Today's Word

[Judy Harder]

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)

[Judy Harder]

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...

[Judy Harder]

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)

[Judy Harder]

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)

 

[Judy Harder]

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)

[Judy Harder]

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."

[Judy Harder]

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."

[Judy Harder]

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.

[Judy Harder]

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)]

[Judy Harder]

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.