For many congregations, the same preacher will be presenting the same sermon in all of the various venues. I actually think it is great fun to be a part of all of the service styles, but it is no easy task to shift gears from service to service and sometimes from setting to setting.
When we use illustrations that are beyond the scope, the everyday experience, of our hearers, there’s an higher chance they illustration will miss them altogether. They may even intellectually grasp the message, but they will not feel it, relate to, or see themselves in it.
Is God a Cosmic Hall Monitor, leering from heaven and ready to pounce as soon as we step out of line? I’m afraid some of the people with whom I serve seem to believe God just wants to spoil their fun. The Life Preservers series takes a positive approach to the Ten Commandments, looking at the affirmation of life and promotion of wholeness inherent in God’s instructions.
Variety is the spice of life. This maxim certainly applies to our preaching. Good variety can keep the preacher fresh and the congregation more engaged, so build an annual preaching calendar with a good mix of sermon series.
I went to see the movie, The Martian, last night to just relax and not think of “church related things” but my mission failed. The entire movie is filled with so many great preaching illustrations that I can’t get the film and it’s many themes off my mind.
No one likes to do a stewardship campaign, but everyone needs to; not because our churches need money, but because we all need Jesus as the master of every area in our life.
We all make our own fashion statement. Some are more adept at it than others. We often pile on the accessories in hopes of elevating our outward appearance. It happens in our spiritual life, too. But Jesus isn’t an accessory. He’s the whole wardrobe. Come discover what that means.
How can a pastor make the most of limited sermon preparation time? There is no one right amount of time to spend in working on a message, but whether they are able to spend a lot of time or not, every pastor wants to maximize the impact of their sermon preparation time.
Getting back to school in August and September is a common shift in the rhythm of most church programming calendars. It is a natural time to deepen existing ministries, start new groups, and launch new programs. This window of opportunity can also apply to our preaching.
Because this holiday has become such a beloved one for many people, there is increasing pressure to bring this secular holiday into the church during Labor Day weekend. People may come to church expecting a sermon glorifying the American Dream and celebrating how hard work created our nation.
Perhaps the most significant thing any preacher can do is to create a strategy for continually growing your own personal spiritual journey. The depth of your journey will determine the wisdom of your preaching.
With so many of our regular children gone during the summer, we might be tempted to eliminate the time for children all together. But before you do, consider these things.
