters?" (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

(To read the full article "Lawsuits among Believers" by John A. Huffman Jr. at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Cross

The Zugspitze is the highest mountain in Germany. Alongside the German-Austrian border, it towers 9,718 feet high. You can go up the mountain by cog railway or cable car but not to the peak. The last few yards, you must walk or climb. On the top of the peak is a cross. Climbers believe it is worth the sacrifice to make it to the cross. We feel that way about Calvary. It is worth it to make it to the cross.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians 4:30-31

Today's Preaching Insight...

Belief in Preaching

In his classic book Power in Preaching, W.E. Sangster talks about why preachers often seem to lose the power they once felt in the pulpit. One of the most important things a preacher can do, Sangster insists, is to actually believe in preaching. He observes:

"Grasp the fact that the heart of the Gospel is a meeting of God and man, and preaching provides the best medium for that meeting. Many people - many preachers even - find this hard to believe. They believe the Gospel and they believe that it must be proclaimed. What they cannot believe is that there is anything sacrosanct in preaching as the method of proclamation. St. Paul, of course, said that 'it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe' but printing was not invented then, nor the cinema, nor wireless [radio], nor television - and even the drama was in a primitive form. They have come to believe that there are better ways of proclaiming the Gospel than by preaching...

"And who can deny some force in this? A thousand will look at television for every ten who go to church. People love a 'show,' and if the show can be sanctified and do the work, need we worry by what road the wanderers travel so long as they travel home?

"Now all this is plausible, but it is not convincing to those who know the nature of the Gospel. That God uses these ancillary methods we do not deny, but we maintain that preaching is primary in the purpose of God. 'It was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of preaching...' It is God's good pleasure still.

"It does not turn on what the people like but on what He likes. It is not a question of our particular gifts but of the divine intention. As DR. H.H. Farmer says: 'The activity of preaching is not merely a means for conveying the content of the Christian faith, but it is in a real sense bound up with that content itself.' 'The necessity of preaching resides in the fact that when God saves a man through Christ he insists on a living, personal encounter with him here and now in the sphere of present personal relationships.'"

Today's Extra...

Gambling, Lottery

In an article for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Hal Lane writes: "Gambling shows a lack of love for others. The few who win lottery payoffs do not care where the money came from or who was hurt in the process. In their book, Selling Hope: State Lotteries in America (Harvard University Press), authors Clotfelter and Cook state that 10 percent of lottery players account for 50 percent of lottery purchases and the top 20 percent account for 65 percent of purchases. Many of these players are gambling addicts who are robbing their families of needed resources. How can a Christian feel good about benefiting from the misery of others?" (http://erlc.com/article/whats-wrong-with-buying-a-lottery-ticket)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:11

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Shepherd in the Valley of the Shadow of Death

What is to become of us when it is the Shepherd's valley of the shadow of death?

In the 23rd Psalm we see ourselves walking through darkness with the Shepherd as our guide. In C.S. Lewis' The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, as Aslan makes his way to the stone table he comes to a point where he does not allow Lucy and Susan to go any further. They are not permitted to make that last leg of the journey with him. It is a path which he must walk alone, into the heart of death and darkness. I say again, "What is to become of us when it is the Shepherd's valley of the shadow of death?"

Perhaps this is the place where our faith is most shaken. Those long hours before the dawn. That silence in which we so often live. You know the silence I speak of. That dead space between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Of course we will beg history (fooling ourselves that it in some way helps). We will say, "I know the rest of the story." But Peter, John and Mary did not have that. They are left with words. "On the third day I will rise again." "I will tear down this temple and in three days raise it up." They are left to contemplate possibility and promise. They are thrust into a crisis of faith.

As Jesus proceeded toward the cross He lamented over the abandonment He would experience by His disciples. Peter however insisted that he would not fail. It is here that Jesus informs him of his triple failure. Three times he would deny the Lord. Strikeout. Yet Jesus intercedes. Jesus said, "Peter, Satan has asked that he might sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not. And when you have returned to me strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31-32).

What is to become of us when it is the Shepherd's valley of the shadow of death?

Fear not. Christ has prayed for you. He has passed through the valley of the shadow of death for you. We need not fear any evil. Our salvation is not maintained by our fragile faith. But we are kept by the power of God. Our forgiveness is in His shed blood. In your crisis of faith, the long pause the deep breath, do not lose heart for hope flies on the wings of the dawn.

(To read the entire article, "Whose Valley?" by William Berkheiser at Preaching.com, click here)

:angel:

Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
1 Timothy 6:6-8

Today's Preaching Insight...

Grandchildren: Regaining What Was Lost

In the Dallas Seminary Daily Devotional for 10-17-07, F. Duane Lindsey writes, "Asked if she had yet made a long trip to visit her son and his new wife, a woman replied, "No, I've been waiting until they have their new baby." When her friend thought the delay was to save money, she explained, "No, it isn't that. You see, I have a theory that grandmothers are more welcome than mothers-in-law."

Ruth and Boaz were no doubt delighted in their new baby. And Naomi was certainly welcome to lavish her love on her grandson. Like any doting grandmother, Naomi "took the child, laid him in her lap, and cared for him" (Ruth 4:16).

Because of his special legal status as the heir of Elimelech and Mahlon, the neighbors said, "Naomi has a son" (v. 17). She no doubt treated him as her own son. In fact, the childcare that Naomi provided may have been on a more or less permanent basis. Ruth may have given Obed over to Naomi to raise as her own son, for he was the legal heir to the estate of Elimelech.

The name given to the child was Obed, meaning "servant," perhaps in anticipation of the comfort he would be to Naomi in her old age. Naomi found in her grandson Obed all that she had lost in Moab. In fact, she gained more than she lost, for she was back in Bethlehem with joyful family surroundings and a secure future."

Today's Extra...

Second Coming, Judgment

Dr. Ian Paisley, the fiery Irish cleric and politician was reputed to have been preaching one Sunday on the end times -- and in particular on the Day of Judgment. As he reached the climax of his address, he said that on the Day of Judgment, "there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

At that point an old woman put up her hand and said, "Dr. Paisley, I have no teeth." Paisley replied, "Madam, teeth will be provided."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Ephesians 3:12

Today's Preaching Insight...

Let the Children Come to Me

In a sermon based on Mark 10:13-16, pastor Mike Milton observes, "As Art Linkletter used to say, 'Kids say the darndest things.' But in the passage today, it is Jesus who says the most amazing things. And what He says is not only about children but about each of us.

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them (Mark 10:13-16).

We have all heard about the infamous novel where a mystery was supposedly encrypted in the paintings of Leonardo di Vinci. Well, today, we come to a Scripture that has inspired many works of art. In fact, the "Suffer the Little Children" stained glass window in our balcony depicts Mark 10:13-16 and its parallels in Matthew 19 and Luke 18, the story of Jesus welcoming little children.

I once preached in Whitefield Chapel at Bethesda Home for Boys in Savannah, Georgia. That same scene was memorialized in a stained glass window in that chapel. Each Sunday, as I do here, I would look at it, but today, I want to say that there is a message embedded in that painting. I would call the painting "Children in the Arms of a Loving God." If God helps us today, we will be able to see with eyes of faith the truth behind the scene. In this scene of children in the arms of a loving God, God has placed a story to be told, lessons to be learned, a key to unlatch eternal life, and a promise to bring you ultimate happiness. Whoever learns these lessons and latches on to this key and leaves with this promise will never be the same."]

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

A drunken man stumbles across a baptismal service on Sunday afternoon down by the river. He proceeds to walk into the water and stand next to the old country preacher. The minister notices the old drunk and says, "Mister, are you ready to find Jesus?"

The drunk looks back and says, "Yes, preacher, I sure am."  So the minister dunks the fellow under the water and pulls him right back up.

"Have you found Jesus?" the preacher asks."No, I didn't!" said the drunk.

The preacher then dunks him under for quite a bit longer, brings him up, and says, "Now, brother, have you found Jesus?"

"No, I have not, Reverend."

The preacher now holds the man under for at least 30 seconds this time, brings him out of the water, and says in exasperation, "Man, have you found Jesus yet?"

The old drunk wipes his eyes and says to the preacher, "Are you sure this is where he fell in?"

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:16

Today's Preaching Insight...

Our Deepest Questions

Forty-one years I have served as a pastor. Throughout those years I have been bombarded with questions, honest questions, by sincere men and women who are trying to decide whether or not to say "yes" to Jesus.

Most of these questioners are genuine people, serious in their quest for spiritual reality. Some are young people, raised in the faith, who are now ready to throw it all out or have already thrown it all out, because of a cynical professor and/or friends who have put questions to them that they had never heard addressed before and are urging them to lifestyles contrary to biblical standards. Some have gone through life tragedies that have caused them to question everything. Some, in their intellectual development, have just come to honest questions for which they want answers.

Some of the questioners are adults who, for years have been nominal, cultural Christians, attending church because that is what you did in the communities where they were raised. They have never had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They have always thought that church attendance was a good thing to do and have put it at a level beside joining a service club, such as Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis, and taking leadership in the local PTA. But now they are discovering the pluralism of American culture. Some of their friends have totally dropped out of church; they don't have time for civic and specific religious organizations. Others of their friends are claiming a "born-again" experience with Jesus Christ and are not just attending church occasionally but have become extremely active in what they call "the family of God," personal Bible study, prayer, faithful worship attendance, weekly participation in a small group, reading books and attending Bible classes. Not only this, they are engaged in local and world mission projects, even giving ten percent and more of their gross income to the work of Jesus Christ.

Others who raise these questions to me come from completely non-religious backgrounds. They know nothing about the faith. A few have never been to church before. They tell me that the first time they came they didn't know when to sit and when to stand, and the language was foreign. It was all new. They were raising questions they had never raised before...

I could make a life work out of trying to answer each one of these. These are big questions, not easily resolved. But, sooner or later, you have to make a decision whether or not to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

(To read the entire sermon, "The Answers to Our Deepest Questions" by John A. Huffman Jr. at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Providence

The only survivor of a shipwreck came upon a small, uninhabited island. He prayed repeatedly for God to save him and everyday scanned the horizon for his answer. Even though he was exhausted and in despair, he eventually managed to build a little hut to keep him out of the weather and to store his provisions.

Then one day, after searching for food, he came home to find his little hut on fire. The worst thing that could have happened had happened. Everything he had was consumed. In his grief he cried out, "God, how could you do this to me!" Early the next morning, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. They had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the castaway. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation..."
Luke 17:20

Today's Preaching Insight...

Illustrations for the Lost

In a Preaching magazine article on reaching lost people within traditional worship services, Larry Moyer describes the importance of using illustrations that can be understood by non-Christians.

"Pastors who effectively use illustrations are the most relatable to lost people. Lost people do not understand the Bible, but they do understand life. Therefore, a pastor who uses illustrations effectively tells the lost person that he understands not only the scriptures but him and life.

"Years ago I was speaking in a church on the subject of marriage and the family using Genesis 2:18‑25. I was addressing the subject, 'Why did God start it all?' I told the audience that one of the reasons God instituted marriage was for companionship. God plainly said, 'It is not good that man should be alone.' I then addressed the subject of loneliness, giving the illustration of a 29‑year‑old single man from Topeka, Kansas, who said, 'For myself I can only describe the word 'loneliness' as being a gut‑level sick feeling at the pit of your stomach. It's so far within yourself that you fear you are in a trap and will never be set free.' After the service, a non-­Christian sought me out and said, 'You couldn't have described me any better. That quote really penetrated.' I had the privilege of taking him aside and leading him to the Lord."  (Preaching, Nov-Dec 2002)

Today's Extra...

Weddings

A little boy was in a relative's wedding. As he was coming down the aisle he would take two steps, stop, and turn to the crowd (alternating between bride's side and groom's side). While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar loudly.

So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR all the way down the aisle.

As you can imagine, the crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the front. The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed from all the laughing, and was near tears by the time he reached the pulpit. When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear." (from Mikey's Funnies)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.
Luke 17:23-24

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preaching Must Lead People Toward the Image of Christ

Presenting the E.Y. Mullins Lectures at Southern Baptist Seminary, pastor John MacArthur asserted, "I have learned through the years that the deeper you go into the things of God, the higher the people go in worship. Shallow preaching produces shallow worship. I can basically walk into a church and listen to the music for 15 minutes and tell you how profound the people's understanding of the things of God is because it will be reflected in that.

"If people are really going to know what it is to worship God with the mind, they're going to have to understand the deep things of God, and that doesn't mean you are oblique, it doesn't mean you are obscure.

"What is my responsibility as a shepherd? Is it to entertain people? To ignore my people while I talk to the non-people of God? What is the goal of my shepherding and my preaching? It is to conform my people to the image of Christ as much as possible as God uses me as an instrument of the teaching of His Word which does the conforming. The church is precious to me because it is so identified with Jesus Christ.

"I preach only the Word of God, only one book, because it is by the Word of God that sinners are saved and the saved are sanctified. ... I leave the effect of that truth to the purposes of God and the mighty work of the Holy Spirit."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

The New Shape of World Christianity

The New Shape of World Christianity (IVP) by Mark Noll is a fascinating discussion of the shaping of the American church and how that group is influencing the development of the global church. It is important that American church leaders begin to see themselves as part of a worldwide movement of the body of Christ, and this volume is an excellent place to begin.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
Revelation 3:10

Today's Preaching Insight...

From Tired to Inspired

We all get tired. Somebody once told me the crucial question for ministers was not, "Am I tired in the work?" but, "Am I tired of the work?" I have to admit there've been times when I could answer either query in the weary affirmative.

Even preaching, my first love in the ministry, the thing I truly feel called to do, I've gotten tired in and of. There have been days when I felt I could make more impact throwing beans against the wall (or at the folks in the pews!) than by preaching. There have been days when study time insidiously morphed into e-mail time and sermon preparation sailed dangerously close to sermon rehashing. Even though I try to remain fresh and engaging, the very words I'm required to use Sunday after Sunday — believe, repent, confess, even Jesus — can sometimes lose their flavor. Depending on what's going on in the church — infighting, a scandal, simple doldrums — an imp seems to hover near my eye with brush and jaundice- palette.  I'm tempted to cynicism.

Been there? Because we preach as sinners to fellow sinners, we all have. Thankfully, for most of us, such times don't last. Thankfully, God's grace and power somehow waft back to our lives, lifting the sagging sails, refilling our preaching with purpose, clarity, and emotion.

It might be a vacation that does the trick or maybe a conference. The rekindling of power might come with sunshine after weeks of slate-gray skies. Or maybe it comes wrapped in some member's thoughtful, encouraging note.

(To read the entire article "From Tired to Inspired" by Gary D. Robinson at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Courage, Prayer, Worship

In his book Surviving Hell: A P.O.W.'s Journey, Leo Thorsness tells of the courage it took to worship in the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison in Vietnam. Thorsness tells of a memorable service after the prisoners were rounded up in response to a failed rescue attempt.

The senior ranking officer in one cell stood up one Sunday and said, "Let's have church service." The men agreed. The guard came in and forbade them from having a service. The men discussed the problem and said they were all committed to having a service the following Sunday no matter what. That Sunday, Ned Schuman stood to open the service, and the guards came in and took him off to be tortured. After that, the second-highest ranking officer said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." While praying, about halfway through, he was sent to be tortured. At that, the third in command stood and said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." The guards took him out for torture. Number four stood up and said, "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer." At this the guards not only carried away the officer but began hitting the soldiers with the butts of their guns, shouting for them to stop. Number five took his time getting to the center of the room; and before he could speak, the soldiers took him out. The guards locked the door behind them, and number six got up. "Gentlemen, the Lord's Prayer," he said.
Thorsness says that this time they finished it. He went on to say that even though five men were tortured, they all thought it worth it.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Message Entrusted to Us

Speaking to a renewal conference some time ago, former Asbury Seminary President Maxie D. Dunnam said, "An incredible message has been entrusted to us, a powerfully compelling message of an earth-shattering, world-changing, person-transforming fact. At the heart of it is Jesus, His incarnation, life, teaching, death and resurrection."

"People within and outside the church are starving spiritually. Within the church they ask for bread and are given stones. Witnesses abound. Persons in pain and sadness share stories of their long endurance in one of our mainline congregations, but they could take it no longer. Their pastors not only disregarded, they denigrated the authority of God's word. So the person sought another congregation where Scripture was honored and preached . . . They were starving for the Word.

"People outside the church are starving as well. They are starving because the church has betrayed her first love, has become so ideologically bound that she is spiritually barren. Committed to theological pluralism and making diversity redemptive within itself, we are diverted from the core dynamic of the Christian faith: what Christ can do for persons and for society.

"Redemptive, transforming power is in the Cross of Jesus - His sacrificial death for our sins. ... The fire is there to burn up the filthiness, decadence and destructiveness of sin and unrighteousness. The energy and fire are there in the fact that God became incarnate, walked the earth, died, rose again and turned evil's seemingly supreme triumph in its most crushing, irrevocable defeat."  (The Layman Online, October 31, 2002)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

The children's Sunday School class was learning about the Second Coming of Christ. Meanwhile, next door, another group was preparing to see a drama about a Bible story, and the man in costume was standing in the hallway. When one of the children stepped out of his own room and spotted the man in robes, he turned back to the class and shouted, "He's here now!"

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:29

Today's Preaching Insight...

Not Professionals

"We pastors are being killed by the professionalizing of the pastoral ministry," John Piper writes in his book Brothers, We Are NOT Professionals. "Professionalism has nothing to do with the essence and heart of the Christian ministry."

Professionalism leads to spiritual decline, Piper believes: "For there is no professional childlikeness; there is no professional tenderheartedness; there is no professional panting after God."

In the chapter, "Brothers, Fight for Your Life," he urges pastors to take 20 minutes a day, six days a week, just to read.

"Without time of unhurried reading and reflection, beyond the press of sermon preparation, my soul shrinks... For your own soul and the life of your church, fight for time to feed your soul with rich reading."

Today's Extra...

Time

A friend said, "My problem is that I have surrendered my time to work, to other people, and to bad habits." We should first surrender our time to God. God owns it anyway. Our task is to manage properly what has been entrusted to us until he returns or wants it back, including our time.

Think about a compass and a clock Two very important tools, but two very different instruments. One would be wise not to confuse the two. To surrender our time to God is to be governed by a compass rather than to be controlled by a clock. A compass provides a sense of direction, purpose, vision, perspective, and balance. A clock measures duration, the expenditure of time. A compass determines effectiveness-doing the right tasks. A clock determines efficiency-how long it takes to accomplish a task. Both have their place. But, the compass must come before the clock, therefore, effectiveness before efficiency. The "mega priorities" of the compass subordinate the "mini priorities" of the clock.

A compass, therefore, becomes a symbol of an internal guidance system that provides us with our values and convictions based on God's Word. This non-negotiable governs our lives. In the same manner that the gravitational force pulls the compass needle; it is God that governs the drive of our lives. We surrender to his force.

Our time should be surrendered to God daily. I asked a friend who is engaged in many pursuits successfully, how he managed it all. He said, "I give my first minutes to God, then I commit the remainder of the day to his Lordship. And amazingly I work more effectively and efficiently."

Have you surrendered your time to God?  Is your time in his hands? (Rick Ezell, One Minute Uplift newsletter)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Matthew 24:7-8

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preaching the Beatitudes

David Buttrick is author of Speaking Jesus: Homiletic Theology and the Sermon on the Mount (Westminster John Knox). He notes:

"We must be careful: The Beatitudes are not law and not moral instruction. They are neither didactic teachings nor rulebook rules. Preachers can urge congregations to be forgiving or to work as peacemakers, but look out, for there are complicating factors. First, we must not forget that human sinfulness runs deep. Not only is there a strange reluctance in each of us to choose God's will over our own dreams and desires, but when we are 'packaged,' that is, put together in social groups - corporations, nations, clubs, clans, even churches - we are doubly dangerous. To tell congregations to go out and make peace everywhere is unhelpful moralizing unless you spell out how difficult it will be to ignore prejudices, political alliances, social pressures, patriotisms and the like, all of which are formed by sin. In view of sin, the Beatitudes rely on God's own innovative grace."

Today's Extra...

Grace, Divine Protection

In his book The Red Sea Rules, pastor Rob Morgan writes, "Several years ago, I was walking down a sidewalk in East Nashville, making a pastoral visit. Suddenly I saw a German shepherd flying across a lawn, barking, snarling, teeth bared, mouth frothing. I was so startled that as it lunged at me, I screamed and jumped backward. But between me and my would-be attacker, there was a chain-link fence. The dog struck the fence full force. My heart was racing, but I was utterly safe because of the protective fence.

"Satan can growl and bark, lunge and threaten. But when we're enclosed by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he can do us no real or lasting harm."

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Today's Word for Pastors...

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect--if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
Mark 13:22-23

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preaching That Confronts Injustice

With God in the Crucible: Preaching Costly Discipleship is an Abingdon Press book that contains sermons by Peter Storey, former President of the Methodist Church of South Africa and Bishop of the Johannesburg/Soweto area for thirteen years. The book contains sermons preached in the midst of a society crippled by apartheid along with sermons reflect the nation's deliverance from that oppressive system. (Storey is now on the faculty of Duke Divinity School.)

One of the sermons, "When God Turns the Tide," was preached just days after the 1990 announcement of the abandonment of apartheid. Here is a powerful moment in that sermon.

"When President DeKlerk made those dramatic announcements that opened the prison gates of despair, I stood still for a long time, transfixed and emotionally overwhelmed. Then I walked to our kitchen window. From there you can see a distant hill, and on that hill there stands a church where, back in the 1950s, a young priest once ministered to the people of a vibrant black township called Sophiatown. It was there that he tried to stop the military trucks that came in the night to take the people away and the bulldozers that smashed their houses down.

"I looked out on the white suburb that rose on the ruins of Sophiatown. I remembered the final insult in the naming of that suburb, Triomf. [The Afrikaans word for "Triumph."] I remembered the little book written by that priest to expose apartheid's evil to the world, called Naught for Your Comfort.

"The priest was admonished by his bishop and sent home to England. But he took with him his book to alert the world, and he left behind a young black teenager who had been his altar boy and whom he had faithfully visited in the hospital when the boy had tuberculosis. The priest's name was Trevor Huddleston. The altar boy was Desmond Tutu. Huddleston's book may be dated now, but the altar boy is not. Huddleston's impact on South Africa through Desmond Tutu is immeasurable. There is a direct line between his witness in Sophiatown and this moment.

"There have been many, many others who have stood for the truth. They have been a minority, but together, the convictions of that minority and their commitment to obey God and stand for God's truth have made it possible for this moment of God's intervention - God's turning of the tide. Never underestimate the importance of ordinary people standing for the truth, because they also enable others to play their part."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer's Patients and Their Families

More and more families are dealing with the ravages produced by Alzheimer's disease. Pat Otwell, who has ministered to such families for two decades, shares her insights with fellow ministers in her book Guide to Ministering to Alzheimer's Patients and Their Families (Routledge). This book is packed with practical guidance and helpful ideas and resources.

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Today's Word for Pastors...

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Mark 16:15

Today's Preaching Insight...

Leave the Popularity for Jesus

It is the biggest temptation every preacher deals with. Every preacher? Yes, every preacher; and if one ever tells you he or she has never experienced its power, do not buy a used computer from that preacher. What is it? Popularity!

Phillips Brooks, who gave the world his wonderful carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem," knew popularity's seductive powers. As a preacher, he experienced it firsthand and declared, "To set one's heart on being popular is fatal to the preacher's best growth. It is the worst and feeblest part of your congregation that makes itself heard in vociferous applause, and it applauds that in you which pleases it."

Truth is that the love of popularity does not just seduce preachers. Everybody likes to be liked. For preachers, however, it is an especially deadly enticement. More than one unusually gifted preacher has been caught up in its grips and weakened, even destroyed, by its deadly power.

These days Jesus is literally everywhere. He is in newspapers and on the covers of magazines. He is on TV and radio.

You can find Him on football fields and on the tailgates of SUVs. He gets a mention in the great debates of the day—from Iraq to gay marriage, from evolution to the environment.

He is a celebrity unequalled in human history, this Jesus you and I are called to preach. My granddaughters might tell you, "He's hot!" That's right, He sizzles! Of course, it will not last, will it? Jesus will go out of fashion as quickly as He came in once the media tires of Him, don't you agree? No? Me neither!

(To read the entire article, "Every Preacher's Fiercest Temptation!" by Robert Leslie Holmes at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Complaining

According to the authors of the book Significa, the world's champion complainer was a man named Ralph Charrell. Charrel received over $100,000 as a result of his systematic complaining. His smallest refund was of $6.95 and his largest was $25,000. Charrel spent time every day making phone call and writing letters of complaint. He even wrote two books, How to Get the Upper Hand and How I Turn Ordinary Complaints into Thousands of Dollars. While we all have the right to stand up for ourselves, would you want to be known as the "World's Champion Complainer"? Wouldn't it be better to be the "World's Champion Encourager"?

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Today's Word for Pastors...

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

War

In a past issue of his Breakpoint commentary, Chuck Colson observes, "This fallen world is dangerous, and out of mercy, God has given legitimate governments the power of the sword to protect us. The just war doctrine, derived from Scriptures, enables us to evaluate and hold our national leaders accountable when they must use the sword.

"We know from 2 Chronicles that King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a great warrior with a large, seasoned army. But when Jehoshaphat was confronted with an invasion, instead of riding out to meet the invaders, he led the people in prayer. "We do not know what to do," he prayed, "but our eyes are on you." And God's deliverance came in a thoroughly unexpected way. Jehoshaphat's army didn't fire a shot.

"Christians should follow the example of Jehoshaphat in prayer. Yes, we have the finest fighting men in the world... But remember that prayer is mightier than our armies, and God alone gives the victory or defeat."

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

A pastor went into the pulpit one Sunday morning wearing a pair of new bifocals. The reading portion of the glasses improved his vision considerably, but whenever he looked through the top portion of the glasses he got dizzy. He explained to the congregation that the new glasses were causing problems, then said, "I hope you will excuse my continually removing my glasses. You see when I look down I can see fine, but when I look at you, it makes me sick."  (from George McCracken in www.sermonfodder.com)

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Today's Word for Pastors...

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Cor. 10:13

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preparing to Preach

In a paper at the meeting of the Evangelical Homiletics Society, Michael Quicke observed, "The more casual and unprepared that listeners are as they come to worship the less likely they are to experience God. All worshipers, preacher included, should make space and time for genuine prayers of preparation. "Who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully" (Ps 24:3,4). Snatched seconds of perfunctory routine before worship smothers spiritual possibilities within worship.  "True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth" (John 4:21) and be sensitive to God who is spirit. Spiritual insensitivity to God beforehand can condemn to spiritual insensitivity during worship. The outcome is a Unitarian utilitarianism - preachers "do their own thing" which may or may not have any relevance to hearers "doing their thing."

"Preachers need to include themselves in more rigorous practice of prayerful preparation that stills the spirit (Psalm 37:7) and raises expectation that God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are involved in a spiritual happening in worship for the whole community.  God's word does not return empty. God's seed in good soil can make an astounding difference--"bearing fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold. " Worshipers should prepare with openness to what fruit they might bear. If you think a sermon is going to be a waste of time, nine times out of ten it will be. If you believe in an active present God anything could happen.

"Preachers have a responsibility to model sensitive preparation for worship. In the crescendo of interruptions often leading up to the service prayer should not be treated as a routine to be squeezed out by more important matters, but the foundation for prepared minds and hearts of everyone. Listeners can be encouraged to pray in the days leading up to worship by specific information. Preachers can share next week's Scripture text and theme and ask listeners to prepare by reading and reflecting themselves as well as supporting the preacher in preparation. The more seriously preachers reflect personal conviction about the Trinitarian dynamic of worship and preaching, the more seriously listeners will prepare with them."

Today's Extra...

Faith, Prayer, Atheism

There was a little old lady who would come out every morning on the steps of her front porch, raise her arms to the sky and shout, "Praise the Lord!"

Well, one day an atheist moved into the house next door. Over time, he became irritated at the little old lady. So every morning he would step out onto his front porch and yell after her, "There is no Lord!"

Time passes with the two of them carrying on this way every day. Then one morning in the middle of winter, the little old lady stepped onto her front porch and shouted, "Praise the Lord! Lord, I have no food and I am starving. Please provide for me, oh Lord!"

The next morning, she stepped onto her porch and there were two huge bags of groceries sitting there. "Praise the Lord!" she cried out. "He has provided groceries for me!"

The atheist jumped out of the hedges and shouted, "There is no Lord. I bought those groceries!"

The little old lady threw her arms into the air and shouted, "Praise the Lord! He has provided me with groceries and He made the devil pay for them!"

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Today's Word for Pastors...

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Today's Preaching Insight...

Going to the Fishing Lodge but Never Fishing

The last time we were up on the island one of the men in the church shared a memorable story. He told about his friend who owned a popular fishing lodge. Guests come year after year and spend their days fishing. Then at night they gather around the fireplace and tell tall tales about 'the one that got away'. This man told about one guest who came to that lodge. He was outfitted with the finest gear. He looked like a real fisherman. But he never fished! Day after day he spent reading or maybe walking along the lakeshore. But he never dropped a line in the water.

Finally someone asked him why he stayed at a fishing lodge but never fished. The man simply said, "Well, I used to fish, but not so much anymore. You can't find finer folk than fishermen. So I just come to be around them and to listen to their stories." (This story is adapted from Lloyd Oglivie, The Other Jesus, Word, 1986, p. 199).

It's hard to imagine, isn't it? With bluegill and bass just waiting to nibble and strike, this man preferred to sit in the fishing lodge or stroll along the shore! It's always easier to talk about something than to go out and actually do it. But does staying in a fishing lodge make you a fisherman? I think not. The lake, not the lodge, is where the fish are biting. The only fish that end up in a fishing lodge have already been caught.

Let's think about this from a spiritual standpoint. Fishing, of course, is a metaphor in the Bible for missions and faith sharing. Along with worship, discipleship, service and fellowship — our outreach to nearby ponds and to distant oceans fulfills one of the five purposes Jesus intends for us to carry out as his church.

So when it comes to faith sharing and missions, we're not talking about a "resort vacation". Instead, as Jesus' disciples, we're talking about our real vocation. We're talking about decisions and deeds today that can make a real difference in persons' lives for all eternity.

(To read the entire article, "Got Fish" by Gary Bruland at Preaching.com, click here).

Today's Extra...

Birth in a Grave

Human tragedy is never ultimate. Purpose often springs out of chaos and light from the darkness.

Paul Tillich tells of a moving event that came to light during the Nuremberg War Trials. It seems that in Wilna, Poland, in an effort to escape the clutches of the Nazis, several Jewish people resorted to hiding in graves in a nearby cemetery. There, in such an unlikely place, a young woman gave birth to a child.

An 80-year-old grave digger was the only one there to assist in the birth; and, as he saw what was happening, he said in awe: "Great God, hast thou finally sent the Messiah to us? For who else but a Messiah could be born in a grave?"

The old man was wrong as to the identity of the child because the emaciated mother had no milk and very soon the child died. But he was right in another sense, for only God could do something as incredible as cause life to be born in a grave.

This is exactly what did happen on Easter morning and is the greatest of all symbols of God's ingenious resourcefulness. Out of that awful matrix of death and tragedy, healing began to flow.

(Paul Tillich, The Shaking of the Foundations, 1955, chapter 20. Sadly this book is out of print but this insightful chapter can be seen online here. Quoted in Easter Sermon by John Claypool, Tragedy and Hope.)

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Today's Word for Pastors...

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:2-5

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preaching Must Help People Deal with Suffering

John Piper has written, "If we would see God honored in the lives of our people as the supreme value, highest treasure, and deepest satisfaction of their lives, then we must strive with all our might to show the meaning of suffering, and help them see the wisdom and power and goodness of God behind it ordaining; above it governing; beneath it sustaining; and before it preparing. This is the hardest work in the world -- to change the minds and hearts of fallen human beings, and make God so precious to them that they count it all joy when trials come, and exult in their afflictions, and rejoice in the plundering of their property, and say in the end, "To die is gain."

"This is why preaching is not mere communication and "communication theory" and getting scholarly degrees in "communication" are so far from the essence of what preaching is about. . . . The aim of preaching is impossible. No techniques will make it succeed. 'But with God all things are possible.'"

(from "Preaching to Suffering People," in Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching)

Today's Extra...

Marriage, Golf

The room was full of pregnant women and their partners, and the class was in full swing. The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe properly, along with informing the men how to give the necessary assurances at this stage of the plan.

The teacher then announced, "Ladies, exercise is good for you. Walking is especially beneficial. And, Gentlemen, it wouldn't hurt you to take the time to go walking with your partner!"

The room really got quiet. Finally, a man in the middle of the group raised his hand. "Yes?" replied the teacher.

"Is it all right if she carries a golf bag while we walk?"

(from the Humor Haus newsletter)

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Today's Word for Pastors...

Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins."
Joshua 24:19

Today's Preaching Insight...

IMPACT helps flow of worship

In the May 2003 issue of Baptist Life, Rick Muchow, pastor of magnification at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, explained that "Music is not worship itself, but a tool to worship." In order to provide an effective flow for Saddleback's weekend services, he uses the acrostic IMPACT:

IM stands for Inspirational Movement, or an energetic song of praise. "In order to wake up the Body of Christ, we have to wake up the body," Muchow says.

P stands for Praise song, which is a song sung about God in the third person.

A stands for Adoration, a praise song sung to God

C stands for Commitment, with songs like "I Worship You" or "I Surrender All"

T stands for Tie it all together, using a song "that summarizes the group's worship of the Lord, sung in the collective third person.

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

Fathers and Mothers

Robert Kopp tells about the woman who was walking with her young daughter. The little girl picked up something from the ground and started to put it in her mouth, but the mother told her to throw it away because it was dirty with germs.

"Mommy, how do you know so much?" the girl asked.

"Well, it's on the mommy test," her mother replied. "You have to know all about such things or you don't get to be a mommy."

The daughter thought about it a moment, then replied, "OK, I get it. So if you flunk the test you have to be a daddy."

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Today's Word for Pastors...

But those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Today's Preaching Insight...

A Preacher's TULIP

In an interview on the website Breakfast With Fred, Steve Brown (speaker for KeyLife, a prof at Reformed Seminary, and a Preaching Magazine senior consulting editor) explained that, "In my classes at the seminary, I teach a TULIP of communication. The TULIP presupposes the authority of Scripture, understanding doctrine, knowing how to exegete a text. The principles are as follows...

T = Therapeutic. "The communicator must, by necessity, speak to problems with solutions. Like a surgeon, the words may heal or hurt to heal... but if there is no healing, then there is no real communication."

U = Unconventional. "The greatest sin for a communicator is the sin of boring the audience. . . . Don't say it the way everybody else has said it. Don't say the unexpected. Don't fit into anybody else's mold."

L = Lucid. "I tell students that a good measurement of their communication skills is this question: If your listeners wanted to take notes, could they? . . . The content may be only one point made by a story . . . but that one point should be clear . . . clear enough so that it would be written down and put into practice.

I = Illustrated. "Stories are very, very important in modern communication. Learn where to find them, how to use them and then use them often. . ."

P = Passionate. "If you don't care, nobody else will. If you aren't excited about what you are going to say, nobody else will be excited. So, if your "hot buttons" are not pushed, don't try to communicate it to anybody else."

(To read the entire interview, go to http://www.breakfastwithfred.com/core.php?content=qa&gfx=resources&qa_id=5)

Today's Extra...

Opposition

In a letter by John Newton (author of Amazing Grace), he writes, "Opposition will hurt you if it should give you an idea of your own self-importance and lead you to dwell with a secret self-approbation upon your own faithfulness and courage in such circumstances. If you are able to stand your ground uninfluenced by either the favor or the fear of men, you have reason to give glory to God; but remember that you cannot thus stand for an hour unless He upholds you. It shows a wrong turn of mind when we are so ready to speak of our trials and difficulties of this kind, and of our address and resolution in encountering them." (The Christian Pastor's Manual)

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Today's Word for Pastors...

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire..."
Matthew 3:11

Today's Preaching Insight...

In his book 360 Degree Preaching (Baker), Michael Quicke offers helpful insights for preachers who want to do more than tread water in the pulpit. Early in the book, he evaluates the challenging context in which much preaching takes place, and then takes to task those who have turned the preaching event into a lost opportunity.

"In too many places, preaching has been reduced to an anemic, religious non-event. Faint is its power to proclaim an alternative reality, the kingdom of God, and faded is its conviction about transforming communities. Gone are its prophetic voice and mission thrust. Missing is its gloriously subversive way of challenging the status quo to create communities of light and service. Preaching has become a shadow of its richly diverse New Testament forbears. Often it merely peddles texts and stories to affirm or, even worse, amuse a cautious remnant. . . .

"Does anyone care about this decline apart from self-interested preachers? When was the last time a non-preacher wrote a book pleading for biblical preaching? Rather than slide into depression, preachers need to confront criticisms and negative factors, assess their validity, and respond honestly."

Today's Extra...

Conversion

US Senator Jim Talent says he prayed to trust Jesus as his Savior in response to an invitation he heard on the radio.  The Missouri Republican gave his Christian testimony at a National Day of Prayer event this month on Capitol Hill.  Talent said he was not raised in any faith, but began reading the Bible in college. After a couple of years, he said, he knew "a lot about God."  But Talent said he did not "know God" until he was driving one day in 1984 and heard evangelist Luis Palau on a Focus on the Family broadcast.  Talent said he pulled over, prayed the sinner's prayer with Palau, and -- in his words -- "passed over from death to life."

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Today's Word for Pastors...

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
Psalm 119:111

Today's Preaching Insight...

Preaching Christ Crucified and Risen

In an article in the Sept-Oct 2007 issue of Preaching, British pastor David Jackman writes, "Luke tells us that when Paul arrived in Athens, "he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and devout persons, and in the market-place every day with those who happened to be there" (Acts 17:17, ESV).  As contemporary pastors, we should rightly be concerned to stand firm in the only apostolic succession which has validity -- that of proclaiming the same gospel of Christ, crucified and risen.

We know that the whole counsel of God needs to be taught within our equivalent of the synagogue, the local Christian congregations, planted around the world.   But it also needs to be argued in the forum and in the specialist contexts such as the Areopagus, in all the public debates of our culture.  However, we have to acknowledge that most of us pastors are more skilled, experienced and comfortable in the congregation, so that the forum is rarely addressed effectively and is more often ignored, although with disastrous consequences.  More than one observer has pointed out that most contemporary Christian preachers are happier in the role of the scribe than that of the prophet.

Even when we embrace the prophetic role in preaching, we tend to have stereotypical and somewhat simplistic views about the prophetic methodology. Typically, the prophet is seen as a purveyor of doom and gloom about the future, and not without some reason, since the message of impending judgment is central to much of the Old Testament prophets' ministry to Israel and Judah.  But they are also great encouragers to those same people, about the covenant blessings which will accompany repentance, faith and obedience, and which a gracious, covenant Lord waits to pour out on a responsive people.

The common content to both strands of their message is that the prophets have been given divine insight into the future and so they are seeking to persuade God's people to act now, in the light of what God has declared he will do.  Present behavior will condition future experience, and so whether it is by warning or incentive, the prophet's task is to persuade his hearers to act wisely here and now.  But if they are going to do that, they will need to be convinced of the truth of what is prophesied and so be motivated to respond to the prophet's call."

Today's Extra...

Prayer

St. Augustine, the early church father and theologian, described prayer as like a man in a hapless boat who throws a rope at a rock. The rock provides the needed security and stability and life for the helpless man. When the rock is lassoed it's not the man pulling the rock to the boat (though it may appear that way); it is the pulling of the boat to the rock. Jesus is the rock, and we throw the rope through prayer.

Prayer is the lifeline that saves the drowning soul. Prayer is the umbilical cord that provides nourishment to the starving spirit. Prayer is the channel by which God's life-giving presence flows to us.  (Rick Ezell, "One-Minute Uplift" newsletter)

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Today's Word for Pastors...

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1

Today's Preaching Insight...

Losing the Power

In his classic book Power in Preaching, W.E. Sangster talks about why preachers often seem to lose the power they once felt in the pulpit. One of the most important things a preacher can do, Sangster insists, is to actually believe in preaching. He observes:

"Grasp the fact that the heart of the Gospel is a meeting of God and man, and preaching provides the best medium for that meeting. Many people - many preachers even - find this hard to believe. They believe the Gospel and they believe that it must be proclaimed. What they cannot believe is that there is anything sacrosanct in preaching as the method of proclamation. St. Paul, of course, said that 'it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe' but printing was not invented then, nor the cinema, nor wireless [radio], nor television - and even the drama was in a primitive form. They have come to believe that there are better ways of proclaiming the Gospel than by preaching . . .

"And who can deny some force in this? A thousand will look at television for every ten who go to church. People love a 'show,' and if the show can be sanctified and do the work, need we worry by what road the wanderers travel so long as they travel home?

"Now all this is plausible, but it is not convincing to those who know the nature of the Gospel. That God uses these ancillary methods we do not deny, but we maintain that preaching is primary in the purpose of God. 'It was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of preaching . . .' It is God's good pleasure still.

"It does not turn on what the people like but on what He likes. It is not a question of our particular gifts but of the divine intention. As DR. H.H. Farmer says: 'The activity of preaching is not merely a means for conveying the content of the Christian faith, but it is in a real sense bound up with that content itself.' 'The necessity of preaching resides in the fact that when God saves a man through Christ he insists on a living, personal encounter with him here and now in the sphere of present personal relationships.'"

Today's Extra...

Pride, Entitlement

In an article in the Sept. 30 edition of The Boston Globe, Jean Twenge - a psychology professor at San Diego State University - talks about the "Entitlement Generation," which she says includes virtually everyone born after 1970. The article says: "According to Twenge, these young people were raised on a daily regimen of praise and flattery from their baby boomer parents and from teachers who embraced a self-esteem-boosting curriculum that included activities like the Magic Circle game. Never heard of it? In this game, one child a day is given a badge that says "I'm great." The other children then take turns praising the "great" child, and eventually these compliments are written up and given to the child for posterity. This constant reinforcement, argues Twenge, is largely responsible for those young co-workers who drive you nuts.

"At the University of South Alabama, psychology professor Joshua Foster has done a great deal of research using a standardized test called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). The NPI asks subjects to rate the accuracy of various narcissistic statements, such as "I can live my life any way I want to" and "If I ruled the world, it would be a better place." Foster has given this personality test to a range of demographic groups around the world, and no group has scored higher than the American teenager. Narcissism also appears to be reaching new highs, even within the Entitlement Generation, among American college students. Another national study involving the NPI, conducted by Twenge, shows that 24 percent of college students in 2006 showed elevated levels of narcissism compared to just 15 percent in the early 1990s."

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Today's Word for Pastors...

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 3:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

In a Preaching magazine article on "The Preacher as Servant of the Word," R. Albert Mohler reminds us of the centrality of preaching in the minister's calling:

"I believe when the minister of the gospel faces the Lord God as judge, there will be many questions addressed to us.  There will be many standards of accountability.  There will be many criteria of judgment, but in the end, the most essential criterion of judgment for the minister of God is, 'Did you preach the Word?  Did you fully carry out the ministry of the Word?  In season and out of season, was the priority of ministry the preaching of the Word?'

"This is not to say that there are not other issues, that there are not other responsibilities, or that there are not even other priorities, but there is one central, non-negotiable, immovable, essential priority and that is the preaching of the Word of God.  And Paul speaks to this so clearly when he states his purpose, 'That I might fully carry out the preaching of the Word of God.'"]

Today's Extra...

In the book Planet in Rebellion, George Vandeman  writes, "It was May 21, 1946. The place - Los Alamos. A young and daring scientist was carrying out a necessary experiment in preparation for the atomic test to be conducted in the waters of the South Pacific atoll at Bikini. "He had successfully performed such an experiment many times before. In his effort to determine the amount of U-235 necessary for a chain reaction — scientists call it the critical mass — he would push two hemispheres of uranium together. Then, just as the mass became critical, he would push them apart with his screwdriver, thus instantly stopping the chain reaction.

"But that day, just as the material became critical, the screwdriver slipped! The hemispheres of uranium came too close together. Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling bluish haze. Young Louis Slotin, instead of ducking and thereby possibly saving himself, tore the two hemispheres apart with his hands and thus interrupted the chain reaction. By this instant of self-forgetful daring, he saved the lives of the seven other persons in the room. . . As he waited for the car that was to take him to the hospital, he said quietly to his companion, 'You'll come through all right. But I haven't the faintest chance myself' It was only too true. Nine days later he died in agony.

"Nineteen centuries ago the Son of the living God walked directly into sin's most concentrated radiation, allowed Himself to be touched by its curse, and let it take His life ... But by that act He broke the chain reaction. He broke the power of sin.
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Today's Word for Pastors...

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Incredible Message

Speaking to a renewal conference some time ago, former Asbury Seminary President Maxie D. Dunnam said, "An incredible message has been entrusted to us, a powerfully compelling message of an earth-shattering, world-changing, person-transforming fact. At the heart of it is Jesus, His incarnation, life, teaching, death and resurrection."

"People within and outside the church are starving spiritually. Within the church they ask for bread and are given stones. Witnesses abound. Persons in pain and sadness share stories of their long endurance in one of our mainline congregations, but they could take it no longer. Their pastors not only disregarded, they denigrated the authority of God's word. So the person sought another congregation where Scripture was honored and preached . . . They were starving for the Word.

"People outside the church are starving as well. They are starving because the church has betrayed her first love, has become so ideologically bound that she is spiritually barren. Committed to theological pluralism and making diversity redemptive within itself, we are diverted from the core dynamic of the Christian faith: what Christ can do for persons and for society.

"Redemptive, transforming power is in the Cross of Jesus - His sacrificial death for our sins. ... The fire is there to burn up the filthiness, decadence and destructiveness of sin and unrighteousness. The energy and fire are there in the fact that God became incarnate, walked the earth, died, rose again and turned evil's seemingly supreme triumph in its most crushing, irrevocable defeat."  (The Layman Online, October 31, 2002)

Today's Extra...

Guilt

The minister arose to address his congregation. "There is a certain man among us today who is flirting with another man's wife. Unless he puts ten dollars in the collection box, his name will be read from the pulpit."

When the collection plate came in, there were 19 ten dollar bills, and a five dollar bill with this note attached: "Other five on payday."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Today's Preaching Insight...

Evangelistic Invitations Require Added Clarity

In an interview, Greg Laurie points out the need to clarify the evangelistic invitation. He says: "People are certainly more biblically illiterate today. Consequently, I explain terms and stories more than I would have 20 years ago. For example, 'you need to repent and come to Christ tonight. By that, I mean you must turn from your sin and put your faith and trust in Jesus as your Savior and Lord. The word means that you cling to him and rely on him.' I define my terminology as I go, often explaining it two or three ways so the congregation knows what I mean.

"Then, I make sure it's clear. I repeat the invitation. Then I repeat it again. Often I initiate the invitation at the beginning of the message by offering some introductory remarks: 'Tonight I'm going to give you an opportunity to come to Christ. I'm going to invite you to get up out of your seat, walk down this aisle and make a stand to put your faith in him. So think about what you're going to do.' Halfway into the message I may say, 'And that's why I'm going to ask you to get up out of your seat in a few moments and make a decision concerning Jesus Christ.' That way, when I get to the actual invitation they know its been coming."  (from PreachingToday Sermons newsletter, 10/23/02)

Today's Extra...

Persecution

In his "Breakpoint" column, Charles Colson observes: "For nearly three decades, Indonesia's Christians have endured one outrage after another at the hands of their Muslim neighbors. In 1975, Indonesia invaded and annexed East Timor, killing hundreds of thousands of East Timorese Christians. Twenty years later, as East Timor gained its independence, the government again did nothing as more Christians were slaughtered.

"In the mid-nineties, Indonesia's Christian Chinese were made the scapegoat for the country's economic woes. Again, the government stood by as Christian businesses, homes, and churches were looted and burned. And in the last few years, an Islamic militia, the Laksar Jihad, has declared war on Christians living on the islands of Sulawesi and the Moluccas. The militia, which includes members from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Albania, and Bosnia, has attacked Christian villages and forced Christians to either convert to Islam or be beheaded.

"And Indonesia's government has been joined in its silence by Western governments — until, that is, the victims were Western tourists."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 6:38

Today's Preaching Insight...

Ordering the Sermon

In an article on "The Theology of Sermon Design" in the Sept-Oct 2007 issue of Preaching, Dennis Cahill writes, "Karl Barth, in his volume 'Homiletics,' states, 'There is no need, then, to consider the problem of what should come first, second, and third. The preacher has only to repeat what the text says' Barth rejects introductions, conclusions, and sermon divisions out of his theological conviction that humanity can do nothing to make the Word of God effective and should not try to do so, perhaps because of his dislike for the artiness of the sermons of his day. For Barth, sermon form only served to obscure the Word of God. Preachers, he argued, need not make much of the issue of sermon form.

The problem with this line of reasoning is that the biblical preachers and writers did have a concern for design. Long ar­gues that the New Testament writers were intentional in their rhetorical design and that New Testament preaching was based on the preaching of the synagogue, which was complex in its communication strategy.

Consider the difference between Paul's sermon in Acts 13 to a largely Jewish audience in the synagogue and his sermon in Acts 17 to a Gentile audience in the Greek marketplace. In Acts 13 Paul's sermon is filled with Old Testament references and theology. In Acts 17 Paul takes a very different approach, appealing to an altar to 'an unknown God' and quoting from Greek poets, while not using a single quotation from the Hebrew Scriptures. These two sermons reflect different audiences and thus different rhetorical designs. They are designed differently, but they are designed.

Form is inescapable. Even if one simply reads the text, issues of design must be considered."

Today's Extra...

Relationship with Christ

In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers wrote, "There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life. . . . Always remain alert to the fact that where one man has gone back is exactly where anyone may go back . . . Kept by the power of God - this is the only safety."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
Proverbs 14:30

Today's Preaching Insight...

In his excellent book The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative (Baker Books), author Steven D. Mathewson says: "While Old Testament narratives focus more on action, the people involved supply the reason for our interest in stories. A rabbinic saying quips, 'God made people because he loves stories.' Perhaps the reverse is also true - God made stories because he loves people. Our interest in stories rivets us to the characters. We even identify stories by characters' names: the story of Ruth, the David story, and the Judah-Tamar story. Interpreting Old Testament stories requires us to pay attention to the characters and how they develop. Because plot is primary, our analysis should attempt to specify the function of characters in relationship to the plot."

Today's Extra...

Television

The majority of Americans (62%) believe that the quality of television programming is getting worse yet, the average TV viewer is spending more time than ever in front of the tube, according to a new poll by The Associated Press and AOL Television. "There's a divide between our opinions and our behavior here," said Robert Thompson, director of The Bleier Center for the Study of TV and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. "Americans check off all the boxes on a survey saying TV stinks with one hand, but they've got the other hand on that TV remote," Thompson said. "They're complaining, but they're still watching."

The study, which was based on interviews with 1,204 adults from Aug. 24-26, revealed that 13 percent of Americans watch more than 30 hours of television each week and 27 percent watch at least 21 hours. This shows an increase of five percent from a similar study taken in 2005. Interestingly, those who watch a lot of television and those who watch very little all agree that the quality of programming is declining.

When asked which new shows they were looking forward to watching, only seven percent of viewers could name one. The poll also found that 28 percent of Americans would like to see more news on television compared to 17 percent in 2005. The ABC show, "Desperate Housewives" was seen as "most offensive," getting more votes for unpopularity than even "Jerry Springer" and " South Park." When asked which show they would most like to see cancelled, nine percent chose CBS's "Survivor." The returning show that Americans are looking forward to the most is CBS's "CSI," being named by 47 percent of respondents. (The Pastor's Weekly Briefing, 9-21-07)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.
2 Corinthians 6:1

Today's Preaching Insight...

You Can't Take it With You

You can't take it with you! Or can you? A colleague recently told me about an interesting sight he witnessed. From the vantage point of a busy intersection, a funeral was in full procession. My friend, the captivated onlooker, watched the passing parade: a freshly washed funeral coach, limousines and the assortment of cars and SUVs of relatives and friends all with their headlights beaming. There was nothing out of the ordinary here except what coincidently happened to be following the last car in the procession — a U-Haul truck!

Some people do actually live and die as if they will be able to take it with them. Like the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, many long for an after life; even if it does resemble a "Temptation Island" one. In the gospel of Luke 12:13-21 there is recorded a story about a man who lived and died as if he could take all of his beloved possessions and honors with him. Instead of loading U-hauls and building pyramids however, he was building bigger barns. He lived for the day at hand.  He thought that this world would be enough....

Jesus put His finger on the problem of the one who was concerned about getting his fair share. His problem was covetousness! Greed is no respecter of persons. Greed has the pervasive ability to trickle down from the boardroom to the break room. The Bible says much about the dangers of how greed can divide and conquer our heart. We cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve both God and riches (Matt. 6:24).

(To read the entire article "The World is Not Enough" by Joe Alain at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Storms, Crisis

An old sea captain was quizzing a young naval student. "What steps would you take if a sudden storm came up on the starboard?"He replied, "I would throw out an anchor, Sir.""What would you do if another storm sprang up aft?" asked the captain. "I'd throw out another anchor, Sir.""But what if a third storm sprang up forward?""I'd throw out another anchor, Captain.""Wait a minute, son," said the Captain. "Where in the world are you getting all those anchors?"The young man replied, "From the same place you're getting all those storms."Personal storms or crises have a way of showing up unexpectedly. The person without some anchors can get blown away. The best anchors on earth are these: dependable friends; a stable, loving family; a church home; and a personal relationship with the One who is...

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Hebrews 12:15

Today's Preaching Insight...

You Would Think

You would think that when you are doing the things of God, everything would turn out right.

You certainly sense when you read the book of Acts that it becomes one of the dilemmas the apostle Paul faces.  We've encountered his conversion in Acts 9.  We've seen the gospel spread across the world.  He's gone on these very specific mission trips on behalf of God.  He has taken the gospel in the places that God has directed him.  He has followed God's leading.  He has gathered an offering to go back to Jerusalem.  When he delivers it to the temple he's arrested.  There's a riot.  He's about to get beaten when he appeals to the centurion as a Roman citizen and is taken out of the crowd and away from the beating.  Then there's this rather interesting comment.  In the midst of all this apparent chaos, Paul hears Jesus say to him in Acts 23:11 "Take courage!  As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

Strange way to get to Rome.  And yet, reflective of the kinds of things that Paul has been hearing from God in Acts 9, Acts 22.  We'll hear it again in Acts 26.  He reflects on it in 2 Timothy 4 when he talks about his own relationship with God, that he was destined to be the apostle to kings, to Gentiles; that he would speak in God's behalf in places that no one else could speak.  And yet, here he is, under arrest.

You'd think if you were doing things for God, everything would turn out right.

(To read the entire article, "When God Doesn't Make Sense" by Chuck Sackett at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Kindness

While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, a police officer was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at the uniform, she asked, "Are you a cop?"

"Yes," the officer answered and continued writing the report.

"My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?"

"Yes, that's right," the officer told her.

"Well, then," she said as she extended her foot, "would you please tie my shoe?"

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.
Proverbs 20:7

Today's Preaching Insight...

White-Water Episodes

What is God saying to the church at Philadelphia and to you and me this morning? "Keep on paddling!" I know it is scary. I know it can be turbulent. Some of you are facing incredible white water episodes right now. Remember that God does not ask us not to be afraid. He gives us permission to shake like leaves, but He says, "Keep on doing what I tell you. Keep on paddling! As you do, the day will come when you break through to smooth sailing."

Very quickly, let me give you a couple of things to remember when you face white water episodes. Every one of us has times when we can get paralyzed by fear. If you say you have never been terribly afraid, I will say you are a liar or a fool. So, here are some ideas for handling the white water with God.

Here is number one: embrace the challenge before you. In 1 Samuel 17:32, David said to Saul, "Let no one's heart fail because of Goliath: I will go out and fight with him."

Do you remember the Bible story? Goliath, the giant, was threatening the army of Israel. Not one of the Hebrews wanted to deal with him. They all stood around kicking their sandals in the dust. David said, "Well, somebody has to fight him, so I will." When you face a problem, take it on! It does no good to stand around kicking your feet in the dust. It does no good to stick your head down between your legs. It might work in a bomb shelter, but it is not going to work in life. In addition, it does no good to stand up in the back of the canoe and say, "I want to go home!" You can't leave life...

Number two: embrace the weakness that is within you. It is OK to be weak. It is OK not to have all the answers. It is OK to be scared. Letting it be okay to have moments of weakness in a paradoxical way opens your life to strength. In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul says, "When I am weak, then I am strong." Why could he say that? He was one of the most powerful and effective human beings ever to walk the face of the earth. He could say that because he discovered that when he was weak, shaking and not having all the answers, he was willing to listen to God and the people of God, and get the advice and direction he needed.

(To read the entire article "When God Opens a Door" by Steve Wende at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Fatherhood

Just around the time of the inauguration of President Obama, the daughters of outgoing President Bush wrote an open letter to the Obama daughters. They gave all kinds of advice to the girls about enjoying all that life in the White House can offer. The Bush twins encouraged the girls to go to ballgames, receptions and cultural events. The letter extolled all the blessings of being a president's daughter. But, at the end of the letter there was an intensely personal and touching admonition. Jenna and Barbara wrote:

"And finally, although it's an honor and full of so many extraordinary opportunities, it isn't always easy being a member of the club you are about to join. Our dad, like yours, is a man of great integrity and love—a man who always put us first. We still see him now as we did when we were 7: as our loving daddy. ... He is our father, not the sketch in a paper or part of a skit on TV. Many people will think they know him, but they have no idea how he felt the day you were born, the pride he felt on your first day of school, or how much you both love being his daughters. So here is our most important piece of advice: remember who your dad really is."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Matthew 24:35

Today's Preaching Insight...

Sing Much Anymore?

One day Chirpy's elderly owner decided to vacuum her parakeet's cage. Just then the phone rang. While reaching for the phone, she inadvertently lifted up the vacuum hose and sucked Chirpy all the way through the tube and into the dust bag.

Frantically, she tore open the bag, pulled out her beloved bird and gently rinsed him off under the faucet. Not satisfied with soaking the wet songbird, she turned on her blow dryer and carefully blew him dry.

Later, when someone inquired about Chirpy, she admitted "Well, he doesn't sing much anymore."

Would you wonder? Sucked in, washed up, and blown dry! That's enough to steal the song from the stoutest of songbirds.

Can you relate to that? Just when you conclude that it cannot possibly get any worse, it suddenly does. However, that seems to be when the God of the Bible appears often time, in an unexpected place with a strange name like Bethel, Peniel, or Shechem. Sucked into a crippling circumstance, we find ourselves rinsed off in a paralyzing experience, only to experience being blown dry by God's gentle grace.

(To read the entire article, "Sucked In, Washed Up, Blown Dry" by Wayne M. Warner on Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Preaching

A family asked a preacher to come to their home for dinner after church. The child of that family was quite precocious. To encourage conversation the mother asked the little girl how she liked the service. The girl replied, "I liked it, but the sermon was a little long." About that point the child remembered the preacher was present, got embarrassed and tried to restate her point more politely. She said, "Actually, it wasn't really so long, it just seemed long."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16

Today's Preaching Insight...

Made for Ministry

So you don't feel called to be a minister? Well, listen first to Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV) from God's Word.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

I want to tell you how my Aunt Eva got my goat. Once upon a time I owned a goat. Buck, believe it or not, was so big that I could ride him, which I often did. I grew to really love my pretty white goat. Aunt Eva, on the other hand, never really got attached to Buck like I did. One day when our azalea bushes and magnificent bridal wreath spirea were in full bloom, both prized by Aunt Eva almost as much as she prized me, Buck had a hunger pang. He proceeded to eat all of those azaleas along with the spirea next to them. Once discovered, Buck was history. The last time I saw Buck, he was in the back of a trailer headed to who-knows-where. Buck was a fine animal other than that episode, and I thought he was a pretty good goat. But on that fateful day, Aunt Eva declared that Buck was "good for nothing."

Christians are to be good for something. But we can also appear to be "good for nothing." In fact, Jesus said that when we stand before Him on Judgment Day, some will be like sheep and others like goats. The sheep in Matthew 25, who will be on Jesus' right hand at the place of sonship, are true believers who manifested their faith in tangible expressions of love to others. Jesus says that these sheep will have fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, provided hospitality to the homeless, clothing to the naked and visited the sick and those imprisoned. Jesus identifies Himself with the needy.

(To read the entire article, "You Were Made for Ministry" by Michael Milton at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Bible

A man said he was an army sergeant stationed in Europe and his job was to help get the chapel ready for services on Sunday. He himself never attended, but he got everything ready for the chaplain. One day he opened a box. It was full of books called Good News for Modern Man. He said to himself, "I'm a modern man. I'll read this." As he read it he kept thinking, "This sounds a lot like the Bible." That was the beginning of his conversion. The Bible is truly a book for modern people. A young man said to his pastor: "I live in the jet age. Those people in the Bible rode camels. What do a bunch of camel drivers have to say to me?" It's a legitimate question, but it's a question we can answer: the basic issues of life (sin, guilt, hope, faith, grief, death) have not changed. Those camel...

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
Isaiah 46:9-10

Today's Preaching Insight...

The View of the Church from Starbucks

Rick Richardson, professor and writer, tells about a pastor named Dan, who realized he was getting stale. So with the approval of his pastoral team, he took a part-time job at a Starbucks coffee shop.

To his surprise, "All 21 people he worked with believed in God. Not one was an atheist ... They were all very positive toward God and spirituality."

Richardson goes on to report:

A second surprise was that all were interested in spiritual things, but not in Christians, Christianity, or the church. No one wanted to hear Dan's proofs for God or invitations to come to church or ideas about salvation. Almost everyone thought they knew what Christianity was about and had decided they didn't want it. They were post Christian. At some point along the way, each of them had experienced a breach in trust related to Christianity. Maybe a Christian friend had been hypocritical or pushy. Maybe when they were young they had attended church and found it boring and irrelevant. Maybe they had watched TV preachers and been turned off. Or maybe they had experienced a tragedy—death or sexual abuse or some other trauma—and felt that God had been distant and uncaring.

Richardson said, "Dan wasn't starting at ground zero, but rather at minus-three or four. ... The biggest thing Dan learned is that people in this generation have a prior question of trust that must be addressed before we can have meaningful spiritual conversations with them."

Pastor Dan had discovered the outside understanding of how the church was viewed by some people.

(To read the entire article, "What Starbucks, Harry and You All Have in Common" by John A. Huffman Jr. at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Conviction

Anne Rice made her name writing very popular books about vampires and other occult themes. Some of them were made into movies. Recently some of her fans were shocked that she had returned to the Catholic faith of her childhood. This has prompted Anne to write books about the life of Jesus.

On Rice's Web site she says, "After years of pondering and searching, the great gift of Faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ as Our Savior came back to me on a December afternoon; and I went home to the church of my childhood, becoming a member and supporter of it with my whole soul." She also reports that while sitting in church she became convicted she needed to use her talent as a storyteller for Jesus. As a result of studying the Bible for these books she said, "I am a believer in every word of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Perfect Storm
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Today's Preaching Insight...

Leaders Making Leaders

Where did the leaders go? According to a 2009 Barna Group survey, only 2 percent of those who identified themselves as Christians believe they have the gift of leadership.

New Testament leadership was comprehensive. It had its moments of tenderness and messages of tough love. It wept, laughed, warned, condemned and taught real-life lessons; but it always was a step ahead of the congregation. Paul said, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1, NIV).

Naturally, if there are followers, there must be a leader. And pastor, you are the designated leader. Leadership training is the organizational backbone of a growing church. "When a group lacks quality leadership, it will tend to languish. Leadership is a social construct. No one leads by himself." New leaders must be trained to take the place of those retired, wounded or missing in action. Your weekly message can be an awesome add-on, a training ground for discipleship and leadership.

Believers caught in the web of a post-Christian culture are seeking far more than three points and a poem. They want to stand on a firm foundation.

Albert L. Truesdale Jr., once said, "With all orthodox Christianity we believe that in spite of notable limitations, the Holy Spirit worked in the life of the Church to create the Creeds. They do now faithfully articulate the Triune God—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." Let's face it—our parishioners need to know more about God more than anything!

(To read the entire article, "Leading from the Pulpit" by Stan Toler at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Pulling for Others on the Court of Life

"The scoreboard said I lost today," Andre Agassi told the crowd. "But what the scoreboard doesn't say is what it is I have found. Over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and also in life.

"I found inspiration. You have willed me to succeed, sometimes even in my lowest moments. And I've found generosity. You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams I could never have reached without you. Over the last 21 years, I have found you, and I will take you and the memory of you with me for the rest of my life."

(Andre Agassi to the crowd on Sept. 3, 2006, U.S. Open, Arthur Ashe Stadium, Queens.)

:angel:
[W]hen I was still a college student... I went to Hawaii with my parents where my dad was attending a printing and office supplies convention. While there we took a tour boat out to see the Pearl Harbor Memorial, a very moving experience. Down in the water we saw the sunken battle ship U.S.S. Arizona which became a watery tomb for the men caught onboard that infamous day of December 7, 1941.

As we were returning on the boat the waves of the Pacific began to rise. Rain showered down upon us. We were seated in rows out on the bow of the boat, and nearly everyone naturally rushed for cover in the cabin. But, bold venturous explorer that I was in my youth, I went all the way up to the tip of the bow and "Titanic" style, stood grasping the sides of the rail as the boat lurched up and down crashing through the rolling waves. It was a particularly vivid moment as I sensed I was fully alive, fully experiencing all the journey across the waters had to offer.

I felt a bit in common with the famed 19th century naturalist John Muir, who explored much of the Pacific Northwest. Once in 1874 Muir was caught in a fierce storm in the Sierra Mountains. He had just gone to visit a friend in a cabin, snugly set in a valley of those mountains. When the storm moved in Muir was not to be found in the safe tightly caulked cabin. He had instead gone out of the cabin into the storm, climbed a high ridge, and scaled a giant Douglas fir tree from which he could best experience the kaleidoscopic sound, scent and motion of the storm.

Why raise such storm-tossed images when thinking today of the church? Well because like the perfect storm, the perfect church is not all neatly fixed, flawlessly decorated magnificently complemented by the perfect choir and perfect ushers, perfect ministers and perfect officers. You already realize in one sense, there is no perfect church because there are no perfect people. Whatever perfection a church approaches comes as we learn to rock and reel and navigate through the ups and downs of our imperfect lives learning upon our perfect Lord.

What makes a church perfect is imperfect people like you and me caring enough about God and each other, and bringing enough of our real, broken, imperfect lives to the Lord who can take them and make us new. Jesus Christ, who turned water into wine, can turn imperfect people like you and me into new people. He can create the perfect, or the real, church.

(To read the entire article, "The Perfect Church" by Edwin Gray Hurley at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Words
by J. Michael Shannon

It happened in the 1840s in Uruguay. The Uruguayan Navy was desperate. They were fending off the navy of an aggressive force from Argentina. They ran out of conventional ammunition and thought their cause was lost. Someone came up with a creative idea. They would use old cheese as ammunition. So they raided the kitchen and loaded their cannons with old, hard Edam cheese and used it as cannonballs. Incidentally, they won the battle.

Is it possible for us to take good things and turn them into weapons? Words for instance can be used to edify; or, if hard, they can be used to destroy.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11

Today's Preaching Insight...

More Tomorrow
by Larry Hatfield

Immediately after World War II the allied armies gathered up many hungry, homeless children and placed them in large camps. There the children were abundantly fed and cared for. However, at night they did not sleep well. They seemed restless and afraid.

Finally, a psychologist hit on a solution. After the children were put to bed, they each received a slice of bread to hold. If they wanted more to eat, more was provided, but this particular slice was not to be eaten - it was just to hold.

The slice of bread produced marvelous results. The children would go to sleep, subconsciously feeling they would have something to eat tomorrow. That assurance gave the child a calm and peaceful rest. More tomorrow! Isn't that really the basic longing deep inside each of our hearts?

It doesn't take an Einstein to figure out why we're that way. The longer I live, the more I see taken away from me. Oh yes, I've got more stuff than I've ever had in my life. I've accumulated a lot of stuff. I've got books I'll never read, work manuals I'll never work, catalogues I'll never order from.

Plus, I've got jars and jars of assorted nuts and bolts, electric wire nuts, picture-hanging brackets, and curtain rod implements. Stuff. The funny thing about it is that when I need some of this stuff I can never find it, so I wind up going down and buying more stuff.

Would you like to know what I do with the leftovers? I put them in the jar alongside the stuff I was looking for when I went down and bought new stuff. It's right beside the half empty gallon paint can I saved from one of my projects back in 1991.

Yeah, I got stuff all right but I'm also losing things — lots of things. My mind, for instance. My once active brain picks the dumbest times to go on sabbatical. Some things I'm still good at; some things I'd rather not discuss. I'm sort of like the professor on Gilligan's Island who was smart enough to make a two-way radio out of a coconut; but didn't have sense enough to fix a hole in the bottom of the boat. That's me all right.

And my eyes aren't as keen as they once were, which might have some redemptive value. At least when I can't think of someone's name I can always use the excuse, "I couldn't see you very well."

Yes indeed! I want more tomorrow, like the little children in the war camps. I need something to hold on to; something that will let me know that tomorrow is taken care of already. God knew that we were all going to be like those little children. That's why he so often referred to us as 'little children'. And one of my favorite 'little children' talks Jesus gave, came to us by way of the pen and parchment belonging to Matthew, His disciple: "Don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing," Jesus said. "Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

That's better than stuff stuffed into the closet. Better than stuff on shelves in the garage. Better than stuff in jars. That's even better than sliced bread!

Larry Hatfield is Pastor of Grand Assembly of God in Chickasha, OK.

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

The Apologetics of Jesus

Norman Geisler is one of the most prolific and effective writers today on apologetics. He has joined forces with Patrick Zukeran to write The Apologetics of Jesus (Baker), which explores the apologetic methods and teachings of Jesus as detailed in scripture. Church leaders will find many helpful insights that can inform their own defense of the faith.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Offering: A Necessary Evil or an Unnecessary Evil?

I got a chuckle from a cartoon I saw a while back. It shows hundreds of people streaming out the doors of a large church sanctuary dressed only in their underclothing: men in their boxer shorts, women in their slips . . . One person turns to another and says, "That was the best stewardship sermon I ever heard."
Every Sunday morning, as part of our worship service, we take an offering.

Now when you think about it, taking an offering for God is a very strange thing. God doesn't need our money. God created the earth and the sun and the moon and the stars and the galaxies. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the Psalmist tells us. God's resources are infinite. Yet throughout the Bible, the primal act of worship by human beings is making an offering to God. In the beginning Cain and Abel made offerings to God. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the kings and prophets of Israel all made offerings to God. In the New Testament, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus went to the temple and made an offering to God. The Apostle Paul told the churches to take an offering every Sunday. A few minutes ago we took an offering in this sanctuary. And when I'm finished speaking, we are going to take the mother of all offerings: estimating our giving for the year. Clearly, the Bible and the Christian Church say you are to make offerings to God. Why? If God doesn't need our money, it must be because you and I have a need to give.

In my years in the church I have noticed two prevailing schools of thought about the offering. The first is what I call the old realist approach. The old realist is usually some no nonsense businessperson who says, "Look, you have to pay the bills. You have to keep the ministers fed, the lights on and the building maintained. The missionaries have to be supported. And nobody's ever come up with a better way of getting it done than to call a 'time out' after the sermon and have the organist play something pretty while you pass the hat and ask everybody to dig down deep in their pockets and pitch in their fair share." The old realist sees the offering as a necessary evil.

Across the aisle from the old realist sits the young idealist. He or she sees the offering as an unnecessary evil: "Why don't we live like the lilies of the field in this church? Why don't we just have faith and trust God to make ends meet? Why don't we pray instead of having stewardship campaigns and pledge cards and fund appeals?"

Now I have to admit that in the early years of my ministry I tended toward the young idealist approach; I tried to show my faith in God's abundance by making nary a mention of money in worship. I considered that way of preaching to be more spiritual. And it may be spiritual, but folks, it's not Biblical.

In Paul's eyes, the offering is neither a necessary evil nor an unnecessary evil - it is a necessary good, so important that it must be an integral part of the worship service. Listen again to his words: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income."

(To read the entire article, "The Offering" by Victor D. Pentz at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Thanksgiving

Many regard the Taj Mahal as the most beautiful building ever constructed. Most visitors to India want to see it above all other sights. It was built by Shah Jehan as both a mausoleum and also a monument to his beloved wife.

There is a legend about this famous building. The legend says that during the long process of building the Taj Mahal the emperor often visited the site and that he kept bumping into a dusty box which was constantly in his way. Finally one day he ordered, "Get rid of it!" They did, and only later discovered that the box contained the body of the very woman the building was built to honor.

The story may not be true, but it is certainly instructive. Everyone knows the purpose for Thanksgiving Day, but somehow in the very process of planning the day its purpose gets lost. The God that the day was designed to honor is often given only a courteous nod, and is sometimes ignored altogether.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

But I pray to you, O Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
Psalm 69:13

Today's Preaching Insight...

Will They Truly Not Depart?

When we read Proverbs 22:6 and say a child who is trained up in a godly fashion will always return to his roots, no matter how far he roams, it is true as a general rule, but not absolutely and always true, because every child has his own free will. But there is enough promise in this verse to let us know, when we are raising our children, that it is not in vain; enough promise to comfort the faithful and broken heart when the child strays.

Children are the source of great joy: Proverbs 23:24-25; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 17:6. They can also be the source of great sorrow. The same man who spoke of children as a joy, as arrows in a quiver and said, "Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them " — this was David, who also moaned those heartbroken words: "O Absalom, my son, my son. Would to God I had died for you! " His son Solomon would have broken his heart, too, if David had lived to see his idolatry. Rebekah said twice in Genesis that the marriages of Esau were a "grief of mind" and that she was "weary of life" because of him.

The waywardness of children is no respecter of persons. I think of a dear friend in the ministry who had a child on drugs, wandering over the country for years. No parent can point a finger at any other parent, for children are not robots who can be completely controlled, even by a loving Christian parent. And I do not wish to heap a pile of guilt on parents who have done all they could to train up their children right, and still the result has not been anything to write home about. There are no perfect parents, but most Christian parents I know truly desire to impart their faith to their children, and do the best they can.

(To read the entire sermon "A Promise for Parents" by Earl C. Davis at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

All Time Dumbest Questions Asked by Banff Park tourists (as heard at the information kiosks manned by Parks Canada staff):

1. How do the elk know they're supposed to cross at the "Elk Crossing" signs?
2. At what elevation does an elk become a moose?
3. Are the bears with collars tame?
4. Is there anywhere I can see the bears pose?
5. Is it okay to keep an open bag of bacon on the picnic table, or should I store it in my tent?
6. I saw an animal on the way to Banff today — could you tell me what it was?
7. Are there birds in Canada?
8. What's the best way to see Canada in a day?
9. When we enter B.C. (British Columbia) do we have to convert our money to British pounds?
10. Where can I buy a raccoon hat? ALL Canadians own one, don't they?
11. Are there phones in Banff?
12. So it's eight kilometers away . . . is that in miles?
13. Where can I get my husband really, REALLY lost?
14. Is that two kilometers by foot or by car?
15. Where do you put the animals at night?
(from The Daily Dilly)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12

Today's Preaching Insight...

Peter and Me

Every so often I find myself struggling to fully comprehend the enormity of God's grace and how to communicate it to you.

I take great relief in this biblical case study of Peter, the one who Jesus called "Rock Man," who had the kind of faith upon which Jesus was determined to build His church. Thank God for the biblical record of Peter's life. How exaggerated it has become in 2000 years of church history. I am so glad that I can be reminded it was Peter who ventured out on the water at the command of Jesus, only to take his eyes off of his Lord and begin to sink. How reassured I am when I read the Bible and am reminded that it was Peter who, the night of our Lord's betrayal, scoffed at the notion that Jesus should die on the cross, determined to protect his Lord, only to fall asleep during our Lord's agony at Gethsemane. Peter denied Him three times during His trial before the high priest, Caiaphas. How relieved I am to know that it was Peter, a circumcised Jew, who ate only kosher food and wouldn't think of associating with Gentiles, who God had to confront with that vision of unclean animals and hear God declare, "What I have called clean, you dare not call unclean." He then humbly adjusted his thinking so that he could go and share the Good News of the Gospel with that Gentile, Cornelius.

I don't feel so bad when I realize that it has taken me years to comprehend the impact of the Gospel upon my life. Then I realize that maybe yet I've not fully comprehended it. We may observe Peter the day Titus didn't need to be circumcised. Gentiles didn't need to become Jews to accept the Gospel, and even he, Peter, was free to sit down at the table in Christian fellowship, conversation and food with Gentile as well as Jewish brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Watch him as he comes to Antioch and does just that. Then those men who claimed to come from James arrive in Antioch, and Peter draws back and separates himself from the Gentiles, afraid of those who belong to the circumcision group, drawing other Jews with him, even dear, whole-souled, generous Barnabas. At this point, Paul had to confront him, his hypocrisy, his fear, his intentional or unintentional refusal to embrace the Gospel in the full acceptance of brothers and sisters in Jesus who were very different from himself.

...I am reassured by this case study. If Peter had a hard time getting a handle on this and took quite a while to understand and flesh this out, it helps us understand our struggle. It also helps us come to a deeper appreciation of the enormity of God's grace.

(To read the entire article "Accepting Others" by John A. Huffman Jr. at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Birth in a Grave
by Geoff Pound

Human tragedy is never ultimate. Purpose often springs out of chaos and light from the darkness.

Paul Tillich tells of a moving event that came to light during the Nuremberg War Trials. It seems that in Wilna, Poland, in an effort to escape the clutches of the Nazis, several Jewish people resorted to hiding in graves in a nearby cemetery. There, in such an unlikely place, a young woman gave birth to a child.

An 80-year-old grave digger was the only one there to assist in the birth; and, as he saw what was happening, he said in awe: "Great God, hast thou finally sent the Messiah to us? For who else but a Messiah could be born in a grave?"

The old man was wrong as to the identity of the child because the emaciated mother had no milk and very soon the child died. But he was right in another sense, for only God could do something as incredible as cause life to be born in a grave.

This is exactly what did happen on Easter morning and is the greatest of all symbols of God's ingenious resourcefulness. Out of that awful matrix of death and tragedy, healing began to flow.

(Paul Tillich, The Shaking of the Foundations, 1955, chapter 20. Quoted in Easter Sermon by John Claypool, Tragedy and Hope.)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
1 Cor. 10:21-22

Today's Preaching Insight...

To Be Like God?

Adam and Eve had such a good start in life.

They were created "in the image of God" or at the highest level of God's created order -- the only creatures designed for intimacy or holy communion with God (read the whole story in Genesis 1:1-3:24).

They complemented each other. Though Adam was the first to admit it, Eve probably joined the refrain, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh."

They were in charge of the whole deal. God said, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every thing that moves on the earth." Everything was just about perfect.

Of course, our fairer gender often suggest our Lord did make man first; only to conclude, "I can do better than that!"

Then there is the not so Biblical tale of God telling Adam to go, be fruitful, and multiply; only to witness the young man return with puzzled look on his face and inquire, "what's a headache?"

Regardless, it was a good start. Everything was just about perfect. But you know what happened. God said Adam and Eve could use, manage, and enjoy everything around them except for one thing: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Some things are just too big for mere mortals to handle. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented the extremes of complete knowledge -- omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. In other words, it represented the exclusive prerogative of the divine.

Hence, the Hebrew in this text is the strongest prohibition possible: "You must not, absolutely must not" eat from the tree or "you shall surely die."

Simply, reaching for divinity to be like God is not a human prerogative or part of the plan.

(To read the entire article, "A Good Start Stained" by Robert Kopp at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Mistakes

Many people love the sweet confection called Milk Duds. It was, however, the product of a mistake. The Hoffman Company of Chicago, the original producers of the product, was trying to make a perfectly round chocolate-covered caramel. They did not succeed and called the mistakes "duds." Not wanting a total loss, the company decided to sell the duds anyway. The name and the candy have been popular ever since. Sometimes you can bring victory out of defeat and success out of failure.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.
Luke 12:43

Today's Preaching Insight...

Take Courage

"God's well of grace must have a bottom to it," we reason. "A person can request forgiveness only so many times," contends our common sense. "Cash in too many mercy checks, and sooner or later one is going to bounce!" The devil loves this line of logic. If he can convince us that God's grace has limited funds, we'll draw the logical conclusion. The account is empty. God has locked the door to His throne room. Pound all you want; pray all you want. No access to God.

"No access to God" unleashes a beehive of concerns. We are orphans, unprotected and exposed. Heaven, if there is such a place, has been removed from the itinerary. Vulnerable in this life and doomed in the next. The fear of disappointing God has teeth.

But Christ has forceps. In His first reference to fear, He does some serious defanging. "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven" (Matt. 9:2, NASB). Note how Jesus places courage and forgiven sins in the same sentence. Might bravery begin when the problem of sin is solved? Let's see.

Jesus spoke these words to a person who could not move. "A paralytic lying on a bed ..." (v. 2, NASB). The disabled man couldn't walk the dog or jog the neighborhood. But he did have four friends, and his friends had a hunch. When they got wind that Jesus was a guest in their town, they loaded their companion on a mat and went to see the teacher. An audience with Christ might bode well for their buddy.

A standing-room-only crowd packed the residence where Jesus spoke. People sat in windows, crowded in doorways. You'd have thought God Himself was making the Capernaum appearance. Being the sort of fellows who don't give up easily, the friends concocted a plan. "When they weren't able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher" (Mark 2:4, The Message).

Risky strategy. Most homeowners don't like to have their roofs disassembled. Most paraplegics aren't fond of a one-way bungee drop through a ceiling cavity.

And most teachers don't appreciate a spectacle in the midst of their lesson. We don't know the reaction of the home-owner or the man on the mat. But we know that Jesus didn't object. Matthew all but paints a smile on His face. Christ issued a blessing before one was requested. And He issued a blessing no one expected: "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven" (Matt. 9:2, NASB).

Wouldn't we anticipate different words? "Take courage. Your legs are healed." "Your paralysis is over." "Sign up for the Boston Marathon." The man had limbs as sturdy as spaghetti, yet Jesus offered mercy, not muscles. What was He thinking? Simple. He was thinking about our deepest problem: sin. He was considering our deepest fear: the fear of failing God. Before Jesus healed the body (which He did), He treated the soul. "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven."

(To read the entire sermon, "Can God Forgive Me?" by Max Lucado at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

The Power of Words and the Wonder of God

As pastors and church leaders, we live and die with words. The Power of Words and the Wonder of God (Crossway), edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor, offers the insights of a team of contributors to help us understand how God reveals Himself to us through words. The book contains chapters by Piper, Mark Driscoll, Sinclair Ferguson and others, plus a conversation with the various contributors.

Preaching magazine is the premier resource for those who proclaim the Word. To begin your own subscription and get a free year of issues, go to http://magazine.preaching.com/subscribe/.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Romans 10:15

Today's Preaching Insight...

Using Biography

Major sections of Scripture are biographical. The Holy Spirit's use of biography to communicate the Truth is a high recommendation for this source of sermon illustrations. Of course, the major difference is in who's handling the material.

Biography is defined as the "reconstruction in print or on film, of the lives of real men and women." The genre has a long history, dating from inscriptions on palace walls of Egypt and Assyria. In the second century, Plutarch wrote The Parallel Lives, comparing and evaluating the morals and achievements of four individuals. Every era of history has included some biographies that were more fantasy than fact, usually trying to enhance a life in support of a cause or an institution. In 1791 James Boswell wrote The Life of Samuel Johnson, described as "the first definitive biography." Biographies are now a staple of publishing and also television's History Channel.

The use of biography applies truth to real people and heightens listener response. People are always more interesting than things. Preaching the truth includes working with propositional statements, but these truths live when illustrated in the lives of others. Craig Larson wrote, "The average church attender finds People magazine more engaging than PC User. Listeners identify with people's emotions, thoughts, opinions, and weaknesses. While illustrations drawn from nature, mechanics and mathematics can help clarify, people illustrations are more likely to stir emotions. They are alive." Biography is a rich treasure for... people-centered illustrations. However, every kind of illustrative material has limitations.

(To read the entire article, "Illustrating Sermons with Biography" by Bill D. Whittaker at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Relationships

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Linda Wolfe holds the record as the most married woman in the world. The Guinness Book of World Records has verified it. Linda, 68, has been married 23 times. Her longest marriage was for seven years. She reports that her marriages have failed for a variety of reasons—some trivial, some significant. The most astonishing thing is that she wants to get married again, but it is not to keep the record. The reason is, by her own admission, that she is lonely.

We could look at that story and analyze and criticize. No doubt there is much to think about in this situation. We might think further and ponder how desperate loneliness makes us and how much human relationships mean to the average person. Whether she should marry again or not is a matter of debate, but we would agree that she needs companionship and fellowship. Loneliness is devastating.

:angel:

Dec 27, 2011

Today's Word for Pastors...

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1

Today's Preaching Insight...

To War or Not to War: Who Wins?

In one fashion or another, we are all war veterans. Consider some staggering information that impacts all our lives: A group of scholars recently reported that since 3,600 B.C. our world has known only 292 years of peace! In 5,603 years, about 4 billion people (that's two-thirds of today's world population!) have died in more than 14,000 wars, large and small. The value of property lost in all those wars equals a solid gold belt 97 miles wide and 33 feet thick around our entire planet. That's some belt! Yes, indeed, we're all war veterans!

World leaders once more rattle sabers on the nightly news. Already men and women from our armed forces and those of our allies are waiting on the ground in the Middle East and close to North Korea, and in warships on the high seas, and they are ready to strike on command.

"No war talk here," a group of California Christians once protested to me after I mentioned in a sermon the Apostle Paul's occasional use of military metaphors. Some of them seemed ready to do battle over that passing reference. Reality is that the Bible has a lot of war talk, and a number of war heroes, in its pages. Let's see now: Joshua, Gideon, David, and others. . . .These Bible war heroes did battle for God. Throughout history, God uses war to fulfill His plans. Still, many Christians believe all war is wrong. Others note a serious conflict between the Old Testament warrior God and the peace-loving crucified Son of God in the New Testament.

The reason Christians are divided over war is that legitimate biblical arguments can be used persuasively to support both sides. Pacifists, citing the Sermon on the Mount, say Jesus teaches that we are to love our enemies and turn the other cheek no matter what. Those who disagree with them point out that the New Testament also makes clear that God makes human leaders His "agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer" (Romans 13:4). Scripture also instructs soldiers not to plunder war booty but to "be content with your pay" (Luke 3:14), and honors those war heroes who "through faith conquered kingdoms . . . became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies" (Hebrews 11:33-34).

Truth is, Scripture never presents a neatly defined list of good reasons for going to war. Eight hundred years ago Thomas Aquinas first spelled out a systematized "just-war" theory. War, he declared, is not the opposite of peace but is sometimes the way to achieve peace. For Thomas Aquinas, war was warranted when it met three standards: 1. Legitimate authority. Does the person or organization ordering troops to war possess the right to do so? 2. Just cause. Is freedom threatened and are people and neighboring countries safe from a tyrant? 3. Righteous intention. Does the nation going to war have any interest or intention in occupying, exploiting, or destroying another nation?

Later theologians added three more criteria to that just-war theory: 1. Last resort. Is fighting a war the only means left to right a wrong? 2. Reasonable hope of success. Are the goals of this war limited and achievable? 3. Proportionality. Is it likely that the human cost of going to war will be less than the human cost of not going to war? Just-war proponents argue that when these six criteria are met, Christians have a duty to fight. On the other hand, if any one of these objectives is not met, or likely to be met, Christians should refuse to fight.

So, who is right? Is it the pacifists or the just-war theorists? In a sense, both may be right! On the other hand, either side may be dead wrong! There is a "time for war" (Ecclesiastes 3:8), but smart people don't get in a rush. Those hauntingly neat rows of white crosses in WWII military cemeteries around the world remind us that war winners still lose. And 30 years after the last plane evacuated American troops from Vietnam, soldiers from that war come weekly, and sometimes weakly, seeking help at our church. Three decades after they came home, that war still rages in their souls. When it comes to war, there are no winners.

(To read the entire article, "Wanted: Winning Warriors!" by R. Leslie Holmes at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

What happens at these Fahrenheit temperatures...
What happens at these Fahrenheit temperatures:

+65 — Hawaiians declare a two-blanket night.

+60 — Californians put on sweaters (if they can find one).

+50 — Miami residents turn on the heat.

+45 — Vermont residents go to outdoor concerts.

+40 — You can see your breath. Californians shiver uncontrollably. Minnesotans go swimming.

+35 — Italian cars don't start.

+32 — Water freezes.

+30 — You plan your vacation to Australia.

+25 — Ohio water freezes. Californians weep. Minnesotans eat ice cream. Canadians go swimming.

+20 — Politicians begin to talk about the homeless. New York City water freezes. Miami residents plan vacation farther South.

+15 — French cars don't start. Cat insists on sleeping in your bed with you.

+10 — You need jumper cables to get the car going.

+5 — American cars don't start.

0 — Alaskans put on T-shirts.

-10 — German cars don't start. Eyes freeze shut when you blink.

-15 — You can cut your breath and use it to build an igloo. Arkansans stick tongue on metal objects. Miami residents cease to exist.

-20 — Cat insists on sleeping in pajamas with you. Politicians actually do something about the homeless. Minnesotans shovel snow off roof. Japanese cars don't start.

-25 — Too cold to think. You need jumper cables to get the driver going.

-30 — You plan a two week hot bath. Swedish cars don't start.

-40 — Californians disappear. Minnesotans button top button. Canadians put on sweaters. Your car helps you plan your trip South.

-50 — Congressional hot air freezes. Alaskans close the bathroom window.

-80 — Polar bears move South. Green Bay Packer fans order hot cocoa at the game.

-90 — Lawyers put their hands in their own pockets.
(from The DailyDilly)



:angel:

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Preaching Daily
     
Today's Word for Pastors...

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

Today's Preaching Insight...

Outside-In or Inside-Out

When it comes down to it, Paul is pretty well convinced that there are two options for our lives. One option is to be squeezed. We can allow our lives, our values, our attitudes, our convictions, and our relationships to be shaped and formed from the outside in by the forces of the world around us. The other option is to be transformed. Our lives can be remolded, reshaped, redesigned from the inside out by the wind and breath of the Spirit of God.

Paul hangs those options out in front of us. With great passion he calls for our response. Therefore: because you know the mercy and grace of God, because you've seen how God loves lost, disoriented, confused and broken people, because you know how God's love has been made real for us at the cross, therefore, for God's sake, for your own sake, don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold. Rather, let God remold your life from the inside out so that you may demonstrate in practice the good, acceptable, loving, life-giving will of God for you.

Paul is correct, of course. You and I know that if we let it, the world around us will squeeze us into its own mold. If we let it, the world will shape our attitudes, our values, our convictions from the outside in, until it squeezes the life right out of us.

If we let it, the world will squeeze us into the mold of materialism. That's the belief, the ideology, the conviction, the assumption that everything that really matters in this life can be bought and sold with money. It's the belief that I can have what I want and have it now; all I need is plastic. We will mortgage our grandchildren's future to have what we want and have it now.

One of the emerging pastoral concerns that we share is the concern for good folks, Christian people, who are being squeezed to death by the demon on debt and the demonic power of plastic. People whose lives are being controlled and managed by their credit cards. The crisis for many families today is not only the high cost of living, but the cost of high living. It's a profoundly spiritual thing, and later this fall, we want to try to work on that.

If we let it, the world will squeeze us into the mold of self-centered amorality. That's the assumption that there is no objective standard of right or wrong in this universe, and that my behavior is determined solely on the basis of what satisfies me. It expresses itself in many ways. We desperately need gun control in this country, but we will never control the violence of our culture until we deal with the underlying desire to have whatever we want, whenever we want it, by whatever means it takes to get it. It works itself out in a multitude of ways, but if we let it, the world will squeeze us into the mold of self-oriented amorality.

If we let it, the world will squeeze us into the mold of "squishy spirituality." I borrowed that term from Jonathan Yardley, the book critic for the Washington Post. When I shared it on the Internet a few weeks ago, I received more response than anything I've sent out there since I wrote on Moncia Lewinsky. In a scathing review of a book on "boomer spirituality," Yardley described "squishy spirituality" as a "blend of all the most self-absorbed aspects of pop psychology, New Age pseudo-mysticism . . . and half-baked religiosity. It completely rejects anything remotely smacking of authority . . . It is self-indulgent rather than self-sacrificial, and it is utterly devoid of anything approximating intellectual rigor." He says the bottom line of most contemporary spirituality is "What's in it for me?"

(To read the entire article, "Squeezed or Transformed" by James A. Harnish at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Cooperation

It has been well said that the man who holds the ladder at the bottom is about as important as the man at the top. Everybody wants to be the man on the top, but he would not be there very long without the assistance he receives from the man at the bottom. If he is wise, the man at the top will recognize the importance of the man at the bottom. If he does not recognize it, he may find his ladder slipping away!

J. Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
1 Timothy 4:1

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Next Ten Years

In an interview with Fred Craddock - a long-time preaching professor and writer who has made a major impact on how preaching is taught today - he discusses what he sees taking place in preaching over the next decade.

"I think, I hope in the future there will be an increase in the dealing with biblical content in the sermon. Some people will find that antiquated or quaint, but the fact of the matter is we live out of the reservoir or the well of the scripture. You can't get people talking about it if they don't know what it says. I think there will be an increase in the preacher teaching texts he preaches on, she preaches on.

"I try to do that here, and have for the last few years. If I'm invited to a church to preach, I ask, "Can I have the adult classes together during the Sunday School hour?" and I teach the text that I'm going to preach, on the assumption that if they get familiar enough with it they'll start thinking about it, they won't be intimidated by it, they won't feel put down because they didn't know it. They'll be partners in the preaching process. I think we're going to have more of the minister as a teaching preacher in the future."

Today's Extra...

Eternal Security

Adrian Rogers recently wrote, "Nothing can separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus your Lord. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39)  Neither death nor anything that happens after death, or anything that happens while you're living can separate you from God's love. If there were no other verse in the Bible that deals with eternal security, this one covers the base.

"Some people say, 'Well, if I believed in this doctrine, then I'd get saved and I'd sin all I want to.' Friend, I sin all I want to. I sin more than I want to. I don't want to! When you get saved you get your wanter fixed. As a matter of fact, you get a brand new wanter."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 1 Corinthians 10:21-22

Today's Preaching Insight...

As Symbols Crumble, God Remains

We may want God to answer our questions. What have you done for me lately? But Isaiah suggests that we take a much longer look. What have you been told from the very beginning about God? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? The God we look to is the one who is constantly business with the work of creation. The God we think has forsaken us and abandoned us, made the sun to shine, stretches the heavens like a curtain for all creation. The God we talk about as powerless is the Lord of all history who makes all rulers and kings rise and fall and pass away. Lift up your eyes on high and see, who created these? Slowly and steadily Isaiah reminds us of the God to whom we turn. God is the one who makes the winds to blow and the oceans to churn. We are reminded of the strength of God in creation and his attentiveness to all details. God is the one who governs the affairs of all nations and guards and redeems his people from despair. The praise of God's greatness is in all places. Everything in this passage becomes an object of God's actions. He sits. He stretches. God spreads. God brings, God makes. God gives. Everything submits to God's power. All life is very fragile and weak and quickly fades under the judgment of God's love.

So if you and I are reminded of the greatness of God who has done great things in all creation, who has created this world and give us life and breath this day, who has been the judge of the kings and princess who have risen up and thought they would last forever. Hitler declared, "It does not matter whether I live or not. It does not matter whether you live or not, what matters is that Germany lives on forever." God who has continued to provide and to sustain his people throughout all these ages. If we who can remember the greatness of God in God's acts of creation and history, if we can remember all of God's blessings and joys to us in the past, how can we claim that God is not able and who can we claim that God is not attentive.

(To read the entire article, "Casting Out Demons" by Rick Brand at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Scripture is at the heart of the Christian life, and that means it is vital that we be able to read and understand God's Word. Understanding and Applying the Bible (Moody) by Robertson McQuilkin has been released in a revised and expanded version. This volume offers practical guidance in interpreting Scripture, and the helpful additions to this edition include an expanded bibliography (including Internet resources for biblical study) and a treatment of postmodern presuppositions and how those impact Bible study. This is a good introduction to hermeneutical principles that can benefit pastors and others who want to interpret Scripture more effectively.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
2 Kings 21:5-6

Today's Preaching Insight...

God's Way or Our Way

On the first day God created the cow. God said, "You must go to the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a life span of 60 years."

The cow said, "That's a kind of tough life you want me to live for 60 years. Let me have 20 years and I'll give you back the other 40." And God agreed.

On the second day, God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of 20 years."

The dog said, "That's too long to be barking. Give me 10 years and I will give you back the other 10." So God agreed. (Sigh)

On the third day, God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people, do monkey tricks, make them laugh. I'll give you a 20-year life span."

The monkey said, "How boring. Monkey tricks for 20 years. I don't think so. The dog gave you back 10, so that's what I'll do too. Okay?" Again God agreed.

On the fourth day, God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, have sex, enjoy. Do nothing, just enjoy, enjoy. I'll give you 20 years."

Man said, "What? Only 20 years! No way, man! Tell you what. I'll take my 20, the 40 the cow gave back, plus the 10 the dog gave back and the 10 the monkey gave back. That makes 80 years. Okay?"

"Okay," said God. "You've got a deal."

So that's why for the first 20 years we eat, sleep, play, have sex, enjoy and do nothing. For the next 40 years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next 10 years we do monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren, and for the last 10 years we sit in front of the house and bark at everyone.

We are a do-it-yourself people by nature. As this story shows, we bargain the best deal for ourselves, even when it turns out not to be the best deal.

(To read the rest of the article, "Do-it-Yourself Religion" by John A. Huffman Jr. on Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

God's Creation
by Robert C. Shannon

A. D. Correll is the CEO of Georgia-Pacific, the leading forest-products company in the country. Recently Sky magazine quoted Correll on the value of trees. He said that a growing tree is "the most wonderful pollution control device ever devised. It takes carbon dioxide out of the air and converts it to oxygen and stores the carbon in the tree. When you make lumber and paper, you preserve that carbon storage and start the cycle all over again."

Surely it is by God's design that the environment renews itself, and a tree is only one of countless examples. God has provided his own means to deal with pollution -- both the pollution of the earth and the pollution of the soul. The earth, so wonderfully made, will pass away, and like the apostle Peter and the apostle John we look for "new heavens and a new earth" because the earth will pass away. But the soul, the spirit, the inner person, was created for eternity. When God "restores my soul," He is not only making it possible for me to continue to live abundantly on earth; He is preparing me to live eternally in Heaven.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Nature of Redemption

Evelyn Underhill... one of the most influential writers on Christian spirituality in the first half of this century[, said,]

"Redemption does not mean you and me made safe and popped into heaven. It means that each soul, redeemed from self-interest by the revelation of Divine Love, is taken and used again for the spread of that redeeming work" (Christian Century, October 31, 1990, p. 997).

"Redeemed from self-interest by the revelation of Divine Love." Those words caught my attention because that is exactly what happens in the story of Jacob.

The first thing the Bible tells us about Jacob is that he was a two-timing, deceitful, manipulative crook. He was born grasping his twin brother's heel, and that's exactly how he lived his life: grasping for all he could get by his own ingenuity and power. He tricked his brother, deceived his father, and finally had to run for his life to escape his brother's anger. Then, as a man on the lam, he had a dream of a ladder connecting heaven and earth. For the first time in his manipulative, self-centered life, he began to realize that God might be actively involved in his human experience. How he lived his life on earth might actually have some connection with God's purpose in heaven. It was a revelation of God's presence with him.

But God's transforming power is never just a deal between God and myself. It's not just "me and Jesus." Redemption, the fulfillment of God's saving purpose, always involves other people.

(To read the entire article "Finding The 'New' You: The Things We Do for Love" by James A. Harnish at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

Toy Disclaimers

Here are some disclaimers to be found at a toy department near you:

* No beanies or babies harmed in the manufacture of this product.

* Warning: This fad will disappear in 6 weeks.

* Caution: Care Bears do not actually care very much.

* Warning: This toy produces substantially less childish glee in real life than it does in the TV commercial.

* Some dismemberment may occur.

* In case of breakage, scream until dad buys a replacement.

* Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously.

* Use as an actual terrorist device not recommended.

*Do not attempt to combine your Ultra Mega Warrior with your cat to make Ultra Mega Cat Warrior.

* NOTE: The makers of "Queen Amidala's Naboo Dream Palace" assume no responsibility for the quality of the movie which spawned it.

* Some assimilation required. Resistance is futile.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1 

Today's Preaching Insight...

Why Churches Decline

Tony Morgan—author, church strategist, and pastor of ministries at West Ridge Church in Atlanta—recently remembered a conversation he had with a denominational leader about the attributes of a declining church. Morgan remarked, "When I work with churches for the first time, sometimes they're frustrated with me because I'm not willing to help them fix something specific...Churches can become convinced they know why their church isn't growing." Morgan said these five foundational aspects need to be addressed first:

Lack of mission and vision clarity
Failure to define a concise strategy to help newcomers become fully devoted followers of Christ 
A complex structure 
Inward-focus with little connection to the community 
Weak leadership, especially in the senior pastor role
Morgan also said he was surprised by the number of churches that "would rather close their doors than make the necessary changes" to avoid decline. He concluded by saying churches unwilling to address these elements will not shift their decline, no matter how hard they try. (TonyMorganLive.com 7/15/10, via Church Leaders Intelligence Report)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book: The Slow Fade

A huge percentage of 20-somethings walk away from the church during those years, even though they may have been actively engaged as children and teens. In The Slow Fade (David C. Cook), Reggie Joiner, Chuck Bomar and Abbie Smith help us understand why they are leaving and offer ideas for re-engaging them in those critical early adult years. This will be a valuable book for pastors and church leaders.

:angel:

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:16

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Way to Have Eternal and Temporal Security Is to Divest (Mark 10:17-27)

A man runs up to Jesus. We call him the rich young ruler because when we put Matthew, Mark, and Luke together, we get the whole picture. In Matthew, he is young. In Luke he is a ruler. In all three accounts, he is rich. In this now famous encounter with Jesus, we can put together a picture of what a man must divest himself of in order to have eternal life.

There can be no mistake, this man had zeal. He ran to Jesus. He called Jesus Good Teacher. But did He really know who Jesus was? The Lord calmed him down with a strong dose of caution. "Only God is good." Jesus was not denying the claim but was showing that this young man had zeal but lacked knowledge.

When I was ten, I wanted to drive my uncle John's car. I had a great zeal when he came out to see us on a Sunday afternoon. But he would say, "Mike, if you had it, what would you do with it? You don't know how to drive!"

The Bible speaks of those who have zeal without knowledge. Paul wrote of his countrymen in Romans: "For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge" (Rom. 10:2, NIV).

Zeal, an enthusiasm that is not biblical, can actually stand in the way of our relationship with God. Being excited about religion is not the same as trusting in Christ as Savior.

(read the full article, "What In it for Me?" by Michael Milton here)

Today's Extra...

Why the Bible Matters

Why the Bible Matters: Rediscovering Its Significance in an Age of Suspicion (Harvest House) by California pastor Mike Erre would provide the launching pad for an excellent sermon series on the grand story that we know as the Bible. So many contemporary believers know so little of God's Word -- perhaps 2012 would be a good time to begin to introduce them to the story that can change our lives?
:angel:

Psalms 89:1
I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 

Today's Preaching Insight...

Chasing Armadillos

When I was a boy, I chased armadillos. If you have never seen an armadillo, they look like a possum with a turtle shell. Well, actually, they just look like an armadillo and nothing else. Aunt Eva would ask, "If you were to catch that filthy thing, what would you do with it?"

Praying the Lord's Prayer can be like chasing an armadillo. We all believe that the Lord wants us to pray it, but what if you really understood what you were praying? And what would you do if God began to answer your prayer?

To pray "Your kingdom come" is to be involved in a gospel conspiracy to take over the world! It is a prayer that changes the make-up of the cosmos, beginning from your very heart and moving out in space and time to everything under creation. Are you really ready for that?

Here are eight biblical truths about the kingdom of God as it is revealed in Scripture and eight ways that this prayer changes our world.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Marriage

On their 50th wedding anniversary and during the banquet celebrating it, Tom was asked to give his friends a brief account of the benefits of a marriage of such long duration.

"Tell us Tom, just what is it you have learned from all those wonderful years with your wife?" an anonymous voice yelled from the back of the room.

Tom responded, "Well, I've learned that marriage is the best teacher of all. It teaches you loyalty, meekness, forbearance, self-restraint, forgiveness -- and a great many other qualities you wouldn't need if you stayed single."
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Matthew 5:24
Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift

Today's Preaching Insight...

A Baby in the Belfry

There are many people who make predictions about many things. Nostradamus would be one of them: He predicted that in 1792, Venice, Italy, would become a world power. (Venice is still waiting.) That same year, he predicted the Catholic Church would cease to exist because of the persecution in North Africa; he was wrong once again. In 1607, he predicted all astrologers would come under persecution; he missed it again.

Jeanne Dixon made 100,000 predictions, all of which were wrong except for one: In a kind of serendipitous way, she predicted the death of John F. Kennedy; but some suggested it was a lucky guess. Unlike these, there is a certainty in the Word of God that whatever God says will come to pass.

Charles Campbell holds the distinguished Peter Marshall's Chair of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. In November 2007, he visited Korea and toured as many sites as possible. While there, the guide took him to the base of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, pointing upward to the hill's zenith. Atop that mountain was a small chapel where the service members gathered and worshipped. Campbell was a Presbyterian preacher, and Korea was the place where Knox Presbyterians had infiltrated the land with the gospel. The largest Presbyterian churches in the world were on that particular terra firma.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)   

Today's Extra...

Actual Signs from Hotels around the World

In a Tokyo Hotel:

Is forbidden to steal hotel towels please. If you are not a person to do such a thing is please not to read notis.

In a Bucharest hotel lobby:

The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

In a Leipzig elevator:

Do not enter lift backwards, and only when lit up.

In a Belgrade hotel elevator:

To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order.

In a Bangkok dry cleaners:

Drop your trousers here for best results.

In a Paris hotel elevator:

Please leave your values at the front desk.

In a Japanese hotel:

You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant:

Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.

On the menu of a Polish hotel:

Salad a firm's own make; limpid red beet soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of a finger; roasted duck let loose; beef rashers beaten up in the country people's fashion.

Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop:

Ladies may have a fit upstairs.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Acts 10:43
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Today's Preaching Insight...

What is the Unforgivable Sin?

When I served as pastor of a church in North Alabama during the early 1980s, there was an usher in our church named John. He was a sweet man who was always present in his regular spot to greet people and hand out bulletins, but John was a very troubled man. On several occasions, I met with him, and he began to weep as he told me that during World War II he had done something he thought was so evil that he was certain he had committed the unforgivable sin.

I tried to help him by telling Him God could forgive every sin except the sin of unbelief, but that didn't change his mind. John never told me what he had done, but he was convinced he never would go to heaven. He attended church and served the Lord faithfully. His family was active in the church, and his children were talented singers; but he was tormented with the belief that he had committed the unpardonable sin and never would make it to heaven.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Heaven

The Maldives is an island nation. Rising sea levels in the Indian Ocean threaten this land of 376,000 people. It is, in fact, the lowest nation on earth. The county is still facing terrible effects from the 2004 tsunami. In a desperate attempt to save their people, they want to buy land from Sri Lank or Australia to relocate the entire country. Christians hope someday to be relocated. We hope for a better land where there will be no tears, pain or death. The good news is there is plenty of room in eternity, and Jesus has paid the price for our new home.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Acts 10:43
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Today's Preaching Insight...

When You Get Bent Out of Shape

Some of us are just never satisfied. Frank and Mabel had been married for 40 years. Frank turned 60 a few months earlier, and they now were celebrating Mabel's 60th birthday. During the birthday party, Frank walked into another room and was surprised to see a fairy godmother appear before him. She said, "Frank, this is your lucky day. I'm here to grant you one wish—what would you like?"

He thought for a moment and said, "Well, I would really like to have a wife who is 30 years younger than me."

The fairy godmother said, "No problem." She waved her wand, and "poof"—suddenly Frank was 90 years old.

I imagine old Frank was a little bent out of shape by the way that turned out!

I have a friend in Alabama whose favorite expression was "bent out of shape." When he was upset about something he always said he was "bent out of shape" about it, and I recall he stayed "bent out of shape" much of the time.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Righteousness

State mottoes often give us insight into the thinking of a particular state's founders. The motto of the state of Hawaii was officially adopted in 1959, but has been used unofficially since 1825. The motto is, Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono. Translated into English it means, "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." There is a debate as to the origin of the slogan, but it is certainly not a bad slogan for any state, society or nation.
:angel:

             
Today's Word for Pastors...

1 Corinthians 6:20
you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Footsteps in the Garden: Guilt and Grace

Does anyone ever say, "I did it because I wanted to. I chose to do it. I wish I had never been caught." Does anyone say, without being forced, "Now I see how I hurt others. I am ashamed." How refreshing this would sound.

There is something deeper here. Why the inability and unwillingness to confess and repent?  When do we feel the guilt and shame most deeply? It's the moment we confront the person offended or when the person confronts us. Behind the initial guilt, is the shadow of someone we have betrayed. Sin is always a personal matter, even if the person betrayed, is ourselves. That's why people hide their faces from the T.V. Cameras. They are hiding from the one betrayed, the face they do not want to see. A mother, a father, a friend, a teacher, a public, God.

It's the pain we want to run from. It is the judgment we feel we deserve but which we cannot bear. So, when the confrontation finally happens, the first response is denial.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Encouragement

Joel Manby is the CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, a company that operates theme parks, aquariums and other family attractions. Manby was featured in the TV hit, "Undercover Boss." In the show, he mentioned that he took a job with Herchend because of their Christian values. While working undercover, Joel discovered what most of the bosses discover. Their employees work hard, have overcome many challenges and have good ideas. At the end of the show, when the workers find out they're working with the boss, Manby seemed genuinely touched when people wept at the words, "Well done," from him. In a later interview, Joel said he has come to the conclusion that CEO ought to stand for Chief Encouragement Officer.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Romans 8:35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Today's Preaching Insight...

You Were Made for Ministry

I want to tell you how my Aunt Eva got my goat. Once upon a time I owned a goat. Buck, believe it or not, was so big that I could ride him, which I often did. I grew to really love my pretty white goat. Aunt Eva, on the other hand, never really got attached to Buck like I did. One day when our azalea bushes and magnificent bridal wreath spirea were in full bloom, both prized by Aunt Eva almost as much as she prized me, Buck had a hunger pang. He proceeded to eat all of those azaleas along with the spirea next to them. Once discovered, Buck was history. The last time I saw Buck, he was in the back of a trailer headed to who-knows-where. Buck was a fine animal other than that episode, and I thought he was a pretty good goat. But on that fateful day, Aunt Eva declared that Buck was "good for nothing."

Christians are to be good for something. But we can also appear to be "good for nothing." In fact, Jesus said that when we stand before Him on Judgment Day, some will be like sheep and others like goats. The sheep in Matthew 25, who will be on Jesus' right hand at the place of sonship, are true believers who manifested their faith in tangible expressions of love to others. Jesus says that these sheep will have fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, provided hospitality to the homeless, clothing to the naked and visited the sick and those imprisoned.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Our friend and contributing editor Mike Milton recently was elected to serve as Chancellor of the Reformed Theological Seminary empire. (They do have a lot of campuses, you know!) His election marks a good time to remind you of his book What God Starts, God Completes (Christian Focus), which draws on his own life to share the wonderful story of God's grace.]

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Today's Preaching Insight...

To Those Who Have Loved and Lost

I believe the depth of our grief arises from the depth of our love. When we lose someone we greatly love, how can we not deeply grieve and how can that grief quickly pass? Deep grief never passes quickly and never passes completely. My loss occurred almost 20 years ago; your loss occurred this past year. Yet, our common grief persists. How should we, how can we, respond to our losses?

Here are three responses to loss that deal with the past, present, and the future of our lives. Some people respond to their loss with regret as they focus on the past. Their grief is defined by their guilt about what was but should not have been or their guilt about what should have been but was not. The words they often think and say with respect to their deceased loved one are "if only." If only I had not let him take the car that night! If only I had told her I loved her more often! If only I had done more for him! If only...

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Conscience

You never know where you will find a conscience. In York, Pa., an armed robber gave back what he would have stolen from a homeless man. According to news reports, a man by the name of Sanderson was stopped by an armed thief. At the point of a gun, Sanderson gave the thief his wallet, cell phone, MP3 player and a pack of cigarettes. The thief wanted to know if that was all he had, to which Sanderson replied that he was a resident of the homeless shelter. Something must have touched the thief. He reportedly said, "I can respect that." He then gave the man back all he had stolen.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

John 15:1-5
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Life of Love

If love comes from God, then love links us to God. Love shows we know God. Thus the pity we feel at the plight of another is God's pity. The helping hand we lend is God's hand. Traveling a distance, spending money, taking risks in the service of others — these are ways we practice the love of God.

My son rode 16 hours with a group of students to hurricane-ravaged New Orleans. There they shoveled mud, tore out moldy drywall, and hung Sheetrock. The work was hard, but all agreed it was more than worth the trip.

Not everybody gets the opportunity to travel far to help the victims of a disaster. But every Christian gets the daily opportunity to "go the distance" in love. The trip will invariably take us farther than you thought! It will keep us longer and cost us more than we thought! For love is costly.

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:10-11).

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

The Legacy of the King James Bible: Celebrating 400 Years of the Most Influential English Translation

The most recent contribution to the subject will be Leland Ryken's The Legacy of the King James Bible: Celebrating 400 Years of the Most Influential English Translation (Crossway), which is due for publication this month (and is available for pre-orders). The author and Wheaton prof offers helpful insights on the cultural and literary impact of the KJV.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

John 15:1-5
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Today's Preaching Insight...

God Delights in Obedience

Have you ever made a decision to obey God as a way of life? I'm not talking about obeying once in a while but in every area to the best of your knowledge and ability. Or do you find that there are times when you struggle to do what you know is right and in keeping with His principles? There may be times when it is easy to discern between what is right and in keeping with God's will and what is wrong and not a part of His plan. In fact, you may actually obey Him at crucial junctures because you want His best. Other times, you may feel as if you are being pulled aside by disobedience simply because you did not do your homework in prayer and the study of God's Word.

Solomon admonished us to "catch the foxes." He went on to explain that it is the "little foxes that are ruining the vineyards" (Song 2:15). Often the smaller decisions bring about the biggest consequences. A decision to tell a little white lie is very costly because it leads to sin and usually the next step, which is deception. The enemy is very keen. He knows better than to tempt a seasoned believer to flat out disobey God. Obvious sin always draws a response. Friends and family members usually speak up when you are involved in something that leads to shame, failure and a damaged testimony. You may falsely believe that something perceived as being insignificant is much easier to disguise. It may be for a season, but at some point God pulls the covers back, and the truth is revealed about what you have done.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Blaming God

In his Church & Culture blog, James Emery White shares this: "If all else fails in passing blame, there's always God.

"The author Philip Yancey writes of being contacted by a television producer after the death of Princess Diana to appear on a show and explain how God could have possibly allowed such a tragic accident. 'Could it have had something to do with a drunk driver going 90 miles an hour in a narrow tunnel?,' he asked the producer. 'How, exactly, was God involved?'

"From this, Yancey reflected on the pervasive nature of the mindset that our actions are actually an indictment of God. Such as when boxer Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini killed a Korean boxer in a match, the athlete said in a press conference, 'Sometimes I wonder why God does the things He does.'

"In a letter to a Christian family therapist, a young woman told of dating a man and becoming pregnant. She wanted to know why God allowed that to happen to her.

"In her official confession, when South Carolina mother Susan Smith pushed her two sons into a lake to drown, she said that as she did it, she went running after the car as it sped down the ramp screaming, 'Oh God! Oh God, no! Why did You let this happen!'

"Yancey raises the decisive question by asking, 'What exactly was the role God played in a boxer pummeling his opponent, a teenager abandoning her virtue, or a mother drowning her children?' God let us choose, and we did; and our choices have brought continual pain and heartache and destruction. Our self-destructive bent has seemed to know no bounds."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Matthew 5:48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Is There Hope for World Peace?

I received an interesting Christmas card from a dear friend, a retired Air Force General. On the front was a white dove with an olive branch in its beak, hovering above the world. Inside the card were these words: "Peace on earth." Beside those words my friend had added a big question mark. Then he wrote, "Is peace possible in a world like this?"

This General was asking the $64,000 question. Go to any barbershop or beauty parlor and you will hear various prescriptions for how to straighten out our troubled world. Someone will suggest that we retreat from the rest of the world and just build a "Fortress America" along our borders. Someone else will suggest that we withdraw from the United Nations. Someone else will declare that if all nations would surrender their nuclear weapons, the world would be safer.

But what does the Bible say? Let's see if God's word can give us answers concerning world peace.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Imagination

Several weeks after a young man had been hired, he was called into the personnel director's office. "What is the meaning of this?" the director asked. "When you applied for this job, you told us you had five years experience. Now we've discovered this is the first job you've ever held."

"Well," the young man replied, "in your advertisement, you said you wanted somebody with imagination."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?

Today's Preaching Insight...

What Every Father Needs to Hear

The Bible is very practical and plain, sometimes disturbingly so. As in the case of the historical account of King David and his son Absalom. David was a great man, but he was guilty of great sin, which infected his home. In 2 Samuel 12:11-13, Nathan confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba. This was not his first sin. He had been married seven previous times. David had seven wives when he took Bathsheba from his servant Uriah the Hittite. In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan said that David's great sin had resulted in judgment. The sword would not leave his home. The universal laws of God had been violated, and David's sin had produced family pain. By Chapter 13 it happens: The damage that was done begins to unfold in the repugnant tale of incest in the royal line between two children of two different wives of David. The act is followed by the murder of Amnon by Absalom, Tamar's full brother. In Chapter 14, Absalom "lived two full years in Jerusalem without coming into the king's presence" (v. 28). Absalom conspires to dethrone his father and become King. Chapter 18 chronicles the climax of the sordid story.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Christ Among the Dragons

James Emery White of Charlotte's Mecklenburg Church is one of our featured speakers at this year's National Conference on Preaching. Jim is also one of the finest and most insightful writers in the contemporary church. Here are three of his best books, all worth a place on any preacher's bookshelf:

Christ Among the Dragons: Finding Our Way Through Cultural Challenges (IVP) is Jim's newest books and among his best. Recognizing that evangelical Christians find themselves in uncharted territory, he helps us understand how to regain our footing on some key issues and move positively into the future.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour

Today's Preaching Insight...

A Role Model For Prayer

Jesus told His disciples to go from Jerusalem to the remotest parts of the world as His witnesses. If twelve apostles and a hundred or so disciples are going to reach the world, they had better get busy. But, the first thing they do when Jesus ascends back to heaven is lock themselves up in a room, shut themselves off from everything, and pray for ten days for the power of the Holy Spirit. They understood that they needed supernatural power for a superhuman work.

The most important lesson we can ever learn about prayer is that we are absolutely dependent on God. Jesus tells us in John 15, "Apart from me, you can do nothing." The tricky part is that we can do lots of things on our own, but the impact and fruit of our work is "nothing" unless Jesus empowers us. Psalm 132:2 says: "As the eyes of a slave look to the hand of their master . . . so our eyes look to the Lord our God till he shows us mercy." A slave is completely dependent on his master, and that's where we stand in our need for the Lord.

Thurman Thomas was the leading rusher in the AFC in 1991 and helped to lead the Buffalo Bills to the Super Bowl that year. But, on the very first play of the Super Bowl, Thomas wasn't even on the field because he had lost his helmet in the pre-game warm-ups. A football player wouldn't dream of going onto the field without his helmet; and we as Christians shouldn't think of facing life or doing ministry without prayer underlying everything we do.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Marriage

According to a column in "Ripley's Believe It or Not," the Tujia people in China have a unique ceremony in which the prospective bride and her wedding party cry every day for a month before the wedding. They do not say if the tears are happy tears or not; but if they are not, we can only wonder how many days they will cry after the wedding. All marriages will experience times of tears. Some will be sad, and some will be happy. Let's hope the majority are happy tears.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Jeremiah 1:4-5
The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Today's Preaching Insight...

Orderly Worship

During the past year, we have been preaching/teaching in the book of 1 Corinthians. We now come to the latter part of chapter 14, in which Paul discusses corporate worship. His theme is orderly worship.

Remember, in chapter 12, he stressed the importance of the spiritual gifts that are given to each believer. He used the metaphor of the body, noting that each individual believer is a part of Christ's body. We are noble creatures individually. But that nobility is enhanced as we come together in the community of faith, each of us having an essential contributory part. There is a synergism in which the whole body becomes much greater than the separate functioning of the individual parts.

Then you remember how Paul quickly shifted gears to stress the temporal nature of these gifts and the importance that all of our religious activity, in fact all of our life existence, be undergirded by agape love. So, we've noted that 1 Corinthians 13 was not intended primarily to be read at weddings but to underline the importance of living a life motivated by agape love. In it, the Apostle Paul stresses the incompleteness of our human existence, encouraging us to know that some day that which is now incomplete will be fulfilled when we will know as we are now known by Jesus Christ. We also are humbled by his reminder that we now see in a mirror dimly. But when we are in heaven, we will see clearly that which is of puzzlement in this life.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

The Dying Man and Cookies

An elderly man was at home, upstairs, dying in bed. He smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies baking. He wanted one last cookie before he died. He fell out of bed, crawled to the landing, rolled down the stairs and crawled into the kitchen where his wife was busily baking cookies.

With his last remaining strength he crawled to the table and was just barely able to lift his withered arm to the cookie sheet. As he grasped a warm, moist chocolate chip cookie, his favorite kind, his wife suddenly whacked his hand with a spatula.

Gasping for breath, he asked her, "Why did you do that?"

She replied, "Those are for the funeral."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Jeremiah 1:4-5
The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Today's Preaching Insight...

Shallow Leadership

Ron Edmonson writes: "Growing in our leadership abilities, knowledge and relationships should be a goal for every leader. Many leaders settle for status quo leadership rather than stretching themselves as leaders. They remain oblivious to the real health of their leadership and the organization. I call it shallow leadership. Perhaps you've seen this before in leadership. Here are seven characteristics of shallow leadership:

Thinking your idea will be everyone's idea...

Believing your way is the only way...

Assuming you already know the answer...

Pretending to care when really you don't...

Giving the response that makes you most popular...

Refusing to learn something new...

Ignoring the warning signs of an unhealthy environment...

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website) 

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Forgiveness

According to a recent news report, a Texas church received a lot of criticism for a sign that said, "Jesus Does Not Care." The membership of Community at Lake Ridge, a church in Mansfield, Texas, said they did want to be provocative, but their point was that Jesus doesn't care about our past. Some evidently took the sign to mean Jesus does not care at all about us. Others suggest that it is too permissive. Whatever the intent, the church has received 40,000 hits on its website. Maybe both sides have a point. Jesus does care about our past. He cares enough to provide forgiveness so we don't have to care about the past.

:angel:

1/26

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 139:15
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

Today's Preaching Insight...

Sermon: Thanksgiving

Bill Griffin tells the story of the leper in Mark 1:40 this way:

"'Hello, I'm a leper!' A man popped out from behind a building and stood right in front of Jesus. 'Please don't run away, Jesus!'

"'What's the matter with your skin?' asked Jesus.

"'Can't You see I'm covered with runny sores and crusty scabs?' No one wants to look at me, my face is so horrible.'

"'What do you want Me to do?'

"'You can make me better. I know You can,' said the man, falling on his knees in front of Jesus. 'If You don't, I'll scratch myself to death.'

"Jesus felt sorry for the poor man.

"'Don't touch me,' said the man. 'That's how you get it.'

"'I'm not afraid to touch you.' Jesus reached down and took hold of the man's arms and pulled him to his feet. The itching was gone. The sores started to dry. The scabs began to fall off.

"'Thank You, thank You, thank You!' shouted the man. 'What can I do to thank You?'

"'You can go to the temple, show yourself to a priest and say a prayer of thanks to God.'

"'Yes, yes; I will, I will!' promised the man hurrying off.

"'One more thing,' said Jesus.

"'Anything, anything,' said the man.

"'You don't have to tell anyone what I just did.'

"'I won't tell a soul,' said the man as he skipped toward Jerusalem; but the man was so happy and the walk to the temple was so long that he forgot and told everyone he met. Then all the other lepers along the road began to look for the wonderful Man with the healing touch." (Calvin Miller, The Family Book of Jesus, Bethany House, 2002.)

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the homepage.) 

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Encouragement

Joel Manby is the CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, a company that operates theme parks, aquariums and other family attractions. Manby was featured in the TV hit, "Undercover Boss." In the show, he mentioned that he took a job with Herchend because of their Christian values. While working undercover, Joel discovered what most of the bosses discover. Their employees work hard, have overcome many challenges and have good ideas. At the end of the show, when the workers find out they're working with the boss, Manby seemed genuinely touched when people wept at the words, "Well done," from him. In a later interview, Joel said he has come to the conclusion that CEO ought to stand for Chief Encouragement Officer.




:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors... 1/26/12

Psalms 139:16
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Today's Preaching Insight...

The World Is Not Enough

You can't take it with you! Or can you? A colleague recently told me about an interesting sight he witnessed. From the vantage point of a busy intersection, a funeral was in full procession. My friend, the captivated onlooker, watched the passing parade: a freshly washed funeral coach, limousines and the assortment of cars and SUVs of relatives and friends all with their headlights beaming. There was nothing out of the ordinary here except what coincidently happened to be following the last car in the procession — a U-Haul truck!

Some people do actually live and die as if they will be able to take it with them. Like the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, many long for an after life; even if it does resemble a "Temptation Island" one. In the gospel of Luke 12:13-21 there is recorded a story about a man who lived and died as if he could take all of his beloved possessions and honors with him. Instead of loading U-hauls and building pyramids however, he was building bigger barns. He lived for the day at hand.  He thought that this world would be enough.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the website)

Today's Extra...

Wrestling with God

About Wrestling with God: Loving the God We Don't Understand (IVP), David Dockery wrote: "In this most readable book, James E. White wrestles with the mysteries of our great and majestic God with a remarkable sensitivity to the struggles and doubts of faithful Christ-followers and seekers, as well. Those who read this book carefully and reflectively will indeed be drawn to embrace God faithfully and to love him fully with heart, soul, mind and strength."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 139:17-18
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

Today's Preaching Insight...

His Passion and Our Passion in Death

In George Seaton's 1956 film, The Proud and the Profane, the steps of a young nurse are traced to Iwo Jima where her husband had been killed in World War II. She goes to the cemetery where her husband is buried and turns to the caretaker, a shell-shocked soldier, who had seen her husband die. "How did he die?" she asked. "Like an amateur," he replied. "They teach you how to hurl a grenade and how to fire a mortar, but nobody teaches you how to die. There are no professionals in dying." 1

Death. Like some of the other words in this series on The Passion Story, death is a hard word. It sounds harsh. It has a roughness to it. It's cold. The word calls forth a variety of emotions--anger, despondency, fear, regret, relief, and sadness to name a few. Death. From the Greek word thanatos, it means the termination of life, the extinction of something. Everybody has or will walk through the chasm Psalm 23:4a called the "darkest valley"--the "valley of the shadow of death", that is. Again the Psalmist observed in 89:48, "Who can live and never see death? Who can escape the power of Sheol?" The answer? None.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Conscience

You never know where you will find a conscience. In York, Pa., an armed robber gave back what he would have stolen from a homeless man. According to news reports, a man by the name of Sanderson was stopped by an armed thief. At the point of a gun, Sanderson gave the thief his wallet, cell phone, MP3 player and a pack of cigarettes. The thief wanted to know if that was all he had, to which Sanderson replied that he was a resident of the homeless shelter. Something must have touched the thief. He reportedly said, "I can respect that." He then gave the man back all he had stolen.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows

Today's Preaching Insight...

Resurrection of the Body

Why did Jesus Christ come?

The historian Luke records the declaratory statement of the angel to the shepherds in Luke 2:10-11: "'Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'"

The word savior literally means "rescuer." So why did Jesus come? Jesus came to give you salvation. He came to rescue you.

It is important to realize this salvation, this rescue, has individual and corporate implications. Let us look at this rescue, this salvation, in a three-step, time progressional perspective.

First, Jesus came to give you salvation (rescue) from an old style of life — an END.

Jesus came to help people with a past put that past behind them. Salvation is rescue from the past. You can't do this on your own. You need a Savior. What is for certain about the past?

Jesus rescues you from your bondage to past sin.

The fact is that none of us is perfect. All of us have sinned. The Bible tells us that there is no way in which we can atone for our own sins. We need a Savior. God became a human being in the person of Jesus Christ to die for your and my sins. If we repent of sin, confess our need, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all iniquity. The Bible uses a most graphic description when it declares, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

Jesus also rescues you from a meaningless existence.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Attitude

A man was sitting in a doctor's office waiting room. He kept saying out loud, "I hope I'm sick. I hope I'm sick. I hope I'm sick." Finally the receptionist asked, "Why in the world would you want to be sick." He said. "I'd hate to be well and feel this bad." While happiness is not our primary goal, living by Christian principles and with a Christian attitude will result in more genuine good feeling than any other philosophy.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Time, Our Most Precious Resource

The country band Alabama put out a song a number of years ago which has this chorus or refrain, describing quite well a common lifestyle of our generation:

I'm in a hurry to get things done
I rush and rush until life's no fun.
All I really gotta do is live and die,
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why. 

Time is our most precious resource. It is perishable and irreplaceable.1 God in his grace has given us all the same amount — 24 hours per day. The quality, joy, and impact of our lives are directly related to how wisely we use the time we have.

This does not mean that we have to hurry or hustle through life. At this point I'm really preaching to the preacher, because I am a card-carrying member of TOCA, an acronym for Type-A, Obsessive-Compulsive Association. There are many other TOCA members in this congregation. Many are stressed-out, over-committed, and spread too thinly.

(To read the rest of this article click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Abundant Life

In a classic "Peanuts" comic strip, Charlie Brown goes to Lucy for psychiatric help. He says, "What can you do when you don't fit in? What can you do when life seems to be passing you by?" Lucy leads Charlie away from her booth and says, "Follow me. I want to show you something. See the horizon over there? See how big this world is? See how much room there is for everybody? Have you ever seen any other worlds?" Charlie replies meekly, "No." She continues, "As far as you know, this is the only world there is...Right?" Even more meekly, Charlie says, "Right." Lucy presses on, "There are no other worlds for you to live in...Right?" Charlie admits, "Right." "You were born to live in this world...Right?" "Right," says Charlie. Lucy then explodes, "Well, live in it then! Five cents, please." While we may disagree with Lucy's counseling technique, we recognize she is on to something. We need to make the most of our lives and really live.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Today I want to introduce you to two people you know well. I have heard the first man described like this:

He's rich. Italian shoes. Tailored suit. His money is invested. His plastic is platinum. He lives like he flies — first class. He's young. He pumps away fatigue at the gym and slam-dunks old age on the court. His belly is flat, his eyes sharp. Energy is his trademark, and death is an eternity away. He's powerful. If you don't think so, just ask him. You got questions? He's got answers. You got problems? He's got solutions. You got dilemmas? He's got opinions. He knows where he's going, and he'll be there tomorrow. He's the new generation. So the old had better pick up the pace or pack their bags.

He has mastered the three "Ps" of life today. Prosperity. Posterity. Power.1

Who is he? He is the top salesman in his district, making it up the career ladder. She is the rising lawyer who was just made a partner at her prestigious law firm. He's the successful real estate broker who has more listings than he can handle — except he can handle them just fine. In the Bible, he is the rich young ruler. Until today, life for him has been hang gliding in a clear, blue sky — but he runs into Jesus. He has one question, What's in it for me, and what do I have to do to get it?

Here is the second person. He is called. He is gifted. He serves as an elder and a Sunday school teacher. He knows his Bible. He is committed to the Great Commission. He shares his faith. He is a true man of prayer. He is raising his family in the faith. He is a disciple of Jesus Christ. That is what people think, and that is the truth. But he also struggles. He struggles with one question, What is in it for me? Since I have given You so much, what can I get in return? I want health. I could use more money. I just want You to make my kids turn out all right. I just want to retire early.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Abundant Life

In a classic "Peanuts" comic strip, Charlie Brown goes to Lucy for psychiatric help. He says, "What can you do when you don't fit in? What can you do when life seems to be passing you by?" Lucy leads Charlie away from her booth and says, "Follow me. I want to show you something. See the horizon over there? See how big this world is? See how much room there is for everybody? Have you ever seen any other worlds?" Charlie replies meekly, "No." She continues, "As far as you know, this is the only world there is...Right?" Even more meekly, Charlie says, "Right." Lucy presses on, "There are no other worlds for you to live in...Right?" Charlie admits, "Right." "You were born to live in this world...Right?" "Right," says Charlie. Lucy then explodes, "Well, live in it then! Five cents, please." While we may disagree with Lucy's counseling technique, we recognize she is on to something. We need to make the most of our lives and really live.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Today's Preaching Insight...

Superficial vs. Spiritual Wisdom

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.

All this week, I've been wrestling with these words of 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.

Initially, what Paul is saying seems so illusive, so erudite, so remote from the practical problems with which we struggle that I was tempted to jump over this passage and move on to chapter 3. However, an expository preacher does not have the luxury of skipping over tough passages. Also, I sensed a still, small, inner voice urging me to keep on, saying, "Dig into that text, John. Don't rob its tremendous truth from your people, when I am so close to giving you an intellectual and spiritual breakthrough of understanding."

The breakthrough came for me when I backed off from these eleven verses, taking a look at them in the context of what had come before and what is to follow. It suddenly dawned on me that Paul is in the process of presenting a progressive argument that would touch the hearts and minds of fellow believers whose attitudes and lifestyles are not living up to the profession of faith which is theirs.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official web page)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Denominations

A Baptist preacher and his wife decided to get a new dog. Ever mindful of the congregation, they knew the dog must also be a Baptist. They visited kennel after kennel and explained their needs. Finally, they found a kennel whose owner assured them he had just the dog they wanted.

The owner brought the dog to meet the pastor and his wife. "Fetch the Bible," he commanded.

The dog bounded to the bookshelf, scrutinized the books, located the Bible, and brought it to the owner.

"Now find Psalm 23," he commanded.

The dog dropped the Bible to the floor, and showing marvelous dexterity with his paws, leafed through and finding the correct passage, pointed to it with his paw.

The pastor and his wife were very impressed and purchased the dog.

That evening, a group of church members came to visit. The pastor and his wife began to show off the dog, having him locate several Bible verses. The visitors were very impressed.

One man asked, "Can he do regular dog tricks, too?"

"I haven't tried yet," the pastor replied.

He pointed his finger at the dog. "HEEL!" the pastor commanded. The dog immediately jumped on a chair, placed one paw on the pastor's forehead and began to howl.

The pastor looked at his wife in shock and said, "Good Lord! He's Pentecostal!"

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Teach Us How To Pray

There may be no more familiar prayer in the entire world than the Lord's Prayer. It does not seem to matter where you go in the world; if you were to invite people to repeat those words with you the vast majority of people could say them. We may not know many other portions of scripture, and we may not know any other prayer or passage well enough to say from memory, but most of us could work our way through the Lord's Prayer. There might be some division over one part of that prayer, and that would involve whether to say forgive us our trespasses, or forgive us our debts or perhaps forgive us our sins.

The Luke version of the prayer found in Luke 11, which is the version preferred by Roman Catholics, differs from the Matthew version, because it does not include the last three lines about the kingdom, the power and the glory forever. However, with those few differences set aside, most people in this country and in many places around the world could repeat the words of the Lord's Prayer. It is a prayer that many of us learned in our childhood and continue to repeat over and over again for the rest of our lives.

What concerns me this morning is whether or not repeating the prayer is all that we are doing. Has the Lord's Prayer become like the Pledge of Allegiance or the words of the national anthem; words that we speak without really listening to or considering what we are saying? I believe that the words of the Lord's Prayer are among the most revolutionary words ever spoken. When you stop to consider what those words actually say, and if you should decided to live out your life in accordance with what those words actually say, your whole life would begin to move in an entirely different direction.

(To read the rest this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Perspective

Traveling through New England, a motorist stopped for gas in a tiny village. "What type of town is this?" he asked the station attendant.

"All depends," the native drawled. "Do you mean by them that has to live in this dad-blamed, moth-eaten, dust-covered dump, or by them that's merely enjoying its quaint and picturesque rustic charms for a short spell?"

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Spiritual Accounting 101

"I found an old account ledger," writes Godfrey Davis, in his biography about the Duke of Wellington, "that showed how the Duke spent his money. It was a far better clue to what he thought was really important than the reading of his letters or speeches."

That's why Jesus talked so much about money. Someone has estimated that "one-sixth of the gospels, including one out of every three parables, touches on stewardship." Jesus knew that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also (Matt. 6:21). So let's look at one of His parables about the proper handling of finances.

Hear the Word of the Lord from the Gospel according to Luke 16:1-16:

1 Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 

2 So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.'

3 "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg — 

4 I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'

5 "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Wrestling with God

About Wrestling with God: Loving the God We Don't Understand (IVP), David Dockery wrote: "In this most readable book, James E. White wrestles with the mysteries of our great and majestic God with a remarkable sensitivity to the struggles and doubts of faithful Christ-followers and seekers, as well. Those who read this book carefully and reflectively will indeed be drawn to embrace God faithfully and to love him fully with heart, soul, mind and strength."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Acts 10:43
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Today's Preaching Insight...

Have You Been To A Real Family Reunion Lately?

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves.

Question: Do you have any memories of family reunions? I have some going way back to my earliest childhood memories.

One is a dim recollection of a big, old, white farmhouse with huge elm trees towering overhead. Off to the right is an apple orchard. Out back, a hundred yards or so from the house, is a barn. To the left is a fenced field in which some milking cows are grazing. A big circular dirt drive goes up to the house. Off to the right, by the orchard on the other side of the driveway, are parked at least several dozen late 1930s and early 1940s cars. There on the front lawn, gently sloping down to the county road, are picnic tables and blankets spread out on the ground. Close to the house, there are several big, long tables borrowed from a church. Some are loaded with steaming hot casseroles and meat dishes. Another has salads of all sorts. A couple more couldn't hold one more pie, cake, bowl of chopped fruit or a big half of watermelon, if you tried to crowd a place for it. Then there's that table with the beverages — big pitchers of lemonade, iced tea and those pots with coffee.

Picture people, perhaps 150, whose roots were attached to the name Huffman or perhaps Lambert. I can't remember whether it was my grandmother's or my grandfather's side. I do remember it was fun. There was food. There were people of all ages, from the tiniest of squealing babies, to us little kids, to the teenagers (so sophisticated), to the young couples, to the middle-agers, to the grandparents, to the great-grandparents, and even an occasional great-great-grandmother, smelling of lavender. Then my recollections blur. Nothing is left but the warm fuzzies of a youngster's happy memories of a grand family reunion loaded with cousins, second-cousins and second-cousins-once-removed, uncles and aunts, great-uncles and great-aunts, and fun and food and more fun and more food!

(To Read more of this article, click here to visit the main page)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Adversity

More than 2,000 years ago, a young Greek artist named Timanthes studied under a respected tutor. After several years, the teacher's efforts seemed to have paid off when Timanthes painted an exquisite work of art. Unfortunately, he became so enraptured with the painting that he spent days gazing at it. One morning when he arrived to admire his work, he was shocked to find it blotted out with paint. Angry, Timanthes ran to his teacher, who admitted he had destroyed the painting. "I did it for your own good. That painting was retarding your progress." Timanthes took his teacher's advice and produced Sacrifice of Iphigenia, which is regarded as one of the finest paintings of antiquity. 

Adversity in life is God's way of refining and beautifying our lives in His image. He is the Master Artist who constantly shapes the way He wants us to be. If you haven't been walking with God, He still loves you and wants you back. It is never too late for God to refinish the colors of your heart. If you are walking with God, take comfort because He promises to love you unconditionally. (Turning Point Daily Devotional, 11/19/03)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Mark 10:27
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Worst-Case Scenario

I was in a book store recently and saw a book that caught my eye. I tried to walk out without buying it but I turned around, went back, and picked it up. It is called The Worst-Case Scenario Handbook. It is a little book of about 100 pages, easy to read, and has a lot of cartoons in it. I thought at first it was a joke, but it is a very serious book. The author is in the business of helping people in dangerous situations, and he has assembled a handbook for us to use when we are in a bad situation. I looked at some of his examples of worst-case scenarios. I decided I needed to keep the book with me all the time. Then if I'm ever attacked by a mugger, I can tell him to stop until I've had a chance to refer to the book to find out what I'm supposed to do.

As I read these, my comic mind took over. The author wrote a serious book but it didn't come across as serious to me. For example, what do you do if you are chased by a swarm of African killer bees? The first thing he suggests is to run for cover. (I would have thought that without having the book!) What would you do if you were chased by a charging bull? The first thing you should do is don't antagonize the bull. What if you are chased by a stampede of cattle? The first thing you should do is get out of the way. How do you fend off a shark? You should hit back. What do you do if you find yourself in the line of gunfire? You should get as far away as possible.

In the Peace Corps Handbook given to all Peace Corps volunteers before they go overseas, there is the suggestion of what to do if you are attacked by a python. First of all, you take your knife firmly in your hand and lie down. The python will start to swallow you from the ankles up. You just lie still and quiet, let him come on up until he gets to your waist. He is then immobile, so take your knife and slit his throat. The next time you are chased by a python, remember that.

The Bible has some worst-case scenarios. Have you ever thought about Moses standing before Pharaoh? Moses has been out in the dessert with a bunch of sheep. He smells like them because he didn't get a chance to clean up and change his clothes. God said, "Go down and talk to Pharaoh." He walks into Pharaoh's gilded throne room and Pharaoh has all his flunkies around him. Moses starts pleading his case, "Let my people go." That's a very bad case. All he had was a rod and an invisible God.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website) 

Today's Extra...

Rethinking the Church

Rethinking the Church: A Challenge to Creative Redesign in an Age of Transition (Baker) is a book that church leaders will find useful. The volume helps pastors and lay leaders work through questions that must be answered if a church is to rethink evangelism, discipleship, ministry, worship, community and the structure of the church

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Revelation 9:20
The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--idols that cannot see or hear or walk.]

Today's Preaching Insight...

Idols, Demons, And The Lord's Supper

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

This appears to be a benign, irrelevant passage of Scripture, filled with confusing doubletalk on topics remote to contemporary interests.

After all, who of us is bowing down before idols?

Some of us have been privileged to travel the world and see people who bow down before idols. How quaint they are and how picturesque are their objects of worship. They photograph beautifully on the pages of National Geographic Magazine. We take their pictures, giving only fleeting thought to their eternal state. When I return home and flash the big Buddha on the screen, I have completed the whole process without the slightest inclination toward idol worship. I have never once been tempted to bow down before a clay, wood or bronze image. And I doubt that you have either.

After all, who of us spends a lot of time worrying about the nature of the Lord's Supper — the bread and the wine? We know what they represent. We sense the fulfillment of our celebration when we participate as we did this last Ash Wednesday, as we will Maundy Thursday and as we will the Sunday after Easter. Why get so uptight, as has the apostle Paul?

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website) 

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Peace, Escape

Wilmer McLean owned a home near Bull Run. His house was seriously damaged during the opening battle of the Civil War, and so, falsely believing he would be safer from future conflicts, he rebuilt his home -- only to have it destroyed during the second battle of Bull Run.

Disgusted, he moved to a part of the country where he felt he could escape the ravages of war -- a small, obscure Virginia community called Appomattox. When Lee surrendered to Grant, it was McLean's house that was used by the two generals to sign the historic terms of surrender.

Their aides de camp were so moved by the signing they desired a memento of the occasion -- a souvenir to remember what had taken place in this house. So they all walked off with a piece of furniture from McLean's house.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Hebrews 4:9-11
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Adventures Of A Prison Escapee

In speaking at family conferences for the last thirty or forty years, I have heard many questions about good ways to handle family worship. Apparently many Christian families struggle with this. I shall never forget an incident which occurred approximately 1967 or 1968 when our daughter, then 4 or 5 years of age, was in charge of family devotions. Julie was telling the very story in the text before us, particularly the part where the angel comes to Peter in prison to release him. In her own words which I still remember, "The angel said to Peter, grab your coat and grab your thongs, we're getting out of here."

Events of this chapter took place in the spring of A.D. 44 and represent the first demonstration of church-state relations, an issue that haunts us well into the 21st century: how much and where should Christians be allowed to speak the gospel in public venues? The problem arose first in chapter 4 and now we see it again in chapter 12. A cruel and powerful king is about to learn that God is always in control.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Gifts

Ann Landers wrote about a person she knew who said the greatest gift he ever received in his life was a note his dad gave him on Christmas. It read, "Son, this year I will give you 365 hours--an hour every day after dinner. We'll talk about whatever you want to talk about. We'll go wherever you want to go, play whatever you want to play. It will be your hour."

That dad kept his promise and renewed it every year.

There is no greater gift we can give than ourselves.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Hebrews 4:9-11
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Gospel According to Zacchaeus

In the book, The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning tells the story of a man who had sinned greatly. His church excommunicated him, and he was forbidden to ever come into the church again. He repented. He wanted healing, so he went to the Lord, as the story goes, and said, "Lord, they won't let me in because I am a sinner." To which the Lord replied, "What are you complaining about, they won't let me in either."

The point of the modern parable was a good one: Poor sinners never fare well in churches that refuse to admit that we are all sinners and in desperate need of a salvation that is out of this world.

The Jewish Rabbinical religion of the first century offered little to ragamuffins. A religion that requires tithes to support a leadership who spend time counting how many angels could fit on the head of a pin is not an attractive message to people laden with guilt, searching for meaning and purpose in life, and trying to come to terms with the holiness of God in light of their own humanity.

Then again, religion based on what we can do to get right with God, what regulations and rules we must keep to earn God's favor, never do. Such religion is still popular. You can gather a pretty big church if you just go around telling them they must do this and do that.

I heard of an evangelist that was speaking at a church in Minneapolis where several hundred people had gathered to hear the message. The evangelist preached that night on the Gospel of God's free gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ. As the service ended, he heard the pastor of that church turn to his associate and say: "Humph, that airhead didn't say one thing about what we have to do to earn our salvation!"

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Thankfulness, Providence

In his Church & Culture blog, James Emery White shares this story: The barracks where Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsy were kept in the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbruck were terribly overcrowded and flea-infested. Click Here to read more.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

John 3:16-17
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Immorality In The Church

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons — not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one. (1 Corinthians 5:9-11)

The first four chapters of 1 Corinthians deal primarily with divisions in the church. These divisions come when individual believers live not as spiritual but as fleshly, carnal persons.

Carnal Christians produce not only divisions within the church when they cut themselves free from spiritual wisdom or eternal wisdom, exchanging it for carnal wisdom or temporal wisdom. They also produce other behavior patterns. Paul now turns to these. In the next several chapters, he deals with specifics.

In chapter 5, he talks specifically about sexual immorality in the church. In this chapter, we confront the issue of how a church is to handle cases of sexual immorality within its own fellowship. Later in January, after the Advent Season, we will look more specifically at biblical standards for Christian sexual behavior.

The church of Jesus Christ is an island in the middle of a polluted ocean. The sea laps upon its shores. It is impossible for us to live our contemporary existence without a constant exposure to moral pollution. The stench of it is so common that we have become accustomed to its rotten odors.

We observe so much immorality in the everyday lives of persons with whom we come in contact that we close our eyes to these tragic actions and attitudes. We don't want to spend all our time judging others, so we pretend we don't see what we see. Or, if we see it, we can so quickly accommodate ourselves to it that it no longer seems so bad. In fact, we tear down the signs that say, "Danger. Do not swim. Waters are polluted." We dive into the bay without adequate inoculation against disease. Then we are surprised when we hear about some Christian who has messed up morally.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Excuses, Family

A cowboy walks into a bar in Texas, orders three mugs of Bud and sits in the back room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes them, he comes back to the bar and orders three more.

The bartender approaches and tells the cowboy, "You know, a mug goes flat after I draw it. It would taste better if you bought one at a time."

The cowboy replies, "Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Australia, the other is in Dublin, and I'm in Texas. When we all left home, we promised we'd drink this way to remember the days we drank together. So I drink one for each of my brothers and one for myself."

The bartender admits this is a nice custom, and leaves it there. The cowboy becomes a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He orders three mugs and drinks them in turn. One day, though, he comes in and orders only two mugs. All the regulars take notice and fall silent.

When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, "I don't want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your loss."

The cowboy looks quite puzzled for a moment, then a light dawns and he laughs. "Oh, no, everybody's just fine," he explains. "It's just that my wife and I joined the Baptist Church in Sweetwater, and I had to quit drinking. Hasn't affected my brothers though."

(from Walt Mansfield, Grace Shepherd Church, Bellefontaine, Ohio)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Jesus Christ Ascended Exalted Returning Judging

The Apostles' Creed declares, ". . . he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead."

Today's sermon topic is "Jesus Christ Ascended, Exalted, Returning, and Judging." It could be four sermons. Or, in the hands of the right theologian, it could be four books of very carefully written biblical theology.

Let's do our best to see the big picture, addressing each of these important and, in some cases, often neglected themes.

I. Jesus Christ ascended into heaven.

Imagine if all the Bible did was tell of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and then left it there. We would see Jesus appearing to the various people as recorded in the gospels and by the Apostle Paul. We would be aware that His atoning work was accomplished on the cross, with all the implications involved in His life, death, and resurrection. We would see Him appearing in His resurrected presence to various people, as recorded in the gospels, and to Paul. His atoning work is accomplished and then He would just sort of shuffle off into oblivion.

The Bible doesn't let that happen. God tells us historically what happened and also lets us know the implication of all of this for us today.

We are told that Jesus ascended into heaven.

And we see that, just before He ascended into heaven, He gave a commission to His disciples that remains relevant to you and me to this day.

Biblical scholars question whether the Gospel according to Mark should end with what is called the "shorter ending," which reads: "And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation" (Mark 16:8b). Or there is the alternative conclusion to Mark, which is referred to as the "long ending" that, like the shorter ending, does not appear in all ancient manuscripts. It is in this ending that we read that Jesus said to them, "'Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned'" (Mark 16:15-16).

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Why the Bible Matters

Why the Bible Matters: Rediscovering Its Significance in an Age of Suspicion (Harvest House) by California pastor Mike Erre would provide the launching pad for an excellent sermon series on the grand story that we know as the Bible. So many contemporary believers know so little of God's Word -- perhaps 2012 would be a good time to begin to introduce them to the story that can change our lives?

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 139:1-3
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Is Being Good Enough Good Enough to Get Me to Heaven?

Is "good enough" good enough? Consider, if you will, that if 99.9 percent were good enough ...

The IRS would lose 2 million documents this year.
22,000 checks will be deducted from the wrong bank account in the next hour.
Telecommunications companies will misdirect 1,314 telephone calls every minute.
2,488 books will be shipped with the wrong covers on them each day.
More than 5.5 million cases of soft drinks in the next year will be flat.
20,000 incorrect drug prescriptions will be written each year.
12 babies will be given to the wrong parents each day.
Obviously, being good enough is not good enough for life in modern society. So why do we think that being good enough is good enough to get us into heaven? You've heard people ask, "If I try my best won't God let me into heaven?" or "Doesn't God just require me to be better than the average human?" or "Don't I have to just live a good life to be a Christian?" or "How could a loving God send good people to hell?"

Martin Luther, the reformer, wrote, "The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has every plagued the mind of man is the idea that somehow he could make himself good enough to deserve to live with an all-holy God." A Bible teacher used to say, "Man is incurably addicted to doing something for his own salvation." What does the Bible say about being good enough?

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Cost of Commitment

From a recent "Hagar the Horrible" comic: Hagar is inciting on his troops. "This is the moment we've been waiting for men! The moment we do battle with the enemy! Is everyone here?"

They shout: "Yes!"

Hagar continues: "OK men -- repeat after me: 'I am a Viking Warrior!'"

"I AM A VIKING WARRIOR!" they shout.

"And I will fight to the death for what I believe!"

There is silence in the next two frames, then in the third frame Hagar asks: "OK, why aren't you repeating after me?!"

One meek Viking speaks for them all: "Hagar, the men would like to change that to 'and I will fight hard until it's time for dinner.'"

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Peace Without a Pill

Studies prove that many Americans admit they do not enjoy peace in their lives. Experts tell us every day in our nation, we swallow 9 tons of sleeping pills and another 15 tons of aspirin. Then we can add to that another hefty amount of more powerful medication — tranquilizers. Although our land has only 4 percent of the world's population, we consume 96 percent of the world's tranquilizers.

Still another 31,482 Americans last year decided they had all they could handle. They were convinced no one and nothing could help them, so they took their own life. Yes, there's a lack of peace in our lives.

Yet people continue to search for peace. Last week I got on the internet and typed in the words "personal peace." I was curious how many sites give information on that topic. Do you know how many there were? More than 300,000! Yes, people are on a mad search for peace.

Is it possible to enjoy real, lasting peace? If so, where can it be found? I believe Isaiah 26:3 is God's answer to how to enjoy peace without a pill. Read the words of this Bible verse slowly and carefully: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is staved on You, because he trusts in You."

Those words are some of the most profound in all of literature. They are so simple, yet so true. They are so old (about 2,700 years old), yet millions of people have experienced the reality of those words. Let's think together about three things.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Value of Teamwork

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse, named Buddy.  He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move.

Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn't respond.

Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!"

Nothing.

Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" The horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.

The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times.

The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Today's Preaching Insight...

Prelude to Power

Prayer is a sacred covenant. We usually associate it with solemnity and holy words. Of course, there are humorous situations which come with it.

Let's take the case of little 8-year-old Mary Lou. In planning a picnic her friends purposely leave her out. It isn't until the very last minute they give in and issue an invitation. Her mother offers a sigh of relief. She calls out, "Hurry, dear. Wash your face. Slip on a clean dress. I'll fix your picnic lunch." Mary Lou slowly walks up to her mother and despondently explains, "Mother, it's no use. I've just finished praying for rain."

Then, there is a group of farm families waiting for their new preacher. It is a scorching hot summer day. The crops are needing rain very badly. When he arrives, they immediately ask him to pray for rain. He responds positively and offers a beautiful prayer. Slightly before the benediction is pronounced, a great storm breaks lose. Fields are flooded. Crops are washed away. Bridges come tumbling down. Monday morning two of the farmers are observing the disaster. One grumbles to the other: "Well, that's the way with these new preachers. Everything they do, they overdo."

Finally, we must not forget about little Tommy. In just seven days he will be six years old. His prayers are getting noticeably longer and louder. It comes time for his usual bedtime talk with God. He kneels with his forehead on the blanket and begins praying in a voice which can be heard for several yards. He lists the many thing he wants for his birthday. His mother quite irritatingly says, "Don't pray so loudly. The Lord isn't deaf'. He pays no attention to his mother. So, she goes into his bedroom and taps him on the shoulder. He looks up at her with an angelic innocence. He whispers, "S'hh, Mom, I know the Lord isn't deaf; but Grandma is in the living room, and she is."

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official site)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Names

The story appeared in the January 29, 2003, edition of The Washington Post. Titled "Picabo's Problem," it is a story about the well-known Olympic gold medallist, Picabo Street. The article notes that she's much more than a famous skier. Between training on the slopes and traveling around the world, she managed to get an education and earn a degree in nursing.

"Early in her nursing career, she was assigned to work briefly as an Intensive Care Unit nurse in a large metropolitan hospital. She did outstanding work, but there was a slight problem. The head nurse had to tell her not to answer the phone in the ICU because of the confusion it caused when callers would be connected to the ICU and hear Picabo say in her best professional voice: "Picabo, ICU." What a story! Can you imagine? Only problem is that it's not true.

Picabo is not a nurse -- never has been. She gets the joke, though, and has a good laugh with others. Since childhood, she's been teased about the name her parents gave her, who got it from an Idaho town that takes its name from a Native American word meaning "shinning waters." (from Jimmy Gentry, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Carrolton, Georgia)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Romans 7:1-3
Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to men who know the law--that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.

Today's Preaching Insight...

What Starbucks, Harry and You All Have in Common

"For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Heb. 2:2-3a).

Rick Richardson, professor and writer, tells about a pastor named Dan, who realized he was getting stale. So with the approval of his pastoral team, he took a part-time job at a Starbucks coffee shop.

To his surprise, "All 21 people he worked with believed in God. Not one was an atheist ... They were all very positive toward God and spirituality."

Richardson goes on to report:

A second surprise was that all were interested in spiritual things, but not in Christians, Christianity, or the church. No one wanted to hear Dan's proofs for God or invitations to come to church or ideas about salvation. Almost everyone thought they knew what Christianity was about and had decided they didn't want it. They were post Christian. At some point along the way, each of them had experienced a breach in trust related to Christianity. Maybe a Christian friend had been hypocritical or pushy. Maybe when they were young they had attended church and found it boring and irrelevant. Maybe they had watched TV preachers and been turned off. Or maybe they had experienced a tragedy—death or sexual abuse or some other trauma—and felt that God had been distant and uncaring.

Richardson said, "Dan wasn't starting at ground zero, but rather at minus-three or four. ... The biggest thing Dan learned is that people in this generation have a prior question of trust that must be addressed before we can have meaningful spiritual conversations with them."

Pastor Dan had discovered the outside understanding of how the church was viewed by some people.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official web page)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Giving, Stewardship

A very wealthy man in the community was not known for his generosity to the church. The church was involved in a big financial program so the fundraising committee decided they had to pay him a visit. As they met with him, they said that in view of his considerable resources they were sure that he would like to make a substantial contribution to this program.

"I see," he said. "So you have it all figured out, have you? In the course of your investigation did you discover that I have a widowed mother who has no other means of support but me?" No, they responded, they did not know that. "Did you know that I have a sister who was left by a drunken husband with five children and no means to provide for them?" No, they said, they did not know that either. "Well, did you know also that I have a brother who is crippled due to an automobile accident and can never work another day to support his wife and family?" Embarrassingly, they responded, no, they did not know that either.

"Well," he thundered triumphantly, "I've never given any of them a cent, so why should I give anything to you?"

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Lamentations 3:3
indeed, he has turned his hand against me again and again, all day long.

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Theology of Ecology

I have just returned from my annual, "Dear God, I can't take this anymore; please release me; let me go; I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again" break, otherwise known as a vacation. During that time from the mountains to the beach, I got reacquainted with this beautiful place called planet earth. The clean air, pristine lakes, beautiful beaches and trees from pines to palms reminded me of how good God has been to give us such a wonderful home.   

It goes without saying that environmental issues have become a hot topic literally and figuratively. It doesn't matter where you go or who you listen to, it seems like everyone these days is talking about the environment, whether they are professors or professionals, actors or athletes, bureaucrats or business people. 

The topic is certainly relevant right here in our country; although we represent roughly 5 percent of the world's population, we generate 40 percent of its waste. The average American family produces 40 pounds of garbage every week. Every day, we dispose of approximately 200 million tons of garbage and less than a quarter of it is recycled. Only 7,000 of the 20,000 landfills that have been operating since 1978 are now in operation. Of those 7,000, more than 90 percent of those do not meet EPA regulations. Even such a thing as one leaky faucet can waste up to 50 gallons of fresh water a day, which is astounding considering the fact that only 3 percent of the world's water is fresh water. I could go on, but you get the picture.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website) 

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Prayer, Sharing

A businessman needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal, so he went to the church to pray for the money. By chance he knelt at the altar next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt.   

The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man's hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and ran out of the church. The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed: "OK, Lord, now that I have your undivided attention..."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 43:4
Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God

Today's Preaching Insight...

Creation Care: Can Our Planet Survive?

There has been subject matter that God has heated up in my heart that I've talked to you about, sometimes repeatedly. Then there are other subject matters that I don't even know why they took a little while to get heated up in me; and I feel badly about that because God has heated up this subject matter in some of you, and you're ahead of me. So I'm really glad that we're going to invest this weekend the way we are. Again, I apologize for not bringing up the subject matter earlier.

You all know that Genesis 1:1 (NIV) says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Then God asked us to take care of the earth. He said, "I still own it; I'm just asking you to take care of it until I build a new one." Psalm 24 puts it this way: "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it" (Psa. 24:1).

The oceans, forests, plains, rivers, lakes—all of that—it all belongs to God. You heard the old hymn earlier, "This Is My Father's World." In the early chapters of Genesis, God gives instructions as to how we're supposed to take care of this planet. There are really four key instructions that He delivered. He said He wanted us to subdue it, rule over it, work it and take care of it.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)   

Today's Extra...

5 Ministry Killers and How to Defeat Them

After 30 years in ministry, Charles Stone has identified 5 Ministry Killers and How to Defeat Them: Help for Frustrated Pastors (Bethany House). The five killers: head-in-the-sand mentality; misdirected emotional investment; unhealthy responses to ministry killers; an attitude of "God and I can handle this;" and lonely, hurting spouses. This is an important book that can save ministries -- maybe even yours.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things

Today's Preaching Insight...

Has Any People Heard the Voice of God Speaking...And Survived?

In Deuteronomy chapter four, we encounter one of the great touchstone passages in all of Scripture.  My heart and soul are absolutely struck by the question—a rhetorical question, but a very real question—asked in verse 33:  "Has any people heard the voice of the Lord, the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire and survived?"

What brings us here?  What brings us to this institution, to this campus, to this hour?  What brings us dressed in academic costumes, ready for learning and study?  Something summons us here.  There is some mandate, some basis, some foundation.

This is a theological seminary and college.  We dare to speak of God.  We even dare to define what we do here as Christian education.  What an audacious claim!  We actually claim that here we teach what God has taught.

There ought to be a bit of humility in recognizing the audacity of that claim.  It would be a baseless and a foundationless claim, an incredible claim, if God had not spoken from the midst of the fire and allowed us to hear.  On what authority are we here?  To dare to speak of these things, we must speak invoking the authority of God, who alone could speak these things, who alone could reveal Himself and tell us what we must know.  All this points to a big and inescapable question, the question in fact that haunts the postmodern mind: On what basis can we claim to know anything?

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Skill, Talent

Morris, the loudmouth mechanic, was removing the cylinder heads from the motor of a car when he spotted a famous heart surgeon who was standing off to the side, waiting for the service manager to come take a look at his Mercedes.

Morris shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc! Is that you? Come on over here a minute."

The famous surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to where Morris the mechanic was working on the car.

Morris straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag, and asked argumentatively, "So, Mr. Fancy Doctor, look at this here work. I ALSO open hearts, take valves out, grind 'em, put in new parts; and when I finish, this baby will purr like a kitten. So how come you get the big bucks, when you and I are doing basically the same work?"

The surgeon leaned over and whispered to Morris the loudmouth mechanic, "Try doing it with the engine running."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things]

Today's Preaching Insight...

Living on Purpose

On September 1, 1985 explorer Robert Ballard made a discovery that made his heart leap into his throat. He later recorded his feelings about this event and said, "My first direct view of Titanic lasted less than two minutes, but the stark sight of her immense black hull towering above the ocean floor will remain forever ingrained in my memory. My lifelong dream was to find this great ship, and during the past 13 years the quest for her had dominated my life. Now, finally, the quest was over."1

Ballard spent 13 years of his life searching for the long-lost Titanic. He had dreamed of it even before beginning the expedition. The goal of this find drove him on. His experience demonstrates the power that a single purpose has in a person's life.

This makes me ask a simple but important question: Do you know how to live on purpose?

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Politicians

A busload of politicians were driving down a country road when suddenly the bus ran off the road and crashed into a tree in an old farmer's field.

The old farmer, after seeing what happened, went over to investigate. He then proceeded to dig a hole and bury the politicians. A few days later, the local sheriff came out, saw the crashed bus and asked the old farmer where all the politicians had gone.

The old farmer said he had buried them.

The sheriff asked the old farmer, "Were they ALL dead?"

The old farmer replied, "Well, some of them said they weren't, but you know how them politicians lie."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Today I want to introduce you to two people you know well. I have heard the first man described like this:

He's rich. Italian shoes. Tailored suit. His money is invested. His plastic is platinum. He lives like he flies — first class. He's young. He pumps away fatigue at the gym and slam-dunks old age on the court. His belly is flat, his eyes sharp. Energy is his trademark, and death is an eternity away. He's powerful. If you don't think so, just ask him. You got questions? He's got answers. You got problems? He's got solutions. You got dilemmas? He's got opinions. He knows where he's going, and he'll be there tomorrow. He's the new generation. So the old had better pick up the pace or pack their bags.

He has mastered the three "Ps" of life today. Prosperity. Posterity. Power.1

Who is he? He is the top salesman in his district, making it up the career ladder. She is the rising lawyer who was just made a partner at her prestigious law firm. He's the successful real estate broker who has more listings than he can handle — except he can handle them just fine. In the Bible, he is the rich young ruler. Until today, life for him has been hang gliding in a clear, blue sky — but he runs into Jesus. He has one question, What's in it for me, and what do I have to do to get it?

Here is the second person. He is called. He is gifted. He serves as an elder and a Sunday school teacher. He knows his Bible. He is committed to the Great Commission. He shares his faith. He is a true man of prayer. He is raising his family in the faith. He is a disciple of Jesus Christ. That is what people think, and that is the truth. But he also struggles. He struggles with one question, What is in it for me? Since I have given You so much, what can I get in return? I want health. I could use more money. I just want You to make my kids turn out all right. I just want to retire early.

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Abundant Life

In a classic "Peanuts" comic strip, Charlie Brown goes to Lucy for psychiatric help. He says, "What can you do when you don't fit in? What can you do when life seems to be passing you by?" Lucy leads Charlie away from her booth and says, "Follow me. I want to show you something. See the horizon over there? See how big this world is? See how much room there is for everybody? Have you ever seen any other worlds?" Charlie replies meekly, "No." She continues, "As far as you know, this is the only world there is...Right?" Even more meekly, Charlie says, "Right." Lucy presses on, "There are no other worlds for you to live in...Right?" Charlie admits, "Right." "You were born to live in this world...Right?" "Right," says Charlie. Lucy then explodes, "Well, live in it then! Five cents, please." While we may disagree with Lucy's counseling technique, we recognize she is on to something. We need to make the most of our lives and really live.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Today's Preaching Insight...

With Great Power...

"With great power comes great responsibility" — Spiderman.
It's a pity that real-life super-hero, Samson, never read Spider-Man comics. He was given supernatural strength to be a leader. Instead, he became a loner who usually acted irresponsibly. He was a man of great physical strength whose gifts blinded him to even greater spiritual dangers. Only at the end, when he lost his two eyes, was he finally able to see.

The sixteenth chapter of Judges begins in the dead of night. Mighty Samson lies with a prostitute. His enemies lie in wait. I imagine their nervous chatter: "He'll have to wait till dawn to come out, won't he? The gate's locked, right? I mean, what'see gonna do — take hold of the doors and tear 'em loose?"

That's exactly what he did — a feat analogous to crawling on your belly underneath a pickup truck, getting up with it on your back, then carrying it up the hill!

But there's no mention of God's spirit coming on Samson in power. I get the feeling that if Samson had seen himself as God's agent in the past, if he'd ever been conscious of his mission, that untended fire had gone out. The guy's alone, on his own.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Comfort, Challenge

Too much comfort is dangerous. Literally.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, did an experiment some time ago that involved introducing an amoeba into a perfectly stress-free environment: ideal temperature, optimal concentration of moisture, constant food supply. The amoeba had an environment to which it had to make no adjustment whatsoever.

So you would guess this was one happy little amoeba. Whatever it is that gives amoebas ulcers and high blood pressure was gone.

Yet, oddly enough, it died.

Apparently there is something about all living creatures, even amoebas, that demands challenge. We require change, adaptation and challenge the way we require food and air. Comfort alone will kill us.

(John Ortberg, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Revelation 21:8
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Today's Preaching Insight...

Making The Wrong Decisions 

Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. And they took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.

Decisions determine destiny. Your life tomorrow will be the direct result of the decisions you make today. In the first five verses of Ruth we encounter a man named Elimelech, a man whose destiny was indeed determined by his decisions. The Bible tells us that he was a Hebrew of the tribe of Judah. As such, he was privileged to have extended to him the promises of God. Sadly, Elimelech failed to realize the fulness of those promises. Being a Hebrew, he had been taught the absolute truths of God's revelation of man. Though the Old Testament had not been completed at the time of Elimelech's life, he did have the divine truth of the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy). Elimelech, however, chose to make critical life decisions based on human rationale instead of God's divine revelation. We can learn three principles from Elimelech's decision-making.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

5 Ministry Killers and How to Defeat Them

After 30 years in ministry, Charles Stone has identified 5 Ministry Killers and How to Defeat Them: Help for Frustrated Pastors (Bethany House). The five killers: head-in-the-sand mentality; misdirected emotional investment; unhealthy responses to ministry killers; an attitude of "God and I can handle this;" and lonely, hurting spouses. This is an important book that can save ministries -- maybe even yours.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.]

Today's Preaching Insight...

Surviving Depression

Once upon a time, there was a traveling preacher on the American frontier. Hungry and tired, he arrived at the home of Christian people to stay the night. Before he went to bed he entered this optimistic note in his journal:

"Arrived at the home of Brother Brown late this evening hungry and tired after a long day in the saddle. Had a bountiful supper of cold pork and beans, warm bread, bacon and eggs, coffee and rich pastry. I go to rest feeling that my witness is clear; the future is bright and I feel called to a great and glorious work in this place. Brother Brown's family are godly people."

On the basis of his entry the next morning before he left his room, however, it appears that his bountiful supper had changed his spiritual outlook. This is what he wrote in his journal the very next morning:

"Awakened late this morning after a troubled night. I am very much depressed in soul; the way looks dark; far from being called to work among this people, I am beginning to doubt the safety of my soul. I am afraid that the desires of Brother Brown and his family are set too much on earthly things . . . "

Even deeply spiritual men and women down thru history have experienced depression. Martin Luther, great Protestant reformer, suffered periods of black gloom. Charles Spurgeon, probably the most effective British preacher of his generation, was immobilized for weeks at a time by depression. Soren Kierkegaard, influential nineteenth century writer, suffered chronic depression. And J.B. Phillips sank into a debilitating depression after the popular success of his paraphrase of the New Testament.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Truth

"It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals, then falsehood that comforts and then kills. It is not love and it is not friendship if we fail to declare the whole counsel of God. It is better to be hated for telling the truth than to be loved for telling a lie.

"It is impossible to find anyone in the Bible who was a power for God who did not have enemies and was not hated. It's better to stand alone with the truth than to be wrong with a multitude. It is better ultimately to succeed with truth than to temporarily succeed with a lie." (Adrian Rogers)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Proverbs 14:26

He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge

Today's Preaching Insight...

Handling Life When You're Hot, Dry, and Donkeyless

From the time the children of Israel entered into the Promised Land they were led by judges. These were people that God raised up, who were mightily endued with the Spirit of God. This period lasted for some three hundred years. Deborah was one of those judges, as was Gideon was, and Samson was also a judge. By the time we get to 1 Samuel 9, Israel is under her final judge, the prophet Samuel.

During this three-hundred-year period, the nation was truly a theocracy. God was her King. He was her great shepherd. He was her able advocate and saving defense. The eyes that run to and fro throughout all of the earth stood watch over little Israel.

Israel was unlike any of the other nations of the earth. She was strong, yet had no standing army — Almighty God was in her camp. The people prospered. Moreover, when she was in a right relationship with the Lord, she was invincible against her enemies, for the Lord fought her battles.

However, like many of us, the people did not realize they had a good thing going when they had it. One morning, the people of Israel woke up, and they wanted to be like all the other nations. Listen, make no mistake anytime you find yourself wanting to be conformed to this world and be like this world, you are moving in spiritual reverse.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Repentance

In Vansbro, Sweden, police were startled when a thief returned a wallet he had stolen with the whole amount that was in the wallet along with the interest the money would have earned. He also enclosed a letter of apology. He had stolen the money 40 years earlier. It is never too late for restitution and repentance.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Today's Preaching Insight...

I'll Hold You Again in Heaven

Of all deaths, that of a child is most unnatural and hardest to bear. We expect the old to die. While that kind of separation is always difficult, it comes as no surprise. But the death of a young child or a youth is a different matter. Life with its beauty, wonder, and potential lies ahead for them. Death is a cruel thief when it strikes down the young.

In a way that is different from any other relationship because a child is bone of his parents' bone and flesh of their flesh. When a child dies, part of the parent is buried.1 So writes Joseph Bayly, who had the sad duty of burying three of his children.

When we lose a child, the effect is widespread. It not only touches the parents, but it can involve siblings, grandparents, friends, and caregivers in a unique way. In the Scripture there is a story that offers us some insight and comfort as we share in this grief. David and Bathsheba's little boy lived only seven days.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Purpose, Direction

Former Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice once told graduates of the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson that they have a responsibility to be "optimistic" in their lives.

"I first learned this lesson from hearing stories about my paternal grandfather," she said. "Grandfather Rice was a poor farmer's son in Eutaw, Alabama. One day, he decided to get book-learning. So he asked, in the language of the day, where a colored man could go to school.

"They said that a little Presbyterian school, Stillman College, was only about 50 miles away. So he saved up his cotton to pay for the first year's tuition. After the first year, he ran out of cotton and he needed a way to pay. My grandfather asked the school administrators how those other boys were staying in school, and he was told that they had what was called a scholarship.

"They said, 'If you want to be a Presbyterian minister, you could have a scholarship, too.' My grandfather said, 'That's just what I had in mind.'"

The moral of the story, she said: "In America, it is not about where you are coming from, but where you are going."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Deuteronomy 29:29

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Surviving Depression

Once upon a time, there was a traveling preacher on the American frontier. Hungry and tired, he arrived at the home of Christian people to stay the night. Before he went to bed he entered this optimistic note in his journal:

"Arrived at the home of Brother Brown late this evening hungry and tired after a long day in the saddle. Had a bountiful supper of cold pork and beans, warm bread, bacon and eggs, coffee and rich pastry. I go to rest feeling that my witness is clear; the future is bright and I feel called to a great and glorious work in this place. Brother Brown's family are godly people."

On the basis of his entry the next morning before he left his room, however, it appears that his bountiful supper had changed his spiritual outlook. This is what he wrote in his journal the very next morning:

"Awakened late this morning after a troubled night. I am very much depressed in soul; the way looks dark; far from being called to work among this people, I am beginning to doubt the safety of my soul. I am afraid that the desires of Brother Brown and his family are set too much on earthly things . . . "

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Riches in Christ

Recently my wife and I were given use of two major league baseball tickets. Always glad to see a baseball game, we took the tickets and headed to the stadium. We noticed the tickets came with a free parking pass, but that only registered slightly.

As soon as we entered the stadium, I made my way to one of the few vendors where you can buy food for a dollar. So, I stood in a long line and came away proudly with my little dollar popcorn and my little dollar soft drink. We had trouble finding the number for our seat. Finally, we were pointed to an elevator.

We went up to the assigned section where we were met by two attendants who welcomed us and informed us all the food in the suite was complimentary. We turned the corner and saw a beautiful air-conditioned room with many kinds of food and drink. There were hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, barbeque, shrimp Alfredo, ice cream, etc. There were large windows facing the field and the outside of the stadium. We made it down to the seats where they were giving out free snacks. You actually could watch the game from the large room, an outdoor terrace or the actual assigned seats.

You can imagine how foolish I felt clutching my little bag of dollar popcorn and my cup of soda. I did not know the riches that were actually mine. Many Christians do not know the riches that are available to them in Christ.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Galatians 1:9

As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

Today's Preaching Insight...

Rebuilding for the Future

Sometimes churches spend too much time talking about what we need to do and not enough time doing what needs to be done. Sometimes we seem to value planning and discussing more than we value doing.

Have you seen those excellent television commercials advertising the Royal Bank of Scotland? In one of them, a group of people is eating in a restaurant when one of them starts to choke. One man says, "Isn't Jacobsen choking?" Someone else says, "I'd definitely say Jacobsen's choking." The first fellow then says, "I know exactly what to do. I saw it in the movies once. It's called the Heimlich maneuver." That launches the diners into a discussion first of how to pronounce "Heimlich" and then how to perform the maneuver. Of course, all the while Jacobsen is choking. Finally, a man from a neighboring table comes over and successfully performs the maneuver on Jacobsen. Then the announcer says, "Less talk — make it happen!"

Now, I'm not downplaying the importance of deliberate, constructive, and thoughtful talk. Good planning is necessary. But if someone is choking to death talk won't save his life; action must be taken. I am convicted that the future of this church is directly connected with our willingness to take action to help those around us who are choking to death.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official web page)

Today's Extra...

The Word in Small Boats: Sermons from Oxford

Now a professor at the University of Edinburgh, Oliver O'Donovan spent some two decades as pastor of Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. His new book The Word in Small Boats: Sermons from Oxford (Eerdmans) shares 32 of the sermons he preached in the heart of that university city. The "small boats" of the title represent the sermons that carry the Word into the life of the church.]

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Today's Preaching Insight...

The Theology of Ecology

I have just returned from my annual, "Dear God, I can't take this anymore; please release me; let me go; I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again" break, otherwise known as a vacation. During that time from the mountains to the beach, I got reacquainted with this beautiful place called planet earth. The clean air, pristine lakes, beautiful beaches and trees from pines to palms reminded me of how good God has been to give us such a wonderful home.

It goes without saying that environmental issues have become a hot topic literally and figuratively. It doesn't matter where you go or who you listen to, it seems like everyone these days is talking about the environment, whether they are professors or professionals, actors or athletes, bureaucrats or business people. The topic is certainly relevant right here in our country; although we represent roughly 5 percent of the world's population, we generate 40 percent of its waste. The average American family produces 40 pounds of garbage every week. Every day, we dispose of approximately 200 million tons of garbage and less than a quarter of it is recycled. Only 7,000 of the 20,000 landfills that have been operating since 1978 are now in operation. Of those 7,000, more than 90 percent of those do not meet EPA regulations. Even such a thing as one leaky faucet can waste up to 50 gallons of fresh water a day, which is astounding considering the fact that only 3 percent of the world's water is fresh water. I could go on, but you get the picture.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official webpage)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Listening

In his book Directions, author James Hamilton shares this insight about listening to God: "Before refrigerators, people used icehouses to preserve their food. Icehouses had thick walls, no windows and a tightly fitted door. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the icehouses and covered with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer.

One man lost a valuable watch while working in an icehouse. He searched diligently for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn't find it. His fellow workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the icehouse during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch. Amazed, the men asked him how he found it. I closed the door,'' the boy replied, "lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.'' Often the question is not whether God is speaking, but whether we are being still enough and quiet enough to hear. Yes, Jesus assures us that our heavenly Father always listens to us, but do we really listen to God? Do we follow the instructions of Psalm 46, "Be still, and know that I am God"?  (Eric S. Ritz, Sermons.com)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Today's Preaching Insight...

Praying in the Dark

Faced with yet another life-threatening crisis in our small missionary community in Nigeria, I poured out my grief and disillusionment as I wrote in my journal, "What do you do when you have prayed and prayed and it doesn't seem to make a bit of difference?"

There are times when prayer flows naturally and God seems so close. But on many other occasions prayer seems like a monologue. God feels distant and doesn't seem to hear. George Buttrick described it as "beating on heaven's door with bruised knuckles in the dark." We feel like we are praying in the dark.

What is it Like?

We feel Lonely. We feel we are the only person who has ever known this kind of pain or grief. People try to offer kind words but they really cannot understand our darkness.

We feel Abandoned. God seems to have left us or seems indifferent to what is happening. The Psalmist exclaimed in 10:1 "Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself?" Elsewhere he cried out, "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?" (13:1).

We feel Overwhelmed by Crisis. Nothing makes any sense. We feel like victims in a cruel cosmic game, discouraged and helpless. We echo the words of Jesus in Gethsemane: "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (Matthew 26:38).

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official page)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Fame, Fleeting Nature Of

Many have labeled Millard Fillmore the most obscure president in American history. Fillmore, our 13th president, succeeded to the presidency after the sudden death of Zachary Taylor. He was not nominated for a second term. There is a small cabin marking his birth in a state park, but the cabin is a reproduction and not on the site of his birth. There is a home he inhabited for four years, but it is not on the site of his property. When people meet for formal events at his grave, it often is to mock his obscurity. His grave is located in his family section of the Albany cemetery. The area is marked by a small obelisk, and there is some mention of him and his family members on the outer perimeter; but what is on the president's grave itself? No listing of his accomplishments, no date of birth or death. His grave does not even bear his name. His grave simply carries the initials of M.F. Here was a man who founded a major university; served as a state legislator and U.S. congressman, vice president and president. How quickly we forget!

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Today's Preaching Insight...

To Those Who Have Loved and Lost

Grief is an experience common to all of us. We all lose someone we love at sometime. The difference lies in the names and circumstances of our losses. Like many of you, I too have lost a child. There's something terribly wrong with the scene of a parent standing over a child's grave. It's supposed to be the other way!

Others of you have lost a spouse or a sibling or a friend or a parent. To lose a parent is to lose the past. To lose a spouse, sibling, or friend is to lose the present. To lose a child is to lose the future. Each of us has loved and lost and, now, the grief we feel is overwhelming sometimes and persistent at all times. I believe the depth of our grief arises from the depth of our love. When we lose someone we greatly love, how can we not deeply grieve and how can that grief quickly pass? Deep grief never passes quickly and never passes completely. My loss occurred almost 20 years ago; your loss occurred this past year. Yet, our common grief persists. How should we, how can we, respond to our losses?

Here are three responses to loss that deal with the past, present, and the future of our lives. Some people respond to their loss with regret as they focus on the past. Their grief is defined by their guilt about what was but should not have been or their guilt about what should have been but was not. The words they often think and say with respect to their deceased loved one are "if only." If only I had not let him take the car that night! If only I had told her I loved her more often! If only I had done more for him! If only...

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

In an article in the July 26, 2003 issue of World magazine, Gene Veith points out that, "Christianity is growing at a rate that is nearly unparalleled in the history of the church. Yet this growth primarily is taking place in cultures that previously have not been Christian at all. In historically Christian societies, where for centuries upon centuries the church has thrived, Christianity seems to be fading.

"In 1900, according to statistics from the Website of the mission organization Synergos, Western Europe was home to more than 70 percent of the world's professing Christians. Today, that figure has shrunk to 28 percent. In 2025, it is projected that only about one in five of the world's Christians will be Europeans. North America had just more than one in 10 of the world's Christians at the beginning of the last century. By 2025, for all of the megachurches and church-growth techniques—which seem mainly to draw on people who already are Christians, taking them from small congregations to bigger ones—the percentage is projected to decline slightly.

"Conversely in 1900, 1.7 percent of the world's Christians lived in Africa. Today, that figure is nearly 18 percent, and it is projected by 2025 to rise to more than 25 percent. That is to say, there will be substantially more Christians in Africa than in Europe. Asia is experiencing similar growth. In 1900, it was home to 3.7 percent of the world's Christians; but by 2025, the share of Christians living in Asia is projected to equal the share in Europe, with slightly more than 20 percent. Latin America is projected to be home to less than a quarter of the world's Christians."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 119:67-71
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Handling Your Children And Handling Your Parents

The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures. (Proverbs 30:17)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" — this is the first commandment with a promise: "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." (Ephesians 6:1-3)

Today, on Father's Day, I feel led by the Holy Spirit to address parent-child relations.

Let me make clear that I do not share with you from the authority position of one who has mastered biblical teachings in my own life as either a father or a child. But I am endeavoring to wrestle with these issues along with you. God forbid that there be any attitude of arrogance or superiority. The starting point of everything I teach and preach is that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. None of us is perfect. That's another way of saying that all have sinned. Each of us, myself included, is part of this local organization, the church, which could just as well be referred to as "sinners anonymous." We are a group of men and women of all ages who acknowledge that we are sinners and need the forgiveness provided through Jesus Christ and the help and strength of the Holy Spirit and each other to make it through one day at a time.

Once this ground rule is clearly established, that I speak as one of you, not as one separate from you, we can move on as we endeavor to confront these very important teachings of God's Word.

The message has two parts. Part one is addressed to parents. Part two is addressed to children.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Struggle

In a recent issue of his One Minute Uplift newsletter, Rick Ezell writes: "The pages of history are lined with individuals encountering negative setbacks only to make something positive out of them. They are better for it. In many cases so are we."Thomas Edison, when a boy, received a blow on his ear which impaired his hearing. What a tragedy! Later he felt his deafness was a blessing, for it was a tool by which he was saved from distractions.

This allowed him to concentrate on his work, and out of that concentration emerged some of the greatest inventions of all times."Victor Hugo, a literary genius of France, was exiled from his country by Napoleon. What a tragedy! Out of that period of exile arose some of his most creative works. When he later returned home in triumph, he asked, 'Why was I not exiled earlier?'"Helen Keller, born blind and deaf, faced obstacle after obstacle in her life. However, on more that one occasion she confided, 'I thank God for my obstacles, for through them I have found myself, my work and my God.'"

George Frederick Handel was at a low point in his life. His money was gone, and his creditors hounded him, threatening him with imprisonment. His right side became paralyzed, and his health deteriorated. For a brief time he was tempted to give up. In the midst of the darkness he picked himself up and began to do the only thing he knew to do--write music.

Out of that despair he wrote the oratorio known as The Messiah, which many consider the greatest piece of church music in history."The fiber tying Edison, Hugo, Keller and Handel together is that these people refused to be defeated by their problems. They saw their misfortunes and bad luck not as dilemmas to destroy them, but as opportunities to grow and develop in ways that otherwise would have been impossible."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Building Godly Marriages and 'God Kids'

In our culture today there is a monumental clash of opinions concerning the institution of marriage. The church needs to be aware of it; Christians need to be taking it very seriously!There are those, speaking from a purely secular point of view, who insist that human beings, over the course of many centuries, have devised different ways of organizing society.

Moreover, these different ways have quite naturally evolved; and somewhere in the process, something that we now call marriage appeared on the scene. But these people say that marriage, as it now exists, clearly is not working! They cite, of course, the high incidence of divorce; and as we all know, many people who don't divorce are locked into a marriage that is loveless and joyless. But, they cheerily add, "Don't worry about it because, as we know, over the centuries, better solutions to human dilemmas have evolved, so we can expect to see alternative lifestyles evolving! We should embrace them because they will be a marked improvement!"

A lot of people probably could not articulate this theory, but they are certainly learning to put it into practice! Divorce has become normative, multiple marriages are not at all unusual, and large numbers of people are not getting married at all—and these "improvements" are being heralded as sociological advances. Many children are being born "out" of what we used to call wedlock, and that which was regarded with disfavor not too long ago is now accepted by a large segment of our society.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Listening

In his book Directions, author James Hamilton shares this insight about listening to God: "Before refrigerators, people used icehouses to preserve their food. Icehouses had thick walls, no windows and a tightly fitted door. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the icehouses and covered with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer.

One man lost a valuable watch while working in an icehouse. He searched diligently for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn't find it. His fellow workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the icehouse during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch.Amazed, the men asked him how he found it.I closed the door,'' the boy replied, "lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.''Often the question is not whether God is speaking, but whether we are being still enough and quiet enough to hear. Yes, Jesus assures us that our heavenly Father always listens to us, but do we really listen to God? Do we follow the instructions of Psalm 46, "Be still, and know that I am God"?

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Discovering Church

Matthew 16:13-18: Let's enter an imaginary time tunnel and journey back about 20 centuries. As we do, remember that in the place we find ourselves there is no United States of America. The modern civilizations of Europe, Australia and Canada, as well as other contemporary cultures do not exist. Even the nation of Israel looks completely different.

In the first century, there are no Christian traditions, and we certainly find no denominations or churches. Where we're imagining ourselves standing, no one has even heard the word church before; and the Jewish culture of the day exists in the context of a pagan Roman government that dominates the land of Israel. On top of all that, the official religious leaders of the day are proud, self-serving and corrupt. It was in such an environment that the church began.Whenever we want to understand a topic or term such as church, we should begin at the passage of primary reference. It helps to ask where the word first appeared and in what context it was used. Surprisingly, the first mention in the New Testament of the word church wasn't from the the apostle Paul. Peter didn't coin the term, nor did any of the other apostles. It was Jesus.

(To read more of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Spiritual Ledership

Oswald Sanders' great book Spiritual Leadership (Moody) may one of the most valuable books about leadership every published. He covers a variety of topics that relate to the work of church leaders and encourages leaders to lives that are effective and godly.]

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 18:46
The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Gospel that Divides

Is religion relevant? Many people apparently do not think so. They don't believe religion is necessary because they are convinced that all anyone really needs in life can be obtained through science and technology. For them, any attention given to spiritual matters is a waste of time.

Such people sometimes reluctantly concede that religion might be useful as long as it focuses on humanitarian help at the individual level and universal unity and harmony at the societal level. In their minds, under no circumstances should religion ever be allowed to polarize or divide society. Instead it should relentlessly seek the utopian goal of "world peace."Did Jesus Christ come to this earth to usher in world peace? Hardly. Hear the biblical rebuttal to this erroneous notion in Jesus' own words:

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Vision, Perception
My face in the mirror

Isn't wrinkled or drawn.

My house isn't dirty,

The cobwebs are gone.

My garden looks lovely

And so does my lawn.

I think I might never

Put my glasses back on.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalm 19:1-2

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Response to Crisis: Message at National Day of Prayer and Remembrance
No matter how hard we try, words simply cannot express the horror, the shock and the revulsion we all feel over what took place in this nation on Tuesday morning. September 11 will go down in our history as a day to remember.Today we say to those who masterminded this cruel plot, and to those who carried it out, that the spirit of this nation will not be defeated by their twisted and diabolical schemes.

Some day those responsible will be brought to justice, as President Bush and our Congress have so forcefully stated.But today, we especially come together in this service to confess our need of God. We've always needed God from the very beginning of this nation, but today we need Him especially. We're facing a new kind of enemy. We're involved in a new kind of warfare and we need the help of the Spirit of God. The Bible's words are our hope: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea" (Psalm 46:1-2).But how do we understand something like this?

Why does God allow evil like this to take place? Perhaps that is what you are asking now. You may even be angry at God. I want to assure you that God understands these feelings that you may have.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Position, Motivation

Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time.

Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late...but he was a good worker--really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded, a real credit to the company and obviously was good at demonstrating their "Older Person Friendly" policies.One day, the boss called him into the office for a talk. "Charley, I have to tell you: I like your work ethic, you do a bang up job; but your being late so often is quite bothersome." "Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it."

''Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear. It's odd, though--your coming in late. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say if you came in late there?"

'They said, "Good morning, Admiral, can I get you coffee, sir?'''

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 7:1
O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
Today's Preaching Insight...

Living Upstairs

Gilbert K. Chesterton the British poet, essayist, novelist and journalist was dubbed "The Prince of Paradox." Chesterton was a professed Christian and he once made the spiritual observation that in the house of life many people are content to live in the cellar. In fact, they seem to assume that the cellar is the only room in the house.

I think we know exactly what he was saying. There are many who live out their lives in the dusty, musty chambers of the basement of life. They live where there is little vision of what life is really all about. But when someone becomes a Christian, they are moved upstairs to enjoy the quarters of the Heavenly Father.

Out of the life of the great Scottish preacher, George H. Morrison, there comes a story of a woman who lived in the cellar when she first went to hear him preach. He is one of the great preachers of all time. He was a great expositor of the Word. In the process, she became converted. Sometime later, someone noted that she had moved to an upstairs flat. In her well kept yard now there were flowers. A song regularly came from her little flat. When someone asked her about her move out of the cellar, she replied in her rich Scottish brogue, "Well, you can't live in a cellar and listen to George Morrison preach!"

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Position, Motivation

Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time.

Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late...but he was a good worker--really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded, a real credit to the company and obviously was good at demonstrating their "Older Person Friendly" policies.One day, the boss called him into the office for a talk. "Charley, I have to tell you: I like your work ethic, you do a bang up job; but your being late so often is quite bothersome." "Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it."

''Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear. It's odd, though--your coming in late. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say if you came in late there?"

'They said, "Good morning, Admiral, can I get you coffee, sir?'''

Today's Word for Pastors...

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Today's Preaching Insight...

It's Not About You

We would never be guilty of making worship more about ourselves than God, would we? How many times have you left a worship service only to complain, "I didn't get anything out of it today!" We make statements that are saturated with self as if worship is all about us:

• "Why can't we sing more of the songs that I like?"

• "I don't think the preacher should talk about this or that!"• "I can't believe so-and-so didn't talk to me today!"

• "No one ever notices what I do in the church."

Here's the problem: Worship isn't about getting anything; it's about giving everything to God! The above attitudes make us idle judges of activity rather than active participants in adoration toward a holy God. Christian consumerism defines the quality of our worship by the number of ministries for people, the size and quality of our buildings, the popularity of our pastors, the style of our music and an obvious determination to make people happy. One concern emerges as primary: "What have you done for me lately?"

Unfortunately, we still fall short of making everyone happy, and God is disgusted with our obvious worship of and preoccupation with ourselves. Our efforts to be seeker-sensitive and self-sensitive have made us insensitive to the Divine Presence who is to be the focus of our worship. Or, as the apostle Paul said, we have "exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Rom. 1:25, NASB).

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website) 

Today's Extra...

Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching

Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching (IVP Academic) is an outstanding collection of essays offering practical insights for preaching from various literary genres found in the Old Testament, including narrative, lament, poetry, prophetic material and more. The book includes work by outstanding Old Testament scholars and will be a useful tool in the hands of expository preachers.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Isaiah 58:11

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Many Americans and presidents have made their way to the center of Arlington Cemetery. There stands a monument that is beloved by all Americans. It is the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. Guarded seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by the Old Guard of the United States Army, it has engraved on it these words:

"Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known but to God."

It's hard to view that sight and not be moved.I want to look at a place in God's Word that has been visited by many believers through time. Here we will honor whom God has honored and memorialized in His Word. Some of these people are known only to God, but He has erected a monument in His Word to the story of His grace in their lives that we, too, may view that sight and be moved, strengthened and encouraged.

That is my prayer as we study these passages from Joshua 2 and Hebrews 11:30-12:2, in the inerrant and the infallible Word of the living God.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Repentance

A remorseful man, wanting to reassure his skeptical wife, said: "I'm going to make a 360-degree turn."

David Jeremiah writes: "That's the kind of change a lot of people make. A 360-degree turn is no change at all. What we need is a 180-degree change, a reverse direction, a U-Turn.

"In driving, U-turns are handy when we realize we're going in the wrong way. The same is true in life. The Lord tells us to turn from our wicked ways and to turn toward Him in confession and true repentance. This involves a change of heart, a change of mind and a change of direction.

"What direction are you traveling right now? Don't keep barreling the wrong way. Turn 180 degrees to Christ and start living for Him today."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

John 1:12

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

Today's Preaching Insight...

Mannaburgers and Roast Quail

Even though Thanksgiving is about food for most Americans, it tends not to be a time for culinary adventures. Most of us tend to go for the tried and true when it comes to turkey and pumpkin pie. In fact, last week I heard someone describing how the family gets on his dad for experimenting with new stuff at Thanksgiving.

This morning's story is all about food. But it comes out of the desert wanderings of God's people. Wilderness and desert do not sound like a context for cooking. By the way, 70 percent of the Bible story takes place in the context of wilderness. But this morning's Scripture is about creative Israeli cooks who hatched up a dish they might have called "Quail a la manna." In Hebrew fast-food places, I wonder if they didn't market mannaburgers. You could get your mannaburgers with or without roast quail.

The Hebrew people are on their long march between Egypt and the land of Canaan. God gives them a wonderful experience of deliverance from bondage in Egypt. They walk through the sea on dry land, while Pharaoh's army is swallowed up in water. They celebrate with singing and dancing. We read about it in Exodus 15.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Memory

Two middle-aged couples were enjoying friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other, "Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?"

"Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techniques, such as visualization, association and so on. It was great. I haven't had a problem since.""Sounds like something I could use. What was the name of the clinic?"Fred went blank. He thought and thought, but couldn't remember.Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, "What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?""You mean a rose?""Yes, that's it!"He turned to his wife, "Hey Rose, what was the name of that memory clinic?"

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

John 2: 22
After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Today's Preaching Insight...

How Forgiveness Works

There was a single word headlined in the news coming out of the Amish community of West Nickels Mines after a young husband and father shot five young girls dead: forgiveness.

That word got the attention of the media, but what does it mean—forgive? What did it mean for people from the Amish community to go to the wife of the killer and say that they would forgive her and her family in this unbelievably traumatic incident? Did they mean they forgave the murderer? Does this make any sense? How does righteous indignation figure into the crimes of humanity? How can we have justice and forgiveness at the same time? Accountability for violation of the laws of God and application of the mercy of God?

Every single one of us needs to understand and come to terms with the issue of forgiveness. Because forgiveness is part of God's plan, it will not, when properly understood, ever contradict God's justice.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Apologies

British Prime Minister Tony Blair came to Washington and spoke to a joint session of Congress on July 17, 2003. Early in his speech he commented, "On our way down here, Sen. Frist was kind enough to show me the fireplace where in 1814 the British had burned the Congressional Library. I know this is kind of late, but: Sorry."

That may stand as one of the all-time most memorable apologies!

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 27:14
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Today's Preaching Insight...

Portrait of a Minister

It is important to get the right portrait of the right person.

Once upon another life, before I was a minister, I did a lot of other things. I was even a caricature artist. One day, as I was pursuing my work amidst a gaggle of people all gathered around me at a fall festival, I was commissioned by a father to draw his child. I began to draw the person in front of me. It was a tremendous portrait, if I do say so myself. There was only one small problem: when I handed the portrait to the father he said, "This is not my daughter." I had drawn the wrong kid. The portrait was a perfect rendition of the child in front of me, but it was not the man's daughter! It is important to get the picture right!

We know that as fathers. And so we look to the model of fatherhood in the Bible to draw a portrait of the man we should be. We look to the Bible to get the right portrait of a godly mother and wife and everything else in life.It is important to get the portrait of a pastor. We may have all sorts of ideas about what a pastor should do or shouldn't do, what he should or shouldn't look like.

Once I was getting my haircut, and I discerned that the barber was not a Christian—indeed had little or no background in the faith. As we were talking, I felt I had finally broken through, when he said, "May I ask you a question?"

"Yes, of course," I said with some hope for a breakthrough! "Do all priests and monks and ministers like you have this little round place cut out in the back of their heads?" Well, he had the wrong picture of a minister to be sure!

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website.)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Compassion

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a 4-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who recently had lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Romans 10:15

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Today's Preaching Insight...

It's About Time

Anyone who knows me knows I have a hard time managing my time. No, I don't have a hard time. I just don't do it. It's not that I don't have all the tools I'm supposed to have. I've been to all the workshops. I have all the gadgets. It's just that I'm a spur-of-the-moment kind of guy. If I'm doing something and even when I like what I'm doing, if I get a call from you and I like what you're doing more, then I'm going to go do what you're doing. Then I'll get back to what I was doing.

I don't ever understand how much time something will take. So I over-commit, thinking, "Sure, I can do that. It won't take that long." It always takes a lot longer than I think it will. So when somebody says to me, "Can you come speak at this?" I answer, "Yeah, I'd love to do that," and it takes a lot of time to get ready to speak and speak well. So I end up being over-committed and frustrated because I'm trying go get too much done.

Despite the national industry that exists on how to manage your time, I'm lousy at it. Most of us are. Most of us don't understand what time is. There is a wonderful book by Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time. It's one of those books everybody bought but nobody read. So you read about time from this great physicist and you get to the end of the book and realize he doesn't understand it either.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Fathers, Mothers

As a mother was walking with her 4-year-old daughter, the girl picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth, and Mom told her not to do that.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because it's been lying outside and is dirty and probably has germs."

At this point, she looked at her mother with total admiration and asked, "How do you know all this stuff?"

Thinking quickly, she replied, "It's on the mommy test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a mommy."

"Oh." She said seemingly satisfied. They walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but the daughter was evidently pondering this new information.

"I get it!" she beamed. "Then if you flunk, you have to be the daddy."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Proverbs 9:10
"The fear of te LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Today's Preaching Insight...

Don't Forget the Bread
"Your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you" (Acts 2:38-39).

Denalyn called as I was driving home the other day. "Can you stop at the grocery store and pick up some bread?"

"Of course."

"Do I need to tell you where to find it?"

"Are you kidding? I was born with a bread-aisle tracking system."

"Just stay focused, Max."

She was nervous. Rightly so. I am the Exxon Valdez of grocery shopping. My mom once sent me to buy butter and milk; I bought buttermilk. I mistook a tube of hair cream for toothpaste. I thought the express aisle was a place to express your opinion. I am a charter member of the Clueless Husband Shopping Squad. I can relate to the fellow who came home from the grocery store with one carton of eggs, two sacks of flour, three boxes of cake mix, four sacks of sugar and five cans of cake frosting. His wife looked at the sacks of groceries and lamented, "I never should have numbered the list."

So knowing that Denalyn was counting on me, I parked the car at the market and entered the door. En route to the bread aisle, I spotted my favorite cereal, so I picked up a box, which made me wonder if we needed milk. I found a gallon in the dairy section. The cold milk stirred images of one of God's great gifts to humanity: Oreo cookies. The heavenly banquet will consist of tables and tables of Oreo cookies and milk. We will spend eternity dipping and slurping our way through...OK, enough of that.]

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...



Illustration: Excellence, Commitment, Work
David Jeremiah tells about the group of men gathered one Saturday morning to help paint a friend's large, two-story home. Toward the end of the day when the job was almost complete, a small bit of trim, which actually could not be seen from the ground, remained unpainted. One of the men said, "Since nobody can see that piece of trim, I guess we don't need to paint it."

"Not true," said another of the crew as he went for a ladder. "God sees it."

The difference in the two approaches is the difference between working man's way and working God's way; working in light of the end of the day versus working in light of the end of life; working for immediate rewards versus working for ultimate rewards. It's easy to get confused about who we really work for in this life. We go to work and interact with a human boss who makes the rules and signs the checks. We may face him at the end of the day; but at the end of the age, we will come face to face with the ultimate "Boss," God Himself. What we got away with on the job will be made known, and what went unrewarded will be paid in full.

The best way to get high marks on our final "employee review" is to picture God as our employer each day.]

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Isaiah 65:24

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Heaven's Anything But Boring!
Heaven confuses many people. Some don't understand much about it. Others are convinced they know all they want to know and have decided they aren't interested. A lot of people think heaven sounds boring with a capital B!

Huck Finn said that he thought heaven was a place where a person would "go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever and ever." I have never heard any of you play the harp. I have heard some of you sing. With all due respect, I don't think much of the idea of spending forever listening to either. Undoubtedly it was this perspective that led Mark Twain to write on another occasion, "I'll take Heaven for the climate and Hell for the society."

A few years ago, the subject of heaven came up in a speech before the National Press Club by Ted Turner, the millionaire founder and former owner of CCN. Turner is sometimes not so affectionately called "the mouth of the South." I don't know the context. Perhaps someone had asked him about his ex-wife Jane Fonda's professed conversion to Christ. I suspect Turner spoke for a lot of people when he said, "Heaven is going to be a mighty slender place. And most of the people I know in life aren't going to be there. There are a few notable exceptions and I'll miss them . . . Heaven is perfect. Who wants to go to a place that's perfect? Boring. Boring."

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

The 23rd Psalm for the Student

The Lord is my real instructor and I shall not want.

He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me.

He gently reminds me to pray before I speak and to do all things without murmuring and complaining.

He reminds me that He is my Salvation and not my school.

He restores my sanity every day and guides my decisions that I might honor Him in everything I do.

Even though I face absurd amounts of homework, quizzes, tests, unrealistic deadlines, shortages of funds, gossiping students, discriminating teachers and a sleep-deprived body that doesn't cooperate every morning, I will not stop--for He is with me!

His presence, His peace and His power will see me through.

He raises me up, even when they fail to give me good grades.

He claims me as His own, even when the class threatens to flunk me.

His faithfulness and love are better than any A+.

His eternal reward beats every degree there is.

When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer than I'll be in school (even when it doesn't feel like it) and for that, I bless His Name!

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Isaiah 66: 1

This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?

Today's Preaching Insight...



Facts about Christian Fellowship


One of the most important and disturbing books of the last five or six years is entitled, Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam. The book is not about the sport of bowling, as much as it is about the fact that more and more people in American society are choosing to do more and more things alone. Bowling has always been the ultimate group activity. Whether you belong to a bowling league, or go bowling with a group of family or friends, bowling was always viewed as something that people did together. Sometimes you went bowling together for the sake of the competition, and sometimes you went bowling with a group simply for the sake of the companionship. But either way, people would go bowling as part of a group.

In Putnam's book, the premise is that we are losing our sense of community in America, and the ultimate proof of the fact is the things that more and more people are doing alone. Bowling is, in fact, only a metaphor for a wide range of activities. People go to the movies alone, as well as to restaurants, concerts, athletic events and even vacation. Some of this may be explained by the fact that a large number of adults are living as singles, and companionship is not always readily available. However, says Putnam, the more significant issue facing our society is that people cannot or will not sustain relationships over any length of time. As a result of that fact, more and more people spend more and more of their time "bowling alone."

(To read the rest of this article, click here visit the official website)

Today's Extra...



Illustration: Marriage, Forgiveness


On her golden wedding anniversary, a grandmother revealed the secret of her long and happy marriage. "On my wedding day, I decided to choose 10 of my husband's faults, which (for the sake of our marriage) I would overlook," she explained. A guest asked her to name some of the faults. "To tell the truth," she replied, "I never did get around to listing them; but whenever my husband did something that made me hopping mad, I would say to myself, 'Lucky for him that's one of the 10.'"

No one is perfect. So marriage is the union of two imperfect people, with their individual faults, bad habits and undesirable qualities. As Christians, marriage should be a place to practice grace. When you can look past the faults of your spouse and concentrate on encouraging them, you will find satisfaction and peace.]

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

1 John 1:8-10
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Today's Preaching Insight...



Transformed Hearts, Transformed Homes
The sermon begins in a traditional format, then switches into a first-person dramatic narrative format, and finally back to a traditional format for the conclusion.   The speaker did not use period costuming for the dramatic narrative portion of the sermon.  Platform positioning was utilized to indicate when the speaker was "in character."

A frustrated father was heard to quip, "By the time a man is old enough to recognize that his father was right, he has a son who thinks he is wrong."  Well, it is Father's Day again — it's time to honor that man we used to think was so wrong until we grew up and he suddenly got smart.



We chuckle at the joke, but to be honest the humor awakens a sense of uneasiness in us.  From deep within us, we feel that, among all the human relationships we experience in this life, there is something unique about the relationship of fathers and children.  There is something about it that runs very deep, that touches close to the very center of our lives.  When that relationship is good, it positively affects every other relationship in your life.  And when that relationship is bad, it hands you a heartload of pain that chips away at the joy you feel about the good parts of your life.  Such is the power of the father/child relationship in God's world.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...



Illustration: Christian Life
Ben Kingsley starred as the main character in the motion picture Gandhi. He spent months preparing for the role, visiting the various Indian locales Gandhi had frequented. He even learned to spin cotton thread on a wooden wheel while holding conversations as Gandhi did. The physical resemblance between Gandhi and Kingsley was almost startling. After filming a scene in a village south of Delhi, Kingsley stepped out of a car, and an elderly peasant knelt to touch his feet. Embarrassed, Kingsley explained that he was merely an actor playing Gandhi. "We know," replied the villager, "but through you he will surely live again."


Let me ask you, "Does the Son of God live again through us? You see, that's also part of Jesus' prayer for us -- that the world will see Christ in us, through our unity and through our love.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Today's Preaching Insight...



What I Have Learned as a Dad and Husband
The Bible has much to say about family living. The more you get to know of the biblical characters, you discover how earthy and fallible they were. That in itself is encouraging, isn't it?

One of the most challenging verses in the Bible is 1 Timothy 5:8. It reads, "And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." On more than one occasion, the Apostle Paul not only instructs us as to our family responsibilities, but he chides followers of Jesus whose performance in this area is at a lower standard than those of pagan men and women in the surrounding culture. How sad it is when we neglect to give a high quality provision, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, for our own family members.

As one father and husband, let me share several lessons I've learned in 67 years of living, 43 years of marriage and 40 years of parenting.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...



The God of Small Treasures
"One day I was walking down the streets of a Montana city with a fellow preacher who had his 3-year old son along. As we walked the little boy looked down and saw a penny lying on the sidewalk. The child became so excited, he reached down and grabbed it. He could have been no happier if it were a thousand dollars.

"Daddy, Daddy," he cried. "Look what I found -- a penny!"

"His excitement fascinated me. I could not imagine getting so excited about so little. I ran my hand into my pocket and found I had a whole pocket full of change, mostly pennies. I hurried my step to walk just ahead of the child and for the next few moments I dropped pennies for the sheer joy of watching his excitement as he found them.

"Pennies buy so little that I didn't even feel any sense of sacrifice in what I was doing. But to the little boy the retrieval of every one of them was over and again erupting with joy.

"I doubt if I would even stop to pick up a penny, and yet that which was not to be treasured by me was clearly celebrated by the child. I have been overwhelmed time and again by what seems to be God's sense of wonder. Treasuring the seemingly worthless is somehow like our God."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Today's Preaching Insight...

Wanted: A Passionate People For God

Mk 3:1-6 is the fifth of five stories which Mark strings together in Mk 2:1-3:6.  Each story demonstrates Jesus' authority over the Law and Jewish tradition.  The religious leaders steadily increase their resistance and hardness of heart towards Jesus.  In the first story they grumble because Jesus heals the paralytic and forgives his sins.  But in the last story where Jesus heals the man with the shrivelled hand we see that they are not interested in a dialogue with Jesus rather they want to trap Him in order to silence Him and to discredit His ministry.  When this fails they resort to their final solution, they plot Jesus' death.  They have moved from grumbling to murder.  The human heart is exposed.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

If God, Why Evil? A New Way to Think About the Question

One of the most common questions pastors face from inquirers: If God is good and all-powerful, why does evil exist? Christian apologist Norman Geisler takes on that question in his new book If God, Why Evil? A New Way to Think About the Question(Bethany House). Geisler surveys the issues involved and offers understandable answers and useful illustrations. Ravi Zacharias calls it "one of the clearest, most penetrating presentations on one of the most difficult problems thinking Christians face."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Hebrews 9:28
so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Being Ready for Anything

Anything can happen and it usually does.

The old saying has it, "The only things certain in life are death and taxes." Those two things certainly are certain. It is also certain, though, that lots of other things are going to happen, and many of those things are going to be challenging to us. The question is, are we going to be ready for whatever comes? We ought not be too surprised when difficult events come our way, and yet too often we live as if they won't. That's a shame, because in Christ God has given us what we need to stand up against anything that comes. When we boil everything down to its essence, we can conclude that everything that does happen can be placed in two categories: life happens and death happens. We need to be ready for them both and both can be very hard to deal with.

Let's talk about these realities in the order in which they occur: life first, then death.

In talking about life, Jesus used the metaphor of a man building a house. He said that the man who built his house on a solid foundation would see that house stand even when floodwaters struck it, but that the man who built his house without a foundation would see the utter destruction of his house. Jesus made it clear of what that proper foundation would consist: "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words and acts on them" (Luke 6:46-48). We have a sound and strong foundation when we come to Jesus.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Materialism

Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder is giving away all of his $4.7-million fortune. He said, "My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing. Money is counter productive—it prevents happiness to come." He will sell his six gliders, his 42-acre estate in France and his luxury villa in the Alps. He plans to move into a small wooden hut in the mountains or a studio apartment in Innsbruck. In selling everything, he says, he felt free.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Hebrews 9:28
so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Today's Preaching Insight...

Seeing the Future

If you could pick one spot in all the world to go and sit for a few minutes, where would you go? I would not have to give it a second thought. For me it would be the summit of the Mount of Olives. When one sits there atop the Mount of Olives and looks over the Kidron Valley, he sees one of the most beautiful panoramas in all the world. It was from that spot that the Psalmist said that Jerusalem was beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. (Ps. 48:2) As you view the panorama from left to right, on a clear day you can see the mountains of Bethlehem. Next is the beauty of Mount Zion with the Tower of David. Straight ahead and across the valley is Mount Moriah. There one can view the pinnacle of the Temple and the Temple Mount itself where once stood the glory of Solomon's Temple and where now resides what is commonly referred to as the Dome of the Rock. The old walled city of Jerusalem is before you and the eastern gate is in plain sight. Looking toward the north and up through the Kidron Valley one sees Mount Scopus and beyond that mountain on another more distant mountaintop is the tomb of Samuel the prophet. It is an incredible panorama.

When we come to the second chapter of Daniel we stand on a tall mountaintop of Scripture. We see the panorama of world history encompassing what Luke calls the times of the Gentiles. (Luke 21:24) This involves the time from 605 B.C. until the consummation of this age and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ himself as King of kings and Lord of lords. God himself stepped into the dream of an ancient Babylonian king in order to reveal your future. He reveals to us the scope of human history with a statue. Therefore, it behooves us to ask several questions as we deal with these verses of Scripture.

(to read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

A New Kind of Big

A New Kind of Big (Baker) by Chip Sweney tells the story of how Atlanta's Perimeter Church created a partnership with other area churches (now almost 150 churches) as a way to transform their community. He introduces readers to a powerful model that could be done in other communities -- allowing churches to unite and make an impact in a way no single church could.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Mark 9:23
" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Today's Preaching Insight...

Living in the Spirit's Fullness

There are occupational hazards in being a Pastor.  Let me mention two of them. One of them is that while people expect you to be pious, you can come across as a little too pious at times -- like the lady who came to a pastor at the end of a service, and was very effusive in her gratitude.  She said, "That was the most wonderful sermon I've ever heard. That was absolutely fantastic!  It was so powerful, it has changed my life!"

Well, what does a pastor say to something like that? This one decided that he had to be very humble about it, so he said, "Oh, thank you madam, but it was not me, it was the Lord!"  And she said, "Oh, it wasn't that good!"  So that's one of the things you have to avoid.

The other thing you have to avoid is assuming that people remember anything that you said.  One of the worst things a pastor can do is talk to somebody who has been in the service, and say, "You probably remember four weeks ago, I was talking about such and such a thing." It is just plain embarrassing for everybody.  The only reason the pastor remembers is that he just checked his notes.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Eternal Life

In his latter days, Johnny Cash, whose spiritual renewal has been well documented, produced a series of songs, now collected in a CD under the title Ain't No Grave. The music contains his musings on faith and life after death. The only original song on the album is one titled "I Corinthians 15:55." In case you need a reminder, the words that inspired Cash are, "Where, O Death is your victory? Where O death is your sting?" That song contains a stanza that says, "Oh, let me sail on with my ship to the East/And keep my eye on the North Star/When the journey is no good for men or for beast/I'll be safe wherever You are."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Today's Preaching Insight...

What Starbucks, Harry and You All Have in Common

"For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty, how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Heb. 2:2-3a).

Rick Richardson, professor and writer, tells about a pastor named Dan, who realized he was getting stale. So with the approval of his pastoral team, he took a part-time job at a Starbucks coffee shop.To his surprise, "All 21 people he worked with believed in God. Not one was an atheist ... They were all very positive toward God and spirituality."

Richardson goes on to report:

A second surprise was that all were interested in spiritual things, but not in Christians, Christianity, or the church. No one wanted to hear Dan's proofs for God or invitations to come to church or ideas about salvation. Almost everyone thought they knew what Christianity was about and had decided they didn't want it. They were post Christian. At some point along the way, each of them had experienced a breach in trust related to Christianity. Maybe a Christian friend had been hypocritical or pushy. Maybe when they were young they had attended church and found it boring and irrelevant. Maybe they had watched TV preachers and been turned off. Or maybe they had experienced a tragedy—death or sexual abuse or some other trauma—and felt that God had been distant and uncaring.

Richardson said, "Dan wasn't starting at ground zero, but rather at minus-three or four. ... The biggest thing Dan learned is that people in this generation have a prior question of trust that must be addressed before we can have meaningful spiritual conversations with them."

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

The Great Theologians

The Great Theologians: A Brief Guide (IVP Academic) by Gerald McDermott is a useful and readable guide to the key thinkers who helped shape the way the church thinks about Christian theology. Taking on 11 major theologians: Origen, Athanasius, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Edwards. Schleiermacher, Newman, Barth and Von Balthasar -- the author provides for each a biographical sketch, an overview of their key ideas and a brief selection from their writings.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Today's Preaching Insight...

A Lifetime of Days Holy to the Lord

What do you think? Is it better to befriend a stranger or have common sense? What do you think? Is it better to feed the hungry or have common sense? What do you think? Is it better to risk injury in helping one who may be desperately in need or have common sense? What do you think? Is it better to live your life helping another, especially a child, or having common sense? What do you think? How are we to spend a lifetime of days granted to us? Should we focus on the needs of others or have only common sense and focus on ourselves? Is there something worthwhile in which to spend a lifetime? Bob Keeshan thought there was.

I have to tell you that when I picked up the paper recently and read the headline on the front of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, a part of me sort of died. I learned, as many of you did, that Bob Keeshan had died. My generation remembers him as Captain Kangaroo. Remember his show? I hadn't thought of it in years until yesterday. It aired Monday-Saturday, each morning on CBS back in the 60s. About the only time I got to watch it was on Saturdays, since it wasn't televised until 8:00 in the central time zone where I grew up. How I loved it when I was sick and had to stay home from school. If I wasn't too sick, I got to watch Captain Kangaroo!

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Mistaken Identity

With his request approved, the CNN News cameraman quickly used his cell phone to call the local airport to charter a flight. He was told a twin-engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport.

Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a hanger. He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted, "Let's go!" The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and took off.

Once in the air, the cameraman instructed the pilot, "Fly over the valley and make low passes so I can get shots of the fires on the hillsides.""Why?" asked the pilot."Because I'm a cameraman for CNN," he responded, "and I need to get some close up shots."The pilot was strangely silent for a moment. Finally he stammered, "So, what you're telling me, is...you're not my flight instructor?

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Today's Preaching Insight...

Sexual Immorality: Beyond Body Parts & Nerve Endings

Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body (1 Cor. 6:18-20).Is there anything in the world more fascinating and more powerful than the human sex drive?

Pornography is a multi-billion-dollar industry. I'm told that, in a world where there are so many things to think about and learn, there are more Internet sites devoted to sexual stimulation than any other subject matter on earth.Sexual attractiveness is so desired and admired that we use it to sell every product you can imagine. I opened up the L.A. Times, and this multi-page, high-gloss insert fell out that pictured this knock-down gorgeous brunette in all kinds of attractive poses, the one word theme "GORGEOUS" running through this several-page spread. It was only when I got to the last page I realized that it was an advertisement for Jaguar automobiles.C.S. Lewis, many years ago in his book Mere Christianity, described our contemporary struggle with human sexuality in the following words:

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Pride

Tancredo Neves ran for the presidency of Brazil in the 1980s. He boldly declared that if he got 500,000 votes from his own party, not even God could keep him from being president. Well, he won the election, but one day later he got sick and died. There is no way to know if God accepted his challenge, but what we can know for sure is that human beings ought not to make such bold, arrogant pronouncements. Remember the Titanic. People said God couldn't sink it, but it sank on its maiden voyage.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 35:1
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.

Today's Preaching Insight...

A Good Start Stained

They had it all.

Adam and Eve had such a good start in life.

They were created "in the image of God" or at the highest level of God's created order -- the only creatures designed for intimacy or holy communion with God (read the whole story inGenesis 1:1-3:24).

They complemented each other. Though Adam was the first to admit it, Eve probably joined the refrain, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh."

They were in charge of the whole deal. God said, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every thing that moves on the earth." Everything was just about perfect.

Of course, our fairer gender often suggest our Lord did make man first; only to conclude, "I can do better than that!"

Then there is the not so Biblical tale of God telling Adam to go, be fruitful, and multiply; only to witness the young man return with puzzled look on his face and inquire, "what's a headache?"

Regardless, it was a good start. Everything was just about perfect. But you know what happened. God said Adam and Eve could use, manage, and enjoy everything around them except for one thing: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

I Believe I'll Testify

Much of the greatest preaching in America takes place Sunday by Sunday in African-American churches. In his new book I Believe I'll Testify: The Art of African-American Preaching (Westminster John Knox), Cleophus J. LaRue explores those distinctive characteristics that make black preaching such a powerful rhetorical tool into the 21st century. Of particular interest to me was LaRue's chapter on the disconnect many black students encounter when they study preaching in many predominantly white seminaries. Whatever your ethnicity, you'll find valuable insights for preaching in this brief volume.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...



Proverbs 16:3

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Today's Preaching Insight...

Men & the Church: A Man's Place in the World

Men in general have become reluctant warriors in a social revolution. Men everywhere are wanting to find their places in the world. Most of us grew up in a world that was very different from the world we now inhabit. Our fathers brought home the paycheck and carried out the garbage. Our mothers raised us kids and kept the house clean.

At church, our fathers went to the men's Bible class and debated the Last Days, while our mothers went downstairs and helped the children try to make it through their first days. In church business meetings, our fathers argued over whether to reroof the parsonage, and our mothers sat at their sides in dutiful -- presumably biblical -- silence.

Not all of that has changed, but the evidence is clear that it is all changing. Middle-class lifestyles require two paychecks, not one. And working mother -- who in more and more cases is bringing home half the bacon -- is beginning to expect working father to change half the diapers and run the vacuum half the time.

The church is also changing -- much more slowly but just as surely. Women are no longer silent. Men no longer make all the decisions. And down in the nursery, men are expected to take a turn just like women always have.

(To read the rest of this article click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Easter

Don Aycock tells the story of Menelik II, who was the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 until 1913: "News of a successful new means of dispatching criminals reached him. The news was about a device known as an electric chair. The Emperor eagerly ordered one for his country. Unfortunately, no one bothered to warn him that it never would work because Ethiopia at that time had no electricity. Menelik was determined that his new purchase should not go to waste. He converted the electric chair into a throne.



"There was another occasion when an instrument of death became a throne. On a Palestinian hillside about 20 centuries ago, a cross became a throne for one named Jesus of Nazareth. To this day, that ancient instrument of torture and death is converted into a powerful symbol of life, hope and resurrection. Millions of people around the world see the cross as God's way of indicating His refusal to let death and destruction have the final word."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Today's Preaching Insight...

He Came Back

And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb . . . . As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, . . . he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; . . . he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." (Mark 16:2-7)

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins . . . that he was raised on the third day . . . that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, . . . . Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, . . . .he appeared also to me . . . .(I Corinthians 15:3-8)

Mark says that, on that first Easter, women went to the tomb to pay their last respects to dead Jesus. To their alarm, the body of Jesus was not there. A "young man, dressed in a white robe" told them, "You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified? Well, he isn't here. He is raised. He is going ahead of you to Galilee."

Here's my Easter question for you: Why Galilee?

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

The Invitation: The Not-So-Simple Truth About Following Jesus

In The Invitation: The Not-So-Simple Truth About Following Jesus(Revell), Greg Sidders emphasizes the next step after receiving Christ: following Him in obedience. Sidders examines seven discipleship sayings of Jesus. The book could offer helpful ideas for a sermon series on obedience.

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Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalm 34:1
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

Today's Preaching Insight...



He's Not There, but Thank God He's Here!
He really does live, doesn't He? He's not there in that tomb, is He? Thank God He's not there! Thank God He's here — with you and me. There is no question about it. There's no doubt in my mind. The tomb was empty on that first Easter morning. Jesus was resurrected. He's not there, but thank God He's here! That really is the powerful message of Easter Sunday.

And it is a message that needs to be heard again and again. For we are all like the three women, described here in Mark's account of resurrection in Mark 16 — the earliest Gospel account. Early that Sunday morning, they were going to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, wondering how the massive stone would be rolled aside so they could enter. Upon arrival they observed that stone sealing the tomb had already been rolled away. Upon entering it, they saw a young man — an angel, to be exact, who told them not to be alarmed since they were. You and I would've been alarmed too, by the way. He knew why they were there: to anoint Jesus' dead body, which would have been a very noble thing to do. But the body wasn't there. The young man told them He had been raised. Even though the angel reminded those three ladies that Jesus had told them all this was going to happen, it still didn't make sense to them.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...



Illustration: Easter, Cross
In a church marketing newsletter just a few years ago, a campaign was suggested to attract people to church during the season of Easter. In this public relations campaign, it was suggested the cross be removed from the altar. According to the author, a survey has revealed the cross is one of those symbols the new generation of churchgoers considered too churchy. One pastor interviewed for the campaign gave his wholehearted endorsement. "We are going to attempt to concentrate on the resurrection, and not the death of Jesus."

Easter without the cross. Is it possible to have resurrection without crucifixion? No. It distorts the entire gospel if crucifixion is separated from resurrection. The road to the empty tomb will forever pass by a cross. The One who is raised from the dead is none other than the crucified Christ. Easter without a cross is a hoax.

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Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalms 33:12

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.

Today's Preaching Insight...

From Doubt to Declaration

When you woke up Easter morning of 2003 you already knew how the story of Holy Week ended. You did not wake up wondering whether or not Jesus of Nazareth was still in the grave. You did not wake up to a world where death and the grave seemed to have won the final victory. You already knew how the story ended. When you walked into the door of the church someone greeted you with the words "Christ is risen" and you responded by saying "He is risen indeed!" We know how the story ended. It is important for us to remember that on that first Easter day so many years ago the disciples of Jesus did not wake up with that same assurance. Whatever they were expecting to face that day, it is clear from the story that resurrection was not on their minds.

Our text today takes us to the evening after the resurrection of Jesus had occurred. The text invites us into the midst of a group of broken-hearted and confused disciples. We can observe them as they wonder what they will do with their lives now that the man they believed to be the Son of God and the savior of the world was taken down from a cross and sealed inside a grave. Parts of three days have passed by and the disciples had remained out of sight, still afraid that what had happened to Jesus might also happen to them if they showed their faces in public.

But now it is Sunday morning, and some of the women who had followed Jesus during most of his earthly ministry were determined to leave that upper room hiding place and go to the tomb where their Lord had been buried. Peter, James and John did not go with them, because someone on the street might still recognize one of them. After all, it was just four days earlier that three different people had picked Peter out of the crowd and announced that he was one of the followers of Jesus. Three times Peter denied even knowing Jesus; and those encounters took place at night when faces are harder to see. Now it is Sunday morning and the chances of detection were simply too high, so the women go to the tomb alone.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)   

Today's Extra...

Illustration: Easter, Resurrection

In his day, Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin was one of the most powerful men on earth. Bukharin was a Russian Communist leader who took part in the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravdaand was a member of the Politburo. His works on economics and political science were big sellers.

A story is told about a journey he took from Moscow to Kiev in 1930 to address a huge assembly on the subject of atheism. Addressing the crowd, he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity hurling insult, argument and proof against it.

An hour later, he was finished. He looked out at what seemed to be the smoldering ashes of men's faith. "Are there any questions?" Bukharin demanded. Deafening silence filled the auditorium, but then one man stood. He surveyed the crowd, first to the left then to the right. Finally he shouted the ancient greeting known well in the Russian Orthodox Church: "CHRIST IS RISEN!" En masse the crowd arose as one man and the response came crashing like the sound of thunder: "HE IS RISEN INDEED!"

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Today's Word for Pastors...

Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Today's Preaching Insight...

What God Wants More Than Anything Else

One of my college professors had a twisted sense of humor. On exam days after distributing test questions and giving us a moment to look them over, he would leave the room. Just before closing the door, with a twinkle in his eye he would quip, "When you're finished, you may pass out quietly."

I never liked tests as a student. Pursuing a career as a professor, I can't say I like them much better now. Contrary to what we believed as students, most teachers don't. Tests are two-way mirrors. They reflect how well the student learned and provide a window into how well the instructor taught. Test questions are like boomerangs. They come back to be dealt with by those who threw them out.

When we come to Mark 12, we find Jesus being tested. The class is trying to stick it to their Teacher. On edge because of a parable He recently shared (vv.1-12), they begin posing questions.

First, the Pharisees and Herodians, unlikely study partners otherwise, get together and raise a question about paying tribute to Caesar. The Pharisees liked Caesar about as much Cuban-Americans would like for Fidel Castro to be Governor of Florida. The Herodians felt just the opposite. As much as the two parties disagreed on politics, they agreed in their animosity toward Jesus.

(To read the rest of this article, click here to visit the official website)

Today's Extra...

Why? Making Sense of God's Will

Why? Making Sense of God's Will(Abingdon Press) reflects the way that pastor Adam Hamilton has wrestled with questions of suffering in his own preaching and teaching. He seeks to help readers make sense of God in the face of tragic events, and helps us to better understand God's plan for the world and for our own lives. The book emerged from a sermon series Hamilton preached in his own congregation]

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Today's Word for Pastors...

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Hebrews 10:26-27

Today's Preaching Insight...

On Our Own

Why is it so difficult for you and me to admit that we have a problem?

We men are chronic at what is almost a gender-oriented disability. We get in our car to go somewhere convinced that we can find our way without specific directions. After wandering around futilely in the general vicinity of our destination, our wives suggest that we stop and get directions, only to fuel in us a greater determination that we know precisely what we're doing. We refuse to get help until finally we're forced to admit that we're lost. Why is it?

Our study workbook in Galatians describes Jill calling out, "Honey, you had better call the repairman. Our TV is on the blink again."
"Who needs a repairman!" Ron replies confidently. "I can fix it myself."

Four hours later, "There, that should do it." As Ron plugs it in, there is a loud buzzing noise, smoke rises from the TV, the lights begin to flicker, and then darkness blacks out the room.

"Uh . . . maybe you're right, dear," Ron says sheepishly. "I suppose calling a repairman couldn't hurt."

Whether we're dealing with frustrating but not so crucial issues like these all the way to those debilitating addictions of drugs, alcohol, sex, power, and greed that hold us in their stranglehold, we somehow think that we can solve the problem ourselves. We learn that when it comes to addictions, you and I are helpless to solve them on our own without the help of our "higher power."

This is precisely what the Apostle Paul is addressing in Galatians 3:15-29 as he continues to deal in this doctrinal section of chapters three and four with the theme of Grace and the Law.

The bottom-line thesis is that the Law is there to confront you and me with our need of outside help and then to point us to Jesus Christ as the only one who can give that help.

He is the one who gives the best directions. He is the one who is the true repairman. He is our "higher power" who can do for us what we cannot do in our own effort.

(To read the entire article Exposing Our Needs from John A. Huffman Jr. at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Christian Life

Basketball players dress simply: shoes, shirts, shorts, and sweatbands. But life is not so simple for football players - and what about ice hockey players? Besides clothes, the athletes in these two sports have to cover themselves with pads and helmets for protection. Regardless of the sport, no athlete can expect to win without the proper equipment.

Paul wrote to Timothy that Scripture was given by God to man that we might be "thoroughly equipped for every good work." How, exactly, does Scripture equip the believer? It teaches us doctrine, it reproves (disciplines) us, it corrects our path, and it instructs us in righteous living. Plus, it gives us our uniform for "offense" (putting on Christ; Romans 13:14) and "defense" (spiritual armor; Ephesians 6:11-18). In addition, we are given our daily practice gear: service, Bible study, fruit of the Spirit, prayer, and obedience. If that sounds like a lot of equipment, consider the stakes: The spiritual life is a winner-take-all contest.
(Turning Point Daily Devotional, 4-20-08)

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Today's Word for Pastors...

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12

Today's Preaching Insight...

Obedience is 100%

Have you ever made a decision to obey God as a way of life? I'm not talking about obeying once in a while but in every area to the best of your knowledge and ability. Or do you find that there are times when you struggle to do what you know is right and in keeping with His principles? There may be times when it is easy to discern between what is right and in keeping with God's will and what is wrong and not a part of His plan. In fact, you may actually obey Him at crucial junctures because you want His best. Other times, you may feel as if you are being pulled aside by disobedience simply because you did not do your homework in prayer and the study of God's Word.
Solomon admonished us to "catch the foxes." He went on to explain that it is the "little foxes that are ruining the vineyards" (Song 2:15).

Often the smaller decisions bring about the biggest consequences. A decision to tell a little white lie is very costly because it leads to sin and usually the next step, which is deception. The enemy is very keen. He knows better than to tempt a seasoned believer to flat out disobey God. Obvious sin always draws a response. Friends and family members usually speak up when you are involved in something that leads to shame, failure and a damaged testimony. You may falsely believe that something perceived as being insignificant is much easier to disguise. It may be for a season, but at some point God pulls the covers back, and the truth is revealed about what you have done.

Too many people reach the point of being shattered, broken, hurting, lonely and discouraged before they seek God's help. A Christian counselor who works with corporate executives once told me that if he can be brought into a conflict before it escalates to a serious level, he usually can show people how to solve the problem. But this rarely happens because most of us are very reserved and will not freely expose what we are feeling and thinking until much later. By then the conflict is threatening to spiral out of control. Jesus knows our hearts, and He makes it clear from page one of His Word that obedience to Him should be our central focus. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and suffered the loss of everything they knew as right and good.

However, just as you can track disobedience down through the generations, you also can trace the benefits of obedience. God provides a perfect contrast between the two in His Word:

"If you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. ... But it shall come about, if you do not obey the Lord your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country" (Deut. 28:1-3, 15-16).

The only similarity between obedience and disobedience is that they reflect the type of lifestyle we have.

(To read the entire sermon "God Delights in Obedience" by Charles Stanley on Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Conversion

Australia is the only country in the world to have a picture of a convicted forger on its currency. Francis Greenway came to Australia—as many early settlers did—as a convict. He had been convicted in England of forgery. Once in Australia, he changed his life. He began to use his hidden skills as an architect. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Sydney, Australia, were designed by him; and they put his picture on the Australian 10 dollar bill. They believed he had changed.

Jesus always believed that people could change. He also helped them to change, just as He will help you to change.

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Today's Word for Pastors...

But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:3-4

Today's Preaching Insight...

Good and Faithful

I wonder what Paul's reaction would be if he saw us today, the American church. I wonder what would be his response to observing our efforts toward becoming "user-friendly" churches.

Faithfulness to the Gospel message of salvation only through faith in Jesus Christ and the faithful teaching and preaching of the Scriptures is not always that popular. Humorous, interesting, anecdotal, clever rhetoric is "user friendly" and can draw great crowds. However, when the popular preacher moves to another city or discredits himself through scandalous activities, people tend to flee to another place which we will call "The Church of What's Happening Now."

There are those who periodically put before every pastor a printout of the attendance record. And every month we see the financial statistics. I don't see anywhere in the Bible that the size of weekly attendance and the size of offering are listed as indexes of spiritual vitality. When we step into the presence in the day of believers' judgment I see no index in the Bible that He will respond something like this: "Well, done, you saints at St. Andrew's. In twenty-five years you grew your budget from $500,000 to over $2,000,000, plus paid off an additional $16.5 million building program. I am a bit concerned that a couple of those years you did not end in the black, and that there are times when your attendance plateaued and even slipped a bit."

No, you will find nothing like that in the Bible.

Instead, we are told to look forward to that day when Jesus looks into our eyes and says, "Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter your eternal rest!"

I remember those early years of my ministry here when I was, with great regularity, compared negatively to the preaching of other popular megachurch preachers, who were funnier, more entertaining, brighter, more scintillating. Every pastor I know feels the pain of being compared to someone else who has a different set of gifts, someone else who is blessed to have a dynamic radio or television ministry. Thank God for all expressions that are faithful to Jesus Christ. But never compromise and major on minors to look good and avoid persecution for the sake of the Cross of Jesus Christ and faithfulness to God's Word. Paul observes that some of the Galatians are emphasizing the externals of such things such as circumcision for the wrong reasons: "The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ" (Galatians 6:12).

Faithfulness to Jesus Christ does not produce an easy life. In fact, the people we most admire have paid a price for faithfulness.

I love these words of Mother Teresa: "I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."

(To read the entire article, "A Final Word about Authentic Christian Faith" by John A. Huffman Jr. on Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

The House Church Book

There is much discussion today about the emergence of house churches as a significant movement. The House Church Book (Tyndale) is a very sympathetic treatment of the phenomenon by Wolfgang Simson. The book advocates house churches and offers counsel on developing such gatherings. The book was originally published in the UK, and this is a revised work.

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Today's Word for Pastors...

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body.
2 Peter 1:12-13

Today's Preaching Insight...

Can't Get No Satisfaction

Cleveland, Ohio, is the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That's because back in the 1950s, there was a disc jockey by the name of Alan Freed who worked for an AM radio station in Cleveland. He began referring to the music of Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley as "rock 'n' roll music." Even though the inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame take place in New York City, the origin of the term rock 'n' roll music began in Cleveland.

In keeping with that 50-year legacy, a poll was taken of radio listeners and disc jockeys across the country concerning the No. 1 rock 'n' roll song of all time. I was not especially interested in the outcome—I have a preference for the rhythm and blues music of Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and The Temptations—but I must confess I was somewhat surprised when it was revealed that Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis or even Elvis Presley was not associated with the No. 1 rock 'n' roll song song of all time. Instead, the poll revealed that the No. 1 rock 'n' roll song song of all time was by the British band, The Rolling Stones, titled "I Can't Get No Satisfaction."

It occurred to me that the popularity and longevity of that particular song can be attributed to a simple observation: That song speaks to the fundamental dilemma of so many people in our society who are in a constant quest for something that can bring them satisfaction. The song has a refrain that says, "And I tried—and I tried—and I tried—and I tried—I can't get no satisfaction."

You can almost see the history of the last 40 years of American life and culture written through the lens and lyrics of that song: "I have tried sex and orgies, and I can't get satisfaction." "I have tried LSD and cocaine, and I can't get satisfaction." "I have tried alcohol and amphetamines, and I still can't get satisfaction." "I have tried money and materialism, and all I can say is I can't get no satisfaction."

Perhaps the reason the song has remained so appealing to Americans is because the song speaks to an aspiration that reaches deep into our psyche and to a frustration that burns within so many of our fellow citizens: "I tried, and I tried, and I tried, and I tried—but I can't get no satisfaction."

The search for satisfaction can take at least four different faces in our world today, and most of us have gotten stuck trying to find satisfaction in one of three distinct ways. The things we keep trying in our vain attempts to find satisfaction are called happiness, pleasure and thrills.

How strange that all three of these things are referred to in one way or another by the apostle Paul in Galatians 5:19-21 as being related to the works of the flesh or the acts of the sinful nature." Paul refers to them by such names as drunkenness, debauchery, discord and dissensions. We can refer to the same impulses of the human spirit by different names, but the motivation and the desired outcome are the same; we are trying to create satisfaction for ourselves.

(To read the entire sermon "After All I've Been Through I Still Have Joy" by Marvin A. McMickle at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Sexual Purity

In a recent Breakpoint commentary, Mark Earley writes: "Dale Kuehne is the author of a new book, Sex and the iWorld. He says the traditional world, or tWorld, as he calls it, has been largely supplanted by the iWorld, in which 'the immediate desires of the individual have been deemed paramount.' In the iWorld, complete sexual freedom is a given, as long as all parties consent. Sexuality is considered essential to human happiness.

"This is why iWorlders are scornful of the biblical view that sex should be reserved for marriage between one man and one woman. 'What about single people?' 'What about gays in a committed relationship?' they ask. 'Are they to be condemned to lifelong misery?'

"Even churches have bought into the iWorld belief that sex is essential to happiness. The idea that one cannot have relational fulfillment without sex 'has been a largely unquestioned assumption of evangelical psychology, if not theology, for decades,' Kuehne writes.

"That's why many Christians now accept the iWorld teaching that anything that stands in the way of sexual fulfillment must be wrong. 'God wants us to be fulfilled,' they reason; 'sex is an essential component of relational fulfillment, thus the Bible can't really mean what it says about restricting sex to marriage.'

"Well, Christians who accept this idea need to open their eyes--and dig a little deeper in the Word. Scripture teaches that humans are made for relationships, and that we crave intimacy and love more than anything else, Kuehne writes. For instance, in his teachings about sex and marriage in 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul makes clear that we can have deeply fulfilling lives without sexual relationships. Some of the richest relationships in the Scriptures are non-sexual ones. David and Jonathan. Jesus and the disciples. Jesus and Mary Magdalene.

"Moreover, where biblical writers viewed sexual relations within marriage as a wonderful good, they considered sex itself to be an appetite--something that potentially was enslaving. Tragically, many iWorlders have become enslaved by their appetites.

"'True intimacy and happiness are found in loving God with all our hearts, souls and minds, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. The greater our intimacy with God,' Kuehne writes, 'the greater our ability to share that love with others.'

"For those who think sex is essential to their happiness, Kuehne has a question: 'Does the iWorld view of sex and relationship make them happy? The sad truth is that promiscuity inhibits our ability to cultivate the love and intimacy God designed us to enjoy.'" (Click here to read the full commentary. Click here to learn more about Sex and the iWorld.)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons.
1 Cor. 10:21

Today's Preaching Insight...

Anything Goes?

There's part of us that wants to live in the reality that anything goes.

There is something in each of us, at the same time, that pulls back from this concept of freedom. We feel more secure where we are surrounded by rules that confine us. We get a bit scared out there in that big, wide world where there is no security of fences to help us feel secure in our own territory.

This year, Anne and I have adopted two, adult male dogs, King Charles Cavalier Spaniels. The first one, Monty, we brought home on Christmas Eve. He is a little five-year-old Blenheim. The second, Travis, we brought home on Labor Day weekend. He is a little Tri-Color. Both these dogs love the freedom to roam. At the same time, we discovered from the breeder that they are happiest when they have a secure space, quite limited in size, where they feel comfortable. To bring them to a brand-new environment, as we did, and give them immediate access to the entire house was quite disconcerting. It is better to make clear what is their safe space to which they can return, so they are not insecure, than suddenly thrust them into a whole new environment of freedom. It is too much for them to handle.
When we did that too quickly, we saw that it produced anxiety in these perfectly housebroken little fellows. They reverted to some anti-social behavior, making their mark on some of our prize furniture in an endeavor to create a safe place, familiar to them.

True freedom does not mean that "anything goes."

Anything does not go!

(To read the entire article "Living by the Spirit" by John A. Huffman Jr. at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

Science Test Answers

The following are actual submissions on a series of science quizzes, tests, and essays:

"Nitrogen is not found in Ireland because it is not found in a free state."
"H2O is hot water, and CO2 is cold water."
"To collect fumes of sulphur, hold a deacon over a flame in a test tube."
"When you smell an oderless gas, it is probably carbon monoxide."
"Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water."
"Three kinds of blood vessels are arteries, vanes and caterpillars."
"The body consists of three parts — the branium, the borax, and the abominable cavity. The branium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abominable cavity contains the bowels, of which there are five — a, e, i, o, and u."
"Blood flows down one leg and up the other."
"Respiration is composed of two acts, first inspiration, and then expectoration."
"The moon is a planet just like the earth, only it is even deader."
"Dew is formed on leaves when the sun shines down on them and makes them perspire."
"A super saturated solution is one that holds more than it can hold."
"Mushrooms always grow in damp places and so they look like umbrellas."
"The pistol of a flower is its only protections agenst insects."
"The skeleton is what is left after the insides have been taken out and the outsides have been taken off. The purpose of the skeleton is something to hitch meat to."
(from The Daily Dilly)
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Today's Word for Pastors...

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

Today's Preaching Insight...

Walls

Something in Jesus did not love a wall. That is why He passed through Samaria.

On a hot afternoon in that desert region, Jesus found a shady spot and sank wearily to the ground beside a well to wait while the disciples went for food. A little later, a woman came to draw water. Jesus asked her for a drink.

The woman was utterly flabbergasted and exclaimed, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can You ask me for a drink?"

This snatch of conversation was the first warning tremor of the earthquake that would bring down walls dividing people around the world. Today Christianity is the most diverse religion in the world — racially, culturally and geographically. I sometimes chuckle when I hear in the media that the latest trend is "globalism." Friends, globalism was invented 2000 years ago, when this man, Jesus, told His disciples, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel." With other major religions, you can point to a map of the world and say, "You will find most Hindus concentrated in this region" or "the majority of Muslims are in these countries . . ." Don't even try that with Christianity.

Today 60 % of all Christians inhabit regions equaling two-thirds of the world's area: Asia, Africa and Latin America. We find more Christians attending worship in China than in all of Western Europe. Today in Scotland, less than ten percent of Christians attend church, while in the Philippines this morning, you will find seventy percent of that nation's Christians in the pews. In Nigeria alone, there are seven times as many Anglicans as there are Episcopalians in the United States. Korea now has four times as many Presbyterians as we have in this country. Oh yes, this is truly "World Communion Sunday."

Why? Because Jesus passed through Samaria.

Jesus was friendly as He passed through that hostile territory. He let down His own walls. He struck up a conversation with a stranger. Some of you have told me you grew up in small Southern towns. You remember riding down small-town roads with your parents as a child. Whenever another car drove by, your father would always wave. Can you imagine doing that here in Atlanta? You might be arrested for bizarre behavior. As your father walked on the street in that small Southern town, he considered it simple good manners to tip his hat to each woman he encountered (assuming she was a lady). Those gracious courtesies are a thing of the past. Today it seems we are always surrounded by people we wish weren't there, people who take our parking spot or who make the lines longer at the supermarket checkout stand. So today friendliness is no longer our supreme public virtue. Nowadays, we value physical attractiveness instead. We spend billions simply to appear attractive. Dallas Willard says we aren't even aiming for Andy Warhol's fifteen minutes of fame — these days, we're willing to settle for 15 seconds of fame, content to turn a few heads when we walk into a room. We aren't looking for authentic relationships, or even casual friendship, just a split-second response to our appearance from a stranger. Willard says that on the scale of social interaction, attractiveness is at the bottom of the barrel.

But Jesus never met a stranger.

(To read the entire article Cracks in the Wall by Victor D. Pentz at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Christian Life

Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how two hours seem so long when you're at church, and so short when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficult and boring you think it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in church?

Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda but we can adjust it for other events at the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn things about God to share with others but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven but they don't want to believe, do or say anything to get there?

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:33

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Fallen

Legalistic Christianity is extremely severe on brothers and sisters who slip and fall. Paul is alerting us to the acid test as to how serious we are about grace. In my legalism, I am inclined to point the finger and gossip about the brother or sister who has slipped into sin. Wherein I am preoccupied with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and grateful for what God has done for me, I am prepared to restore gently the fallen brother or sister — because I am very much aware of how God has restored me by His grace.

Most of the commentaries illustrate this gentle restoration in orthopedic terms. It's the kind of care a doctor gives to you when you have broken a bone.

Just that casual reference brings back the vivid memories of my 1981 ski accident at Mammoth, in which I had a compound, boot-top fracture of my right leg. I had wiped out in moguls under chair number three. The ski patrol so gently lifted me out of the deep snow into the toboggan. They put my leg in a splint, then skied me as gently as possible down the mountain in that toboggan to the staging area by the emergency room. They lifted me into an ambulance, oh so carefully, and drove me to the hospital. There, in the operating room, the doctors didn't minimize the problem, saying, "Because we don't want to hurt you we are just going to let this heal naturally." Instead, they, so sensitively, shared with me what they were going to do, how they would reset that leg, knowing that without the pain of that delicate surgery, there would not be full restoration. What I remembered was that everything they did was with sensitivity and care for my ultimate good.

That's what Paul is telling us. When you hear a brother or sister has fallen into sin, don't luxuriate in their troubles. Function by the law of love in which you gently restore a fallen brother or sister.

(To read the entire article "The Law of Love" by John A. Huffman Jr. at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book

A Multi-Site Church Road Trip
By Michael Duduit
Editor, Preaching Magazine

Wondering about the trend toward multi-site churches? Then hop on board A Multi-Site Church Road Trip (Zondervan) for an enjoyable and informative survey of what's happening across the American church scene. Subtitled Exploring the New Normal, the book is written by Geoff Surratt of Seacoast Church (with at least 10 sites at last count), and Greg Ligon and Warren Bird of Leadership Network. Don't consider that second site before reading it.
.

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Today's Word for Pastors...

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:15-17

Today's Preaching Insight...

Holiness into Happiness

Holiness is a state of heart, mind, and soul. Holiness or sanctification or consecration is a process beginning at conversion to Christ and continuing until we meet Him face to face after the last breath; praying and laboring to be different from the world as increasingly transformed by the Word in Jesus and the Bible.

Embracing and emulating holiness does not provide an escape from the world, but it does provoke a passionate determination to be in but not of the world:

Necessity prevails over materialism.
Food provides physical fuel and personal pleasure but does not feed gluttony.
Sleep restores the body but is not an excuse for laziness.
Sex is celebrated in but not apart from marriage.
Money is a tool to serve God not selfishness.
Position, prestige, and power are instruments for advancing the Kingdom rather than personal desire.
Work and play balance but don't dominate each other.
Holiness is separating ourselves from the ways of the world by devotion to God's will as exemplified in Jesus and explained in the Bible.

Particularly, holiness is nurtured through spiritual disciplines: worship, prayer, Bible study, fasting, sacrament, silence, stewardship, and fellowship with believers.

The payoff of holiness is happiness.

(To read the entire article "Holiness = Happiness" by Robert R. Kopp at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Perfection, Excellence

Stradivarius violins are known as the best violins in the world. Famous musicians love to play them. These violins can be strong and powerful, soft and expressive, energetic and brilliant. Said one performer: "It's like a great race car. There's more power than you need, and it responds to the slightest touch." Antonio Stradivari was a master artisan who lived in northern Italy about 300 years ago. Many people have tried to imitate his unique way of crafting stringed instruments, but none have succeeded. That's one reason why "Strad" violins today are often worth millions of dollars.

Many would say that Stradivarius violins come close to musical perfection. Perfection is a rare commodity.
(Today in the Word, June 2007)

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Hebrews 2:14-15

Today's Preaching Insight...

The Healthy Church

What does a healthy church look like?

I. A Healthy Church Is a Devoted Church

Occasionally Luke stops to give us a glimpse of the progress of the early church. Here is our first, and here we may observe the marks of a healthy church — both then and now.

A healthy church is devoted to teaching. The early church "continually devot[ed] themselves to the apostles teaching." Their teaching was Christ-centered and biblically focused. There were thousands who placed there trust in Christ and desperately needed to understand more His nature and how their new relationship should affect their lives.

A healthy church is also devoted to fellowship. There was a real sense of community and shared values in this early gathering of believers. This wasn't just a pot luck dinner; these early Christians shared true intimacy and depended on their fellow saints.

A healthy church is devoted to celebrating the Lord's supper. A church that teaches Christ and lives Christ in community will long to remember His sacrifice.

A healthy church is devoted to prayer. This early assembly understand their dependance on God for all things. They knew the necessity of communing with the Giver and Sustainer of life.

II. A Healthy Church Is a Giving Church

As the author goes on he mentions that these early believers were in awe of what was taking place. There were many miracles validating the message of the apostles. The greatest miracle was the changed lives of those who placed their trust in Christ.

Can you imagine the scene? These people were giving away their possessions according to the needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ. They were experiencing the blessings of a community of faith truly dependant on God. What they once considered theirs was now understood as God's.

I know I'd do anything for my physical parents or siblings, but would I have the attitude of these early Christians towards my spiritual family?

III. A Healthy Church Is a Joyously United Church

"Day by Day continuing with one mind . . . ." We could learn much from the unity exemplified here. This wasn't grumbling submission to the majority; it was joyful fellowship with "gladness and sincerity of heart."

IV. A Healthy Church Is a Worshiping Church

This fellowship of believers was intent on praising God. Christ was the focus and desire of their hearts. The text says that they had favor with all people. Jesus said that we will know we're His disciples by our love for one another. And He taught that the greatest command is to love God with our whole being, and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves.

This body worshiped God with their whole lives. They were devoted, giving, joyously united and worshipers. By the grace of God we have a wonderful legacy. May we do our part to maintain that legacy by continuing to develop these qualities of a healthy church.

(To read the entire article "A Healthy Church" by Jonathan Kever at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Laugh

Everything I Needed To Know In Life I Learned From A Jigsaw Puzzle

Don't force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.

When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.

Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.

Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.

When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later (see above).

The creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook.

Variety is the spice of life.  It's the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting.

Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.

Don't be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.

Take time to celebrate your successes (even little ones).

Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can't be rushed.

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Today's Preaching Insight...

Almost Isn't Good Enough

Almost... It's a sad word in anybody's dictionary. It keeps company with expressions like "if only" and (in the South) "near 'bout."

Almost is a word that smacks of missed opportunities and fumbled chances.

Tim KcKee was edged out for first place in the Olympic 400-meter race by two-thousandths of a second. He almost won a gold medal.

Max Lucado gives us these sad statements that revolve around almost:

"He almost got it together."

"We were almost able to work it out."

"He almost made it to the big leagues."

"I caught a catfish that was bigger than me. Well, almost!"

As they say, almost doesn't count except in horseshoes and hand grenades.

[The rich young ruler was] an "almost" kind of guy... In terms of disciples, he was the big one that got away. He could have been the powerful establishment figure who might have won half the Jewish power structure to Jesus. One day he met Jesus and hovered on the brink of commitment. He almost claimed Jesus as the Lord of his life.

But almost is not good enough.

(To read the rest of the article "Almost Persuaded" by Bill Bouknight at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Thanksgiving

There once was a poor, rural family who were greatly concerned because their little boy had not started talking. The family didn't have many resources to call upon, so the problem went on for a long time. One day, while the mother was making supper, she became overwhelmed and lost her concentration. She burned the meal. After she served the meal, the little boy tasted it and hollered, "I can't eat this. It's all burned." Shocked but happy, the mother hugged the child and asked, "Why haven't you been talking?" He said, "Up to now, everything has been OK."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 Peter 1:23

Today's Preaching Insight...

Worship in the Face of Threat

There is a certainty in the Word of God that whatever God says will come to pass.

Charles Campbell holds the distinguished Peter Marshall's Chair of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. In November 2007, he visited Korea and toured as many sites as possible. While there, the guide took him to the base of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, pointing upward to the hill's zenith. Atop that mountain was a small chapel where the service members gathered and worshipped. Campbell was a Presbyterian preacher, and Korea was the place where Knox Presbyterians had infiltrated the land with the gospel. The largest Presbyterian churches in the world were on that particular terra firma.

Campbell wanted to see this small chapel on top of this DMZ sight. Upon arrival, his attention was drawn to the way the pulpit was designed. To the back of the congregation was South Korea, and in front of the pulpit there was only glass. The congregation and the pulpit looked out on North Korea with its missiles or trained nuclear arms ready for battle at the command of their military leader. They worshipped, hearing the Word of God in the face of nuclear threat. That
congregation listened to God's Word uninterrupted, with the possibility of war commencing at any moment.

Campbell concluded there was nothing between the Word of God and the threat, oppression, tyranny and murders in North Korea. The only thing those worshippers had in the face of national threat were the promises, certainty and power found only in God's living Word.

(To read the entire article "A Baby in the Belfry" by Ralph Douglas West at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Mistakes, Teaching

A high school senior saw an inspirational advertisement on television about becoming a teacher. She called the number shown: 1.800.45TEACH. After a woman answered, the student immediately began talking about how she thought she had found her life's calling and asked if she could send her some information.

The lady who answered the phone asked the student what number she was calling. The student told her and there was a long pause.

Then the woman said, "You misspelled teach."
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
Proverbs 16:33

Today's Preaching Insight...

Fleeting

The empire does not strike back, the empire strikes out! All world empires are temporary. One comes after another and they do not strike back, they all strike out. As we confront our culture with Daniel we're reminded of the futility of putting faith in human governments. We see our only hope in a stone that is not cut with human hands. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming to fill the earth with a kingdom of peace and glory. When will these things come to pass? They come to pass when the toes of Daniel emerge in human history.

(To read the entire article "The Hope of Human History" by O.S. Hawkins at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

This Week's Book



The First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians
Reviewed On: November 09, 2009
Among the outstanding commentaries recently released, one of our favorites is Gordon Fee's new work on The First and Second Letters to the Thessalonians (Eerdmans), part of the New International Commentary on the New Testament series. Fee offers a marvelous exposition of the biblical text, along with helpful theological reflections and practical observations. Pastors who plan to preach or teach on the Thessalonian letters will want this resource close at hand.
:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:32

Today's Preaching Insight...

Praying Preachers

The dire need of today's church is for preachers to become praying people in order to harness the resources of heaven and become channels of blessing. If society is to be impacted with the presence of the Lord, Preachers must have a vivid knowledge of the Holy One. That is discovered "in the shelter of the Most High" and "under the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1).

As William Longstaff wrote in poetic eloquence, it takes effort to be holy by spending "much time in secret with Jesus alone." It is a lonely vigil but the most rewarding experience this side of heaven. A joyous presence envelopes us throughout the day after experiencing the satisfaction of worshipping Him. According to the Psalmist, it is a place of stillness where we know God (Psalm 46:10). We can only hear Him speak to us when we are quiet before Him.

God hears us when we leave the tumble and rush of the world for the quiet hour. That is illustrated by Jesus who often went to a mountain to have a night-long conversation with His heavenly Father. This was also true of Elijah. He was strengthened by food prepared by an angel and traveled alone for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the Mountain of God. During that journey he enjoyed companionship and fellowship with the Lord (I Kings 19:5-8).

(To read the entire article "Praying Preachers" by Ernest V. Liddle at Preaching.com, click here)

Today's Extra...

Tact

In a classic "Peanuts" comic, Charlie Brown is warned that all the girls are angry with him. The girls confront him with many complaints and then ask, "What have you got to say for yourself?" Rather than arguing, Charlie says, "Nothing. You girls are absolutely right, and I'm glad to hear you feel this way." After they leave he turns to look at the reader and says, "My soft answer hath turned away a whole flock of wrath."

:angel:

Today's Word for Pastors...

Who has put wisdom in the innermost being Or given understanding to the mind?
Job 38:36

Today's Preaching Insight...

Priorities

"In 1988, Greg Simmons, a brilliant young businessman whose ideas helped revolutionize American life insurance, flew to New York to make a presentation to Board members of AT&T. It was a deal with a commission potential worth more than one million dollars. At the last minute, the AT&T CEO was delayed. He requested that Greg make his proposal the following day. Greg politely explained that was not possible. 'Tomorrow,' he said, 'is my daughter's fifth birthday. I promised her I'd be at her party.'

"For Greg Simmons, his daughter's birthday party was more important than a million dollar deal. I wonder how many big-time CEOs have played second fiddle to a little girl's birthday party. I also wonder if Greg had any idea he would die in a mountain fall a few months later.

"Priorities! At the time, some people said Greg's priorities were all out of whack. But when you stop and think about it, none of us knows when we might attend the last birthday party for someone whose love we value beyond price. I was Greg's pastor. He was my best friend. His example of well-placed priorities taught me a lesson I hope I never forget!"  (R. Leslie Holmes)

Today's Extra...

Flag, Patriotism

Henry Ward Beecher once said, "A thoughtful mind, when it sees a Nation's flag, sees not the flag only, but the Nation itself; and whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag the Government, the principles, the truths, the history which belongs to the Nation that sets it forth." (from The American Flag)

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